How to Build and Use a Permanent Santa Muerte Altar

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How to Build and Use a Permanent Santa Muerte Altar

10/12/2016

Original image on: https://lopezdoriga.com/nacional/atacan-a-balazos-a-devotos-de-la-santa-muerte/

An altar can be any flat surface upon which religious or spiritual offerings can be made. It is generally considered the point of focus for religious or spiritual ceremonies, and many religions in the world use altars as a basic cornerstone of belief. In Santa Muerte magick, altars can be public or private, large or small, permanent or temporary. Erecting a permanent altar to the Santa Muerte in your home or place of business is the most direct way to invite the Santa Muerte to take an active role in your life, to petition the Santa Muerte, and to thank the Santa Muerte for wishes or miracles granted.

The only element that's required for a successful Santa Muerte altar is an image of the Santa Muerte. This image can take the form of an elaborate statue of the Santa Muerte, or an image printed off from the internet. Feel free to decorate your altar with as many images of the Santa Muerte as you like. For example, many followers will place a primary image of the Santa Muerte atop their altar, and decorate the rest of the altar with smaller images they may pick up along the way, like prayer cards, medallions, or small figurines. While different devotees have different beliefs about various aspects of altar construction, many devotees of Holy Saint Death like to lay an altar cloth over the surface where their altar is placed, both as a sign of respect to symbolically lift the altar, and as a practical indication of where the altar begins and ends.

If your altar is permanent, you should try to make sure there is always some kind of offering on the altar. Saint Death is a woman of many vices, and popular offerings include cigarettes, cigars, booze, soda, money and candy. More traditional offerings include candles, incense, herbs, perfume, and flowers. Water is a common offering, as are apples and pieces of bread. If you place a perishable offering upon your altar, you should remove it as soon as it begins to show signs of going stale or bad. Remove flowers when they begin to wilt, candles when they've burned out, and incense when reduced to ashes. Your altar is a symbol of the relationship you have with Santa Muerte, so remember to keep it tidy and to remove offerings when they begin to go bad.

Approaching your altar for any reason - to pay respect, to make a request, or to make an offering - is as easy as approaching a good friend. Simply stand or sit at your altar and begin talking, make your respectful request, or make your offering. Special words and rituals may be utilized, but are not necessary. All that's necessary to communicate with the Santa Muerte are an open mind and an honest heart.

73 Comments

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Terry

5/30/2017 10:56:36 pm

My flaca has been in out lives for the past 5 years and she has blessed us she is awesome !

China

7/17/2021 01:19:09 am

Is it okay if I have my Santa Muerte in my room if me and my partner are “getting busy” ? I have no where else to place her when I get her , what do I do ?

Arnold link

7/17/2021 07:43:42 am

I have heard some devotees say you should not do this, or even get naked in front of an altar. I don't think this is as big a deal as people make it out to be.

First, this idea of feeling shame over the naked body, or feeling shame over the act of making love, sounds very Catholic, and I would guess is a remnant of Santa Muerte's Catholic roots. I am not Catholic, and I do not feel shame over my nakedness.

Personally, I think a force as powerful as Santa Muerte, as powerful as Death itself, could easily turn away from, or tune out, whatever she did not want to see or experience - if she is even bothered by it at all.

I do not think the Santa Muerte "lives" at my altar. The altar is a physical manifestation of, or symbol for, my relationship with Santa Muerte. Putting up an altar does not "create" or "invite" Santa Muerte, and taking down an altar does not "destroy" or "evict" Santa Muerte - because Death is always with us. If Death is always with us, then there is nothing we can do to hide from it, and Santa Muerte must already be aware of everything that is going on whether there's an altar in the room or not.

Besides, if Santa Muerte is watching us through the eyes of any image of Santa Muerte, then how do people with Santa Muerte tattoos handle life? The image of Santa Muerte painted directly on the skin would get a front row seat to every sex act, every act of bathing, and every act of undressing.

My advice is to live your life. If it bothers you that much, I guess you could turn the statue away, or cover its eyes - but again, there is no hiding from Death, so these actions would be more for your benefit than the benefit of Santa Muerte.

Anthony

8/16/2017 06:42:43 am

Does the alter cloth have to be blank? I obtained a alter cloth with a pattern on it. The cloth is associated with practitioners of theistic satanism. I own other dark images, but am not practising. Is this a issue?

