Who is Santa Muerte really?
Between her gushing loyal devotees and the violent sensationalist media it's hard to know which to believe. Who is Santa Muerte really?
Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint who is spreading across the globe at a rate that could never have been predicted. She is worshipped and worked with by those of differing religions and those with no spiritual leanings whatsoever.
She is one of few who appears to those in need of her help when they have not called upon her, and, in fact, have no knowledge about who she is at all.
Oddly disconcerting when she looks like a very cute Grimm Reaper (she is 4 ft nothing), but she does fill the room with a feeling of ‘safety’ so there are no feeling of imminent death.
Everybody’s Mother
The best way I can describe her personality is a Mother of errant children (us).
She hopes we choose the light as often as possible, she is always on our team, but she will let us make those mistakes that teach us how to be better people, how to have a better character.
You are a single mother who sleeps with men so you can afford your rent - she absolutely gets it. She’ll get a friend to offer you a job in school hours so you have the choice - continue with what you know or decide you deserve better.
Cartel Member - Father just died and is beside himself with grief. Santa Muerte sees the light in this guy that is buried beneath bad choices and she stokes it. She will comfort this man, love this man and always hold hope that he will make a different decision.
She will not hurt people on his behalf. She will not protect his weapons cache.
She is not an idiot.
If you are a school teacher in Ohio and you are desperately unhappy in your relationship, but what else is there? You feel like you are worth more than this town, more than this job and you want to give more to the world.
Santa Muerte is the one who will give you the courage to make this ‘death’ happen. Sometimes we need that raspy voice in the corner saying ‘if it now, when. Don’t die with this inside of you.’
A protector, cheerleader, benefactor, advisor, someone who raises their eyebrow when you do something questionable…everything a Mother is.
Her Status
Part of the reason Santa Muerte IS so popular is because she isn’t tarnished by religion. She keeps being rejected by the church and I am hoping this remains in place going forward.
Santa Muerte’s beginnings came during the genocide across the Americas by the Christian Spanish - she has witnessed what has been done in Gods name and the lies that are told.
There have been many smear campaigns by the Catholic Church - especially in Mexico - because she poses a threat to them. She is, very loudly, exactly what the Church should be but chooses not to be.
Effective, accepting and merciful.
By Santa Muerte not being welcomed into the arms of the church, she has been welcomed into the arms of all those the church has (and continues to) rebuked. Queer, non-binary, women, the differently-abled, those in poverty, the abused, immigrants in affluent communities…..it’s a match made in heaven.
~ Malika