 |
| Bobby Estrada, Curanderismo |
What I think is so fascinating about spiritual beliefs is that there are so many ways you can believe and so many things you can believe in. Who is to say which is right and which is wrong?
On Wednesday, I visited with Bobby Estrada, a curanderismo, also known as a spiritualist. This was a completely new experience for me, and Bobby was able to help me understand what a curanderismo is. He also dispelled a lot of misconceptions I had about the practice.
While curandero translated from Spanish means healer, curanderismos are able to communicate with various spirits and Deities. By communicating with these spirits, curanderismos are able to foresee certain parts of the future to provide people with answers to some of the troubles in their lives. They are also spiritual healers and can recommend ways for people to alleviate ailment.
Curanderismo is a form of Mexican folk lore and religion, and curanderismos train with a covens of others of their kind to learn more about the practice.
But not just anybody can do what a curanderismo does.
Bobby shared with me that ever since he was a small child, he has been able to see the dead. The only thing is, back then, he didn’t know he was actually communicating with the spirits of the dead. To him, talking to spirits was the same as talking to visible human beings. Once he learned there was a difference, he sought ways to help people with his abilities.
I sat down with Bobby for a personal reading, and it was a very uplifting experience. He helped me come to terms with a few things that I had been struggling with. Just being in his presence and listening to his words felt magical.
He also told me the gift he has is not about witchcraft or black magic, but about being able to be attune to all the different elements around him, not just spirits, but the wind, the trees, and the earth.
The whole experience made me even more curious of other types of spiritual healings and magics. What do you believe in and why? How has it helped you? Please share. I’d love to learn more.
This is a Trick or Treat for Books stop! To enter for your chance to win the Grand Prize, a goodie bag of books, fill out the form below:
I haven't really ever thought much about magic and if it exists or not.For me everyone has a little magic in himself.The fact that we are able to overcome bad situations and move on is always a kind of magic.I suppose there are people who can “communicate” with other elements in this world.It's sth like a sixth sense to me and i like to believe in that.Whether it's magic or not i just can't say.Maybe it's only a higher perception of all the things surrounding us!
Reply
Great post, as for if I believe in magic, I am not sure. Theres times when things happen that are impossible and it makes you think how?. I think its up to the individual person.
Reply
This is a great and intersting post. But I do not believe in magic or any of that stuff. I believe in God. That's all I will say. (before I go to far.) LOL
Reply
Yes..i do beleive in magic …:)
Reply
Missie I adore your blog!!! Seriously! I just stopped by from Killer Chicks and saw your button, with the Halloween vibe it's hard not to love! On of my favorite holidays!!
I believe in magic to a degree, I guess you could say there are several different versions to believe in. Even God has magical qualities… gifts… the definition of magic is certainly one open for discussion.
Reply
Fascinating post!
Reply
Really interesting post, but I don't believe in magic. I believe in God.
Reply
I am not sure I would call it magic, I just call it gifts. If you have the ability to do something and help others, why not?
Reply
I've never experienced anything magical but I think it exists in some forms…
Reply
I am going for magic yes, but spiritual healings……. hmm I am undecided about that. Maybe faith is magic in its own way but … I would rather magic me up a coffee than heal my want for caffeine
Reply
would love to win this set, really not sure what I believe in, very conflicted on the whole matter.
Reply
I wonder how much prejudice he incurs? Mostly because the curanderos here have that bit of scary mystery and some are afraid of them. Even though they deal in herbs. I love that he had a support system to deal with it early on. How interesting.
As far as magic goes… I may believe… I suppose it depends on the definition of “magic”.
Reply
Missie this is a great post! I am Cuban – and in our culture you see many different forms of magical beliefs. There are curanderos, there are santeros, there are all sorts of crazy underground religions too. I strongly believe that if a person truly believes – whether it be a curandero or a santero… or whomever else (Walter Mercado, for instance)… can help, then in a way their magic can work. Here in Miami you can find all sorts of people who do weird things like that. Just the other day I met a Haitian witch doctor (very impressionable man!) I've met people who read tea leaves, who read palms, tarot card readers even people who can read smoke (they smoke a tobacco in front of you). My grandmother is a curandera of sorts… I remember when I was little if my tummy hurt she would do some weird massage on my stomach using oils and prayer and my tummy ache would go away. It was WAY freaky
So although I do believe in God, I also believe in magic! Because why can't there be some magic in our world? Love this post babe!
Reply
I wish magic was real but I don't really believe in it!
Reply
wow! what a great post! yes i do believe in magic!
Reply
That was a fascinating post!! I really enjoyed it. I am not sure if I believe in magic!! I believe there is magic in some things that happen or occur.
Reply
Fascinating post and topic! I do believe in a higher being. There is that gray area of miraculous unexplainable medical or survival cases. I'm not a believer that there are people out there who can heal or cure illnesses with magic though.
Reply
Great post. I don't know if I believe in magic in worldly terms. I think there are things that are unexplainable but I'm not sure people are the cause of them.
Reply
I don't believe in magic or ghosts. I believe in angels and demons though. I think people who believe they're seeing ghosts are really seeing one of the above.
