Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

Book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual by Denise Alvarado

Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

Denise Alvarado writes plenty of books and her success is mostly due to the demand on Nawlins or Louisiana Voodoo heritage being way more than the books that are being written and distributed. The best publications on Voodoo aren't even published. The best history books on Louisiana aren't even published mostly due to a movement by the Government to hide Creole History From America, being that having a class of people of color, that lived on the same or almost the same status as whites during slavery takes away from the American Narrative.

Alvarado states that in 1804, Napoleon invaded Cuba, driving out Hispanics from Cuba into Nawlins and this is how Voodoo came about in the city. That's simply untrue. Creoles were always in Louisiana since the founding of the state and Africans were being imported up the Mississippi River from the Congo and Angola, so Africans were already there and being allowed to worship on Sundays in Nawlins Congo Square. Now, where Creole Voodoo came in, was during the Haitian Black Slave Revolt, which didn't just drive out the white French Creole but a huge population of mixed race or mulattoe Creoles, who fled into Nawlins, during the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. In the entire French Quarter of Nawlins, during the 1800's there was only one Cuban Creole businessman who owned a cigar shop. The mixed race Creoles of middle class status, who monopolized the commerce, publications and businesses were the keepers of Creole Voodoo and not the one of two that came from Cuba. So Creole Voodoo in Nawlins predates her 1804 starting point.

Spain and Spanish heritage is not a huge part of Nawlins except for some of the architecture but many Creoles of Color from Cajun Country or Lower South West La. State keep trying to make Louisiana some Spanish colony when it was dominated by the French (99.9%)-so saying that Cubans ushered in Creole Voodoo couldn't be further from the truth. And just to be real about it, Voodoo dolls aren't really a staple to La. Voodoo but more of a creation of whites and Hollywood. I know plenty of people who practice Voodoo, like almost all of my ancestors, and dolls are definitely over hyped up but she is selling a book even though many of her attempts to lay out the history of dolls in Voodoo are shaky and her history on the practice of Voodoo isn't well connected to any legit history.

You can use dolls but Voodoo stems from the practice of ancestor worship, which predates Ancient Egypt and goes back to Cush or Ethiopia, which had an empire that stretched into the Southern U.S.-which many Creoles are of Choctaw or Cherokee mixed, herbal remedies and conjuring of spirits that one can learn to control and even keep. Being from South of Nawlins, in a Parish that has been destroyed by Oil Companies (BP)-Bush/Obama and the U.S. Army Corp, all of the Creoles did Voodoo and I can even recall shape-shifting rituals but of course I didn't write any of this down-YET!

For the first time anywhere, explore the history, mystery, and magick of Voodoo Dolls in this fascinating new book. Tracing the Voodoo doll's roots back in history, author Denise Alvarado provides an intriguing account of the most provocative and mystifying icon of the African-derived healing tradition, dispelling stereotypes and myths, while at the same time showing how to make and use Voodoo dolls to enhance every day living. Learn how to make three kinds of Voodoo dolls, find over 30 spells and rituals to find love, attract wealth, offer protection, and promote healing and happiness. Denise Alvarado was born and raised in the Voodoo and hoodoo rich culture of New Orleans. She has studied mysticism and practiced Creole Voodoo and indigenous healing traditions for over three decades. She is a cultural anthropologist, psychologist, writer, artist, spiritual adviser, and cultural consultant.

I hope complete idiot's do not buy this book because then they will become very dangerous idiot's. Excellent book one of a kind, and on it's own is a Complete Occult system. Southern Voodoo Dolls remain a living art and powerful medium. You get all the 'bang for you buck' with this buy.

Buy Denise Alvarado's book: Voodoo Dolls In Magick And Ritual

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A Mystery Of The Pentalpha

Book: A Mystery Of The Pentalpha by Greg Wotton

This purification is not easy and any who have started this path realizes that this is very true. It is as a descent into Hell, a Hell which is within each of us, a Hell we need to conquer. The battle within is a battle with Self. Christ’s descent into Hell can be seen as this descent into self. the Dark Night of the Soul, so to speak.

Christ, when dead, was performing the purification of self and when risen was the perfected vessel of the Inner Light which is God. At this point he very much was God, as we all are and have the potential to be.

The Pentagram gives a very interesting point of view Concerning this operation. The one point down with two points up (sometimes shown with a goat’s head within) shows the elements conquering and defeating the spirit. This is a Representation of the soul’s journey into Hell.

Download Greg Wotton's eBook: A Mystery Of The Pentalpha

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Voodoo Superstitions And Spells

Many superstitions also related to the practice of Hoodoo developed within the Voodoo tradition in Louisiana. While these superstitions are not central to the Voodoo faith, their appearance is partly a result of Voodoo tradition in New Orleans and have since influenced it significantly.

