Voodoo dolls are one of the most recognizable symbols of the Voodoo religion and are often associated with black magic and harmful intent. However, not all voodoo dolls are created for negative purposes. There are several types of voodoo dolls that serve different functions and carry different meanings. 1. Healing dolls: These voodoo dolls are created with the intention of promoting healing, both physical and emotional. They are often made with herbs, oils, and other materials that are believed to possess healing properties.

Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo Dolls are a type of sympathetic magic that uses a doll in the image of an intended victim to place a curse, usually in the form of sticking needles into the doll to cause pain to the victim : despite its name the practice is more in line with Hoodoo, which is often confused with Voodoo due to sharing similar origins and beliefs.

The form of the voodoo doll as it is most commonly understood is based on a magical practice that historically derived from Europe rather than Africa or the Americas. Textual records attest to the fact that certain cunning folk in Britain made dolls of a witch out of rags and other materials and then pierced them with pins with the intention of inflicting physical harm on the witch and breaking their bewitchment.

The link between this magical practice and Voodoo was established through the presentation of the latter in Western popular culture during the first half of the 20th century. In this, the myth of this magical practice being closely linked to Voodoo and Vodou was promoted as part of the wider negative depictions of Afro-American people as well as Africans and Afro-Caribbean religious practices in the United States.

In the 1984 film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, a voodoo doll is used, resembling Indiana Jones.

By the early 21st century, the image of the voodoo doll had become particularly pervasive. It had become a novelty item available for purchase, with examples being provided in vending machines in British shopping centers, and an article on "How to Make a Voodoo Doll" being included on WikiHow.

Due to Voodoo being immensely popular in media (often, as mentioned, confused with Hoodoo) the Voodoo Doll has become one of the most widely used items of black magic in fiction - to the point of becoming one of the first things many people think of when the word "Voodoo" is mentioned.

They are often made with herbs, oils, and other materials that are believed to possess healing properties. 2. Love dolls: Love dolls are created to attract love, strengthen relationships, or bring back a lost lover.

Popular Culture

• In John Houston Craige's Black Baghdad: The Arabian Nights Adventures of a Marine Captain in Haiti, he described a Haitian prisoner sticking pins into an effigy to induce illness.
• The also appeared in film representations of Haitian Vodou such as Victor Halperin's 1932 Pre-Code horror film White Zombie and Jacques Tourneurs' 1943 horror movie I Walked with a Zombie.
• In the 1975 film Lisztomania, a voodoo doll resembling Franz Liszt is used.
• In the 1988 supernatural slasher movie Child's Play, the serial killer Charles Lee Ray|Chucky used a voodoo doll resembling his former Voodoo instructor John Aelsop Bishop (also known as Doctor Death) and brutally utilized the man's "personal mojo" against him after he refuses to help due to Chucky as an abominable outrage against nature for evil deeds and his murderous abuse of voodoo magic.
• A voodoo doll had also been included in the 2009 animated Disney movie The Princess and the Frog.

What is a Voodoo Doll?

A Voodoo doll is a symbolic effigy linked to Voodoo practice, often misunderstood due to sensationalized myths. It's used in rituals, believed to affect another person's physical or spiritual being. Intriguingly, its true purpose is more nuanced, serving as a conduit for healing and positive intentions. How might these dolls reshape your understanding of ancient traditions? Join us to uncover their mysteries.

Voodoo dolls are an often misunderstood tradition associated with the Voodoo religion and forms of Hoodoo magic. They are popularly portrayed as revenge items, used to cause pain to an enemy. Instead of stemming from the traditional Voodoo rituals as found in Haiti and nearby areas, the dolls originated in part from the New Orleans, Louisiana area in the early 20th century.

In fictional portrayals, a Voodoo doll is used to curse an enemy. According to popular fictional lore, wherever someone pokes the doll with a pin or needle, the focus object will feel pain or have an illness. For the most part, these portrayals are misconstrued or completely invented.

Many cultures use dolls as a focusing point for spells and blessings, but the use of revenge dolls did not come from Voodoo. Medieval European folk magic involved the use of poppets, effigies of specific people, that were used to place curses. Some Western African religious practices also used similar devices called nkisi. It's possible that the misconceptions about the origin of the dolls comes from the Haitian Voodoo practice of nailing puppets to trees in graveyards. Rather than being used as a curse, however, these dolls were meant to be messengers to the spirit world, to contact dead loved ones.

The doll is not used in Voodoo practices in Haiti, but rather as part of the complicated melting pot of traditions in New Orleans and the Louisiana delta areas. The Louisiana Voodoo practices combine the spiritual elements of the Haitian religion with the magical beliefs of Southern United States hoodoo. In the first decades of the 20th century, Voodoo dolls are believed to have been used to cause sympathetic magic on the desired recipient, sometimes in painful ways. The use of pins was not meant to cause pain in a particular area of the real person, but rather to reinforce the spell being cast.