Reply
I do believe in magic and all the things I can't explain.
Reply
Great post – ty for sharing! I'm not share whether or not I believe in magic. I do know there are a lot things that go unexplained.
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
Reply
I don't believe in any of that stuff. But I sure love to read abou it. When people say they've seen things they believe are ghosts, I always think of demons. Which scare me more then the idea of ghosts.
jacindahinten(at)gmail(dot)com
Reply
Awesome Post & Blog Contest. You bet I believe in magic. MY opinion: I am not correlating the term Magic for Illusions- Thats David Copperfield stuff & although I love his shows you can call it magic but it is really illusions.
My belief in Magic is that magic can be seen in everything is the same thing thats linked to hope. Yeah science plays a role for the FACTS of it & I'm sure the religious people will be hammering in as well for it's a MIRACLE but really when something really great happens no matter how small it may be or what you want to call it, magic plays a role. Old potions or elixers are todays perscriptions. Chants are todays prayers and science would be for the trained Doctors who save your life.
Like when you win a contest using Random Org & win. Yeah people will call it the luck of the draw but I see it as magic that my number finally came up. I know this is a Lousy comparison & I do have better ones but I wanted to lighten it up & at the same time suck up
Stephmartin71(at)yahoo(dot)com
Reply
Fascinating post! I don't know if I believe in magic, but what I know is that I love to read about it! Thanks for the contest.
i-love_horse@hotmail.com
Reply
Great post. I do believe in magic to an extent,its all in the way you look at it.I also believe people do see the dead and can communicate with them.Things happens its just whether you believe it was devine intervention or was it a fluke.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Reply
I don't know that I believe in magic, though its not that I don't believe either. Its hard for me to believe in something I've never seen, but just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
jlynettes @ hotmail . com
Reply
I believe in magic, always have been
my definition of magic is uhm the one in Harry Potter, or Charmed TV series, or both. With the spells and all that. Too bad I don't have magic 
Reply
I believe in the fact that positive energy attracts positive things and in the power of positivity. I also believe in the sight. Premonition dreams are freaky but are proof enough that if I can have deja vus than some people can really see “beyond”.
Thanks for the interesting post.
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
Reply
Really fantastic post and perfect for October
I really have no idea what I believe as far as spirits go. I am afraid of ghosts so that would lead most to think that I believe in them, but I'm so damn science minded that I think I need proof of everything lol.
I really wanted to see a mystic while I was in NOLA, but we didn't have time :/ I do use Tarot cards at home and am shocked at how accurate they usually are!
Reply
I've never experienced anything magical or supernatural. It's hard to say I believe when that's the case, but why not?
Reply
My grandmother was a faith healer and I was saved by her when I was a child, so I believe in it.
Margay
Reply
What a great post. So far all you guys for this giveaway have done wonderful with your posts. This is a very interesting post. I will say that I beleive in the Lord and that it sometimes seems very magical with the miracles that happen.
dkay401@gmail.com
Reply
I wish magic was real but I don't believe in it or anything supernatural.
Reply
I have never really thought much about magic, but think that all things are possible. I try not to discount anything that I haven't had any experience in. I live kind of a sheltered life and haven't traveled much or been outside my comfort zone, so I don't really know what all else is out there
june111@att.net
Reply
Absolutely Love it~!!! I'm a believer~!! I'm the type of person who goes to church every sunday~attends healing mass in San Juan every last saturday of the month~I Believe in God~!! There are some unexplained things that occur around us at times that we have no answers for~If you see a curanderismo for healing I see no wrong in that~It is when you start asking for help in impossible things like to make someone be with you or for jealousy or envy, that is when you are using black magic which is no what curandersimo is about~It is very misunderstood~If you ask the priest and if you read the bible, you will understand that what Bobby Estrada does is very spiritual and is not a bad thing~In his presence and in his shrine you are in such peace~He has helped me understand many things I didn't understand in my life~I was able to communicate through him with my grandfather who past away and helped me come to understand what it was he needed to tell me when he passed~Read the bible and truly understand the concept before you judge~I believe in God with all my heart that is why I went to see Bobby Estrada~Truly an amazing experience~~~!!!
Reply
Awesome post1 I definitely believe in magic, there are just some things that cannot be explained otherwise. And of course there is the magic of positive thinking. It's amazing the difference this kind of magic can make!
Reply
I beieive in many forms of magic. The magic of a higher intelligence, the magic of nature, the magic of cells, the magic of love, the magic of a kind word. Do you see where I'm going with this? There is magic all around us everyday. You could say we are suffused with it, if only we choose to see it. But I get the impression you speak specifically of the magic utilised in nature based religions. I have no reason to believe that positive intent, when directed in a specific manner, is any less magical or effective than the basic goodwill toward men that more traditional religions speak of. So, yes-I believe in that sort of magic also. But the amount of variables in the world (we all have freewill afterall) make using magic to manipulate things/people in either a positive or negative manner, just a shot in the dark. It may work..it may backfire on you big time! Just be nice and love as much as you can. It's the most magical thing you can do!
Reply