Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte Magick

Center photo by fer gomez on Unsplash.com

Primary Use:

​A ritual for sacrificing a part of your skin to the veneration of the Santa Muerte - may be performed as an act of devotion or in return for a miracle granted.

​The sacrifice is made by giving up a portion of your skin for a tattoo of the Santa Muerte. The first part of the ritual is to prepare the skin for the placement of the tattoo, and should be performed a day before or the day of your tattoo appointment.

You Will Need:
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• Basil - a strong protection and purification herb, to clear the skin of negative energy and for a safe and successful skin sacrifice.
• ​Hyssop - associated with cleansings and purification, well known for making ordinary spaces into holy spaces, to make the skin a holy canvas for Saint Death.
• Rose Petals - typically used in love work; used here to represent your love for the Santa Muerte, the love which has led you to perform this sacrifice.
• ​Regular Drinking Water - widely recognized for it's power as both a physical and spiritual cleanser, regular rain or drinking water serves as the primary base for this magickal skin sacrifice. You only need enough to wash the area of skin to be sacrificed.
• ​Tea Kettle - to bring your water to a boil. You can use any method to heat the water, but the tea kettle probably provides the safest and most secure method of moving the hot water from your stove top to your Santa Muerte altar.
• ​Trivet or Pot Pad - for safely putting down your hot tea kettle.
• Water Bowl or Basin - big enough to hold the water and all your other ingredients, this is where you'll let your herbs steep in the warm water.
• ​Stirring Spoon - to stir your potion while the water is hot.
• ​Florida Water - a favorite cologne of the Santa Muerte, commonly used to purify, cleanse, and bless, used here to dedicate the skin in the name of Santa Muerte. Find a formula for making your own Florida Water HERE.
• ​1 White Handkerchief or Bandana - for spreading your wash over the skin. Any white cloth will do.​​
• 1 White Candle - to appeal to the White Cloaked Santa Muerte of good blessings and protection.

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​Prepare the Water

​​At your kitchen stove, or over another safely lit open fire, fill your kettle with enough drinking water to wash the area of skin to be sacrificed, a few cups is generally enough, and bring to a boil. As the water heats, recite the Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte magick prayer below. When the water comes to a gentle boil, turn off the heat, and take the heated water to your altar - BE VERY CAREFUL - you may want to let the heated water stand for a few minutes to reduce the risk of burns.

Set the kettle safely off to the side over a trivet or pot pad.

​At Your Santa Muerte Altar

Next, at your Santa Muerte altar and in the light of the white candle's flame, combine approximately equal parts of your herbal ingredients, the basil, hyssop, and rose petals, into your empty water bowl or basin.  While you're free to choose the exact amount (less is more), I would add just enough dry herbs to cover most of the bottom of the water bowl / basin in a thin layer. Pour your warm to hot water over your dry herbal ingredients and let steep. As your herbal ingredients steep, stir gently with your stirring spoon, again reciting the Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte magick prayer below.

​When you notice the dry herbs begin to incorporate into the water (the water will begin to darken), you can add your Florida Water. As with the rest of the recipe, less is more, but add as much as you need (a few drops at a time) to give your magick potion the essence of the Florida Water. You're just going for a hint of Florida Water, you don't need to overpower the recipe. As you stir the Florida Water into the rest of your potion, recite the Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte magick prayer below.

​Wash the Skin

​Check your water to make sure the temperature is tolerable for your skin. If not, continue to stir softly until it is. When you're comfortable with the temperature, you can dip your white handkerchief, bandanna, or cloth into the water and wring out. Wipe the area of skin to be sacrificed and recite the "Skin Sacrifice" prayer below. 

Perform this process of dipping, wringing, washing, and praying, a total of 9 times.

​If the area of skin to be sacrificed is on the back and not easy to reach, you can use the cloth to soak up the water, wring it out about half way over the bowl, and then squeeze the remaining water from overhead so it runs across the back.

When you've washed and prayed a total of 9 times, the preparation is complete.

You may dispose of what remains from this petition using the instructions outlined in my post How to Dispose of Magick Trash.
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​The next step is to show up for your tattoo appointment on time.

​The Skin Sacrifice

​This is the part where you get your tattoo. ONLY GET YOUR TATTOO FROM A LICENSED AND REPUTABLE PROVIDER. While you're getting the work done, you can continue to recite to yourself the Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte magick prayer below. When the tattoo is complete, so is the sacrifice.
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​​Skin Sacrifice Santa Muerte Magick Prayer

​Santa Muerte, patron saint,
​I give this patch of skin for you.
A piece of flesh, most Holy Death,
A symbol of devotion true.

Saint of bones, who loves us all,
my skin is canvas just for you.
​A piece of me, so you can see,
my love for you is real and true.