Now, I have heard some grumblings that this book is cultural appropriation because Cressida Stone, the author, is a Caucasian person not born in Mexico, a convert. Considering the number of prominent Santa Muerte religious leaders that have endorsed the book, and her six years studying the tradition in Mexico where the tradition originated, I'm not really that concerned about it. With the mestizo character of the Mexican population and the eclectic origins of Santa Muerte - both substantial Catholic elements, Indigenous ideas, and some African and European occultist influences - it isn’t an ethnically or racially bounded practice. No more than Lucumi / Vodou which also has always included some practitioners of a range of ethnic and racial designations. (And, as well, 'race' means different things in Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, or the United States.)
If someone has undergone the training and is accepted as an Initiate into a tradition by the people of that tradition, I think that's really that.
So, now to proceed with the content of the book. This is a wide-ranging and thorough practical guidebook to The Bony Lady, the variety of Her icons and their specific symbolism, the prayers, rituals, offerings and the popular worship of Her. Stone also talks about her personal journey, and the history of Santa Muerte’s worship – placing a great emphasis on the continuity of Indigenous practices into this syncretic modern religion.
She has detailed chapters on setting up an altar and working with it and cleansing it, on working with Santa Muerte – buying statues, color symbolism and the particular issues that different coloured aspects of the saint deal with, awakening and cleansing the statues, ritual garb for the statues, and the meanings of the symbols associated with the saint and how to use them in magical working. A thorough chapter on colour magic, the use of candles as offerings follows. Then she offers a large selection of prayers, translated by her from the original Spanish; daily prayers, prayers of thanks, prayers for love, prayers to dominate and control, (prayers which, typical of folk magic, mix appeals to Jesus and recitation of Christian prayers like the Pater Noster with curses and binding spells), prayers for health, for healing from addictions, for money, for protection and other issues of daily life. She distinguishes prayers from spells and offers a collection of spells calling upon Santa Muerte as well.
Above all, Stone’s book is a practical guide with instructions on setting up an altar, charging and inspiriting a statue, working to develop a strong relationship with Santa Muerte, rather than theology. There are numerous parallels with other popular religions and folk magic, from the types of offerings, prayers and curses, ethics, and use of statues and icons and practical magical suggestions and procedures. This is a rapidly growing and influential folk religious and magical tradition, centered on service to the saint who rewards Her devotees, with the ethics that you would expect from the Lady of Death – whatever serves Her devoted followers is good. Death comes for us all.
Of course, the best way to find and connect with the Bony Lady is through apprenticeship with a religious leader and involvement in a community devoted to Her. But Secrets of Santa Muerte will give guidance and enough information to begin on the Path.
~ review by Samuel Wagar
Author: Cressida Stone
Red Wheel Weiser Books, 2022
238 pg. Paperback £14.50 / $26 Can / $ 19 US
