Santa Muerte inked in Skin: My Holy Death Tattoos

Santa Muerte tattoos are one of the most intimate forms of offering, they are Death in the flesh. For devotees, they are deeply spiritual. As Mariposa describes, among other things, they proffer protection from danger, and create a deeper psychic bond with Santa Muerte. Tattoos are for life, and Santa Muerte is in the skin of devoted until they are in their grave, united once and for all with Death herself.

The Offering of Flesh – A Personal Account of Sacred Tattooing in Santa Muerte’s Devotional Tradition

THE FOLLOWING IS A PERSONAL ACCOUNT FROM SANTA MUERTE DEVOTEE HANK VINE: It was early spring, 2016 - I was homeless, unemployed and drifting around the U.S. I'd just traveled from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the Rio Grande Valley, deep in south Texas where I was crashing on the couch of a friend whom I'd only … Continue reading The Offering of Flesh – A Personal Account of Sacred Tattooing in Santa Muerte’s Devotional Tradition