* If you lay a broom across the doorway at night, a witch can't come in and hurt you.
* Having a woman visit you the first thing on Monday mornings is bad luck for the rest of the week.
* Don't borrow or lend salt because that is bad luck.
* If you sweep trash out of the house after dark you will sweep away your luck.
* Don't shake a tablecloth outside after dark or someone in your family will die.
* To stop a Voodoo spell being placed upon you, acquire some bristles from a pig cooked at a Voodoo ritual, tie the bristles into a bundle and carry them on you at all times.
* If a woman sprinkles some salt from her house to yours, it will give you bad luck until you clean the salt away and put pepper over your door sill.
* If a woman wants her husband to stay away from other woman, she can do so by putting a little of her blood in his coffee, and he will never quit her.
* If a woman's husband dies and you don't want her to marry again, cut all of her husband's shoes all in little pieces, just as soon as he is dead, and she will never marry again.
* You can give someone a headache by taking and turning their picture upside down.
* You can harm a person in whatever way you want to by getting a lock of his hair and burning some and throwing the rest away.
* You can make a farmer's well go dry by putting some soda in the well for one week, each day; then drawing a bucket of water out and throwing it in the river to make the well go dry.

In Voodoo spells, the "cure-all" was very popular among followers. The cure-all was a Voodoo spell that could solve all problems. There were different recipes in voodoo spells for cure-all; one recipe was to mix jimson weed with sulphur and honey. The mixture was placed in a glass, which was rubbed against a black cat, and then the mixture was slowly sipped.

The Voodoo doll is a form of gris-gris, and an example of sympathetic magic. Contrary to popular belief, Voodoo dolls are usually used to bless instead of curse. The purpose of sticking pins in the doll is not to cause pain in the person the doll is associated with, but rather to pin a picture of a person or a name to the doll, which traditionally represents a spirit. The gris-gris is then performed from one of four categories: love; power and domination; luck and finance; and uncrossing.

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Voodoo Spells Magick And Rituals

Voodoo has been hailed as quite possibly the oldest religion known to humankind, originating some 7,000 years ago. The word voodoo means "spirit" or "mystery." Voodoo believers accept the existence of one god (Bon Dieu or Good God), below which are the powerful spirits referred to as loa. These powerful spirits are responsible for the daily matters in life in the areas of family, love, money, happiness, wealth, and revenge. The loa are not that different from the Saints of Catholicism and angels in Christianity in that the loa are not prayed to; rather, they are asked to intercede with God on our behalf.

This lens focuses on the magickal side of Voodoo; that aspect of Voodoo that the typical person is drawn to when in need of change in their lives. The type of Voodoo that this lens focuses on is Creole Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo. Indeed, Voodoo became one of the primary ways for slaves to resist the oppression of their slave owners. The warrior gods sustained and empowered them, and assisted in their ultimate liberation from slavery. This my friend, is the power of Voodoo when backed by the necessary faith.

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Voodoo Queens

During the nineteenth century, Voodoo queens became central figures to Voodoo in the United States. Voodoo queens presided over ceremonial meetings and ritual dances. They also earned an income by administrating charms, amulets, and magical powders guaranteed to cure ailments, grant desires, and confound or destroy one’s enemies.

Most noted for her achievements as voodoo Queen of New Orleans in the 1830’s was Marie Laveau. Once the news of her powers spread, she successfully overthrew the other voodoo queens of New Orleans. She acted as an oracle, conducted private rituals behind her cottage on St. Ann Street of the New Orleans French Quarter, performed exorcisms, and offered sacrifices to spirits. Also a devout Catholic, Marie encouraged her followers to attend Catholic Mass. The influence of her Catholic beliefs further facilitated the adoption of Catholic practices into the Voodoo belief system. Today, she is remembered for her skill and compassion for the less fortunate, and her spirit is considered one of the central figures of Louisiana Voodoo.

Tomb of Marie Laveau

Today, thousands visit the tomb of Marie Laveau to ask favors. Across the street from the cemetery, offerings of pound cake are left to the statue of Saint Expedite; these offerings are believed to expedite the favors asked of Marie Laveau. Saint Expedite represents the spirit standing between life and death. The chapel where the statue stands was once used only for holding funerals.

Marie Laveau continues to be a central figure of Louisiana Voodoo and of New Orleans culture. Gamblers shout her name when throwing dice, and multiple tales of sightings of the Voodoo queen have been told. Her grave has more visitors than the grave of Elvis Presley. Although she is not yet officially considered a saint, there is a strong movement to have her canonized.

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Voodoo Doll Making Instructions

Voodoo dolls are created to place a spell on an individual that is intended to bring them good fortune, love or fulfillment or to place a hex or curse on someone. Whatever the reasoning, the history of the voodoo doll is steeped in African culture brought to the Americas and spread to New Orleans, where it is said these types of "voodoo" dolls originated as a corruption of the original "Voudun" spirit religion. You can make a voodoo doll in the comfort of your own home with a few easy-to-locate materials.

Instructions:

# Step 1

Make a lower case "t" shape by tying two sticks together with a piece of twine.

# Step 2

Spray glue onto the sticks and cover them with dried moss, which can be purchased at most craft stores. You can cover the sticks with one large piece of moss or place smaller pieces all over the sticks.

# Step 3

Tie down the moss covered sticks with a few pieces of twine to help keep the moss from coming loose.

