La Casa de la Santa Muerte in the tiny Michoacan town of Santa Ana Chapitiro, just a 15-minute drive from Day of the Dead Mecca, Patzcuaro, is one of the most elaborate shrines to the Skeleton Saint in Mexico. Since I have family in Michoacan, the colorful temple was one of my first research sites … Continue reading Mexican Indigenous Death Goddesses Xaratanga and Mictecacihuatl Reimagined as Santa Muerte in Michoacan – Photoset
Healed by Death – Santa Muerte as Curandera
Text and photo by guest contributor Stephen Patrick Guagliardo* I’ve wanted to write this for a while. Before I actually begin, this is going to be specifically about my own personal devotion to Santa Muerte, not me teaching about her or anything like that. So, if you find yourself wanting to learn more about … Continue reading Healed by Death – Santa Muerte as Curandera
2nd Edition of Pioneering Book on Santa Muerte Now Available!
We are excited to announce that the 2nd Edition of Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut's pioneering work, Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint, is now available from Oxford University Press! The new edition includes a foreword from co-curator of SkeletonSaint.com, David Metcalfe, overviewing some of the profound changes that have occurred during the past 5 years since the … Continue reading 2nd Edition of Pioneering Book on Santa Muerte Now Available!
‘My Lady Saint’ – Reflections on devotion from Asher Meekins
UK writer Asher Meekins represents a growing number of individuals outside of the Americas who have been drawn to Santa Muerte's devotional tradition as a solution to the contemporary drift away from organized religious institutions. The following reflections offer a very personal picture of his journey with the Bony Lady: I just wanted to share … Continue reading ‘My Lady Saint’ – Reflections on devotion from Asher Meekins
Santa Muerte and Godfather Endoque Saved Me From Armed Robbers
One of Santa Muerte's most important roles is that of protectress. And in a Mexico plagued by so much crime and violence, the demand for supernatural protection is greater than ever. Every day hundreds of thousand of devotees invoke the Powerful Lady's protective powers to shield them from the myriad dangers of the streets of … Continue reading Santa Muerte and Godfather Endoque Saved Me From Armed Robbers
El Culto de la Santa Muerte – Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut on Interfaith Voices
Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut was recently featured on Interfaith Voices, a leading public radio news program, to discuss La Nina Bonita, and give some insight into the deeper relevance of this feverishly contested faith tradition. From the show's description: "Drug traffickers and police, maligned women and any who feel death may be imminent: those who venerate … Continue reading El Culto de la Santa Muerte – Dr. R. Andrew Chesnut on Interfaith Voices
Most Holy Death 