8/16/2017 11:33:47 pm

No, there's no requirement. I think you could use any altar cloth you like.

Fabio Cietto dos Santos

4/9/2022 11:58:37 pm

Hello Arnold, I was wondering I lived in the USA before but now I am in Brazil and in Brazil I can only find images of La Santa Muerte in male form. Would it be ok to use images of La Santa Muerte in male form or does it need to be in female form like her traditional statues? In Brazil there are 2 different saints La Santa Muerte e San La Muerte would you happen to know if La Santa Muerte is in anyway related to San La Muerte from Argentina? Or are they completely separate entities? They have the same form both of them are skeletons holding schythes

5/4/2022 10:06:41 pm

@Fabio - I do not see a problem with using imagery of San La Muerte in place of La Santa Muerte. Remember that La Santa Muerte is death itself, and any representation of death can be used to form the foundation of an altar for La Santa Muerte. You can use a statue of La Santa Muerte, you can use a fake human skull, or a simple drawing of a skull and crossbones on a piece of paper. Since San La Muerte also represents death, there is no problem using an image of San La Muerte to build an altar to Holy Death. What matters above all is your intent. And if you intend to build an altar to death, then you are free to incorporate whatever symbols and imagery represent death for you. There is, after all, only one death - it's us humans who choose to view death through the lens of our own personal, cultural, environmental, and linguistic experiences.

Anita

8/27/2017 11:14:06 am

I would like to work with Santa Muerte. I have a madonna statue that I plan to repaint as Saint Death. I see the two as 'spirit sisters' so I don't see an issue with this. What are your thoughts?

8/27/2017 11:33:19 am

I think spirituality is a deeply personal thing. I think you should do you.

Bryan

12/20/2017 04:07:46 pm

If I am a practitioner of Hinduism can I add an image of santa muerte to my home shrine without insulting her by placing her on an shine with other spiritual entities?

12/23/2017 07:46:39 pm

Many devotees of Santa Muerte would say yes.

Jaden

12/30/2021 05:24:30 am

Many say not to do this, she deserves her own space and from what I’ve been told and seen online from people who have been doing it a lot longer, She likes her own space. You definitely should talk to her and ask if it is ok with her

1/10/2022 01:44:56 am

@Jaden - Thank you for sharing. I admit that I am probably in the minority on this issue, but I also think the minority is growing. Check out this video for more of my thoughts regarding "The Jealousy of Santa Muerte" - let me know what you think in the comments!

https://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog/lecture-the-jealousy-of-santa-muerte

Dalia Rentas

3/13/2018 11:55:22 pm

Is it true that Santa Muerte like wines as a choice for her beverage.

3/17/2018 12:54:08 am

Many devotees offer wine to Santa Muerte.

Giovanni M.

5/21/2018 08:37:30 pm

Hello can i place seperate altars. And have faith in both saints like ellegua and santa muerte.

5/23/2018 02:29:47 am

I don't see why not. Santa Muerte, to many devotees, is the energy of death itself. Death exists in all traditions - from Christian to Shamanism to Humanism. Even atheists can't refute death. How you choose to see the personification of death is up to you, and nobody can tell you how to build your relationship with her. She will not turn you away.

Maria

6/20/2018 10:30:48 pm

My babydaddy has an alter of the flaca in my room is it ok to share the same alter in my room or do i have to have a seperate alter in my room

6/22/2018 05:09:48 pm

Public altars are shared by entire communities, so why can't two people share an altar? Sounds like personal preference. Thanks for writing!

Daniel Palacios

10/7/2018 05:54:40 pm

I have seen many people petition Santa Muerte by petitioning jesus first. I am not a christian but would like to keep my faith to Santa Muerte constant. Can I petition Lucifer in the same way other people petition jesus before praying to her or should I petition her directly? Can I place my Luciferian symbology on her altar since christians place their symbology on their altars?

10/16/2018 06:49:56 pm

You can petition the Santa Muerte however you like - Christians or Satanists, they all eventually experience death's kiss just the same.

1/1/2022 04:50:26 am

No this is absolutely cannot be done, number 1 the whole point of petitioning God first is to give reverence to the Most High( Honoring life just as we are death ), also asking permission of God first helps to keep away trickster spirits and low level entities. Number 2 satanism and luciferian symbology have nothing to do with Santa Muerte. Santa Muerte’s devotion is that of an indigenous Mexican origin, mixing dismantling her traditions and mixing them with the very demonic forces she protects us from is highly disrespectful to Santa Muerte and the devotion itself.

