La Santa Muerte
Unearthing the magic & Mysticism of Death
Cover Design: Ellen Lawson
Interior Photography: Anthony Louis of Twenty-Deux
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Type: Soft Cover
Pages: 230
Genre: Non-fiction
Published: 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7387-4551-0
The book itself is nice, the text clear and without obvious errors. It is about nine inches tall and six inches wide. The cover is colourful and the back has all the information you would need to make an informed purchase. There are not many pictures in the book but a four pages of colour photographs. Also there is a photo of the author and he is quite handsome ;)
This work seems to be devotion to Santa Muerte filtered through witchcraft traditions. I was reminded in particular of a lot of my Wiccan training. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing at all, i personally believe that Wiccan practices are a great base and a great system of devotion. I wouldn't necessarily call this a Wiccan book really, i am just saying that i got a general Pagan vibe from it.
I think its along the lines of comparing modern Egyptian eclectic Paganism with the re-constructionist Kemetics who try to worship the Egyptian Gods as the Ancient Egyptians did.
This book very much seems like La Santa Muerte religion through a modern Pagan eye.
As an example of this "hexing" is discouraged in this book. In an almost Threefold law kind of way, this book claims that harm has a way of coming back to us. Being that i have always striven to do good and never harm, i can say i feel this is not true. I now believe we have spiritual power for a reason and that we can be the tool that the universe uses to right wrongs.
I am no expert but my experience has been, that La Santa Muerte hears our pleas with a sympathetic ear, and offers us a shoulder to cry on before straightening us up and saying "lets get the bastard!". She is the sympathetic mother, but also the protective mother who will help eliminate the threat to her children.
The book covers death mythology and lore from Ancient Egypt, Greece-Roman, Aztec, Paleolithic and of course Catholic sources.
The author gets bonus points for using the correct BCE-CE terms. It also covers the modern history of the cult.
There is an explanation of the names, colours, tools, and symbols of many death deities. As well as information about Altars and offerings. A decent 101 style guide to spellwork is a nice addition for those beginning their path.
The book has an extensive bibliography (and a look through that that shows the Pagan influences here as well where to look for more "authentic" devotional practice) and an index, In addition to a list of Santa Muerte locations in the US, which isn't quite as useful to me in Australia.
I can recommend this book if you wish to explore La Santa Muerte from a modern Pagan point of view. I do feel that some of her mystery is lost when she is separated from her Mexican roots and catholic accouterments.
This book wasn't really for me as i already had ifo on La Santa Muerte from Andrew Chesnuts book, and i have a decent amount of Pagan knowledge.
This is La Santa Muerte from a different view point and i would recommend getting a copy of Devoted to Death- by Andrew Chesnut first.
As a minor quibble while it may be the standard "pop-science" view, i have to disagree that only humans know we are going to die.
As an example I had a very old dog and she couldn't do all the things she used too love doing. She lost strength in her legs and became terrified of the stairs, and couldn't jump up on the bed anymore or go for walks.
A few days before she died, i caught her sitting on the back stairs, where we used to sit and watch the birds, i sat beside her and had a nice moment. She also whined to get up on the bed, so i lifted her up and she rolled around and lazed there for a few hours. She grabbed her leash and brought it to me, and i put it on (she had lost all interest in walking) she didn't walk far, just in front of the next house and back. It was really like she was doing all the things she loved one last time, i am sure she knew.
The book itself is nice, the text clear and without obvious errors. It is about nine inches tall and six inches wide. The cover is colourful and the back has all the information you would need to make an informed purchase. There are not many pictures in the book but a four pages of colour photographs. Also there is a photo of the author and he is quite handsome ;)
This is my personal shrine
I think its along the lines of comparing modern Egyptian eclectic Paganism with the re-constructionist Kemetics who try to worship the Egyptian Gods as the Ancient Egyptians did.
This book very much seems like La Santa Muerte religion through a modern Pagan eye.
As an example of this "hexing" is discouraged in this book. In an almost Threefold law kind of way, this book claims that harm has a way of coming back to us. Being that i have always striven to do good and never harm, i can say i feel this is not true. I now believe we have spiritual power for a reason and that we can be the tool that the universe uses to right wrongs.
I am no expert but my experience has been, that La Santa Muerte hears our pleas with a sympathetic ear, and offers us a shoulder to cry on before straightening us up and saying "lets get the bastard!". She is the sympathetic mother, but also the protective mother who will help eliminate the threat to her children.
The book covers death mythology and lore from Ancient Egypt, Greece-Roman, Aztec, Paleolithic and of course Catholic sources.
The author gets bonus points for using the correct BCE-CE terms. It also covers the modern history of the cult.
There is an explanation of the names, colours, tools, and symbols of many death deities. As well as information about Altars and offerings. A decent 101 style guide to spellwork is a nice addition for those beginning their path.
The book has an extensive bibliography (and a look through that that shows the Pagan influences here as well where to look for more "authentic" devotional practice) and an index, In addition to a list of Santa Muerte locations in the US, which isn't quite as useful to me in Australia.
I can recommend this book if you wish to explore La Santa Muerte from a modern Pagan point of view. I do feel that some of her mystery is lost when she is separated from her Mexican roots and catholic accouterments.
This book wasn't really for me as i already had ifo on La Santa Muerte from Andrew Chesnuts book, and i have a decent amount of Pagan knowledge.
This is La Santa Muerte from a different view point and i would recommend getting a copy of Devoted to Death- by Andrew Chesnut first.
As a minor quibble while it may be the standard "pop-science" view, i have to disagree that only humans know we are going to die.
As an example I had a very old dog and she couldn't do all the things she used too love doing. She lost strength in her legs and became terrified of the stairs, and couldn't jump up on the bed anymore or go for walks.
A few days before she died, i caught her sitting on the back stairs, where we used to sit and watch the birds, i sat beside her and had a nice moment. She also whined to get up on the bed, so i lifted her up and she rolled around and lazed there for a few hours. She grabbed her leash and brought it to me, and i put it on (she had lost all interest in walking) she didn't walk far, just in front of the next house and back. It was really like she was doing all the things she loved one last time, i am sure she knew.
