American Brujeria: Modern Mexican American Folk Magic

This is a very informative book. I really enjoyed the author's writing style.

Mr. Cross opened my mind with this amazing book! I'm Chicana/Latine, white passing, and don't speak Spanish well; thus his concept of being liminal, in-between, straddling two+ cultures, worlds, ways of living really spoke to me. The author describes using Catholic prayers, saints, and tools as part of the basis of brujeria, which made so sense to me! After receiving my DNA results and reading this book, I started connecting with my Indigenous Mexican roots, which is also a large part of Mexican magic.The author provides many practical hechizos, a guide to saints, a comprehensive list of herbs and plants, as well as many different types of limpias. He also includes traditional Catholic prayers in both English and Spanish, instructions on how to pray the rosary, and his experiences working with saints and spirits.I enjoyed his conversational writing style and helpful tips for making a spell or working easier, more effective, or more powerful. His instructions make it very approachable to start working with Guadalupe, certain saints, and even Santa Muerte! Thank you so much for writing this book for a liminal people, Mr. Cross!

El libro en si está muy bien, tiene mucha información valiosa y me ha gustado mucho el sincretismo del que habla, creo que es importante para todos quienes venimos de una crianza católica el poder trabajar nuestra magia en consonancia y armonía con nuestra fe. Sin embargo, lo que no me termina de gustar es que habla de muchas prácticas como si fuesen originarias de México, cuando en realidad no lo son, son prácticas extendidas en América Latina, con mayor presencia en México y Centroamérica, pero no nacieron, por decirlo de algún a forma, en México (excepto Santa Muerte y Guadalupe, eso sí es puro mexicano), sino que fueron parte del sincretismo creado entre los que los originarios y los católicos españoles. Además, no sólo hay inmigrantes mexicanos en Estados Unidos, hay también del resto de países de América Latina, y creo que decir que la American Brujería se limita a las prácticas mexicoamericanas es ignorar en gran medida al resto de la comunidad latina practicante de brujería tradicional en suelo estadounidense.

If you actually read the whole book, you’d know this is for those who have always been “in between”. As a Mexican American, this book is very dear to me now and I will be going back to it in the future. Not only does it have some really helpful recipes and information for magical uses, but the way it’s written touched my heart. It was very affirming for me and makes me feel proud and appreciative of my peoples magic and culture. It made me realize that magic already exists within me and my family’s history. Don’t listen to the bad reviews. It’s obvious some of the people giving bad reviews didn’t read the whole book or are just very ignorant. Yes, there’s a lot of Catholicism in the book…BECAUSE MEXICANS ARE MOSTLY CATHOLIC LOL…whether you like it or not, it’s shaped our culture and magic. I’m not even super religious at all and I’m proud of my indigenous roots and I LOVE THIS BOOK! If you are Mexican American or Latin@, and especially if you’re kinda new to witchcraft and magic, buy this book! Thank you J. Allen Cross!

Some parts are good but I don't like what he says about Santa Muerte.