3/18/2022 08:00:42 am

@Jaden - Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Personally, I don't like to speak in terms of absolutes. To say that something "absolutely cannot be done" makes a lot of assumptions about things which you cannot possibly know, and also ignores the experiences of those who have found great success doing exactly what you said could not be done.

While I understand that you find great value in showing reverence for your god, and honoring "The Most High", the fact is there are plenty of people, myself included, who have developed wonderful relationships, and received wonderful blessings, working directly with the Santa Muerte. Even if I thought that trickster spirits were a problem, Santa Muerte, as death itself, has the power to bring an end to all that lives and all that exists. With such great power, I do not think a lowly entity or trickster spirit is any match for death itself.

I do not know too much about Satanism or Luciferian beliefs, but I do know that Santa Muerte accepts us all, because we must all one day die. If we must all one day experience death, including Satanists and Luciferians, then it stands to reason that Santa Muerte also accepts practitioners of such systems, just as she accepts Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, Wiccans, Atheists, and more.

While Santa Muerte devotion is very much influenced by indigenous beliefs that originated in what is today known as Mexico, we cannot forget the outside influences which have made Santa Muerte devotion what it is today. The image of what we know as Santa Muerte, of a skeleton in a cloak carrying a scythe, is very much a European image, imported by Conquistadors and Catholic priests. So far as I know, gods and spiritual entities of indigenous cultures were often illustrated and depicted to appear as members of those cultures, wearing things like feathered headdresses, animal skins, beaded jewelry, et cetera. Santa Muerte does not appear this way, instead she appears like something plucked from this Medieval European painting, depicting the funeral procession of Anne of Bohemia:
.
https://www.alamy.com/english-anne-of-bohemia-circa-1483-unknown-47-anna-pohreb-image184854531.html

Even the scythe which Santa Muerte wields is an agricultural tool believed to have originated on the European or Asian continent (probably ancient Rome), NOT in what is today North, Central, or South America:

http://scytheassociation.org/history/

In other words, Santa Muerte, as we know her today, is the result of many years of blending of spiritual and cultural beliefs.

All this being said, no matter what is true about exactly where Santa Muerte came from, or how she has arrived at where she is today, the fact is that death is universal, and Santa Muerte, as death itself, is just one way that we can personify, honor, remember, and embrace, the powerful energy that is Death.

Finally, if Santa Muerte is as powerful as most of us believe her to be, and if she is offended or disrespected by anything that I have said or done, I imagine she would also be powerful enough to tell me herself, instead of speaking through you, another human being.

While you may not like it, Santa Muerte has never made me feel as if she is offended or disrespected by the way I choose to venerate her, and in fact, I have been blessed exponentially by telling the world about her in my own way, and that tells me all I need to know.

Jose

10/31/2019 03:25:09 pm

Hello, I am writing because I have a altar set up in my room and I'm still fairly new to our Santísima Muerte i was wondering if my altar is in my bedroom where she can see my bed is it disrespectful to have sexual intercourse, be naked, or engaging in anything sexual in front of her altar?

12/14/2019 05:11:01 pm

I have heard that some devotees would say yes. If you feel it is disrespectful, then there's probably nothing I could say to change your mind. Personally, however, I don't think human sexuality is anything to be ashamed of - sex, after all, is what has helped our species survive for so long, and we all come into the world naked. Humans are the only animals ashamed by the fact that we have sex organs and engage in sexual intercourse. When a couple of animals have sex in nature, does it offend you? Do you feel disrespected? Probably not - if you don't want to see the act, you probably just turn away and get on with your life. I imagine if a force as powerful as Santa Muerte didn't want to see you naked or having sex, it just wouldn't look.

Jeff

12/14/2019 07:08:57 pm

I have Her altar in my room right across from my bed and she is fine with it. Santa Muerte sees everything anyway, there is nothing to hide from a Her.

1/1/2022 04:45:50 am

Having sex in front of her altar has always been something that shouldn’t be done. Ask elders. Would you have sex in front of your mother or grandmother? It’s not that sex is shameful, it’s more about boundaries and there being a time and place for everything.

1/16/2022 02:28:44 am

@Jaden - thank you for your input.

