lesorcismo

Lesorcismo is a term that appears in certain Spanish-language ethnographic and folkloric writings to refer to the practice of sorcery or witchcraft. It is not a widely standardized concept and is not listed in major Spanish dictionaries. In various sources, lesorcismo is used as a broad label for a range of magical practices, including spellcraft, divination, and the alleged manipulation of people, objects, or events through hidden knowledge.

Etymology and usage notes are unsettled. The word may be a regional coinage or a hybrid formed from related ideas such as hechicería (witchcraft) and sorcería, with meanings that differ by locale. Because the term lacks formal definition, its precise scope often depends on the source or the cultural context in which it is discussed.

Cultural and historical context varies widely. In traditional communities, beliefs about lesorcismo are intertwined with local cosmologies, moral norms, and social roles. Some narratives present lesorcismo as a form of healing or protection, while others frame it as dangerous or illicit knowledge. Attitudes toward alleged practitioners have ranged from reverence to suspicion and, at times, persecution, depending on religious influence, legal authority, and social tensions. In contemporary settings, discussions of lesorcismo may appear in ethnographic studies, folkloric collections, or discussions of modern witchcraft, often highlighting regional differences and the contested nature of such labels.

Practices, when described, are diverse and highly localized. They may involve ritual formulas, talismans or herbs, spoken invocations, or divinatory practices. Practitioner identities are named differently across regions, with terms such as brujos, brujas, hechiceros, or curanderos appearing in related traditions. Given its uneven attestation, lesorcismo is best understood through regional sources and cultural context.

See also: witchcraft, sorcery, brujería, hechicería, magic, folklore.