Original post: gnostic_paladin
I have a friend who is working as a consultant to a large company with foreign interests, and he is compiling information on Mexican religious practices. I was wondering whether anyone could give any more information on the Santa Muerte movement than is available on the few, rather vague news reports on the internet. Political information would be helpful, but I am especially interested in occult practices.
Thank you.
Santa Muerte
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Original post: rhoNIN
Saint (feminine) Death?
I fear I've never heard of them, but my interest is certainly aroused. What Mexican state do they operate in? Are they native (ex- Oaxacan Shamans), mestizo (ex- brujeria), or modern?
-rhoNIN
Saint (feminine) Death?
I fear I've never heard of them, but my interest is certainly aroused. What Mexican state do they operate in? Are they native (ex- Oaxacan Shamans), mestizo (ex- brujeria), or modern?
-rhoNIN
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Original post: gnostic_paladin
Their headquarters is in Mexico City. They are very much modern, having taking rituals and prayers from the Catholic Church (to appeal to the common folk) and altered them into death-worship. It seems to have adopted some ideas from the Vodoun traditions, as well, although this is speculation on my part. All the information I have is available from news articles online.
In general, as may be expected of a death-cult, these are not good people.
Their headquarters is in Mexico City. They are very much modern, having taking rituals and prayers from the Catholic Church (to appeal to the common folk) and altered them into death-worship. It seems to have adopted some ideas from the Vodoun traditions, as well, although this is speculation on my part. All the information I have is available from news articles online.
In general, as may be expected of a death-cult, these are not good people.
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Original post: Jenfucius
Its not with the voodoun religion they mix it with. Its either with the old aztec religion or with some of the old native religion.
They may have some influence by The Day of the Dead folk festival as well.
Its not with the voodoun religion they mix it with. Its either with the old aztec religion or with some of the old native religion.
They may have some influence by The Day of the Dead folk festival as well.
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Original post: Deo Volente
Grace & Peace!
gnostic, there was an article in the NY Times online about it--but I have a feeling that you've probably read it or others of similar ilk. Politically, it seems that she's popular with outcasts, the poor, "criminals," people who feel they have little hope and believe they can approach Santa Muerte (who's cult is very very down to earth--she likes mariachi music at Mass and wears a boa sometimes, etc.) when they feel they cannot come to Our Lady. I wonder, though, if The Skinny Girl isn't just the shadow of The Theotokos. Or some such. At any rate, because of the folks with whom she's most popular, I would imagine there would be some disdain for her cult amongst more "normative" Mexican Catholic belief. I think some church officials derided her cult as Satanic. This, to me, expresses the classical Marxist class struggle.
I believe there are some sites on the internet that will give you prayers and rituals. They generally fit in, to my knowledge, with the Catholic folk/popular devotional current. What her devotees ask her for, though, is sometimes unusual to ask a saint--that a drug deal go down well, that enemies be vanquished, that sort of thing. But there are testimonials that she's helped people kick addictions and turn their lives around. As one devotee said, "She hears prayers from dark places."
Reminds me in some ways of Kali. Also reminds me of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale called "Godfather Death". A poor man seeks a godfather for his child and rejects God for being too partial to the rich, the devil for being to partial for the poor, and chooses Death because he takes anyone and everyone. Death, in this story (and in others, I believe) is the friend of the folk.
--Mark
Deo Gratias!
Grace & Peace!
gnostic, there was an article in the NY Times online about it--but I have a feeling that you've probably read it or others of similar ilk. Politically, it seems that she's popular with outcasts, the poor, "criminals," people who feel they have little hope and believe they can approach Santa Muerte (who's cult is very very down to earth--she likes mariachi music at Mass and wears a boa sometimes, etc.) when they feel they cannot come to Our Lady. I wonder, though, if The Skinny Girl isn't just the shadow of The Theotokos. Or some such. At any rate, because of the folks with whom she's most popular, I would imagine there would be some disdain for her cult amongst more "normative" Mexican Catholic belief. I think some church officials derided her cult as Satanic. This, to me, expresses the classical Marxist class struggle.
I believe there are some sites on the internet that will give you prayers and rituals. They generally fit in, to my knowledge, with the Catholic folk/popular devotional current. What her devotees ask her for, though, is sometimes unusual to ask a saint--that a drug deal go down well, that enemies be vanquished, that sort of thing. But there are testimonials that she's helped people kick addictions and turn their lives around. As one devotee said, "She hears prayers from dark places."
Reminds me in some ways of Kali. Also reminds me of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale called "Godfather Death". A poor man seeks a godfather for his child and rejects God for being too partial to the rich, the devil for being to partial for the poor, and chooses Death because he takes anyone and everyone. Death, in this story (and in others, I believe) is the friend of the folk.
--Mark
Deo Gratias!
Santa Muerte
In Aztec mythology, Mictecacihuatl (pronounced 'Mikt-eyk-as-see-wahl' or Misk-tesk-ei-siev-alth) is Queen of Mictlan, the underworld, ruling over the afterlife with Mictlantecuhtli, another deity who is designated as her husband.[1]
Her role is to keep watch over the bones of the dead. She presided over the ancient festivals of the dead, which evolved from Aztec traditions into the modern Day of the Dead after synthesis with Spanish cultural traditions. She is said now to preside over the contemporary festival as well. Mictecacihuatl is known as the Lady of the Dead, since it is believed that she was born, then sacrificed as an infant. Her cult is sometimes held to persist in the common Mexican worship of Santa Muerte.
Mictecacihuatl was represented with a defleshed body and with jaw agape to swallow the stars during the day.
Her role is to keep watch over the bones of the dead. She presided over the ancient festivals of the dead, which evolved from Aztec traditions into the modern Day of the Dead after synthesis with Spanish cultural traditions. She is said now to preside over the contemporary festival as well. Mictecacihuatl is known as the Lady of the Dead, since it is believed that she was born, then sacrificed as an infant. Her cult is sometimes held to persist in the common Mexican worship of Santa Muerte.
Mictecacihuatl was represented with a defleshed body and with jaw agape to swallow the stars during the day.