While I agree that mine is very likely a minority opinion, I think my reasoning is sound and can be justified. I have no doubt that you can find success with following the advice of elders, but I think this has more to do with the fact that Santa Muerte, as death itself, accepts us all, and less to do with a tradition or edict the beginning of which cannot be pinpointed for certain. I personally wonder who might have been the first elder to argue against sex in front of an altar, and I further wonder what their views on human sexuality were in general.

But that's beside the point. Based on what I know of the world, traditions are not eternal - as people and views change over time, so do the cultural, societal, spiritual, and magickal norms that we choose to follow and recognize. Also based on what I know of the world, I think we are at a very exciting period in history where it is okay to challenge and question our elders and the traditions that they have taught us. If we have anything to learn from Santa Muerte, it is that nothing lasts forever. If this is true, then it is a rule that must also apply to the traditions and customs that we follow.

More than a practitioner of magick, I am an experimenter and explorer - I delight in putting to the test new ideas regarding spirituality and magick, and sharing the results of my experiments and explorations with others. Besides my own personal experience, I have received testimonials from others that no ill effects are suffered through the expression of nakedness or sexuality before an altar of Santa Muerte; our relationships with Santa Muerte remain just as strong as any other relationships, and our lives remain just as blessed as any others that are devoted to Holy Death.

In response to your question, no, I would not have sex in front of my mother or grandmother - but there is a fundamental difference between my grandmother and the Santa Muerte. That difference is that I can actually hide, or keep private, an act of sex from my grandmother. Death, however, is always with us, it is always in the room with us, and there is nothing we can do, nowhere on Earth we can go, to hide ourselves from Holy Death. Since millions of people have died naked or in the act of making love, I have to believe that Santa Muerte is also not shy about, and perhaps even has a sense of humor about, nakedness and sexuality in general.

Besides, if Santa Muerte is as powerful as devotees believe her to be, then I imagine she is powerful enough to look away, or ignore, anything that she does not want to see. If my nakedness or sexuality offends her, then she is certainly powerful enough to bless me with a bigger home where I could dedicate an entire room to her modesty and privacy. Since this is yet to happen, I can only assume that she is as comfortable with my naked body as I am, or that she is choosing to look away when my naked body presents itself.

Ismael Lopez

2/10/2020 10:45:41 pm

Hi This is Ishmael I got my Santisima Muerte For 10 years and someone gave me one today and can I put them together in the same altar

2/23/2020 09:40:10 am

Yes. I keep two statues on my altar at the moment, and I might add more in the future.

Ramona link

2/11/2020 05:52:13 pm

If a friend has a Santa Muerte alter can l use her alter to ask Santa muerte for her help and bring flowers or something for her and put it on my friends alter? Or am l going to give my friend bad luck because l use her alter?

2/23/2020 09:43:23 am

If it is okay with your friend, then you can use her altar. In Tijuana, Mexico, where I first met the Santa Muerte, there are altars that are shared by entire neighborhoods.

Kevin

3/1/2020 08:29:44 pm

I would like to set up an alter and I’m new what would you recommend?

3/2/2020 10:09:48 am

I recommend that you make it your own. Each relationship with Santa Muerte is different, and altars can be as different as the devotees who venerate her. Don't be afraid to add your own personal touches, and to express your love for Santa Muerte in your own creative way. Welcome to the family.

Tae kwasii

5/3/2020 01:46:05 am

Thank you for this post I actually had dreams about me praying to her and she was helping me from danger I’ve been researching and learning her. I work with the Orishas OShun, Yemaya & elegua & ArchAngel Michael so of I make an Altar for Santa Muerte can she be in the same room on a different space or separate room or shelf I don’t want to create problems or jealousy.

5/11/2020 11:14:58 pm

Some devotees keep their traditions separate, and some don't. Here's what I know for sure - death is with us everywhere, death exists for all cultures, and death accepts us all. I personally don't see how a force as powerful as death would have any reason to be jealous. She has already won. Giving your attention to an Orisha or Archangel does not take anything away from Santa Muerte's power. If Santa Muerte accepts us all, then she also accepts those of us who pray to Orisha or Archangels. I encourage you to experiment and follow your heart. Every altar to Santa Muerte is unique, because we are all unique as devotees.

