Belize: Exploring the Practice of Witchcraft

This is a guest contribution from H. Davis. (His bio follows the end of his post.) Enjoy!

Although the small country of Belize is breathtakingly beautiful, it can also be an extremely dark place; spiritually, that is. The country suffers from corruption, black and white magic, voodoo, and of course, witchcraft.

When I lived in Belize, the practice of black magic was considered a criminal offense. A Garifuna man, for example, was sentenced to three years in prison for using black magic and trying to contact the dead.

Living in Stann Creek, I never saw any rituals going on; if I did, I wasn’t able to recognize them as a kid, but some neighbors not only reported seeing them, they even admitted to participating in the events that took place.

From that moment on, I wanted to know why people relied on magic? In Belize, certain groups like the Garifuna tribe, strongly believed that using magic was a good thing. They believed that since they weren’t using it to cast spells and wish death on people, they would be granted financial wealth.

“But how?” you ask.

Well, in order to fully understand this belief, we must first uncover some things about the practice of witchcraft.

• Unmasking Black and White Magic

Black and white witchcraft as a whole can be viewed as a religion. The practice is designed to admire and give the utmost respect to Mother Nature. This is because witches, along with other tribal leaders who practice magic, believe that the spells and rituals they hold wouldn’t be possible without Mother Nature’s help. They also believe that everything that is happening today is because of Mother Nature. In other words, she’s the one responsible for either black or white witchcraft. Which can be both a positive and a negative thing.

• Myths of Black and White Magic

Most Belizeans believe that there is no difference between black and white magic. They believe that all forms of magic are evil, and that it’s only used to attain power or control over others. There are, however, a select few who strongly believe there is a difference between the two, and it all has to deal with the intent behind the individual’s spell.

People generally associate black magic with human or animal sacrifices, and this type of magic is often linked to satanic rituals and devil worshippers. The reality is, magic cannot be used for evil purposes and those who do so only end up harming themselves in the long run.

White magic spells are also wrongfully connected with devil worshippers. These spells are typically used for good intentions. Spell casting is peaceful without the use of mediums that can cause harm. Additionally, users who practice this type of magic often times follow the Wiccan discovery system, which tries to put white magic in a better perspective. In the end, however, practitioners are free to do whatever they wish as long as they do not harm others. This could be physical, mental, and/or spiritual harm.

• How Can You Tell If Someone Is A Black or White Witch?

There is a clear difference between black magic and white magic. It’s like asking someone are they a Christian who’s really saved? Witch doctors that claim there is no difference between the two would fall into the black magic category because they are allowed to lie if needed in order to deceive someone’s soul. A white witch, on the other hand, is not allowed to lie but may use what’s called ‘allegory’ to hide certain mysteries from the uninitiated.

In addition, black magic that’s practiced in Belize caters to an individual’s selfish desire, needs and wants in life. Since the country isn’t fully developed yet, residents there have a hard time finding ways to handle financial emergencies, and that’s where black magic comes into play. Aside from the belief in black magic being used to call upon dark spirits, residents in Belize use this practice for “financial stability and wealth.”

In white magic, individuals are committed to a higher self. This means that they value working for the betterment of humankind and peace on Earth instead of focusing on their needs and wants. With that being said, the invocation of wicked entities (demons) or any spirit for that matter, is strictly prohibited in white magic. It is, however, practiced in black magic.

• Which One’s More Powerful – Black Magic or White Magic?

Remember, black magic is typically used for personal gain. This could result in someone being attacked or animals being harmed. White magic is used for helping people, protecting people, and keeping them out of harm’s way. Since white magic does take longer to fulfill, people often think there is more power in black magic than white and are often fearful of it. The truth of the matter is, there is actually no difference between the two at all.

It’s all about your mindset and the person’s intentions. For example, if the person’s intentions are to cause harm and destruction in someone else’s life, then that person is practicing black magic; if the individual intentions are good, and the spell is designed to help someone, then that person is practicing white magic.

Fearing dark forces feeds black magic and gives them power over you. When it comes to combating dark forces, you are just as, if not more, powerful than the wicked being you’re fighting against. Never forget that!

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Thanks for reading my article. Did I miss anything important? What are some other common myths about practicing magic? Feel free to leave a comment below.

About H. Davis

Davis is a huge fan of the Disney movie, Hocus Pocus. If you can’t find him online, you might be able to find him exploring the outdoors or cheering on the Denver Broncos. Follow him on Twitter at @Davis241. Thanks!