Santa Muerte Dedication Ritual

Center photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

Primary Purpose:

A dedication ritual for devotees of Santa Muerte.

You Will Need

• Florida Water, or another perfume / cologne that you would like to use to anoint yourself at your Santa Muerte altar.
• 1 piece of fruit.
• 1 piece of bread.
• 1 piece of candy.
• 1 offering plate for your fruit, bread, and candy.​
• 1 White Offering Candle - to invite calm and cleansing energy into your dedication ritual.

What's a Dedication?

To dedicate yourself to Santa Muerte is to make a commitment to honor the Santa Muerte and commit yourself to her devotion. There are no rules as to what makes a good devotee, this is something you will have to determine for yourself.

Like the consecration ritual I wrote a while back, the idea of dedication is one of religion, and Santa Muerte magick is a system of magick, not a religion. That being said, I also understand why many of you out there may want to dedicate yourself to Santa Muerte, so this is for you.

In practice, I don't think a formal dedication is necessary to form a relationship with Santa Muerte or for Santa Muerte magick to be a success, because it's our own mortality which makes us all children of Santa Muerte - but if you think a dedication ritual will make your relationship with Santa Muerte stronger, or your magick more powerful, then here you go.

Note, a dedication is not to be taken lightly. A ritual of devotion is performed out of respect, and with respect it should be regarded. This is not something recommended for people who are new to Santa Muerte, rather for those who are experienced devotees who wish to take their devotion symbolically to the next level.

Physical Cleansing

Because you're committing yourself to the devotion of Santa Muerte, it would be appropriate to clean your body before performing this ritual, which can be done as easily as taking a shower or bath. There's nothing special you have to do as you prepare your body for the dedication ritual, but focusing on the significance of the dedication ritual, and what it means to you, would be appropriate. 

At Your Santa Muerte Altar

Once you're presentable, approach your Santa Muerte altar and take a comfortable position. Place the fruit, bread, and candy on your offering plate and set nearby.

Light your offering candle so you may perform this dedication in its light.

Retrieve your Florida Water or other cologne / perfume you think the Santa Muerte would enjoy, and anoint yourself with it. You can place a drop at your third eye, on both sides of the neck, and at the wrists. As you anoint yourself with the cologne / perfume of your choice, pray:

"Holy Death, my Santa Muerte,
to you with love I do now pray
with sweet (cologne / perfume) I am anointed,
into my heart, you are invited."

Next, holding your offering plate with the fruit, bread, and candy, take the fruit from the plate and place it on or near your altar, and pray:

"Santa Muerte, I am devoted to you,
may our relationship always be fruitful."

Next, take the piece of bread from the plate and place it next to the apple, and pray:

"Santa Muerte, I am faithful to you,
may there always be bread for us both."

Finally, take the candy from the plate, placing it near the bread and apple, and pray:

"Santa Muerte, I am committed to you,
may your love for me be ever sweet."

Holding your now empty offering plate to your altar, as if to show the Santa Muerte, pray:

"Holy Death, I give all I have for you,
in devotion, faith, and commitment true.
A child of yours till the day I die,
when you see fit to end my life.
Until the day that we must meet,
make this life long and sweet.
Bless me lots and keep me close,
to you, my life, I now devote."

Period of Reflection

Take some time now to meditate silently at your altar on the words you've just spoken. Speak them again if necessary, until you feel their weight and seriousness. Meditate on how you will live your life in devotion to the Santa Muerte. Will you keep an altar in your home? Will you try to make pilgrimages to public altars? Will you express your devotion through art? Will you join a group of like minded devotees or perhaps start your own? Being a devoted follower of a spiritual path might mean different things to different people - even two people on the same path. Use your intuition to guide you to your own personal style of devotion.

Closing Prayer

When you have finished this period of reflection, kiss your hand and bring it to touch your depiction of the Santa Muerte on your altar, and pray:

"Sealed with a kiss, this promise I make,
to you Holy Death, my patron saint,
amen."

The devotion is over. You may leave your altar, or continue to meditate and reflect on the ritual you have just performed. Let the white offering candle burn on your altar until complete.

The fruit, bread, and candy may remain on your altar for as long as you would keep any other altar offerings of the same types. You may dispose of what remains from this dedication ritual using the instructions outlined in my post How to Dispose of Magick Trash.