La Madrina Enriqueta Vargas Ortiz (b. 1959 - d. 2018), the charismatic leader of Santa Muerte Internacional, has died after a prolonged battle with cancer. The SMI temple in Tultitlan will hold a viewing on December 19th at noon, beneath the feet of the largest statue of Santa Muerte in the world. On December … Continue reading Top Santa Muerte Leader Enriqueta Vargas is in the Bony Lady’s Embrace
Santa Muerte, My Mother, and Me
By Aliza Einhorn* 1 I’m an astrologer. I started blogging in 2011 as a way to attract clients. Blogs were business cards back then. Less so today. And I named my site Moon Pluto Astrology because in my natal chart (that thing astrologers analyze to figure you out), I have my Moon and my Pluto … Continue reading Santa Muerte, My Mother, and Me
Top Vatican Official Rebukes Santa Muerte – Again
Italian cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, has reiterated his denunciation of Santa Muerte issued in Mexico City four years ago. Speaking yesterday at Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria he said, "These depravaties, blasphemies, and idolatries have become a real and perverse cult among Mexican narcos with the veneration of Santa Muerte, … Continue reading Top Vatican Official Rebukes Santa Muerte – Again
Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
The following post from the Devoted to Death Facebook group provides a powerful perspective on current events from a U.S. devotee of Santa Muerte. In this piece Robin Artisson reflects on some of the extreme political changes occurring and what place Saint Death may have in helping to focus these issues for those pushed to … Continue reading Santa Muerte as Religious Resistance – Reflections of a Devotee
House of Holy Death – The Santa Muerte Shrine of Michoacan
The Santa Muerte shrine in the tiny Michoacan town of Santa Ana Chapitiro is one of the most impressive in Mexico and a testament to the dynamism of the fastest growing new religious movement in the Americas. Built by a recently deceased devotee from Mexico City, it contains hundreds of exquisite handcrafted images of the … Continue reading House of Holy Death – The Santa Muerte Shrine of Michoacan
¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Tanto las fotos como la traduccion del ingles fueron realizadas por la Dra. Fabiola Chesnut, Jefa del Departamento de Lenguas Extranjeras y Bellas Artes de la Escuela Secundaria Huguenot, Richmond, Virginia, y nativa de Morelia, Michoacán. Texto por el Dr. Andrew Chesnut. El día 28/12/16 asistí a la celebración del 9º aniversario de la fundación … Continue reading ¿Es Santa Muerte – el Nuevo Movimiento Religioso de más rápido crecimiento en las Américas – Institucionalizando?
Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
All photos were taken by Fabiola Chesnut, Chair of Foreign Languages and Fine Arts at Huguenot High School, Richmond, Virginia, and native of Morelia, Michoacan. On 12/28/16 I attended the 9th anniversary celebration of the founding of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional in the gritty Mexico City suburb of Tultitlan.Founded by Jonathan Legaria Vargas, aka Comandante … Continue reading Is the Fastest Growing New Religious Movement in the Americas – Santa Muerte – Institutionalizing?
“La Flaca” A New Film on Santa Muerte in NYC
Co-directors Thiago Zananto and Adriana Barbosa have released the trailer for their forthcoming film, "La Flaca," which features NYC Santa Muerte pioneer, Arely Vazquez. Filmed on location in Queens, "La Flaca" (or Skinny Lady, one of the skeleton saint's main monikers) focuses on the 9th anniversary fiesta of Arely's devotion to Saint Death. Top Mexican … Continue reading “La Flaca” A New Film on Santa Muerte in NYC
10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
On August 20, 2016, New York City devotional pioneer Arely Vazquez hosted her tenth annual Santa Muerte fiesta in Queens. Joined by the preeminent Santa Muerte leader in Mexico, Enriqueta Vargas of Templo Santa Muerte Internacional, Arely led some 150 devotees in an evening of prayer, song and dance. At first I was surprised by … Continue reading 10 Years of Santa Muerte in NYC
Stash House Goddess: Media Portrayals of Santa Muerte
Certain media outlets, such as Breitbart continue the trend of inaccurate and fear mongering reporting on Santa Muerte (see: 37 Illegal Aliens Found in 'Goddess of Death' Shrine House). As Dr. Andrew Chesnut points out in his Twitter post of this link, neither devotees nor scholars refer to Santa Muerte as a "goddess of death." This report … Continue reading Stash House Goddess: Media Portrayals of Santa Muerte
Most Holy Death 