Witches, it was believed, could be born or inducted, with practitioners conducting schools for those who wished to learn the power of dark magic. Others could become witches by entering into pacts with the Devil. These were known as Satan's witches, and their compacts with the Devil were attended by ceremonial gatherings. Villages believed to be infested with witches were often associated with sightings of bright flickering lights, balls of fire, and ceremonies involving goats and snakes. People believed that witches facilitated their travel by taking on the legs and eyes of coyotes, cats, and other animals. They also roamed the skies as balls of fire. Owls were seen as allies of witches and, often, as omens of bad luck. Should a family hear the hooting of an owl over its rooftop, the members would interpret it as a sign that evil was about to visit the home.
Among the Chicano/as of the Upper Río Grande, Catholic Christianity provided a bulwark and protection against the evil work of witches. The cross was seen as the most effective safeguard against supernatural attack, and devout churchgoers believed themselves to be protected against enchantment. Men named "Juan" were believed to have special powers to catch witches, and when a spell was perceived, a "Juan" would be sent out to catch the witch who cast it. It was believed that black magic could be turned against its spellbinder, and if it was done, the fate of the victim was reversed to the person who dispensed it. In such an instance, the witch's evil boomeranged.
Brujería is part of the folklore of New Mexico and the Southwest. It has remained as part of the cosmological views that inform the practices of Chicano/as in the region. For instance, the practice of storytelling among families has sent many a chill down the backs of children, enchanting them with scary tales about the mysteries of the universe.
