In recent days, Catholic media outlets in Mexico and Latin America — notably ACI Prensa — have repeated the now-familiar warnings against integrating the integration of Santa Muerte into Day of the Dead commemorations. What is new this year is the particularly severe condemnation of what some have called GuadaMuerte, the fusion of Santa Muerte … Continue reading GuadaMuerte Rebuked by the Catholic Press in Latin America
Construction Continues on Controversial First Santa Muerte Temple in Guatemala
CANTEL, Guatemala — Continuing construction of Guatemala’s first Santa Muerte temple, complete with a 36-foot effigy of the Skeleton Saint, is fueling controversy both nationally and in the town where it’s being built. Opponents—apparently mostly Pentecostals—have escalated their protests from social media to an on-site demonstration. Guatemala has the world’s largest Pentecostal population per capita, … Continue reading Construction Continues on Controversial First Santa Muerte Temple in Guatemala
Portrait of a Dark Goddess – Santa Muerte Revealed in My Artwork
My love for dark goddesses started with Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, who, along with her husband Oberon, taught me through my twenties — I was even May Queen at Annwfn in 2006. Morning Glory loved dark goddesses from every tradition, every continent, and after she passed, I got obsessed with making art of them: goddesses of … Continue reading Portrait of a Dark Goddess – Santa Muerte Revealed in My Artwork
From Tragedy to Triumph – The Bony Lady Helped Her with a New Home
My son-in-law died of a drug overdose last July. My pregnant daughter found him in their bedroom. She obviously has had problems living in that space since that time even though I did a complete spiritual cleansing of the entire home. Two weeks ago she asked for my help in finding a new place … Continue reading From Tragedy to Triumph – The Bony Lady Helped Her with a New Home
Back in Black – Santa Muerte Got Me Off Antidepressants
By guest contributor Martina Kohler* After my husband died quite suddenly at the end of November 2024 after a long and serious illness, and shortly before that I had started slowly reducing the antidepressants I had been taking for 8 years. I felt very bad and was angry, sad, and desperate that, in my opinion, … Continue reading Back in Black – Santa Muerte Got Me Off Antidepressants
Third Edition of ‘Devoted to Death’ Just Dropped!
From the desk of Dr. Andrew Chesnut, one of the leading academic experts on Latin American folk saints, comes the long-awaited Third Edition of the groundbreaking book that first pulled back the veil on the fastest-growing new religious movement on the planet. 💀 Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint 💀 returns with updated … Continue reading Third Edition of ‘Devoted to Death’ Just Dropped!
Karma Italian Style – Santa Muerte Hospitalizes a Hater
By Luciano Martucci, independent anthropologist* A friend of mine, whom I’ve known for ten years and with whom I’ve shared many experiences in social circles, ceremonies, rituals, and other things related to different cultures and histories, has always shown little interest in my studies. She often told me that skeletal figures made her uneasy, but … Continue reading Karma Italian Style – Santa Muerte Hospitalizes a Hater
Pentecostal Protesters March Against Guatemala’s First Santa Muerte Temple
The construction of the first Santa Muerte temple along with a 36 foot tall effigy of the Skeleton Saint in Guatemala continues to cause considerable controversy both nationally and especially in the town where it’s being built. Opponents, who judging by their slogans appear to be mostly Pentecostals, have ramped up their protests from social … Continue reading Pentecostal Protesters March Against Guatemala’s First Santa Muerte Temple
Construction of the First Santa Muerte Temple in Guatemala Causes Controversy
The construction of the first Santa Muerte temple along with a 33 foot tall effigy of the Skeleton Saint in Guatemala is causing considerable controversy both nationally and especially in the town where it’s being built. There is already a temple to the Guatemalan folk saint of death, Rey San Pascual, in the town of … Continue reading Construction of the First Santa Muerte Temple in Guatemala Causes Controversy
Bone Mother in Belfast – Santa Muerte as Safe Space in Northern Ireland
I was raised Catholic and made to attend mass, which I hated as I had no choice. When me and my husband lost our son and our survivor was in special care, I totally lost faith in God and Jesus at that stage. I thought, if God was a loving God why take away someone's … Continue reading Bone Mother in Belfast – Santa Muerte as Safe Space in Northern Ireland
Most Holy Death 