"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a popular supernatural television series that originally aired from 1997 to 2003. The show follows the story of Buffy Summers, a teenage girl who is chosen to be the Slayer, a chosen one who battles against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces. Throughout the series, Buffy is supported by a diverse group of friends, known as the Scooby Gang, who assist her in her fight against evil. One of the most iconic characters in the show is Willow Rosenberg, who starts off as Buffy's best friend and eventually becomes a powerful witch. Willow's journey as a witch is explored in depth throughout the series. She starts off as a novice, learning spells and incantations, but as the show progresses, she develops more advanced magical abilities.
Four of the curse-tablets from the temple of Isis and Mater Magna in Mainz presented earlier in this volume by Jürgen Blänsdorf, and securely dated between 70 and 130 CE, 1 use compound forms of the verb vertere in idiosyncratic ways that suggest that their authors were improvising new uses for familiar 'persuasive analogy' formulas. In most cases the change in strategy seems to involve a shift away from the traditional concrete understanding of the trope (to invert or reverse the victim's body, mind or speech) to a more abstract one that takes greater account of the fi gurative meanings of these compound words, namely personal hostility, bad luck and even death. Alerted to this development by Professor Blänsdorf's publication of the Mainz texts, we began to look for similar cases in the published literature. Of the total of nine we found, six (including the four from Mainz) are located in Germania Superior, the others are widely scattered between central Italy, western Aquitania and the middle Danube. We also found three other analogous texts, equally scattered in space, from Carthage, Poetovio and the Brenner Pass area. Th is wide distribution of analogous strategies suggests that the phenomenon is independent of handbooks or models and represents the spontaneous adaptation of an image of reversal drawing on stock-phrases such as mentem or animum avertere, to alienate someone's sympathies but also to drive someone mad or distracted, or aversus esse a, to be hostile to, to be strongly opposed to. As so oft en, areas already worked for tropes and fi gures in a given culture prove most productive in the creation of new 1 See pp. 141–89 above. Preliminary discussions of these new materials can be found in Blänsdorf 2005 and M. Witteyer, Curse-tablets and Voodoo Dolls from Mainz. Th e Archaeological Evidence for Magical Practices in the Sanctuary of Isis and Magna Mater, MHNH 5 (2005) 105–124. Note that our translations of the texts we discuss are deliberately literal rather than idiomatic.
One-language, well written and easily readable magical texts can be difficult to understand while explicit and unambiguous wording is expected in such practical genre like curses which level at definite persons. When most people think of a poppet, they automatically think of the Voodoo doll, thanks to this item s negative portrayal in movies and on television.
She starts off as a novice, learning spells and incantations, but as the show progresses, she develops more advanced magical abilities. Willow becomes a vital member of the team, using her witchcraft skills to aid Buffy in her battles. However, as Willow delves deeper into her magic, she begins to succumb to the dark side.
Working Magic: Creating a poppet
When most people think of a poppet, they automatically think of the Voodoo doll, thanks to this item’s negative portrayal in movies and on television. However, the use of dolls in sympathetic magic goes back several millennia. Back in the days of ancient Egypt, the enemies of Ramses III, (there were a lot including some of his harem) used wax images of the Pharoah, to bring about his death. Whilst I don’t suggest you use poppets for that particular intent, they can be used for all kinds of purpose.
It wasn’t uncommon for the Greeks to use sympathetic magic in workings related to love or war. Greek poppets called Kolossoi were sometimes used to capture a ghost or even what they considered to be a dangerous deity, or to bind two people together in ‘love’.
I like to think of a poppet as a person shaped spell holder. Use them for love, luck, protection, prosperity and healing.
Remember that poppets have a long tradition behind them, and that tradition is influenced by the magical practices of a wide range of cultures. Treat your poppets well, and they will do the same for you.
Poppet Design
As for design, well it’s really up to you. You can make a simple poppet from a potato or twine tied together right up to detailed material poppets with hair and glass eyes and of course anywhere in between. You can even use dollies or Barbie dolls.
