Maddie James
Santa Muerte, or Our Lady of Holy Death, is a female deity and folk saint in Mexican folk Catholicism and Neopaganism. She is a personification of death and is associated with healing, protection, and safe passage to the afterlife. Devotees of Santa Muerte often create altars to her, which include candles, flowers, fruits, liquor, tobacco, coins, and other personal items. The candles are dressed with oils or herbs before being lit, with the colour of the candle and the type of oil or herb chosen depending on the intention of the ritual. For example, a black candle is used for protection and defence, while a red candle is used for love and passion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Candle colour | White for purification, gratitude, protection and peace |
| Black for defence, banishment, protection against black magic or sorcery, or force against enemies | |
| Red for love, lust, passion, and matters of the heart | |
| Gold/Golden for prosperity, wealth, success, money, economic power | |
| Multicoloured for overall blessings | |
| Rainbow for miracles | |
| Green for justice, legal matters, unity with loved ones | |
| Amber/dark yellow for health | |
| Blue for creativity and improved social relations | |
| Purple | |
| Copper | |
| Silver | |
| Dressing | Oils, such as protection oil, love oil, prosperity oil, La Santisima Muerte Oil, Domination Oil, Lodestone Oil, Crown of Success Oil, King Solomon Oil, Compelling Oil, Divine Lovers Oil, Attraction Oil, Money Drawing Oil, Abre Caminos (Road Opener Oil), Uncrossing Oil, Destruction Oil, Florida Water, perfume, cologne, or any oil of choice |
| Herbs | |
| Holy powder | |
| Sea salt | |
| Specific fragrances |
Explore related products
![HOLY Death Road Opener-Palm Wax Spiritual Intention Spell Candle-[Orange] | Vela CASA ESOTERICA PERFUMADA- (ABRE CAMINOS Santa Muerte)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61jAqY8svBL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Choose a candle colour based on your petition
The colours of Santa Muerte's votive candles are associated with the type of petitions made. Here are some candle colours and their meanings:
White
The colour white is the most common colour and symbolises gratitude, purity, protection, peace, and the cleansing of negative influences. It is also a candle of consecration, hope, and truth. Devotees burn white candles when they ask for healing for themselves or their relatives from serious illnesses or various addictions.
Red
Red candles are popular among lovers and people looking for love. They are burned when asking for help in finding love, attracting the right person, bonding with a loved one, or arousing passionate love. The candle is also used in matters related to passion and sexuality. It can also signify emotional stability.
Gold
The gold candle is used for intentions regarding wealth, money, and financial success. It represents glamour, luxury, success, and happiness. Devotees burn gold candles when asking for successful deals, business success, new customers, or a bigger demand for their goods.
Green
Green candles are burned when asking for justice and honesty. They are effective when turning to Holy Death in matters related to the application of the law. They are often used in court cases, but it is important to note that they should only be used by those who are innocent.
Black
Black candles are used for protection and defence against enemies, reversing hexes, and banishing negative energies. They can also represent total protection against black magic or sorcery or force directed against rivals and enemies.
Blue
Blue candles are used when asking for creativity, especially in the field of art, and for improving social relations and meeting new people. They represent interpersonal communication, cooperation, and friendly coexistence.
Candle Warmers: Do They Release Toxins?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Consecrate your candle with specific fragrances
Devotees of La Santa Muerte consecrate candles by anointing them with specific fragrances before placing them on their altars or lighting them. This practice is common among those who follow the folk saint, whose roots can be traced back to the blending of indigenous Mesoamerican traditions and Catholicism during the Spanish colonisation of Mexico.
Candles are essential to any Santa Muerte altar, and devotees choose their candles based on the petitions they are making. For example, a white candle is burned when asking for healing, expressing gratitude, or seeking protection, while a red candle symbolises love and matters of the heart.
To consecrate your candle with specific fragrances, you can use oils or herbs to dress the candle. This practice is believed to add power to the ritual. Here are some fragrances you can use:
- Florida Water, a favourite perfume, cologne, or appropriate oil
- Cinnamon
- Copal
- Myrrh
- Tobacco
- Sandalwood
- Frankincense
- Rose incense
- Rose oil
- Jasmine
- Rue oil
- Mint oil
- La Santisima Muerte Oil
- La Santisima Muerte Incense
- Domination Oil
- Lodestone Oil
- Crown of Success Oil
- Protection Oil
- King Solomon Oil
- Compelling Oil
- Divine Lovers Oil
- Attraction Oil
- Money Drawing Oil
- Abre Caminos (Road Opener Oil)
- Uncrossing Oil
- Destruction Oil
You can also prepare your own fragrance blend that you think will be suitable for La Santa Muerte. It is important to note that the use of any oil is a matter of individual preference and the choice of the devotee.
