Gifts of the Gods

A Cunning Man's Journal

In the latest journal entry, I reflected on one of the most powerful and complex gifts I’ve received in my practice—the Scythe of Santa Muerte—and the contract that came with it. What’s particularly amusing, and somewhat disconcerting, is that Santa Muerte made it clear from the start that I would misuse the gift, it would be taken away, and eventually returned. Knowing this ahead of time didn’t stop me from walking right into it, and I ended up using the Scythe in a way I shouldn’t have. It was a situation where my emotions overrode my logic, and despite knowing better, I acted in the moment. Santa Muerte, of course, anticipated this—it was woven into the contract from the start. The lesson here is that sometimes, even when you know something is coming, the weight of human nature can drive you toward inevitable actions.

The nature of working with death and Saturnian spirits is often misunderstood. They aren’t malicious forces, as many believe, but rather neutral entities concerned with balance. My misuse of the Scythe didn’t change much in the grand scheme, as Death gets everyone in the end, even the universe itself. It’s all about ensuring the scales are balanced, and they don’t mind how that’s achieved as long as everything adds up. High-level magic, at its core, is really just understanding how to navigate these cosmic balances. But as with all things, there are layers of mystery left unspoken, and perhaps it’s best to leave the rest unsaid—for now.