Traditional Witchcraft and Occultism: The Importance of the Black Santa Muerte for Protection, Revenge and Cursing

The problems of injustice and impunity in Mexico have been well-publicized and this is clearly one important reason for the rise of Santa Muerte in popularity there. But, here in the U.S. and in other supposedly more peaceful and just countries many people, especially those who are members of traditionally disenfranchised groups, live daily with injustice and the fear of crime and corruption.

Enemies of Santa Muerte malign her devotees, calling us criminals and prostitutes. But, this is malignant ignorance because the vast majority of devotees of Santa Muerte are not criminals or prostitutes, but are simply not members of the establishment and do not enjoy the privileges of being part of the in-group. The truth is many people become devoted to Santa Muerte after they are victimized by criminals of one class or another. Very often they discover her immense power only after turning to her as a last resort. Very often, they are people without special privileges and without a voice.

There are those who must suffer in silence because giving voice to what is happening to them will only open the door to more crimes against themselves – those who are victims of domestic violence, rape, harassment, stalking and other violent crimes that far more often than not go unpunished. Those people whose lives have been sabotaged over and over again, who have had to rebuild over and over again that which their enemies have destroyed will most understand and appreciate the value of the black aspect of Santa Muerte.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial (Santa Muerte Series) (Volume 1) by Sophia diGregorio

This is why the black aspect of Santa Muerte is very important. The color, black, represents the most important and powerful aspects of Santa Muerte‘s primordial powers. Before there can be healing, love, prosperity and the other necessities of life, there must be peace.

Before a seed can grow in the soil, it must be covered in darkness and protected, it must not be deprived of its nourishment by thieves, its young shoots must not be trampled by the feet of the wicked.

The cover of darkness in which to work on your plans without falling subject to envy, jealousy, greed and sabotage. Secrecy is important for people who may be targeted in some way.

Santa Muerte, working through her black aspect, can help you to establish your privacy and protect you from those who would harm you in any way. Santa Muerte works in secret, in the darkness, to right wrongs, to protect the innocent, to avenge those who love her and to conceal you from anyone who might wish to do you harm.

Not only does the black aspect of Santa Muerte have the power of stopping dangerous and powerful enemies, even causing the death of enemies who wish devotees harm, but provides extremely powerful protection under the cover of darkness. The great owl companion of Santa Muerte provides eyes in the night with which to see an approaching enemy, to learn of his plots and thwart his sabotage.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2: Altars, Meditations, Divination and Witchcraft Rituals for Devotees of Most Holy Death

Keepers of the status quo warn against the evils of revenge. They admonish the wronged parties to forgive their oppressors. They taunt the victims’ because of their need for anonymity. But, there is no peace without justice.

And, to go forward with your life, to pursuit happiness and fulfill your life’s purpose, you must first have peace. You must not be tormented by evil-doers and those who perpetrate evil against you.

This place of peace is a protected one from which you can live and work in safety. All people are naturally entitled to that kind of peace and opportunity to live their lives without sabotage, without betrayal, without constant victimization.

The black Santa Muerte is the most powerful aspect for all those who have been denied justice, who have been left behind by the established system in some way, those who were not born to privilege, those who do not have the benefit of equality under the law, those who have no representation in places of power, those who are oppressed. Santa Muerte is our greatest ally and a source of personal power.

Misconceptions About Santa Muerte: Most Holy Death is Public Enemy Number One to Journalists, Christians and Law Enforcement Agencies

by Sophia diGregorio

Sophia diGregorio is the author of The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico

Santa Muerte Statues
Date: 31 January 2009.
Source: Cult of Santa Muerte
Author Christine Zenino
Photo Lic.: Creative Commons 2.0; Wikimedia Comons

There are many misconceptions about Santa Muerte, who is one of numerous folk saints in Mexico. Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, is a spirit one can petition for protection, luck, good negotiations and love. She is not officially recognized by the catholic church who has declared her following a cult. There is reason to believe she is an spirit of Death known since ancient times in what is now modern Mexico.

Despite the goodness and rich beauty of the Mexican tradition of Santa Muerte, her long history and noble legends, critics within the conventional religious and government establishments have tried to besmirch her image and associate her and her devotees with Satanism, narcotics trafficking and heinous crimes. To the Catholic Church, she is Satanic and a heresy. They refer to her as an “illegitimate saint” or a “banned saint.”

In 2006, former Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, ordered her shrines to be destroyed by the Mexican Army and police departments and drug agencies in the U.S. have declared her a “narco-saint.” The FBI and other agencies of the U.S. government seem convinced that there is a connection between Santa Muerte and drug trafficking, although they seem to ignore the fact that the devotion to Santa Muerte is so common, and increasingly so, that trying to make such a connection is impossible.  Nonetheless, they have tried to connect her devotees with the commission of a range of heinous crimes, including human sacrifice.

She has been denounced by the Vatican culture minister on a tour of Mexico as “blasphemous.” The Catholic Church, which is engulfed in numerous scandals ranging from pedophilia to accusations of mafia connections inside the Vatican, is desperate to hold on to what remains of its influence in Mexico and elsewhere. They see Santa Muerte as a direct threat to their power and influence, although, many devotees of Santa Muerte are, at least, nominally Catholic.

Journalists happily demonize Santa Muerte and her devotees in sensationalized and often religiously biased “news” pieces.

The truth is that most devotees of Santa Muerte in the U.S  and Mexico are not drug dealers or other types of criminals. Many are prosperous, upstanding members of their communities who practice their devotion in secrecy with home shrines. Many are highly spiritual people, who are natural healers of one kind or another.

Santa Muerte is a powerful spirit who succeeds when all else fails, therefore, it is often in the most desperate of times that devotees first turn to her.  Many are people in need of comfort, healing, love, financial help, protection and justice in an unjust world.

As the authority of both church and state have crumbled, Santa Muerte’s following has grown ever larger. Devotion to Santa Muerte is not so much a matter of faith or belief, but a matter of experience. To know the power of Santa Muerte for yourself, you must forge a personal connection with her.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial (Santa Muerte Series) (Volume 1) by Sophia diGregorio

The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico was written especially with non-Catholic, non-Spanish speaking people in mind. The author attempts to make Santa Muerte accessible to English-speaking readers. You can find it at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo and other online outlets.

A nice article and review of the book, The Grimoire of Santa Muerte: Spells and Rituals of Most Holy Death, the Unofficial Saint of Mexico, may be found here: http://ideefixemon.blogspot.com/2013/02/santa-muerte-unoffical-saint-of-mexico.html

 Update: Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2: Altars, Meditations, Divination and Witchcraft Rituals for Devotees of Most Holy Death (Volume 2) was released in 2016.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 2 provides potentially life-transforming rituals and prayers to Santa Muerte. This book goes deeper into the modern devotion to Santa Muerte and the author shares more insights into Most Holy Death.

Grimoire of Santa Muerte, Vol. 3, which is about healing with Most Holy Death, is coming soon!