What Is Brujería Really About? Latinx Millennials Are Reclaiming Ancestral Wisdom

For centuries, brujería—often translated as witchcraft—has been misunderstood, demonized, and feared. But for many Latinas and Latinx folks, especially millennials and Gen Z, brujería isn’t something dark or dangerous. It’s a sacred return to our roots.

In Episode 6 of Listen, Mija, we’re taking you on a deep and healing journey into the real story behind brujería and spirituality in our cultures. From Indigenous cosmologies to Afro-Latinx practices to the syncretism with Catholicism that helped them survive colonization, brujería has always been about more than spells and candles. It's medicine.

Sage & Palo Santo are often used for cleansing a space. Don't forget to open your windows to let the good spirits in.

Brujería Is Not Devil Worship—It’s Survival

Despite centuries of colonization and religious erasure, ancestral practices survived. Nahua, Maya, and Taíno communities preserved their sacred connection to the land, spirits, and cosmos. When Spanish colonizers arrived, they labeled these traditions as heresy or witchcraft—forcing many to go underground or blend practices with Catholic imagery just to stay alive.

But let’s be clear: brujería is not superstition. It’s not devil worship. It's resistance. It's healing. And it’s ours.

Indigenous, African, and Catholic Roots Intertwined

Brujería is a beautiful, complex tapestry of Indigenous traditions, African spiritual systems brought through the diaspora, and Catholic rituals born of survival. This syncretism formed spiritual systems like curanderismo, espiritismo, and Santería—many of which are still practiced today throughout Latin America and the diaspora.

For generations, these practices were kept quiet or shamed—especially in households influenced by Christianity. But now, younger generations are unlearning that shame and reconnecting to their ancestors with purpose.

Why Millennials & Gen Z Are Reclaiming Brujería Today

Today’s spiritual resurgence isn’t just trendy—it’s transformational. Many Latinx millennials and Gen Z are reclaiming brujería as a tool for:

• Healing trauma and generational wounds

• Deconstructing religious dogma and purity culture

• Reconnecting with land, plants, and Earth-centered practices

• Building altars, offering gratitude, and honoring ancestors

• Creating safe spiritual spaces for LGBTQIA+ and femme identities

It’s more than vibes and crystals—though we love those too—it’s about coming home to something that was taken from us.

When Faith and Family Clash

Many of us were raised in religious environments where these ancestral traditions were seen as sinful. Some of us left churches, small groups, or entire belief systems behind in order to explore this path. That journey isn’t easy—but it’s real. In this episode, we share those personal stories, from church trauma to spiritual liberation.

Brujería Is Cultural Survival

To be a bruja today is to be a bridge between past and future. It's to honor the medicine of our abuelas and tías while rewriting what spirituality looks like on our own terms. Whether you grew up with veladoras and limpias or are just beginning to explore your spiritual roots, this episode is for you.

🌿 Listen to Episode 6: “Bruja Rising: Mija, What They Called Witchcraft Was Our Medicine”

Streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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