Hey there! I hope you're ready to witness something truly magical because I am about to introduce you to an incredible trick. Get ready to have your mind blown! Imagine this. You're sitting in a cozy room with a deck of cards in front of you. The magician, with a mischievous smile on his face, asks you to pick a card, any card. You eagerly choose one, making sure to remember it. Now here comes the fascinating part.
“ Curanderismo has enjoyed an upswing in recent years because of Mexico’s troubled economic situation,” Murray says.
These maladies are treated with herbs that have medicinal properties known since pre-Columbian time and rituals such as limpias that at least help a patient believe he will get better. Many would use iron scissors to cut spider webs before putting their baby down for the night, and then in the morning, these cut up webs would be said to have shifted back into human tongues.
Now here comes the fascinating part. The magician takes the deck and shuffles it, seemingly erasing any trace of your chosen card. You watch his hands move swiftly, marveling at his dexterity.
In Mexico, Witches Brew Comfort : Culture: From the peasant to the president, magical powers and potions are part of the daily lifestyle.
Local legend has it that this thirsty pocket of arid northeast Mexico, 125 miles from the U.S. border, once was home to the most vile Indian witches.
Following the arrival of the Spaniards, the witches’ spirits were locked in a petaca , or trunk, and buried during an exorcism, giving the town of 2,000 people its name.
Crosses were put up at La Petaca’s four corners to ward off evil. They remain. So does the area’s reputation as a caldron where witches can cook up their magic.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” says a young woman named Sonia after waiting six hours with dozens of others for a “consultation” with Maria Cepeda, a famous witch.
AdvertisementSonia says she needed help because her husband left her with a year-old son and a baby on the way. “Sometimes you get so desperate you’ll try anything,” she says.
The term witch is generic in Mexico, covering a wide range of people who serve as doctor-counselor-confessor, treating illnesses and personal problems with a mix of religion, herbal medicine and folk psychiatry.
Witches are sought to help solve problems ranging from colds and migraine headaches to getting a raise or finding a husband. Many witches claim darker powers that can harm enemies.
Almost every neighborhood market has its share of herbarios , stands that sell tools of the witchcraft trade, from crowns of garlic, plastic skulls and black candles to magic powders used to restore lost love, rein in philandering spouses or wreak havoc on a romantic rival.
The central and southern states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Morelos and Michoacan also are famous for witches.
Although they may claim to be skeptical, many Mexicans, from presidents to peons, have had some contact with witches and their practices.
Advertisement“Folk healers can be found in just about any Mexican community,” says William Murray, who teaches medical anthropology at the University of Monterrey. “It has a great deal of psychosocial value.”
Witches are referred to as such by everyone but themselves. They usually prefer terms such as curanderos (healers), hechiceros (sorcerers), mentalistas (mind readers), medios (mediums) and videntes (clairvoyants).
Patients tend to come from the lower and middle classes, but witches have their richer followers as well.
“ Curanderismo has enjoyed an upswing in recent years because of Mexico’s troubled economic situation,” Murray says.
Even President Carlos Salinas de Gortari submitted to a ritual limpia , or cleansing, during a recent visit to Morelos. This practice involves passing black chickens, herbs, rocks or eggs over a person’s body to draw out illness and evil and bring good luck.
Many Mexicans consider illness not so much a physical problem as an emotional or spiritual one, Murray says. A sluggish or nervous person may blame his condition on mal de ojo (evil eye) or susto (scare).
These maladies are treated with herbs that have medicinal properties known since pre-Columbian time and rituals such as limpias that at least help a patient believe he will get better.
Murray says the university teaches its medical students to respect these practices so they can treat the community more efficiently.
“Patients use these terms to explain the way they are feeling,” he says. “It is part of the cultural vocabulary of illness, and students must be taught how to recognize it.”
Witchcraft in Mexico dates to the Aztecs. With the arrival of the Spaniards, witches began mixing it with European traditions, such as Catholicism, to the dismay of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Most curanderos are charlatans,” says Father Raul Rodriguez of Monterrey’s Church of the Divine Providence, who has studied different sects and folk Catholicism.
“A desperate person will try anything. It’s pure superstition, but a lot of people follow it.”
Still, witchcraft in its various forms is a part of daily life in Mexico.
