Santa Muerte - Red - Smaller Sculpture

This is a much smaller version of the Santa Muerte - Red that I did. I intended to keep going with other goddesses, but Santa Muerte really grabbed a hold of me and one thing I know for sure is that if the Goddess asks you to do something, you do it. Santa Muerte is a folk saint in Mexico and her followers are growing in number around the world. Some say she was an actual woman who performed healing and protection spells and achieved sainthood after her death. Santa Muerte means Saint Death. She is seen as the kinder gentler grim reaper and has been known to heal the sick, bestow blessings and preform miracles. Her cloak comes in several colors, each color representing a different aspect of her. Red represents love and compassion. Santa Muerte is often worshiped by thieves and criminals because she is seen as a lover of the under dogs, the destitute and the people who struggle. She is a lover of all. She loved indiscriminately, because, after all, Death Belongs to All. No one escapes her gentle final kiss. And why would you want to? If you need to make peace with death and loss, Santa Muerte is the goddess for you. She is kind, loving and gentle. She is also known for the speed of her delivery of prayer requests. I sculpted her and then laid each of the beads one by one and sealed them with Art Resin. Art Resin never yellows or fades. I encourage people to touch her. The feeling of running your hands over the beads is truly remarkable. As I did with Fortuna before her, I prayed to her as I was creating this piece. I placed small bottles at the bottom that are full of herbs that serve as offerings to her. They are: Abramelin Oil, Red Clover, Graveyard dirt, Snake Bones, Jasmine and Rose Hips. To collect the graveyard dirt I went to the graveyard that is in my neighborhood. I knocked three times to announce my presence and let the spirits know I was coming inside. I meditated for a while and asked which spirit would be willing to help me with this piece. When I found one, I talked with her for a while and I traded her whiskey for the same amount of dirt I took. This piece is in a box, kind of like a shadow box. It has hanging equipment at the top. It is very light, probably weighing only a pound or so.