A traditional voodoo doll is a small handmade doll that is believed to have supernatural powers in the practice of Vodou, a religion originating in Haiti. Voodoo dolls are often associated with the use of sympathetic magic, where the actions performed on the doll are believed to have an effect on a person or entity represented by the doll. These dolls are typically made from natural materials such as cloth, clay, or sticks, and are often adorned with personal items such as hair or clothing from the intended target. The doll is then used in rituals or spells to bring about desired outcomes, such as healing, protection, or revenge. In voodoo traditions, it is believed that the doll acts as a spiritual intermediary, connecting the practitioner to the spiritual forces associated with the intended target. The practitioner may perform various rituals, including inflicting physical harm or bestowing blessings, on the doll to influence the individual or situation represented.
Traditional voodoo doll
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One of the most popularized and misunderstood tools associated with New Orleans Voodoo is. the Voodoo Doll. The pins are actually used to concentrate energy on a certain area of the human body, mind or Spirit - normally to heal and bless, not hurt the individual represented by the doll. In fact, all of Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans’ Dolls are handmade & blessed by local New Orleans Artists, Spiritualists, Healers and Practitioners who put only positive energy into their creation.
New Orleans Voodoo Doll A-1
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These traditional New Orleans Voodoo Dolls are general purpose, and can be used to focus energy on almost every wish and desire. To use them, simply attach a representation of the wish, desire or goal that you have. The white pin is used to attract positive influences, and the black pin is used to repel negativity, bad habits and things that you don't want in your life. You may also attach a personal effect, such as a lock of hair, a piece of clothing or a sample of handwriting. This helps to strengthen the connection to an individual's energy.
These Dolls come in an assortment of patterns, colors and fabrics - no two are exactly alike!
Size: Approximately 5 " x 9" x 1.5 "
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The Truth Behind Voodoo Dolls
You can take the girl out of New Orleans, but you can’t take New Orleans out of the girl. Such is the case with The Stockade’s innkeeper Janice DeLerno, who has brought the culture and artifacts of her hometown back to Baton Rouge. Around the Stockade Bed and Breakfast, visitors can find a wide variety of artwork and artifacts from New Orleans — including a small collection of authentic voodoo dolls.
While many tourists mistakenly believe that Voodoo is linked to satanic rituals or black magic, this is not true. Voodoo began when Catholic plantation owners forced their slaves to practice the Catholic faith. Although the slaves took up Catholicism, they also found ways to maintain their traditional African religions. Voodoo is a spiritual practice that has its roots in these traditional African religions, and it is a complex three-tiered spiritual system based on God, spirits, and ancestors.
The term “gris-gris” refers to both the objects used in Voodoo and the magic they provoke. The Voodoo doll is a form of “gris-gris,” a way of invoking the spirits to act in a certain way.
While Voodoo dolls are often portrayed in movies as being a way to harm or manipulate another person, they are more like a representation of another person that is used to make an appeal to the Voodoo spirits. To link the doll to the person it is meant to represent, hair or other personal effects is pinned to the doll using a straight pin or a thorn.
Other techniques used to strengthen the power of the doll include attaching rose petals (for love), garlic or clover (for luck), or placing it between blue and white candles (for healing). Most importantly, the doll must remain hidden — otherwise, the person it is modeled after can take measures to undo its power!
Traditional 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 practitioner may perform various rituals, including inflicting physical harm or bestowing blessings, on the doll to influence the individual or situation represented. While voodoo dolls are commonly associated with negative intentions, such as harm or control, they can also be used for positive purposes. Many voodoo practitioners use the dolls as a means of healing, offering blessings, or seeking guidance from the spiritual world.
It is important to note that the use of voodoo dolls is not limited to the practice of Vodou. Similar dolls or effigies can be found in various cultures and belief systems around the world, each with their own unique symbolism and practices. In modern times, the concept of the voodoo doll has been popularized and sensationalized in popular culture, often depicted as a tool for causing harm or seeking revenge. However, it is crucial to recognize that traditional voodoo dolls have a deep spiritual significance and are used within a specific religious context. In conclusion, a traditional voodoo doll is a handmade doll used in the practice of Vodou for various purposes, such as healing, protection, or influencing outcomes. While often associated with negative intentions, these dolls can also be used for positive purposes. It is important to understand the cultural and religious significance behind the use of voodoo dolls rather than relying on sensationalized portrayals in popular culture..
Reviews for "Traditional Voodoo Dolls: Beyond Pop Culture Representations"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with this traditional voodoo doll. First of all, the quality was very poor. The stitching was coming apart and the material felt cheap. Additionally, the overall design of the doll was not what I expected. It looked more like a cheap Halloween decoration than an authentic voodoo doll. I also found it difficult to use - the instructions were not clear and the pins provided were flimsy. Overall, I would not recommend this voodoo doll to anyone looking for an authentic and effective product.
2. Mark - 1/5 - The traditional voodoo doll I purchased was a complete waste of money. The doll itself was poorly made and fell apart after just a few uses. The pins that were included with the doll were also very weak and bent easily. I did not notice any effects after using the doll as intended, which was disappointing. The doll also did not resemble a traditional voodoo doll and looked more like a generic toy. Do not waste your money on this product, it is not worth it.
3. Emily - 3/5 - While the traditional voodoo doll was decent, I expected more from it. The quality of the doll itself was average, not terrible but not great either. The pins provided with the doll were also just okay, nothing special. I followed the instructions that came with the doll, but did not experience any noticeable effects. Overall, it was a mediocre experience and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others. If you're really interested in using a voodoo doll, I suggest looking for a higher quality and more reputable option.