Mictecacihuatl ☠︎︎

 This topic may be a bit controversial due to the many stigmas the Catholic Church has placed on this divine figure. I, myself, criticized those who had decided to follow her guidance, but I now understand. La Santa Muerte isn’t “satanic” or “demonic”, she is a divine being created by source itself to carry it’s will and help souls here on Earth transition from life to death. She is a representation of constant rebirth, helping us do away with what is no longer serving or hindering our growth. Working with her has been incredibly magical & mysterious! Fear definitely creeped into my mind due to my ignorance, but she is completely misunderstood, and I want to share what I have taken the time to learn about this beautiful deity. I ask that you please keep an open heart if you decide to continue with this blog. <3

In the mythology of the Aztecs, the ancient culture of Mexico, Mictecacihuatl “lady of the dead” is heavily honored, along with her husband Miclantecuhtl. They both ruled over the land of Mictlan, the lowest level of the underworld where the dead reside. Mictecacihualt’s role is to guard the bones of the dead and govern over the festivals dedicated to the dead, like our modern Dia de los Muertos, which is also heavily influenced by the Christian Spanish traditions.

Fairly elaborate stories surround Mictecacihuatl’s husband, but fewer about her specifically. It is believed that she was born and sacrificed as an infant, then became the partner of the Miclatecuhtl. Together in Mictlan, they had power over the three types of souls dwelling in the underworld. In one version of the myth, both are thought to have served a role in collecting the bones of the dead, so that they could be gathered by the gods of creation and returned to the land of the living where they would be restored to create new races. The fact that many races exist is because the bones were dropped and mixed together before they made their way back to the land of the living.  

The worldly goods buried with the newly dead were intended as offerings to Mictecacihuatl and Miclantecuhtl to ensure their safety in the underworld.

This myth was lost due to colonization and the forceful push towards Christianity/Catholicism by the Spanish. Of course, these ancient traditions were not lost but went “underground”. La Santa Muerte thus re-emerged in the 20th century in Mexico among marginalized people seeking protection. She is depicted, much like Mictecacihuatl, as a female skeletal figure, clad in a long robe, usually holding more than one object. For example, she is often seen holding a globe symbolizing her power of the world and the cycle of life/death; the scythe symbolizing the cutting of negative ties, ending of cycles and separation of the soul from the body; the scales symbolizing her role in impartial judgement, equity, justice and divine will; the owl symbolizing her wisdom, ability to see in the darkness, and her role as messenger; and finally the hourglass symbolizing her connection to time, life’s finite nature, and the promise of rebirth or new beginnings. Now, Santa Muerte is worshiped by people of multiple origins and classes. Her faithful assure that their Saint opens her arms to all people. She is not evil, she is justice!

Gracias Santa Muerte por la sabiduria que me haz honrado en estos tiempos. Es hora que la gente sepa quien eres y que representas realmente, y yo sere una mas de las almitas que con mucho amor y honor educare a los que tienen el corazon abierto y limpio de criticas hacia ti. Esto te lo dedico a ti, porque en poco me haz ensenado cual es mi camino, tu, Dios, y mi Yo superiror. Gracias.