The Coins of Holy Death: A Tool of Divination and Magick for Santa Muerte Devotees
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/4gFqoej
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/4gFqoej
Introduction
The Coins of Holy Death were first created and featured on my blog (SantaMuerteMagick.com) in May of 2017. I was inspired to create the Coins of Holy Death, or “Las Monedas de la Santa Muerte” as they would be called in Spanish, in order to give the community of Santa Muerte devotees a magick tool that could serve as (1) a tool for divination and (2) a tiny, portable altar that could fit in the space of a handful of coins.
The Coins of Holy Death consist of 14 coins in total, which is actually 13 coins and one Pointer Coin. The 13 coins are each marked on one side with a symbol associated with the tradition of Santa Muerte devotion, while the 14th Pointer Coin features a simple arrow on both sides. The Pointer Coin has no meaning and serves only to orient the reading - it literally “points” in the direction that the other coins should be read. This will be explained in more detail later.
The reason I designed this system around a set of coins is because coins are a common sight at any public Santa Muerte altar. When I visited my first public Santa Muerte altar in Tijuana, Mexico, I saw upon the altar a large bowl, about the size of a large fruit bowl, filled to the brim with cash and coins of all denominations. Despite the fact that Tijuana was not known for a low crime rate, the bowl of cash was left in the open, in the middle of a public space, unguarded except for by the spirit of Santa Muerte herself. The Santa Muerte, in areas where her public altars can be found, is quite a respected figure, and one from which most people, even the most desperate, will refuse to steal.
Although originally designed on a set of coins, these symbols could be carved on any flat and two sided surface. Santa Muerte magick and Santa Muerte devotion is non-dogmatic, and there are no leaders you need to worry about offending if you decide to place these symbols on something other than a set of coins. Every relationship with Santa Muerte is as unique as the devotees who form them, and there is no wrong way to work with Santa Muerte.
The information in this book is only a guide, and only a representation of how I personally choose to manifest my own relationship with Saint Death. You are free to adopt my methods for using The Coins of Holy Death, or to innovate and come up with your own.
The Coins of Holy Death consist of 14 coins in total, which is actually 13 coins and one Pointer Coin. The 13 coins are each marked on one side with a symbol associated with the tradition of Santa Muerte devotion, while the 14th Pointer Coin features a simple arrow on both sides. The Pointer Coin has no meaning and serves only to orient the reading - it literally “points” in the direction that the other coins should be read. This will be explained in more detail later.
The reason I designed this system around a set of coins is because coins are a common sight at any public Santa Muerte altar. When I visited my first public Santa Muerte altar in Tijuana, Mexico, I saw upon the altar a large bowl, about the size of a large fruit bowl, filled to the brim with cash and coins of all denominations. Despite the fact that Tijuana was not known for a low crime rate, the bowl of cash was left in the open, in the middle of a public space, unguarded except for by the spirit of Santa Muerte herself. The Santa Muerte, in areas where her public altars can be found, is quite a respected figure, and one from which most people, even the most desperate, will refuse to steal.
Although originally designed on a set of coins, these symbols could be carved on any flat and two sided surface. Santa Muerte magick and Santa Muerte devotion is non-dogmatic, and there are no leaders you need to worry about offending if you decide to place these symbols on something other than a set of coins. Every relationship with Santa Muerte is as unique as the devotees who form them, and there is no wrong way to work with Santa Muerte.
The information in this book is only a guide, and only a representation of how I personally choose to manifest my own relationship with Saint Death. You are free to adopt my methods for using The Coins of Holy Death, or to innovate and come up with your own.