Parker link

5/3/2020 11:06:58 pm

I absoluetly love that you made this blog. It's short, simple and very direct. You leave room for variation, in the (blog, and replies), and customization (as it should be). I also tell people that spiritualitybis very personal and has no one size fits all approach.

Karol link

7/2/2020 10:04:02 pm

Will the Santa Muerte get my dad back from being deported and what should I have to offer if so

7/16/2020 12:42:02 pm

There is only one guarantee in Santa Muerte magick, and that is that the Santa Muerte will one day come for us all. Whether or not a petition will be granted is ultimately up to the Santa Muerte, so I cannot give you a definite answer to the first part of your question. As to the second part of your question, nobody can tell you what is a suitable offering. Big requests generally require big gestures, but what is "big" is entirely subjective. If you are poor, then a bouquet of fresh roses may seem like a big offering, but if you are wealthy, then the same bouquet may seem like a small offering. Your own intuition will also help guide you in this matter. If you are making an offering of prayers, then does one prayer a day seem like enough to get what you want? If you are a very busy person with lots of personal commitments, then it may seem like enough. If it does not seem like enough, then you should not need anybody else to tell you to put more effort into the offering.

Jay link

7/4/2020 08:23:27 am

How long it take Santa muerte to come into your life and answer your prayers or show signs

7/16/2020 01:00:19 pm

The Santa Muerte has been in your life since the moment you were born, because that was the instant you started to die. As long as you will one day die, then the Santa Muerte is with you, and moving closer to you with every breath that you take. Prayers and signs can come quickly or can come slowly, if they come at all. When I first started praying to Santa Muerte to bring clients to my writing business, I got little to no response for several months. Today, I own one of the most popular Santa Muerte blogs on the web, and I publish books for people interested in learning about Santa Muerte. For the Santa Muerte to ignore my original petitions was actually a blessing in disguise, because it created an opportunity for me to grow into a successful writer for the Santa Muerte and her growing community of devotees. There are no guarantees in Santa Muerte magick, but in my experience the longer you nurture your relationship with Santa Muerte, the more likely it will become for you to experience her blessings.

Armando J.

7/8/2020 01:48:15 pm

Can you make your own Santa Muerte statue?

7/16/2020 01:09:17 pm

Yes! I think this would be a lovely act of devotion.

Maura Velasco

7/14/2020 02:17:14 pm

I have a question so if I want to ask her for different favors do I need to have more then one statue like if I want a favor with love and money do I need separate statues for that or can I use one statue for the favors I want???

8/18/2020 09:58:12 am

All images of Santa Muerte represent the same Santa Muerte. Changing the color on a statue is more for us, to help our subconscious minds tune into the energies associated with the color in question, or to attract a certain type of general energy into our lives, but it is not actually required. What many people do is select a single color as a patron saint - so a business owner may have a gold Santa Muerte, and a writer may have a blue Santa Muerte, and a nurse may have a yellow Santa Muerte - and then send all requests through that one patron. Ultimately, the power of Santa Muerte is derived from your relationship with her, not from any color that you dress her in. Again, the colors are more for us, to help us focus our intent, but if you are clear on exactly what it is that you want, then you can ask any version of Santa Muerte to fulfill the request.

Crystal Castillo

8/9/2020 10:37:27 pm

Hi , so my mom is a devotee of la Santa muerte she introduce me to her. I’m having an issue and I’ve been debating wether I should ask her for help my problem is me and my baby daddy aren’t together I love him and I don’t see myself nor him with anybody else I want him to return to me so we can be a happy family and for him to change for me and his kids what do u recommend me to offer her , pray to her or do ?

8/18/2020 09:39:11 am

This is an option you can try for encouraging the lover to return: https://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog/lover-return-santa-muerte-magick

If he does return, I have no petitions for changing a person, exactly. You can try something like this, https://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog/skull-candle-santa-muerte-magick, to push the target's thoughts in a certain direction. Or you can also try lighting white offering candles for Santa Muerte, etched with your name + the name of the target, because white represents harmony, happiness, and blessings, which is what you want over the relationship.

Personally, I would recommend that you petition for a true love to come into your life. The problem with petitioning for someone who has already done you wrong is that you may get exactly what you ask for, or only half of what you ask for. Are you prepared for him to come back unchanged? You are free to ask for anything you want, the Santa Muerte will not shame you for making a request, but we do not command the Santa Muerte, and she does not offer any guarantees about getting what you want.

