Santa Muerte Devotion 101: Answers and Explanations for Curious Readers and New Devotees
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/41gmMKg
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/41gmMKg
Benefits of Santa Muerte Devotion
Devoting yourself to any spiritual path just because of what you stand to gain by following that path is a recipe for disaster, because as soon as the spiritual path fails to deliver what you want, you’re all the more likely to walk away from the path in frustration. Rather than devoting yourself to a spiritual path for what it can do for you, it is better to devote yourself to one that not only serves you, but the people around you, as well as the path itself.
In my experience, the Santa Muerte seems to smile on devotees who spread their blessings around, rather than hoarding them. For example, when I was living in Tijuana asking Santa Muerte for clients who would buy my work, I usually spent the money I earned by supporting my mother, who needed my help at the time. Even now that I write books and blog posts about the Santa Muerte, I write them not only so they may provide income that keeps me alive and comfortable, but also so that I may help to bring more people into this growing community of Santa Muerte devotees.
This being said, devotees who approach Santa Muerte with a kind and unselfish heart do appear to experience a variety of benefits. One of the major benefits of Santa Muerte devotion is spiritual fulfillment. To be spiritually fulfilled is to feel comfortable on your spiritual path. The problem with many modern religions is the amount of shame and condemnation which is built into those spiritual systems. How can people feel fulfilled when they are taught that they must subjugate themselves, be ashamed of themselves, and hide themselves from the world? As devotees of Santa Muerte, we are all seen as equals, we are allowed to experience the world, and we are not made to be ashamed of who we are. Even before we give ourselves to Santa Muerte devotion, we are accepted by Santa Muerte, which means we can be free to explore our individual spiritual paths, and the world around us, without constantly worrying that we will somehow sin against or anger the Santa Muerte.
Another benefit which can be gained through devotion to Santa Muerte is the ability to accept your own mortality. Once you face your mortality and come to terms with the fact that your life will one day end, and there is nothing you can do about it, then all that is sweet in the world is made more sweet, and all that is bitter in the world is made less bitter. When you accept that your life will one day end, you will appreciate and savor things like good food, good sex, and sunny days. Likewise, when you accept that your life will one day end, you will feel less depressed about pain and suffering.
Santa Muerte devotion also allows you to enter into a community of fellow devotees. Devotees of death exist all over the world and come from all walks of life. While you may not always like how another has chosen to live life, the fact that we are all equal under Santa Muerte means you should at least respect all others and come to the aid of other devotees whenever possible.
In my experience, the Santa Muerte seems to smile on devotees who spread their blessings around, rather than hoarding them. For example, when I was living in Tijuana asking Santa Muerte for clients who would buy my work, I usually spent the money I earned by supporting my mother, who needed my help at the time. Even now that I write books and blog posts about the Santa Muerte, I write them not only so they may provide income that keeps me alive and comfortable, but also so that I may help to bring more people into this growing community of Santa Muerte devotees.
This being said, devotees who approach Santa Muerte with a kind and unselfish heart do appear to experience a variety of benefits. One of the major benefits of Santa Muerte devotion is spiritual fulfillment. To be spiritually fulfilled is to feel comfortable on your spiritual path. The problem with many modern religions is the amount of shame and condemnation which is built into those spiritual systems. How can people feel fulfilled when they are taught that they must subjugate themselves, be ashamed of themselves, and hide themselves from the world? As devotees of Santa Muerte, we are all seen as equals, we are allowed to experience the world, and we are not made to be ashamed of who we are. Even before we give ourselves to Santa Muerte devotion, we are accepted by Santa Muerte, which means we can be free to explore our individual spiritual paths, and the world around us, without constantly worrying that we will somehow sin against or anger the Santa Muerte.
Another benefit which can be gained through devotion to Santa Muerte is the ability to accept your own mortality. Once you face your mortality and come to terms with the fact that your life will one day end, and there is nothing you can do about it, then all that is sweet in the world is made more sweet, and all that is bitter in the world is made less bitter. When you accept that your life will one day end, you will appreciate and savor things like good food, good sex, and sunny days. Likewise, when you accept that your life will one day end, you will feel less depressed about pain and suffering.
Santa Muerte devotion also allows you to enter into a community of fellow devotees. Devotees of death exist all over the world and come from all walks of life. While you may not always like how another has chosen to live life, the fact that we are all equal under Santa Muerte means you should at least respect all others and come to the aid of other devotees whenever possible.