Santa Muerte Prayer Magick: Affordable Santa Muerte Magick You Can Do Anywhere
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/4gbTQrn
Digital Web Book by Arnold Bustillo
Buy the paperback at https://amzn.to/4gbTQrn
The Altar
If the relationship to Santa Muerte is the foundation for Santa Muerte magick, then the altar is a representation of that relationship. However, just as a wedding ring is a representation of a marriage, the absence of a wedding ring does not denote the absence of a spouse. A marriage is a relationship that exists whether or not a ring is worn, and devotion to Santa Muerte is a relationship that exists whether or not an altar is present. In other words, one does not technically need an altar to successfully petition the Santa Muerte, but if one is able to build an altar, then the altar should be constructed out of respect for the Santa Muerte. Likewise, a wedding ring is not technically required to enter into a marriage, but if you’re able to afford a wedding ring, then there is no reason not to invest in one.
The nice thing about Santa Muerte devotion is that there is no doctrine which dictates what an altar should be or how one should be constructed. Many devotees believe that any depiction or representation of death can serve as the foundation for an altar to Santa Muerte. Large, life sized statues of Santa Muerte have been used as altar centerpieces, but so have simple prayer cards that fit in purses and wallets. A cell phone displaying a downloaded image of the Santa Muerte can form the basis for an altar, and so can a rosary or necklace that features a Santa Muerte medallion.
Keeping in mind that the Santa Muerte is the personification of death itself, an altar does not need to depict the Santa Muerte exactly, and any representation of death can serve as an altar to the folk saint. For example, an altar can be established around a plastic skull from a prop shop, or even around a drawing of a skull sketched onto a piece of paper.
For covert devotion, an altar may consist of a collection of symbols associated with Santa Muerte, like globes of Earth (to represent her power over us all), the owl (which represents her wisdom and knowledge of magick), the scales of justice (which represent death as the great equalizer), and the scythe or sickle (which represents the power of Santa Muerte to cut the thread of life). Animal bones and dead houseplants can also serve as centerpieces of altars to Holy Death, because they also represent the energy of death itself.
In addition to the types of altars described already, I have also spoken on my website about the “altar in one’s heart”. If the only item that is necessary to erect an altar to Santa Muerte is a representation of death, then it is fair to consider here the creation of an astral altar - an altar that exists only in the mind’s eye of the devotee. If you’re able to visualize a depiction of death in your mind’s eye, then consider it a depiction as valid and powerful as any physical depiction.
When you stand before a physical altar, or meditate on a depiction of death in your mind’s eye, you make it clear through these actions that you acknowledge the power of Santa Muerte in your life, and that you are approaching the Santa Muerte to make a formal petition - but if no physical altar is possible, and if visualization is not your strong suit, then you can create a type of altar substitute which I will call an altar of declared intent. To be clear, this should only be considered an altar of last resort. To create an altar of declared intent, simply recite one time aloud or to yourself a declarative statement like;
“Santa Muerte, I acknowledge you, I love you, and now I do petition you,”
Then perform the rest of your petition ritual as normal.
The nice thing about Santa Muerte devotion is that there is no doctrine which dictates what an altar should be or how one should be constructed. Many devotees believe that any depiction or representation of death can serve as the foundation for an altar to Santa Muerte. Large, life sized statues of Santa Muerte have been used as altar centerpieces, but so have simple prayer cards that fit in purses and wallets. A cell phone displaying a downloaded image of the Santa Muerte can form the basis for an altar, and so can a rosary or necklace that features a Santa Muerte medallion.
Keeping in mind that the Santa Muerte is the personification of death itself, an altar does not need to depict the Santa Muerte exactly, and any representation of death can serve as an altar to the folk saint. For example, an altar can be established around a plastic skull from a prop shop, or even around a drawing of a skull sketched onto a piece of paper.
For covert devotion, an altar may consist of a collection of symbols associated with Santa Muerte, like globes of Earth (to represent her power over us all), the owl (which represents her wisdom and knowledge of magick), the scales of justice (which represent death as the great equalizer), and the scythe or sickle (which represents the power of Santa Muerte to cut the thread of life). Animal bones and dead houseplants can also serve as centerpieces of altars to Holy Death, because they also represent the energy of death itself.
In addition to the types of altars described already, I have also spoken on my website about the “altar in one’s heart”. If the only item that is necessary to erect an altar to Santa Muerte is a representation of death, then it is fair to consider here the creation of an astral altar - an altar that exists only in the mind’s eye of the devotee. If you’re able to visualize a depiction of death in your mind’s eye, then consider it a depiction as valid and powerful as any physical depiction.
When you stand before a physical altar, or meditate on a depiction of death in your mind’s eye, you make it clear through these actions that you acknowledge the power of Santa Muerte in your life, and that you are approaching the Santa Muerte to make a formal petition - but if no physical altar is possible, and if visualization is not your strong suit, then you can create a type of altar substitute which I will call an altar of declared intent. To be clear, this should only be considered an altar of last resort. To create an altar of declared intent, simply recite one time aloud or to yourself a declarative statement like;
“Santa Muerte, I acknowledge you, I love you, and now I do petition you,”
Then perform the rest of your petition ritual as normal.