Death is Democratic
La muerte es democrática, ya que a fin de cuentas, güera, morena, rica o pobre, toda la gente acaba siendo calavera. (Death is democratic, because in the end, light, dark, rich or poor everyone becomes a skull.)
– José Guadalupe Posada
On the Day of the Dead, let us remember those who have come and gone before us, those who have been guided across the veil between this world. Today we consider the clearly visible footprints left in the dust of the World of Forms by our Gentle Lady La Santa Muerte, Patroness of the Gnostic Order of Allogenes, also known by her other names and aspects and, on this, her Lesser Feast Day, “La Catrina”:
I remember my ancestors:
I remember my Father’s Mother, who worked on an assembly line building parts that would later be used for the Apollo space program.
I remember my Father’s Father, who none of us knew.
I remember my Father’s Stepfather, who, thrown onto the beach at Normandy when his transport was hit, fought his way out using weapons scavanged from corpses, yet was one of the gentlest people we ever knew.
I remember my Stepmother’s Mother, who made us pancakes shaped like turtles and didn’t take crap from anybody.
I remember my Stepmother’s Grandmother, whose code word for candy was “cheese.”
I remember my Mother’s Mother, who epitomized all that was good and beautiful about the Cuban people and taught us the joys of frijoles negros con arroz y tostones.
I remember my Mother’s Father, an excellent artist, who saw such horrors while stationed in the Pacific that he refused to tell war stories, and would lash out in anger when he saw us playing with toy weapons.
I remember my Mother, whose love for her children far overwhelmed the many struggles in her too-short life.
I remember all those whose blood flows through mine; whether or not I was acquainted with them, they are a part of me, and I them. There is no distinction between the Dead and the Living; may the Holy Sophia in her aspect of La Santisima, dearest to our hearts, be with them and keep them within the warm and loving embrace of the Pleroma.
GNOSTIC PRAYER TO LA SANTA MUERTE
Holy Santa Muerte, she of the three aspects, who comes to all with Wisdom and brings the peace of the resurrection, shower your love upon your humble servant. Santisima Muerte, I beseech you lovingly inasmuch as the Limitless Light formed you with you great power over all of the imperfection, so that you might place them in the Pleroma, where we may enjoy a glorious day without night for all eternity, and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Sophia, I pray and I beseech you that you deign to be my protectress and that you grant me your favor that I ask of you, that I may attain the resurrection and the gnosis of the Kingdom until the last day, hour and moment in which your Divine Majesty commands to take me before your presence. AMEN.
Some excellent Dia de los Muertos resources:
