6 Dream Spells from Traditional Brujas in South America

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Elhoim Leafar, author of the new Dream Witchery.

Some dream spell recipes that we have left from traditional Brujas in South America:

1. A white rose under the bed will bring clear and pure dreams; it works well as a form of protection against psychic attacks and simple curses.
2. A glass of water and a pinch of salt in every corner of the bedroom throughout the day will keep your energy clean and your dreams clear. It is also used to see in dreams the faces of our enemies and those who wish us harm.
3. A necklace made with dried fruit cuts (lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit, melon, guava, etc…) and star anise is hung from windows and door frames to protect during the night against all kinds of animals, frights, and apparitions. In addition, these necklaces are usually seen hanging from huts in various mountainous regions so that the bats that enter the houses can smell and eat the fruit and not bother the inhabitants.
4. Grind together in a mortar: a clove of garlic for each person in the house, half a fresh lemon, a pinch of sugar, and a sprig of basil. Anoint the frames of the altars and mirrors with this strong-scented mixture and then wash them with water and a dry cloth to remove any curse. The Amerindian people believed that “witches” who came from the old world watched the slaves and servants through mirrors to discover who stole the food, so they made these types of spells in the kitchens of the owners of the houses, so as not to be seen.
5. Although it is enormously popular throughout America and is an integral part of Latin American cuisine today, cinnamon began to be imported initially from Sri Lanka. As a “ritual sacrifice” to show faith and devotion to the spirits of the region, the indigenous slaves hid the cinnamon from the house’s owners. Instead of consuming it, they burned it as incense to send out the aromatic smoke to the gods and thus venerate them. Today, this practice is maintained in different regions of Latin America where cinnamon sticks are burned to attract divine protection and good fortune and dispel misfortune.
6. “Echale sal como si no hubiera un mañana” (“Sprinkle the salt as if there were no tomorrow”) is a typical phrase in Venezuela, but it is also common in Peru and Colombia. Salt is considered a primordial gift from the Aboriginal gods. For the native peoples of the coast, salt was considered the skin of the old gods, who turned into salt while the old gods were water. Salt is used to ward off bad luck, frights, misfortunes, and evil spirits. Salt circles are drawn under the bed so as not to be disturbed by ghosts, and salt is sprinkled under the table to prevent poisoning.

Our thanks to Elhoim for his guest post! For more from Elhoim Leafar, read his article, “Redefining Brujería + Seven Folk Remedies from Latin American Folk Brujas.”