Witch hunting, a practice that dates back hundreds of years, refers to the act of accusing, capturing, and often executing individuals who are thought to be witches or practitioners of witchcraft. It is an activity that has been prevalent in many cultures and societies throughout history, but reached its peak during the early modern period in Europe, particularly between the 15th and 18th centuries. During this time, the concept of witchcraft became deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness, leading to widespread fear and paranoia. A combination of social, religious, and political factors fueled the witch hunts, including the rise of Christianity, the fear of satanic influence, and the desire for social control. Witch hunts typically targeted women, particularly those who were unmarried, widowed, or deemed "different" in some way. These individuals were often accused of practicing black magic, causing harm to others, and making pacts with the devil.
Bocio were designed more as objects that take on animation and become mediators to the spirit world. They could communicate with ancestors, gods and if necessary, through that intereaction the ancestors or dieties could bring some type of help, supplication or protection to the doll’s sender, influencing events both positively and negatively. The point of difference is that traditionally, the doll itself is not the power nor does it represent a real person. It is merely a messenger to those with the power to affect change. Eventually the doll did came to be able to store, harness and direct the owner’s own spiritual power therebye containing spiritual powers, although it still did not represent another human being.
The influence of the European poppet on the Voodoo doll is greater than people realize, who assume it is purely an African invention popularized by slaves brought to the New World. When the slaves arrived the marriage between european traditions and african traditions resulted, the combinations of which have sparked some of the greatest creative artistic explosions in history.
These individuals were often accused of practicing black magic, causing harm to others, and making pacts with the devil. Once accused, they would be subjected to a series of trials and interrogations, where often unreliable and coerced confessions were extracted. The accused were often subjected to torture, further leading to false confessions and the implicating of others.
Bewitched spirit voodoo doll
Boy, did you piss me off today. So while you weren’t looking, i took a piece of your hair/clothing/belonging, went home and i am now sticking pins in it. You, of course, are having sudden unexplained pains in certain areas of your body.
This is the popular image of Voodoo Dolls. However, the use of such dolls not only for Voudon, but also across multiple cultures and history is much more varied. They are also used for healing, protection, love spells and spiritual guidance.The dolls are used as messengers to the spirit world. To accomplish this they are nailed to a tree in a graveyard with a message to the world beyond. .
As with any form of Magick, the assumption is always that symbolic actions performed with intent can have an effect in wider or spiritual realms and cause changes beyond the simple act itself. Thus the doll is not just a doll. They are made to have an empowerment potential which is activated when a piece of cloth, hair, rope, tack, etc is attached to it which can effect people or events.
So where so these dolls come from?
Voodoo dolls as we know them today are actually the combination of two sources: the Western African practice of Bocio and the european Poppet.
The European Poppet.
It is from the European Poppet that we get the pin sticking stereotype. The european Poppet uses what is called ‘sympathetic magic’. Whatever happens to the doll happens in the real world. Hence the pin sticking.
European folk magic has used the poppet since before Europe, actually. It traces back to Egypt. In 1100 BCE, the many enemies of Pharaoh Ramses III of Egypt (which included the women of his harem and a treasury official) used wax images of him to bring about his death.
The poppet later pops up with great zest in Greek culture. Called kolossoi, they were not only used for sympathetic magic (i.e. pin sticking) but to constrain ghosts, troublesome spirits, and even gods. They could also bind lovers together. Most anything you think about when you think about Voodoo dolls the Greeks were all about. The Tragedy writer Theocritus writes about burning and melting wax poppets to achieve love spells. (poppet candle magic! What didn’t the Greeks do? Geometry, philosophy, poppets and butt sex. Damn, they could party.)
They made their way into folk magic in europe. From there they branched off. Much like Tarot branches into both an esoteric art and playing cards, poppets exist as not only folk magic, but children’s dolls and then theater as they evolved into the modern day puppet. I would note that puppets as theatrical devices trace back to 1000BC in India and China. Never the less, the word puppet comes from poppet and the two traditions evolve and intersect in tangent with one another.
The influence of the European poppet on the Voodoo doll is greater than people realize, who assume it is purely an African invention popularized by slaves brought to the New World. The slaves did bring their own version which differs in some subtle but profound ways: bocio.
The African Bocio.
The slaves torn from Africa brought with them their own fetishes (and by fetish, i of course mean the traditional defintion of “the attribution of religious or mystical qualities to inanimate objects”) Bocio.
Bocio were designed more as objects that take on animation and become mediators to the spirit world. They could communicate with ancestors, gods and if necessary, through that intereaction the ancestors or dieties could bring some type of help, supplication or protection to the doll’s sender, influencing events both positively and negatively. The point of difference is that traditionally, the doll itself is not the power nor does it represent a real person. It is merely a messenger to those with the power to affect change. Eventually the doll did came to be able to store, harness and direct the owner’s own spiritual power therebye containing spiritual powers, although it still did not represent another human being.
Sacred materials like claws, feathers and animal skulls are bound to the surface of a wooden figure with cord or cloth, then encrusted with clay, palm oil or sacrificial blood. The bocio are very striking, very intense and are supposed to be that way.
When the slaves arrived the marriage between european traditions and african traditions resulted, the combinations of which have sparked some of the greatest creative artistic explosions in history. (we could talk only about music for days). The poppet and bocio merged in varying degrees and became the Voodoo Doll that we think of today.. There are of course a myriad of Voodoun traditions, from Louisiana to Haitian, who practice their own variations when using Voudon dolls. Aditionally, Poppets themselves have also evolved and enjoyed a resurgence in modern evolutions of European magic, with Wicca being the most well known.
The positive power of Mr. Voodoo Doll will help banish all negative energy, so health, wealth, peace and prosperity flow towards you.
The witch hunts resulted in the mass execution of thousands of people across Europe, and later in the Americas. It is estimated that between 40,000 to 60,000 individuals were killed during this period, with the majority being women. The methods of execution varied, but often included burning at the stake, drowning, or hanging. The hysteria surrounding witchcraft began to decline by the 18th century, as Enlightenment ideals and scientific reasoning began to take hold. The Enlightenment brought about a more rational and skeptical approach to supernatural beliefs, leading to a decrease in witch hunts and the eventual abolishment of laws against witchcraft. Today, witch hunting is generally seen as a dark and tragic chapter in history, reflecting the dangers of mass hysteria, prejudice, and the abuse of power. It serves as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking, tolerance, and fairness in society. The legacy of witch hunts continues to be studied and discussed, shedding light on the dangers of superstition and the consequences of collective fear..
Reviews for "Infiltrating Witch Covens: Espionage and Surveillance in 18th Century Witch Hunting"
1. Julia - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to watch "Witch Hunter 0 18" but I was so disappointed. The storyline was convoluted and hard to follow, the characters were underdeveloped, and the special effects were mediocre at best. I couldn't connect with any of the characters or care about their fates. Overall, the movie felt like a waste of time and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Witch Hunter 0 18" was one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. The acting was terrible, the dialogue was cringe-worthy, and the plot was nonsensical. The filmmakers seemed more focused on creating flashy action scenes rather than constructing a coherent story. I was hoping for an entertaining fantasy film, but all I got was a headache and a feeling of regret for wasting my money on this mess.
3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch Hunter 0 18" based on the trailer, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boring dialogue and action sequences that felt repetitive. The costume design was lackluster and the CGI was unimpressive. Additionally, the character motivations were unclear and there were several plot holes that left me scratching my head. Overall, I found it to be a disappointing and forgettable film.