Dolls in Hoodoo
Dolls or Doll Babies are often seen as the stereotypical “Voodoo Doll" In which an angry practitioner stabs the doll with pins and needles to cause suffering and injury to their opponent. However, dolls were used to draw love, empower people, heal, all in addition to punishing one’s enemies.
Types of Dolls
There are various types of dolls, and it’s good to know the different types of dolls, because each has it’s own use.
- Spirit Dolls - Dolls that are often used as vessels for spirits to enter. These spirits can be petitioned for various reasons. Spirits that enter can be Ancestral spirits, familiar spirits, Divine entities, A spirit of divination, or even entities who have never had an earthly incarnation. These dolls are commonly seen on altars, where they are objects of devotion. The can be petitioned with offerings of water, candy, cigarettes, coffee, etc. To invoke their power on the life of the individual.
- Helper Dolls - These dolls are comparable to mojo bags. They are personifications of energies or concepts that the individual wishes to draw into their life. Similar to how the mojo bag has a spirit/luck that is alive inside and draws a certain energy to you. The Helper dolls are usually made for one purpose [Love, money-drawing, protection, etc.] They are put together much like a mojo bag, sewn in the color that corresponds to intent or goal, and stuffed with other herbs and curious that match your goal. A Money doll, for example, may be sewn from green cloth and thread, and stuffed with cinnamon, mint, clove, patchouli, and other money drawing herbs. These dolls should be wrapped in a white cloth and placed in a special box when not in use. It is best to think that these dolls are working with you, not for you.
- Doll Babies - These dolls are made to represent one specific person. They are usually made out of the person’s clothing when possible. They may also contain their personal concerns, and if none of that is obtainable, their name paper. They can be made from wax, plastic, cloth, or even twigs. They may be made in the color that matches your goal. Some practitioners even glue/sew on a photo of the person’s face the doll is supposed to resemble. Other times, a practitioner will make a doll that resembles the person as closely as possible [Buttons same color as eyes, fabric their skin color, style of dress, etc.]
- Mini Me Dolls - These dolls represent a smaller version of yourself [hence the name] . They are crafted with your personal concerns. These dolls can be used for virtually any purpose. For example if you want confidence, point out all of the wonderful things about yourself on the doll. If not in use, it should be put away the same way as a helper doll. Don’t leave it too long, think of your doll as a child, and give it love and attention.
When you baptize a doll baby, you draw a portion of the person the doll is made for’s spirit into the doll. After the baptism, the doll and the person will be spiritually connected, so whatever happens to the doll happens to the individual. It is ideal to name the doll after the person you modeled the doll after.
To Baptize your doll, sprinkle the doll with some Holy Water or Whiskey, and say:
“In the name of God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit [You may substitute your higher power here] I baptize you as [Name of Individual you made the doll for] . All that I do to this doll, I do to him/her. Amen.“
To release the spirit, simply make the cross sign over the doll, and say:
“Let my words which bound you, now set you free that you may return from whence you came. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [You may substitute Higher Power here] . Amen.”
Disposal
There are many means of disposal for a Doll. Most of the time, you can simply release the spirit, remove any personal concerns, and throw the doll away. If you are inclined to it, it may be burned, buried with honor, thrown in running water, or left at the crossroads.
If you want to keep the doll, you can simply release the spirit, remove any personal concerns, and then you can display your doll as a work of art.
The manner of disposal should be in the same manner as you made the doll. If you made it for something positive, do not throw it in the fire, or throw it in running water, but bury it with honor. If you are unsure, ask the spirits for an answer.
