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Glitch Bottle Podcast

#145 - Breaking Misconceptions of Santa Muerte with Ed Calderon | Glitch Bottle

Jan 26, 2024
Former counter-narcotics investigator Ed Calderon discusses the evolving veneration of Santa Muerte and shares deep lessons learned from going public. He breaks misconceptions about Santa Muerte, explores altars and offerings, and delves into the nature and symbolism of Santa Muerte. Calderon also talks about the importance of being present, honoring ancestors, embracing death, and personal development.
03:09:15

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The public altar dedicated to Santa Muerte in Mexico City's Tepito barrio marked a milestone in the faith's evolution and brought it into the public consciousness.
  • Santa Muerte represents a deep connection to death and the duality of life, providing protection and comfort to the marginalized and the lost.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Santa Muerte Veneration and Public Altars

The veneration of Santa Muerte has evolved over time in Mexico City's Tepito Barrio, where the first public altar dedicated to Santa Muerte was established in the year 2000. This altar, created by Enricata Romero, marked a significant milestone in the public expression of the faith. Prior to this, Santa Muerte was a clandestine, underground practice, only known within certain Catholic churches and indigenous Mexican communities. The public altar in Tepito revealed a deeper understanding of Santa Muerte's significance and helped bring the faith into the public consciousness.

Romero's altar was humble and located in a dangerous neighborhood, but it became a focal point for the growing faith. Unlike other popular altars, Romero did not dictate specific prayers or practices. She embraced a more inclusive approach, allowing individuals to develop their own personal relationships with Santa Muerte. Since then, altars dedicated to Santa Muerte have multiplied throughout Mexico City and even globally, with people from different backgrounds expressing their devotion.

Despite growing acceptance, Santa Muerte still faces opposition, particularly from more conservative Catholics who view it as connected to witchcraft and Satanism. However, practitioners like Ed Calderon emphasize that Santa Muerte is honored by the marginalized, the hopeless, and the lost. It represents a faith practice that provides protection and comfort to those in desperate circumstances. Ed challenges misconceptions and highlights that Santa Muerte is not associated with criminal activity, but rather represents a deep connection to death and the duality of life.

As the faith continues to evolve, it remains grassroots and clandestine. There is no codified set of rules or specific practices. The expression of the faith varies based on personal experiences and beliefs. While there are common elements like statues, candles, tobacco, flowers, and alcohol as offerings, the nature of Santa Muerte devotion is deeply personal and allows for individual interpretation and expression. Altars can be rebuilt using materials like red brick or cinder blocks. Symbolic aspects such as Y-shaped roads or locations facing water or sunset are considered significant in altar placement. Practices like flipping dried flowers upside down or leaving offerings of silver can also be observed.

Overall, the advice is to approach the practice of Santa Muerte with openness and respect, recognizing its diversity and personal nature. Ed Calderon and other practitioners advocate for dispelling misconceptions and embracing the faith for what it truly represents: a connection to life, death, and the marginalized.

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