By Randy Fitch
Be forewarned. In the words of Dr. Joann Scurlock, an expert on folk magic practices around the world:
"It's not a matter of whether you believe or disbelieve, nor is it relevant whether magic is real or not, anthropologists and psychologists who have studied these areas have shown that magic works in its own way, and the more you study it the more you can get drawn in to the magical worldview if you are not careful"
That said, as a researcher and writer, my passion for knowledge has taken me down this rabbit hole to know the forces which fuel movements such as the Holy Death. For Christians, the bible makes it clear where we should stand in Deuteronomy, Chapter 18, Verses 10-12:
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.
And, when studying the forces of the Holy Death movement, one should consider what the doctrine of Mexico's Church, the Catholic Church, has to say about magic in its Catechism. Paragraph 2117 states:
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.
And as we set the table for this discussion, let's look at what one Dr. Robert J. Bunker of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit has to say in his article on leb.fbi.gov, Santa Muerte – Inspired and Ritualistic Killings:
Santa Muerte rituals vary, and worshipers disagree about some of the symbolism and the proper procedures to gain the spiritual and physical results petitioned. However, adherents generally consider Santa Muerte a jealous and vengeful deity who demands that her followers conduct the rituals and sacrifices properly to avoid her divine wrath. Candle magic, herbs, oils, amulets, spiritual energy, and various mystical items play an important role (table 1). Often, the colors and mixtures of items employed determine ceremonial intent and arrangement of the altar. Components of the rituals also hold importance. Candles help to focus worshiper concentration and act as a conduit so that Santa Muerte receives the prayers. Smoke blown, alcoholic drink spit out, and narcotics smeared on statues are thought to help activate them. The bases of candles and statues also may have items or artifacts embedded in them and may be anointed with oils and herbs to enhance their power. More extreme forms of worship involve bowls of blood—animal and human—at the altars and smeared on the religious icons and on the devotee as part of a blood pact.
Wow, candles that help to focus worshiper concentration, bowls of blood, animal, and human, placed on altars, icons, and devotees as part of blood pacts. While all this may sound like a horror movie, humans have practiced these rituals since their actions have been recorded… Remember, in the book of Genesis, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but at the last moment, an angel intervenes, and God says, "now I know you fear me." God then provides a ram for Abraham to slay in his son's place.
This act of faith foreshadows an event two millennia later when God sacrifices his son; the act of sacrifice fulfilled and ended forever.
Now, let's dig a little deeper into the roots of the magic of the Santa Muerte.
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