Marlena

9/4/2020 11:05:42 am

I often see statues of Santa Muerte with what appears to be seeds within some type of resin. What are these and why are they there?
Also, is there certain herbs, oils or incenses that please her?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

9/21/2020 09:18:44 pm

They are usually seeds, grains of rice, and wheat kernels. You may also see small trinkets like coins and keys. These are all symbols of prosperity, abundance, and good luck. I consider them to represent, and to function like, regular offerings and talismans that you might place at a regular altar. By attaching these items to the statues, we are essentially giving them as offerings to Santa Muerte, and conveying our intent for the type of energy that we want to attract into our lives.

If you're talking about herbs, oils, and incense to place on and around an altar, I advise devotees to incorporate the ones that they themselves enjoy working with, or that they themselves would like to receive. If you have no preference: basil is called by some "la reina de las hierbas", or "queen of the herbs" because of its powerful healing properties, both spiritual and physical. Rose is also popular because it appeals to the Santa Muerte's feminine nature. Basil and rose can both be purchased as an herb, oil, or incense. Copal is also popular because it has long been associated with the dead, and the Day of the Dead, in many Spanish speaking countries / churches. Copal is a resin, but can also be found as an oil and incense. Lastly, tobacco, and more increasingly marijuana, because they are often found as offerings at Santa Muerte altars, and appeal to the Santa Muerte's "live for the moment" attitude - likewise, both can be found in the form of herb, oil, and incense.

Kylie

9/14/2020 09:22:49 am

is it ok to build her altar next to another altar I use for crystals? I know she needs her own space and I'm worried about the proximity. Thanks!

9/27/2020 02:36:06 am

My short answer is yes, I think it would be okay to place a Santa Muerte altar next to your crystal altar. Also, I do not think Santa Muerte needs her own space.

I recently published a video mini lecture titled "The Jealousy of Santa Muerte" that explores this concern you have raised. I normally only share these video mini lectures with my supporters on Patreon, so consider this a free sample: https://youtu.be/9fIaVYTXvwo

Bruja Melissa link

10/14/2020 04:30:48 am

Good Day,
I was told that when you place items on her altar that they have certain places for them (front, back, left, right) Could you please explain the meanings of this. My understanding is that you place things in the back of the altar if they are dark workings but what about the other three directions?

11/14/2020 06:49:17 pm

I have personally never heard this before.

If anyone out there can offer insight into this practice, I invite you to comment as a reply to this message.

Personally, this sounds like a blending of Wiccan or neo-Pagan traditions, where each side of the altar is associated with one of the magickal elements. Considering how many Santa Muerte devotees come to Santa Muerte through Wicca, I do not think this is much of a stretch. The back of the altar, where North would represent the element of Earth, would make sense for dark workings, because Earth is associated with winter, or death itself, in many Wiccan / neo-Pagan traditions. Fire, to the South, or at the front of the altar, is generally associated with love, passion, and sex - all hot and fiery energies. East, associated with water, to the right of the altar, could be associated with success and abundance, as in "your cup running over". West, associated with air, to the left of the altar, could be associated with intuition, divination, creativity, and intelligence, because air is often associated with communication, and sending / receiving messages. The center, where many would consider the place of Spirit, could be associated with health and harmony - as in, "to be in good spirits". If I was going to blend a practice like this into my own devotion, then this is the kind of thinking that I would use to determine the best possible placement for various items.

Another idea is that this could also have something to do with the taboo of Santa Muerte, which may have led many devotees to keep their darker magickal workings and magick crafts as far out of view as possible.

I can say that when I have visited public Santa Muerte altars in Mexico, the candles, offerings, and various curios are placed with little rhyme or reason. In some cases, it is impossible to reach the back or side of an altar, because they are so full of offerings and curios, or because access around the altar is limited so that people don't knock the candles over.

Hope that helps!

Oscar

11/19/2020 12:07:16 am

I have two floating shelves and decided to make one my alter. I was wondering if it’s ok to put stuff underneath it

12/7/2020 04:29:01 am

I do not think this is a problem, especially if you feel comfortable with this setup. Every relationship with Santa Muerte is unique, and nobody can tell you how to express your relationship, or how to build your altar. If you like the way everything comes together, then I encourage you to keep it.

