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
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
Saved from Death on the Road by Lady Death
While the statue on my altar is the Siete Potencias version, I talk with La Reversible on the road to deflect the attention of radar detectors etc and protect from accidents.
Santa Muerte of The Left-Hand Path
By Guest Contributor Zulqarnayn XIII* My author name is Zulqarnayn XIII, a name that reflects the fusion of myroots: a Mexican heritage rich in ancestral traditions, and another from theancient Ottoman Empire, particularly from Turkey. Zulqarnayn orDulqarnayn was one of the names by which the biblical Cain was known inthose lands, a figure of exile … Continue reading Santa Muerte of The Left-Hand Path
Santa Muerte as Queen of Vampires
By Guest Contributor Mark Edwards* Santa Muerte, often revered as "Holy Death," is a powerful and mysterious figure within Mexican folk religion and the broader occult community. While she is primarily known as a personification of death and a protector of the marginalized, an intriguing dimension to her mythology portrays her as the queen of … Continue reading Santa Muerte as Queen of Vampires
Most Holy Death 