I like to use felt when making poppets basically because I am a lazy sewer. With felt you don’t have to hem. And of course felt comes in all sorts of colours so you can correspond the colour of felt used to the intent.
I cut out two felt shapes, a bit like a gingerbread man shape or I often use a cross shape.
Then I sew one button on for one eye and a cross for the other eye, followed by a mouth. Then I sew on a little red felt heart.
Next I sew with neat but not fancy stitches around the edges of the figure, again you can use coloured thread to correspond with your intent.
I leave a gap and then stuff the poppet with some off cuts of felt but also herbs and spices; occasionally I will add a crystal too. You can use all sorts of herbs, woods, plants, roots and spices even salt and rice – go with what suits your intent or what feels right for you. Salt, rice and dried pulses are good if your poppet is larger as they fill up the space nicely and also work for purification, protection, negative energy and in the case of rice prosperity too. Charge each item as you add it. Then when your poppet is full sew him up and I like to charge him with my intent again once he is whole.
I like to set the poppet on my altar and recharge him occasionally with my intent. Most of my poppets are designed with an intent in mind such as prosperity or psychic abilities, these poppets I keep. I often tie a petition to them when I need to.
To bury or not?
Some people choose to bury the poppet once he is made. Allowing the universe to work the magic, the choice is yours. If you choose to bury the poppet please make sure all of the material and contents are safely biodegradable. I would suggest using a potato or twine when creating a poppet to bury in the earth.
Video
If you would like to see the process of making a poppet, click on the video link below. This is a recording of a live chat I did:
I filled my little doll with herbs to boost the effect as well: rosemary, which is good for all mental powers; thyme for courage; lavender for clarity and balance. After I had finished sewing the pieces together, I cast a circle and enchanted my poppet to help me with the work that lay ahead.
She becomes addicted to the power that magic gives her, which ultimately leads her down a dangerous path. This culminates in a pivotal storyline called the "Dark Willow" arc, where she transforms into a vengeful and dangerously powerful witch. The exploration of Willow's journey as a witch in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is notable for its nuanced portrayal of the consequences of power and addiction. It highlights the importance of balance and self-control when it comes to harnessing supernatural abilities. In addition to Willow's character arc, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" also features other witches throughout its run. These characters help to further explore the world of magic within the show and provide additional depth to the overall story. Overall, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is not only remembered for its engaging storylines and memorable characters, but also for its portrayal of witches and magic. Through the character of Willow and other witches, the show offers a thought-provoking examination of power, addiction, and the choices we make..
Reviews for "From High School to Hell: Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Unique Setting"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I found "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Witch" to be quite disappointing. The storyline seemed lacking in depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The main protagonist, Buffy, was supposed to be this strong and empowering figure, but I found her to be rather shallow and unrelatable. Additionally, the special effects were subpar, and the action sequences lacked excitement. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unengaged throughout the entirety of the film.
2. Mark - 1 star
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was convoluted and poorly executed, making it difficult to follow and understand what was happening. The acting was wooden, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Moreover, the film lacked any real tension or suspense, reducing it to a predictable and uninteresting experience. I would not recommend this movie to anyone who is seeking a thrilling or engaging vampire flick.
3. Samantha - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Witch," but I was sorely disappointed. The story felt rushed and poorly developed, with several plot holes that were left unexplained. The characters lacked depth and failed to evoke any emotional connection. Additionally, the film relied heavily on cheap jump scares and clichéd horror tropes, making it feel more like a parody than a serious vampire film. Overall, I found this movie to be a lackluster addition to the genre and not worth the time investment.
4. Thomas - 2.5 stars
I had mixed feelings about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Witch." The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was all over the place, with some scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. The dialogue was cringe-worthy at times, and the characters lacked depth and development. However, I did appreciate the occasional humorous moments that provided some much-needed relief from the otherwise lackluster plot. Overall, while I didn't hate it, I can't say I enjoyed it either.