Reyna

1/11/2021 11:54:04 am

Hi ! First time here. New to all of this. I wanted to ask, if its necessary to have candles on my altar? I actually was thinking of giving her a altar full of flowers, maybe fake ones & paper ones i'll make..but i wanted to know if that's okay because i have cats and they wander everywhere. & of course have my offerings in the center? Can you guide me? also in your opinion, should i ask her for protection against a abusive ex i had ? I haven't heard from him, but i'd like to keep it that way? also ask for her to keep him away from other females so he won't hurt anyone else the way he did me. Your advice is much appreciated & valued.

1/17/2021 09:51:13 pm

I use led candles and She doesn’t seem to mind. I think, like most things, it’s your intent.

1/17/2021 09:54:01 pm

100% agreed. Thanks for responding!

1/17/2021 09:52:21 pm

At the foundation of devotion to Santa Muerte is your relationship with Santa Muerte, not any one type of offering. The offerings are extras, which you can make based on your abilities and circumstances. The Santa Muerte accepts us all, even people with no access to candles, so candles are not required to express your devotion. If candles pose a hazard for your circumstances, then I encourage you to keep them away from your altar. If the symbolism of the candle is important, then you could invest in an LED candle, but this is your decision.

Personally, placement of an offering is of little importance - what matters is your intent to make the offering to Santa Muerte. If you intend for something to be an offering, then it is, no matter where you place it upon your altar. However, there was a question posed by "Bruja Melissa" - which you can find a few comments up - which asked about the symbolism of placing offerings at certain points on your altar. You can read my response to her question, and if this is something you want to adopt, or experiment with, then you are free to do so.

Finally, you can ask the Santa Muerte for anything you want, which is one reason why Santa Muerte has gained so much popularity in recent years. She hears all petitions, and she does not judge. Asking Santa Muerte to keep you safe from an ex who is already out of your life, and that he not harm anyone else, is perfectly fine.

While this may not apply to you directly, I like to share this link whenever talk of an abusive relationship comes up. Resources are listed in the attached image:

https://www.santamuertemagick.com/blog/anti-abuse-prayer-for-santa-muerte-devotees

Thank you for writing, and welcome to the community.

Nayeli

1/18/2021 06:24:25 pm

I am trying to make an alter for la Santa muerte and I don’t have much space in my apartment. Is it okay to put her altar on my dresser in one corner and have like my personal stuff still on that’s same dresser. Or does she need her own area with nothing else around?

1/24/2021 01:52:13 am

The Santa Muerte accepts us all, even those of us who do not have a lot of space to spare. As long as you are working within your means, I think the Santa Muerte would appreciate any effort that you can make.

As death itself, I do not think there is anything that Santa Muerte *needs* from us. A force as powerful and eternal as Santa Muerte loses nothing if you have a few personal items near her altar.

Fernando cisneros

1/21/2021 06:28:49 pm

I have an altar in my room is it ok to have it I'm my room were me and my wife sleep or should I move here to the living room with my other santa muerte

1/24/2021 02:19:12 am

I do not think there is anything wrong with this. Sleeping, and having romantic relationships, are very human habits. Since the Santa Muerte accepts all of us humans, then she must also accept our human habits. If anything, I think a Santa Muerte altar in your bedroom would be good for your relationship. Let it serve as a reminder that life is too short to argue, that life is too short to go to sleep angry, that love is one of the things that makes life worth living, and that every day you wake up is a gift, not a guarantee.

James Padilla

4/5/2021 10:36:58 pm

Thank you for this blog. It’s so informative. Today I just started my path with Santa Muerte. I am a Catholic witch. My wife and I both practice. Santa Muerte is my patron Saint. What I would like to know is that I set up her Altar with candles, silver tray. Salt, chalice, incense, my tarot deck and my pendulums as well as her statue and a couldron for my incense and my petitions. My items placed on her altar are my tools for practice. Should these items be placed somewhere else? I also have chocolate and water for her. I heard anything you place on her altar are hers. So am I allowed to use these items as I have been using them before or are they hers once they touch her altar? I want to use her guidance when I practice and use these tools. I was reading that anything you place on her altar is hers. I’m so new to Santa Muerte and want to make sure I’m doing things right but at the same time doing things my way with her.

Thank you again!

4/18/2021 01:05:17 am

Thank you for the kind words - I'm glad the blog has been of some help to you!