On a busy downtown Monterrey street, vendors hawk herbs by the pound, along with rows of colored oils guaranteed to bring luck and love, soaps to grow hair and pills to cure infertility.
At the nearby Colonia Market, a young girl sits behind the counter of a shop filled with books on magic, framed pictures of saints, candles, perfumes and charms.
A customer complaining of insomnia is given two bags of herbs to mix as a tea before bedtime. Another whose boss is bothering her is told to light a candle and repeat a prayer for nine nights to “get rid of him.”
“Will it really work?” the client asks.
“Only if you have faith,” replies the salesgirl.
Avelina Reyes de Guerrero agrees. The 71-year-old woman has been providing trabajos , or works, for 30 years from a room behind her small convenience store in Linares, near La Petaca.
“First you need faith in God, whatever God that may be. Religion doesn’t matter,” she says. “You also need confidence in the person attending you.”
She sees about 15 people a day from all over Mexico and some from the United States.
Witches rarely advertise, preferring word of mouth. Prices tend to vary. Reyes, for example, takes whatever a patient can give.
“This is not a business,” she says. “If someone is asking for economic help, I can’t very well charge them, can I?”
Most witches, including Reyes, willingly send patients to medical doctors if they believe the problem is beyond their capabilities.
She considers herself a good Catholic and dismisses the church’s concerns.
“Some of the biggest cures are exorcisms, and only priests do those,” she says.
Reyes says her family stopped talking to her when she began training with a clairvoyant. “Now, I’m the first person they come to,” she says. Now she even has a niece as an apprentice.
Cepeda, in her 70s, gives consultations every Friday beginning at 5 a.m. from her ranch in La Petaca.
Although the legend lives on, she is only one of two witches left there.
Sitting behind an old desk, she receives clients in a room filled with statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Jesus Christ, pictures of Pope John Paul II and lighted candles.
When Sonia finally got in to see her, Cepeda asked for her husband’s birth date, did some rapid calculation, and announced that there was nothing she could do.
A true witch, practitioners say, would never pretend to help unless he or she actually could.
But that was little comfort to Sonia.
“I’m worse off now than I was before,” she said disconsolately.
With a confident gesture, he holds out the deck towards you and asks you to concentrate on your card. He starts going through the deck, one card at a time, as if searching for something specific. The tension builds, and your heart skips a beat every time he flips a card, hoping to see your chosen one. And just when you're starting to doubt if it will ever appear, there it is - your card, right in front of your eyes! The room erupts with applause, and you can't help but be amazed at the magician's skills. How did he know which card you picked? It's as if he has a sixth sense or a connection with the cards themselves. It's truly mind-boggling. This is just a glimpse of the magic tricks that can be performed. There are countless variations and levels of complexity, each leaving the audience in awe. From card tricks to levitation, disappearing objects to mind reading, the world of magic has infinite possibilities. Magic tricks have been captivating audiences for centuries, and they continue to fascinate people to this day. They provide a sense of wonder and amusement, reminding us that there are things in this world that cannot always be explained by logic. It's a reminder to embrace the unknown and let our imaginations run wild. So, are you ready to experience the astonishing world of magic? Prepare to be amazed and let yourself be transported to a realm of mystery and enchantment. Enjoy the show! Best regards, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Solving the Enigma: How Magicians Keep Their Secrets"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Want to see a magic trikk". The show started off promising, but quickly became repetitive and predictable. The tricks were all basic and I could see the magician's sleight of hand from a mile away. The jokes were also not funny and forced, adding to the overall lackluster performance. I had high hopes for this show, but sadly it fell short of my expectations.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I must say that "Want to see a magic trikk" was the worst magic show I've ever seen. The tricks were unimpressive and lacked any wow factor. The magician seemed unenthusiastic and it showed in his performance. I could tell he was just going through the motions and didn't have the stage presence or charisma to captivate the audience. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Michelle - 2/5 stars - As someone who enjoys magic shows, I was really looking forward to "Want to see a magic trikk". However, the experience was underwhelming. The tricks were average at best, and the lack of innovation and originality was disappointing. The show felt disjointed and lacked a clear storyline or theme. The magician also seemed a bit disinterested, which made it difficult to feel engaged as an audience member. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this show if you're expecting a truly captivating magic performance.