New Orleans, known for its rich cultural traditions and spiritual practices, has long been associated with Voodoo, a religion rooted in West African and Haitian spiritual traditions. Voodoo encompasses a wide range of beliefs, rituals, and practices, one of which is the use of Voodoo dolls. Voodoo dolls are often misunderstood and misrepresented in popular culture. Contrary to common misconceptions, Voodoo dolls are not used to harm or control others. Instead, they are used as a tool for healing, protection, and manifestation of intentions. A reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll embodies these positive intentions and serves as a conduit for positive energies.
A reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll embodies these positive intentions and serves as a conduit for positive energies. A reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll is crafted with great care and respect by a skilled practitioner. Each doll is made with specific materials and colors that symbolize certain aspects of the desired intention.
Meet some peeps with 12-foot skeletons in their yards
Let's gather 'round the water cauldron and discuss the cult-y Halloween decoration that is the size of a small village.
By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Oct 15, 2023 at 6:31 PMThe human race is divided into two groups: those who would pay $300 for a 12-foot skeleton Halloween decoration and those who are missing out on the bone-deep delight of owning a 12-foot skeleton Halloween decoration.
Stephanie Hildebrand falls into the first group of humans.
“Our family has always loved Halloween and we’ve coveted the 12-foot skeleton since it was introduced,” says Hildebrand, who lives on Milwaukee’s East Side.
Originally introduced in 2020 by Home Depot, the sky-scraping bony structure named “Skelly” flew off the shelves faster than a witch on her way to a necromancy convention. Other retail outlets like Lowes and Costco have unearthed their own versions, many of which now have illuminated, moving, blinking LED eyes.
Hildebrand, who named her soaring skeleton “Bone Daddy,” was so thrilled to snag one for her family’s yard that she forgot to consider transportation.
“We hoped it would fit in my husband's SUV. It did not.” says Hildebrand. “Thankfully we ran into a friend who drives a truck – as luck would have it – at Home Depot and he drove it home for us.”
Assembling the Big Guy is at least a two-person job and storage is also something to consider during the spooky off-season.
Bay View’s Sarah Berg bought one as a gift for her neighbors and keeps it for them in a garage she rents to store her motorcycles. Hildebrand plans to disassemble Bone Daddy and store him – possibly in a Christmas tree bag – in her garage or basement.
“Someone in the 12-Foot Skeleton Facebook group suggested the Christmas tree bag,” says Hildebrand.
Oh yeah, the skeletal sensation has a Facebook group with more than 266,000 followers and a ghost-zillion posts from people all over the map sharing photos and stories about their favorite Halloween homie.
A woman in Buffalo, N.Y. bought one as a housewarming gift for herself and her fiance; another member named hers “Chad” because she lives on the same block as a fraternity house and wanted to give him a “frat boy” name. A woman in Florida proudly introduced her new massive skeleton as “Margie, the magnificent mother of mortals.”
Monica Finley is having extra fun with her Skelly. In early September, she put a pot outside her Bay View home with a small skeleton in the dirt and a sign reading, “Watch Me Grow.” Every few days the skeleton would “grow” to a new size until finally reaching its full 12-feet on October 1.
“We have a lot of kids in the area and I thought it would be fun for them to watch the skeleton get bigger and bigger,” says Finley, who documented the skeleton’s growth on her Facebook page so friends and family farther away could also follow along.
Hildebrand erected her bone giant in the very early days of October as well.
“We put him up when it was a little warmer so I had the windows open and could hear all of the ooo-ing and ahhh-ing,” says Hildebrand. “We get a lot of trick or treaters and I can’t wait to see all of their reactions to him. It makes me so happy!"
And speaking of happy: Happy ginormous skeleton season to those who celebrate!
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Molly Snyder Senior Writer @mollysnyderMKE
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
For example, a green doll may be made to represent prosperity, while a red doll may represent love and passion. To use a reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll, the practitioner would typically perform a ritual or ceremony to imbue the doll with the desired intention. This may involve reciting prayers or chants, anointing the doll with oils or herbs, or performing a sacred dance or song. The doll is then infused with the energy of the intention and becomes a vessel for manifesting positive outcomes. Once the doll is charged with the intended energy, it can be used in various ways. Some practitioners may place the doll on an altar or sacred space as a focal point for meditation or visualization. Others may carry the doll with them or sleep with it under their pillow to enhance the energy of the intention. It is important to note that a reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll should only be used with good intentions and be handled with the utmost respect. It is believed that the energy and intentions put into the doll will be reflected back to the practitioner, so any negative intentions or harm directed towards others can have negative consequences for the practitioner as well. In conclusion, a reliable New Orleans Voodoo doll is not a tool for harm or control, but rather a powerful and sacred tool for manifesting positive intentions. Crafted with care and respect, these dolls serve as a vessel for positive energies and can be used for healing, protection, and manifestation. It is important to approach the use of Voodoo dolls with good intentions and handle them with respect to ensure positive outcomes for all involved..
Reviews for "The Surprising Psychology Behind New Orleans Voodoo Dolls"
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3. Sarah - 3 stars - I had high hopes for the 1 reliable New Orleans Voodoo Doll, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. While the doll itself was decently made, the instructions provided were vague and confusing. I also didn't see any noticeable results after using the doll for a couple of weeks. It might work for some people, but it didn't work for me.