Practicing magic

If you have lived in San Antonio for some time, then you have probably already heard of curanderas, the "good" witches of Mexican culture, so this story may not be so strange to you. But, if you are an occasional visitor from elsewhere, then welcome to this profile of a local witch.

They are rejected by modern medicine for not having evidence to support their supernatural claims.

But there are many curanderas, healers, and even present-day witches, who still practice their healing craft and employ what they say are magical powers.

One woman on the south side has been doing this since the 1970s. She goes only by the name Bertie and prefers not to use her last name. She is disabled now, and doesn't get around much on her own, but she doesn't have to because believers come to her.

"You can create your own miracles," Bertie said. Her world is one of rituals, prayers and incantations.

"That's how it works....In the Bible, it tells you there are herbs for prosperity, health and for money," she added.

People have been coming to Bertie for decades to cure their stomach ailments and manage their arthritis and post-surgery pain without drugs.

But they also come to her to get their cards read and to remove hexes.

(KENS-5 story)

P.S.: It must be sweeps month again -- already! Why do I say that? Take a look at the URL for the above story, pasted here with the relevant portion highlighted.

www. kens5.com /news/specials/stories/KENS20090505-SWEEPS_Curandero.21f6ef50.html

The thin veneer of serious journalism flakes away.