How to Recycle Spent Candles: Creative Ways to Reuse Wax
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dress the candle with oils
When dressing a Santa Muerte candle with oils, the type of oil used often depends on the candle's colour and the intention behind the ritual. For example, a white candle is used to express gratitude, for healing, or for cleansing from negative influences, and can be dressed with protection oil. A red candle is used for love, passion, and matters of the heart, and can be dressed with love oil. A gold candle is associated with prosperity, wealth, and success, and can be dressed with prosperity oil. A multicoloured candle can be dressed with holy oil to amplify its power.
When dressing a Santa Muerte candle with oil, a few drops of the chosen oil should be slowly anointed into the candle. The candle should be placed on an altar or any platform. One source suggests that the candle should be blessed by saying the following:
> Most Holy Death, I bring these candles before You and I ask You to bless them. Fill them with Your light, so that their shine will testify to your glory. Fill them with Your power, so that their strength will show Your might.
However, the use of any oil is a matter of individual preference and the choice of the devotee. Some sources suggest that you can prepare your own fragrance blend, which you think will be good for La Santa Muerte.
Harry Slatkin Candles: Made in China?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![HOLY Death Reversible-Palm Wax Spiritual Intention Spell Candle-[RED/Black] | Vela CASA ESOTERICA PERFUMADA- (Santa Muerte Reversible)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61XIyJnXVyL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
![HOLY Death Money-Palm Wax Spiritual Intention Spell Candle-[Green] | Vela CASA ESOTERICA PERFUMADA- (Santa Muerte Dinero)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61V02WmLTxL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Dress the candle with herbs
When dressing a Santa Muerte candle with herbs, it is important to choose the right herbs for your intention. Santa Muerte is a folk saint who offers protection and guidance, and her devotees believe she can grant miracles. Her image is that of a skeletal figure dressed in a flowing robe, often holding a scythe.
To begin, select herbs that correspond with your intention. For example, if you are seeking protection, you may choose herbs such as rosemary, sage, or basil. If you are seeking love and passion, you may choose rose petals, lavender, or jasmine. It is also common to use magical herbs to dress the candle, which can be purchased from metaphysical stores or online.
Once you have chosen your herbs, it is time to prepare them. You can use them whole or grind them into a powder using a mortar and pestle. If you are using fresh herbs, make sure to dry them first to prevent mould. You can do this by hanging them upside down in a cool, dark place for a few weeks or placing them in a warm oven for a few hours.
Next, you will need to melt some wax. You can use a double boiler or a heat-safe container placed in a pot of boiling water. Add the herbs to the melted wax and stir well. If you are using essential oils, add them now as well.
Finally, carefully pour the herb-infused wax over the candle, making sure to cover the entire surface. You can also roll the candle in the herbs or sprinkle them on top of the wet wax. Allow the wax to dry completely before using the candle.
When you are ready to use the candle, place it on your altar or in a dedicated space. Focus on your intention and speak it aloud. Then, light the candle with a wooden match to complete the ritual.
Woolworths' Haven Candles: A Warm, Cozy Escape
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Burn the candle for seven days
Burning a candle for seven days is a testament to your unwavering faith and dedication to Santa Muerte. The act signifies a deep commitment to connecting with her and serves as a medium for devotees to present their petitions.
The 7-day candle also takes on protective roles, with many invoking Santa Muerte's shield against harm and negative energies. It is believed that the candle's flame, beyond its spiritual connotations, provides a grounding point for reflection and is pivotal in certain spiritual traditions where the duration symbolizes completion and perfection.
The colours of the candles are deeply symbolic and should be chosen with care. For example, a black candle is used for defence against enemies, reversing hexes, and banishing negative energies, while a red candle is used for love, passion, and matters of the heart.
Devotees can dress the candle with oils, such as protection oil, love oil, or prosperity oil, depending on the focus of the ritual. The candle can then be placed on an altar or any platform. After lighting the candle, focus on your prayer or intention. Many devotees write their petitions on a piece of paper and place it under the candle or burn it after reciting their prayers.
Creating a Romantic Evening: Candles and His Heart
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Dressing a candle involves anointing it with oil or herbs to add power to the ritual. The type of oil or herb used depends on the intention of the ritual. For example, protection oil is used for rituals focused on safety.
The colour of a Santa Muerte candle is symbolic and should be chosen with care. A white candle represents purity, peace, and protection, while a black candle is used for defence and banishment. A red candle symbolises love and passion, and a gold candle represents wealth and success.
To dress a Santa Muerte candle for protection, use a black candle and dress it with protection powder or protection oil. Sprinkle sea salt around the candle to create a protective barrier. Visualise a strong protective force surrounding you and your home as you light the candle.
![HOLY Death Love-Palm Wax Spiritual Intention Spell Candle-[RED] | Vela CASA ESOTERICA PERFUMADA- (Santa Muerte Amor)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61COPQEDOTL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