Modern dolls are still sold as focal points for spells, but usually with the intention of creating positive effects. Many have specific concentration points for wealth, love and financial success. To use the doll, a person must call upon the powers of the Loa, spiritual beings somewhat similar to saints in Catholic practices. Spells cast are meant to be spells of love or blessings, rather than revenge or pain.

Voodoo dolls are often sold as gag gifts and novelty items. Boyfriend/girlfriend dolls, boss dolls, and even Osama Bin Laden dolls are meant as harmless joke gifts rather than spell-casting items. Even virtual ones are available to enact revenge by computer. These items are meant to be amusing and often succeed, but they undeniably promote misconceptions about Voodoo practices that are offensive to some.

Traditional dolls are available for purchase from Louisiana-based websites and stores. Many of these claim to be blessed by local Voodoo priests, and are made from traditional materials. Some kits include instructions for correct blessings and rituals to enact good health, wealth, or success in ventures.

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.

The Untold Truth Of Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo dolls can be found in virtually every open market and tourist shop across New Orleans and beyond. Their appeal as decorations is even more widespread — they dangle off zippers on backpacks, they sit on shelves, they imbue any given room with an aura of darkness and power.

The voodoo doll has a pretty well-established image in popular culture. It's a small figure that very loosely resembles the intended target — the person the voodoo doll is meant to curse. The bearer of the doll inflicts all sorts of tortures on the little figure, and those tortures are enacted on the target as an act of revenge, or just general cruelty. Pushing pins through the doll is most common, but you could also set it on fire, rip it apart, or damage it in any number of other creative ways.

All of that is dead wrong. Hypothetically, if you want to use them that way, you could give it a shot (though you should probably try counseling too). But that's not what voodoo dolls are intended for at all. According to Live Science, it's just one of the many misunderstood parts of the voodoo faith, alongside animal sacrifice and zombies — one of many misconceptions that have stolen the spotlight from what the followers of voodoo actually believe and practice.

What Hollywood has made of voodoo dolls has little in common with their actual history and use. Let's dig into the untold truth of what voodoo dolls really are.

These dolls are usually made with materials that can represent the person the doll is meant to attract or strengthen a connection with. 3. Curse dolls: As the name suggests, curse dolls are created with harmful intent. These dolls are made to bring harm or misfortune to the person they represent. Curse dolls are often crafted using items that have a connection to the person being cursed, such as hair or personal belongings. 4. Protection dolls: Protection dolls are created to ward off evil or negative energies. These dolls are believed to act as guardians against spiritual attacks and can be made with various protective materials, such as herbs, crystals, or amulets. 5. Fertility dolls: Fertility dolls are made with the intention of promoting fertility, both for individuals who wish to conceive and for fields and crops to grow abundantly. These dolls often incorporate symbols of fertility, such as eggs or seeds. 6. Money dolls: Money dolls are created to attract wealth and financial prosperity. These dolls may be made with materials that symbolize money, such as coins or dollar bills, and are believed to bring luck and success in financial matters. It is important to note that voodoo dolls themselves do not possess any innate power but are rather used as tools to focus intention and energy. The type of material used, symbols incorporated, and the intentions of the creator determine the purpose and function of a voodoo doll. Some people believe in the power and effectiveness of voodoo dolls, while others see them as symbolic representations of their desires or intentions..

Reviews for "How to Make Your Own Voodoo Doll: Step-by-Step Guide"

1. Bella - 2/5 stars

I found "Types of voodoo dolls" to be quite disappointing. The book promised to provide detailed information about different types of voodoo dolls and their uses, but instead, it only provided a general overview. I was hoping to learn more about the history and cultural significance of each type, but the book fell short in this aspect. Additionally, the illustrations were scarce and not very helpful in understanding the subject matter. Overall, I felt like the book lacked depth and failed to deliver on its promises.

2. Jack - 1/5 stars

I regret purchasing "Types of voodoo dolls." The book was poorly written and lacked coherence. The author jumped from one topic to another without providing proper explanations or context. The information provided was also very basic and could easily be found on the internet for free. The lack of detailed instructions or guides on how to use voodoo dolls was particularly disappointing. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about voodoo dolls, as there are much better resources available.

3. Emma - 2/5 stars

I was expecting more from "Types of voodoo dolls," but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. While the book did provide descriptions of different types of voodoo dolls, the information felt repetitive and lacked depth. The author could have included more historical and cultural context to make it a more engaging read. Additionally, the lack of practical examples or instructions on how to use voodoo dolls made the book feel incomplete. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to those looking for an in-depth exploration of voodoo dolls.

Healing and Protection Voodoo Dolls: What You Need to Know