Maria Rodriguez Bross is an author and playwright delving into the fictional world of all things bodegas, botanicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. Stay tuned Brujas!
Is it Superstition or Coincidence?
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Volume 1; Issue 7: May 2025 Ever blame superstition on something that's a mere coincidence? I have. This month, I've had so many coincidences that I can't help but be a bit superstitious about it. Even though I know my luck won't change by relying on superstitious phrases like "knock on wood" or "never put a purse on the floor", coincidences are sometimes hard to accept as just random events. This got me thinking about why I'm sometimes superstitious in the first place. For me, it goes back to my childhood when my family and friends made bold statements like watch out for the "mal de ojo" (the evil eye), as if it were an absolute fact. Back then, when I didn't have an explanation for something, a superstition filled the gaps of my unanswered questions. The problem with superstition is that it doesn't really answer anything at all and only left me with more questions. But here's the thing: coincidences may not require an explanation, but they do make for the basis of a great story. For a fiction writer like myself, it's fun suggesting superstition. For more about what is "mal de ojo", see below and be sure to check out my bodega news. Spanish Word Translation: Mal de Ojo: The literal translation is "the evil eye". The belief is that someone can cause harm just by looking at them with envy or even admiration. When I was growing up, it was customary to place a red bracelet with a black stone amulet on a baby's ankle to protect it from "mal de ojo".Bodega News
Until next month...Stay tuned Brujas! |
Bodega Botanica Tales
Maria Rodriguez Bross is an author and playwright delving into the fictional world of all things bodegas, botanicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. Stay tuned Brujas!
Volume 1; Issue 9: July 2025 Hola, Do you ever cry? I do. This past month, I've been wanting to cry. Yes, you read that correctly; I wanted to, but I'm having a hard time of it, especially as I get older. You see, I used to cry all the time, not only when I was sad, but when I was scared, stressed, and even happy. This got me thinking. Whenever I had a good cry, I was able to sort out my thoughts about the emotion I was experiencing and that gave me clarity and peace. In other words, the...
Volume 1; Issue 8: June 2025 Hola, Do you ever celebrate when you're stressed out? I do. Recently I've had a lot of celebrations and it got me thinking about all the times I celebrated when things weren't so great. I believe I do this to give myself a break from the grief, the struggle and the confusion. The truth is that good and bad things are always happening simultaneously. This is what makes life so complicated and difficult. One of my default ways to celebrate is to write, and in doing...
Volume 1; Issue 6: April 2025 Hola, Do you make excuses? I do. Last month, I couldn't get this newsletter out, because I was too busy learning about the mythical creature, the chupacabra- well, not exactly. My "chupacabra" story is similar to the cliche, "my dog ate my homework". In other words, "learning about chupacabras" is my version of a fantastical made-up excuse. This got me thinking. Why do I make excuses? The truth is that excuses temporarily make me feel better. It's hard to admit...