In response to your question, you will find some devotees are more strict than others. Personally, I am not very strict in my practice, because I do not think that a force as powerful as death itself is impacted at all by how us humans interact with altars, offerings, and tools of witchcraft. The fact is, the Santa Muerte is just as powerful whether you leave the tools on the altar, or use them as part of your practice. From what I have seen at the public Santa Muerte altars in Mexico, Santa Muerte is not treated as so possessive. Offerings are left at public altars and eventually removed to make room for new offerings. Cash that accumulates is often donated to the homeless and less fortunate.

I have one home altar where I keep my tarot cards, and a mortar and pestle I use to grind herbs - I take these items off the altar all the time for personal use and have never experienced anything negative.

Also remember the value of intent. If you never intended for the items to be hers forever, and if you intended to continue using the tools as part of your practice, then I think the fact they touched the altar is a moot point.

When an item is left at an altar intended as an offering, then it should be treated as a sacrifice, which is not to say that the item should never be taken off the altar, but instead that you should not take the item back for yourself. For example, you could place a piece of bread at an altar in the morning, and then toss the bread to the birds in the evening. Or offer an apple one day, and then give the apple to a child the next day. In these cases, the integrity of the sacrifice is maintained, because you did not take the items back for yourself.

Stephanie Beaton link

4/9/2021 12:29:03 pm

I have been a devotee to the Santisima since 2015. I have practiced magick all my life and have taken many roads, but she entered my life in my dream in 2015. I got a statue of her, in the money robe as the white one was sold out, but she kept coming to me in black. I got her in black. After 3 to 4 months of honoring her on a daily basis, she finally opened up to me. She def wanted to see if I was true at heart or using her for just what I needed. I will say I have never looked back at any prior practices. I practice black magick but I never went back into Palo or Santeria. I have now 16 statues of her. An entire altar room dedicated to her for which all my work for my clients are performed. She is the best and when she wraps her arms around you, you will never look further. Many blessings to each and everyone on this board.

Denise

5/17/2021 04:45:07 pm

Hello, I recently became a devotee to La Santa Muerte and have read many articles and even a book to try and get myself accustomed and not disrespect her. The things I've learned always warm my heart and I feel very close to her. However, I keep seeing mixed things about this one thing... The statue I purchased of La Santa Muerte is 36" tall but I also have a 10" St Jude and a 12" St Cyprian, can I put these smaller statues in her altar? Thank you.

5/22/2021 02:07:24 am

My short answer is yes, you can put the statues on your Santa Muerte altar.

For my long answer, which also addresses some of the mixed messages you are receiving, please watch this video I produced for my Patreon supporters. It is titled "The Jealousy of Santa Muerte", and it's less than 10 minutes long. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/9fIaVYTXvwo

Stephanie

8/10/2021 01:59:20 am

hi! I’m learning more about la santísima muerte, and I have a couple questions I can’t seem to find the answer to. I’m afraid of disrespecting her and really don’t want to come off as insensitive towards her. Would it be sacrilegious to wear jewelry in her likeness as a way of honoring her? and another question, if a loved one of mine has died, am I able to put a picture of them with her? I’d like to think that they are in her care now but I’m wondering if this would upset her as she deserves her own space. Thanks!

8/22/2021 03:38:57 am

My short answer is no, it would not be sacrilegious to wear jewelry in her likeness, and yes, you are able to put a picture of your loved one with Santa Muerte. In both cases, Santa Muerte accepts us all. If this is true, then she must also accept those of us who choose to express our devotion to death in the two ways that you described.

Paul

1/6/2022 09:36:40 am

Thank you for your info and blessings to you. Is it ok to have one Santa Muerta statue on my altar? I have the 7 colors one.

1/10/2022 02:11:44 am

Yes, it is okay to have just one statue. There is no rule that says you need to have a certain number. There is, after all, only one death.

It would be the same as putting a picture of your child on your desk - you could put a picture of the child as a newborn, next to a picture of the same child on their first day of school, next to a picture of the same child at their college graduation. They are all still the same child, and the amount of pictures you have on your desk does nothing to the love you have for the child in your heart. Whether you have one picture of the child, or a hundred pictures of the same child, you would, I believe, love the child just the same.

1/10/2022 08:15:36 am

Thank you!

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How to Build and Use a Permanent Santa Muerte Altar

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