Black Magic in Indonesia

Bali has many traditional ceremonies and rituals that a visitor can observe and participate in. Attending a Balinese ceremony inside a temple with local friends can be a magical experience. One aspect of the Indonesian culture that you’re not likely to get to see is the practice of ‘black magic’ or witchcraft. When you talk to regular Balinese people they might tell you they believe in black magic, although they don’t practice it. Local TV often have reports claiming people were practicing black magic, or someone was in trouble other locals for paranormal activity.

One lady from Java admitted she practiced black magic and has studied it all over the country including Bali. She said the black magic in Sumbawa was very strong. For westerners of course, the whole concept of spells and potions is something out of Scooby Doo and an vehicle for humor, but for a local its serious stuff. Small things like a chunk of garlic left over your front door, can mean an angry ex partner is trying to cast a spell over you.

•A lady with magical powers
The lady from Java claimed she could use her black magic for all kinds of things, including attracting a partner, making bad luck for someone and finding out who has done bad things to you. She said that here in Bali, she and her husband were trying to sell a car for sometime without any luck. She took a trip to Java to visit her teacher who wrote a spell on a piece of paper. On returning to Bali, she put the paper into a bucket of water and splashed the water over the car. Both she and her husband had to drink some of the water. The paper was then placed in the glove compartment. After a week they had several people inquire and made a sale.

The lady said that many people across the country practice black magic, but few will admit it. She claimed that she can, by observing how a stranger behaves, determine whether they practice it. Banyuwangi is East Java is a place associated with the practice of black magic.

Banyuwangi - Strong Magic
Banyuwangi has long been known as one of the most powerful centers of black magic in Indonesia, along with Banten in West Java and the island of Lombok. According to anthropologist Kusnadi, from the University of Jember, Banyuwangi’s fertile land has bred a farming culture with close links to the spiritual world. As a buffer zone between the islands of Java and Bali, Banyuwangi also has a long history of violent struggle which in the past often met with failure. This combination of fertility and failure led to an obsession with sorcery among the peoples of Banyuwangi.

According to one history, black magic practiced today in Banyuwangi is a blend of animistic belief and Islamic mysticism which arose out of inter-religious conflict during the Mataram court from the 16th century onwards. Another account tracks the origins of Banyuwangi’s black magic to Tulung Agung, a region in the west of East Java.

Whatever its origins, today black magic, together with white magic such as fortune telling, love magic, healing massage and countless other forms, continues to play a dominant role within Banyuwangi cosmology. Many local people, from lecturers and journalists to farmers and housewives, believe in it wholeheartedly. All disasters, be they personal or communal, are attributed to black magic. Unusual or sudden death, crop failure, death of livestock, and marriage problems are all caused by a local dukun santet. Elsewhere in Indonesia, people will often consult a dukun to learn about the source of a relative’s illness. On a national level, the role of black magic has been blamed for many things including corruption.

•Forms of Black Magic
Black magic in Banyuwangi takes on two major forms. The first is sihir, black magic used to kill another person. This generally comes in the form of busung, where the victim’s stomach will grow grotesquely in size. It is believed various items such as knives, nails, broken glass, even small frying pans or animals can be found inside the stomach. Busung victims rarely escape death.

The second type of black magic in Banyuwangi is rapuh, sorcery designed to make the victim suffer throughout their lifetime. Symptoms include sudden blindness or deafness, paralysis or uncontrollable shaking and trembling.

•Dukun santet
Dukun santet are feared, and feelings of revenge often occurs in villagers. However, prior to 1998 revenge killings of dukun santet were rare. Banyuwangi villagers have long kept black magic in check at the local village level. A code of ethics among Banyuwangi dukun santet forbids them from using their magic against people in the same village. If this occurs the accused dukun must undertake an oath of innocence in the local mosque. Before 1998, a dukun found guilty by fellow villagers was usually exiled from the village and perhaps his home and possessions torched.

Dukuns probably have more of a hold in Java than in Bali. Most Javanese are Muslim, so they are not supposed to dabble in other supernatural practices. When personal family crisis arrives, people will often consult a dukun, behind closed doors. In Bali the daily offerings placed at intersections and doorways to keep evil spirits at bay, are part of Balinese life. A pedanda (high priest) will have special powers himself to ritually cleanse and offer blessings.

Mystics in Bali is ‘B’ movie about black magic that featured a not so appealing German tourist from Kuta Beach. Generally Indonesians do not like discussing black magic, especially their own experience with it, but its all around.

If you are having trouble with a Balinese local, ask for a hair from his head, adding your wife is a dukun from Banyuwangi. That will stop just about any conversation.