Santa Muerte: Our Lady of Holy Death

From 2014, would be curious to see current growth rate of the faith ->

Our Lady of the Holy Death Is the World's Fastest Growing Religious Movement

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4w7pz...harebutton

She has between 10 and 12 million devotees, and she's only been public for 12 years," said Andrew Chesnut, author of  Devoted to Death, the first English-language book about the cult. Before 2001, Santa Muerte was clandestine, with devotees building personal shrines hidden in their closets. But after a woman named Enriqueta Romero unveiled the first public shrine to the saint in the Mexico City barrio of Tepito, it has spread fiercely throughout Mexico, Central America, and Latino-heavy US cities like Los Angeles and Houston. Chesnut has even tracked the cult's growth to Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. "There's no other new religious movement that can complete with the velocity of that growth," Chesnut said.

Pre-Tepito, Santa Muerte's origin is not entirely clear. Many see it as a combination/bastardization of Spanish colonial Catholicism and Aztec beliefs regarding Mictecacihuatl, the queen of the underworld. The link to Catholicism is easy to understand, seeing as Santa Muerte worship contains many of the same rituals used at the Vatican, while the connection to indigenous beliefs seems tenuous—any number of cultures worship the personification of death in some form. But while the roots are murky, the reason why a cult based around death sprouted up specifically in Mexico isn't particularly hard to understand.

"I wanted to commit suicide," explained Los Angeles–based devotee Lilian. "My husband beat me up and I couldn't find meaning in life. One day I called a friend and told her I was going to take pills to kill myself, and she talked to me about Santa Muerte." But if the deity helps, she expects something in return. Flowers, prayers, candles, cigars, sometimes money. "You need to keep your promises. If you don't, she punishes you by making it hard to find a job, or money, or illness, stuff like that," Lilian added.

Dedicated site to Santa Muerte:

https://skeletonsaint.com/

Here's an interesting one ->

Born in Texas, Complete in Mexico – The Testimony of Warren Robert ‘Hank’ Vine

https://skeletonsaint.com/2017/09/05/bor...hank-vine/

I tried to catch 4 different taxies, all four did not go as far as Ecatepec, in a moment of frustration, panic, anger and a little fear.. I said a silent prayer to Santa Muerte asking for help and protection. Less than 5 minutes later a black car pulls up, and the gentleman driving asked if I needed help, a bit dumbfounded and apprehensive, I answered, Yes, and took a good look into his eyes and trusted what I saw..

He was not a taxi driver nor an uber driver, just a person. I took the biggest leap of faith ever in my life – I trusted this man, this complete stranger, to get me home safely!

A few minutes into our drive I tossed it out that I was a devotee of Santa Muerte, as it turns out, both he and his girlfriend also were devotees. They attend services at the Santa Muerte International Temple.
We had a great chat and I openly told him I had asked for her help moments before he drove up. He looks at me with this stone cold stare and says:

“Something came upon my heart when I saw you there and I understand now, mi Flakita was telling me to stop!”

It seems to me this would be incredibly dangerous, not sure I would do it (and if I were a woman I'd be even more wary) but it is an interesting tale of spiritual intervention (at least from the devotee's perspective).

Another practitioner site for devotees of Santa Muerte:

https://www.patreon.com/SantaMuerteMagick


Also some videos:

My Conversation with Ashera Star Goddess about Santa Muerte!
4/4/2017
2 Comments
 

Recently had a chat with Ashera Star Goddess on YouTube - check out the video in this post to have a listen and check out her channel today for more great videos!

This  was my first time talking on the record about my experiences with Santa Muerte and the things I've learned about her since living in Mexico. It was great talking to Ashera and the conversation was a lot of fun. Many thanks to her for reaching out to me.

The other videos are related to Santa Muerte but I think this is the only one from the site's author/creator.

Arely Gonzalez's bedroom in Jackson Heights, Queens, was once a garage. Occupying the wall that was the garage door is an altar, and at the center is a statue of a skeleton draped in jewelry and dressed in a sparkling jade gown. She is La Santa Muerte, the Holy Death, and she is the object of Gonzalez's affection, a powerful ally in a precarious life, a source of comfort—even miracles—when nothing else helps.

Also known as La Flaca, the Skinny Lady, and La Huesuda, the Bony Lady, Santa Muerte has been worshipped in Mexico since the early 20th century. Her origins are murky, perhaps a merging of Aztec or Mayan death deities with European Catholic culture. Her popularity has exploded in the past ten years. Today, millions of Mexicans call themselves devotees of Santa Muerte, and her cult has crossed the border into the U.S.

"She's seen as a powerful multi-tasker," explains Andrew Chesnut, Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte the Skeleton Saint. "Lots of times saints have very specific themes and miracles they can perform. Santa Muerte is for all seasons, all kinds of miracles." Many even see her as "basically second to God. People go to her if they need their miracles to work fast."

The Catholic Church is not happy about Santa Muerte's rise in popularity. The Catholic hierarchy of Mexico condemns her as blasphemy or devil worship. The Mexican state and the media highlight the popularity of the "sinner's saint" among drug-runners and in Mexican prisons. And it is true that for those living outside of official society, Santa Muerte is in their corner. "Who better to ask for more time, for a few more years, than death itself?" says Chesnut. "She's seen as the great protectress, so for those who have so much that they need protection from, she is very powerful."

Arely Gonzalez is an immigrant and transsexual. In Mexico, she suffered discrimination and was kicked out of Catholic churches. In the U.S., she has become a leader in the community of devotees to Santa Muerte. Each August, she organizes a large celebration for her saint. This year, she expects over 500 attendees, and has already booked one of New York's most prominent mariachi bands. Devotees at Arely's celebration come from all walks of New York's Latino immigrant community—proof that Santa Muerte's reach has expanded.

Written and Co-produced by Adrian Fernandez Baumann

Here are some sources you might like if you want to know more about Santa Muerte: Dimuro, Gina https://allthatsinteresting.com/santa... 2018 December 9 Carey, Lydia https://theculturetrip.com/north-amer... 2017 December 9 Santa Muerte Magick http://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog... 2016 December 13 http://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog... http://www.santamuerte.org