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What are your views on santa muerte?

My views on Santa Muerte come from Wikipedia, and are paraphrased below:

Santa Muerte is a sacred figure venerated in Mexico, probably a syncretism between Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs. The name literally translates to "Holy Death" or "Saint Death." Mexican culture since the pre-Columbian era has maintained a certain reverence towards death, which can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the syncretic Day of the Dead. Catholic elements of that celebration include the use of skeletons to remind people of their mortality.

Santa Muerte generally appears as a skeletal figure, clad in a long robe and carrying one or more objects, usually a scythe and a globe. The robe is most often white, but images of the figure vary widely from person to person and according to the rite being performed or the petition of the devotee. As the cult of Santa Muerte was clandestine until recently, most prayers and other rites are done privately in the home. However, for the past ten years or so, worship has become more public, especially in Mexico City. The cult is condemned by the Catholic Church in Mexico, but it is firmly entrenched among Mexico’s lower classes and criminal worlds. The number of believers in Santa Muerte has grown over the past ten to twenty years, to approximately two million followers and has crossed the border into Mexican American communities in the United States.

You can read the rest of the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte

P.S It would really help if you posted more in these 'what do you think about' threads, such as your personal views, or what we're supposed to be discussing in regards to, such as 'what are your thoughts on Santa Muerte in regards to death symbolism?'. It just helps people come at the question from more of a constructive angle rather than having to formulate half the question themselves.

Case wrote:My views on Santa Muerte come from Wikipedia, and are paraphrased below:

Santa Muerte is a sacred figure venerated in Mexico, probably a syncretism between Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs. The name literally translates to "Holy Death" or "Saint Death." Mexican culture since the pre-Columbian era has maintained a certain reverence towards death, which can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the syncretic Day of the Dead. Catholic elements of that celebration include the use of skeletons to remind people of their mortality.

Santa Muerte generally appears as a skeletal figure, clad in a long robe and carrying one or more objects, usually a scythe and a globe. The robe is most often white, but images of the figure vary widely from person to person and according to the rite being performed or the petition of the devotee. As the cult of Santa Muerte was clandestine until recently, most prayers and other rites are done privately in the home. However, for the past ten years or so, worship has become more public, especially in Mexico City. The cult is condemned by the Catholic Church in Mexico, but it is firmly entrenched among Mexico’s lower classes and criminal worlds. The number of believers in Santa Muerte has grown over the past ten to twenty years, to approximately two million followers and has crossed the border into Mexican American communities in the United States.

You can read the rest of the article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte

P.S It would really help if you posted more in these 'what do you think about' threads, such as your personal views, or what we're supposed to be discussing in regards to, such as 'what are your thoughts on Santa Muerte in regards to death symbolism?'. It just helps people come at the question from more of a constructive angle rather than having to formulate half the question themselves.

Sorry about that I'm new to this but ill take that advice.

johnnathan wrote: Sorry about that I'm new to this but ill take that advice.

Dont be sorry, its fine [thumbup]

Lady Death! Santa Muerte is one to research if you are a paradigm pirate (or Catholic? I first heard the name in convent school). A lovely take on the anthropomorphism of the death figure, with enough belief throughout the world to pack a punch when you work with her. She honestly feels more Catholic than Aztec to me these days (although my Catholic isn't necessarily the Pope's Catholic... or maybe it IS) but a quick google will give you everything you need to know there.

A very good character to work with, who always leaves me with a positive outlook on life (LOL).

Those are my thoughts on our Santa Muerte

That mother fucker... Yeah, it is worshiped very much over here. I got to see something like it at my house, without it carrying the scythe but I saw something like a scythe stabbed in my vision, eyes closed. Oh wait, I got to first see a doctor, maybe a psychiatrist first so he can give an informed academic opinion. [bummed]


From liber Falxifer:

Mexico: The black santisima muerte.
Brasil: Exu rei omulu and Lorde da morte.
Dominican R: Cult of baron del cementerio.
Haiti: Cult of guede and the Barons.
Argentina: Cult of la señor la muerte.

Who would win, Hekate or the grim ripper? My bet is on hekate all the way.

la santa muerte is actually an aztec diety : goddess of the underworld = mictecacihuatl then later she became what she is now

My significant other works with Santa Muerta frequently and says she always gets exactly what she asks for from her and she's the most powerful witch I've ever known.

Another sadly misunderstood Christian appropriation of a pre-Christian Mesoamerican deity. Death is not necessarily a bad thing and those who revere her understand this as did the Mayans and Aztecs before them. She also reminds us to cherish and celebrate life while we are here. As certain as some seek to have a meaningful passing, one must first have lived a meaningful life after all if they are to be fulfilled. We live and we die. It is part of the cycle of existence that maintains the balance. She is all at once a queen of endings and a mother who watches over life.