A modern witch
As job titles go, Mayra must have one of the most unusual: she describes herself as a freelance spiritualist, fortuneteller and witch.
In practice, this means that she earns money offering to solve people's problems using the rituals and rites of Santeria - a religion that fuses ancient African beliefs with Catholicism.
Mayra blows cigar smoke as she performs a Santeria ritual. The Afro-Cuban religion was officially not allowed in Cuba after the 1959 revolution, but it was eventually tolerated and still thrives today.
When Mayra is not practicing the rituals of the religion, she is an ordinary Cuban housewife living in Havana.
She performs religious rites – like this one which involves having white crosses drawn on her feet – in her own home.
Back in housewife mode, Mayra does her chores as her husband sits beside her.
Kneeling on her sandals, Mayra carries out a religious ritual.
Mayra smokes in front of an alter. The rites she practices can involve many different elements: animals, coconuts, plants, flowers and other objects.
Mayra holds a prayer book and a cigar as she performs a ritual at home.
She is helped by her husband, who sometimes acts as her assistant, as she goes into a trance as part of a Santeria ritual.
Mayra performs a ritual on a young woman named Dayana, a Cuban model who has come to be cleansed of bad spirits through a “rompimiento” ceremony. This part of the procedure involves Mayra ripping off Dayana’s clothes.
A woman who has come to Mayra for help sits on a chair while Mayra carries out a ritual.
Mayra blows cigar smoke.
The 18-year-old model Dayana waits for the start of the ceremony Mayra was about to perform to cleanse her of bad spirits.
Mayra drinks rum as part of one of the religious rites.
The butts of cigars, coins and other objects used in Santeria lie in the corner of Mayra's home.