# Step 4

Wrap the moss-covered sticks with wide ribbon of your choosing. Begin near the top of the sticks and wrap it completely down, securing the bottom with a pin. Wrap ribbon around the "arms" and secure with pins. Make sure to leave the ends of both sticks uncovered. This will represent the hair, feet and hands of the doll.

# Step 5

Place buttons on the face of the doll, two for the eyes and one for the mouth. You can either sew them onto the face with a needle and thread or utilize hot glue.

# Step 6

Cover the voodoo doll with any other embellishments you choose, such as multicolored ribbons, feathers and more buttons.

# Step 7

Place one or more pins into the doll in the "heart" area according to the desired effect. Each of seven different colored pins represent different outcomes. The seven pin colors and their symbols are red for power, black for negative energies or to reject them, white for positive energies, yellow for success, purple for spirituality, blue for love and green for money.

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Voodoo Beliefs And Practices

Louisiana Voodoo is a conglomeration of beliefs that has evolved over time and continues to adapt to its surroundings. As it has been a religion conserved by oral tradition, has no sacred book or canon and is followed by many, the beliefs of Louisiana Voodoo vary somewhat from person to person. Louisiana Voodoo combines elements of African and European beliefs - the latter of which primarily involves Roman Catholicism. It is a dynamic religion that has both adapted to and shaped New Orleans culture.

The word voodoo comes from the word vudu, the Dahomean “spirit”, an invisible mysterious force that can intervene in human affairs.” The worship of spirits remains a vital part of the practices of voodoo in Louisiana. Followers of Louisiana voodoo believe in one God and multiple lesser but powerful spirits which preside over daily matters of life, such as the family, the sky, and judgment.

The core beliefs of Louisiana Voodoo include the recognition of one God who does not interfere in people's daily lives and spirits that preside over daily life. Spiritual forces, which can be kind or mischievous, shape daily life through and intercede in the lives of their followers. Connection with these spirits can be achieved through dance, music, singing, and the use of snakes, which represent Legba, Voodoo's "main spirit conduit to all others." Unlike the Judeo-Christian image, the Voodoo serpent represents "healing knowledge and the connection between Heaven and Earth." Deceased ancestors can also intercede in the lives of Voodoo followers.

The main focus of Louisiana Voodoo today is to serve others and influence the outcome of life events through the connection with nature, spirits, and ancestors. True rituals are held "behind closed doors" as a showy ritual would be considered disrespectful to the spirits. Voodoo methods include readings, spiritual baths, specially devised diets, prayer, and personal ceremony. Voodoo is often used to cure anxiety, addictions, depression, loneliness, and other ailments. It seeks to help the hungry, the poor, and the sick as Marie Laveau once did.

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Use A Voodoo Doll With An Evil Eye Bead To Repel Evil And Negativity

Have you suffered from unexplained distress and misfortune? Having a streak of bad luck? Have you suddenly fallen ill? These are all signs that you may be the victim of an attack by the Evil Eye (Mal de Ojo).

To repel negativity and evil influences from your home and to avoid and remove the Evil Eye, you can use a Voodoo doll that has an Evil Eye bead talisman on it. Get a Voodoo guardian or protector doll with an evil eye bead and place it at the doorway of your home. This Voodoo amulet will also ward off other malevolent dangers, including spiritual attacks.

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Louisiana Voodoo Also Known As New Orleans Voodoo

Louisiana Voodoo, also known as New Orleans Voodoo, describes a set of underground religious practices which originated from the traditions of the African diaspora. It is a cultural form of the Afro-American religions which developed within the French, Spanish, and Creole African American population of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is one of many incarnations of African-based religions rooted in West African Dahomeyan Vodun. They became syncretized with the Catholicism and Francophone culture of south Louisiana as a result of the slave trade. Louisiana Voodoo is often confused with—but is not completely separable from—Haitian Vodou and southern Hoodoo. It differs from Vodou in its emphasis upon Gris-gris, voodoo queens, use of Hoodoo occult paraphernalia, and Li Grand Zombi (snake deity). It was through Louisiana Voodoo that such terms as gris-gris (a Wolof term) and voodoo dolls were introduced into the American lexicon.

Louisiana Voodoo and Christianity

As a result of the fusion of Francophone culture and voodoo in Louisiana, many Voodoo spirits became associated with the Christian saints that presided over the same domain. Although Voodoo and Catholic practices are radically different, both saints and spirits act as mediators with the Virgin Mary and Legba presiding over specific activities. Early followers of Voodoo in the United States adopted the image of the Catholic Saints to their spirits.

St. Peter corresponded to Papa Limba, also referred to as Laba. Papa Limba refers to the Dahomean spirit Legba, the guardian of crossroads, gates, and entrances to villages. As St. Peter is known as the guardian of Heaven and is frequently depicted holding the keys to Heaven, his image was combined with that of Papa Limba. Some also associated Papa Limba with the devil. A popular song in Louisiana referring to St. Peter strongly coincides with a Haitian Voodoo song to Papa Legba:

St. Peter, St Peter, open the door,
I’m callin’ you, come to me!
St. Peter, St Peter, open the door,

Papa Legba, open the gate for me, Ago-e
Ativon Legba, open the gate for me;
The gate for me, papa, so that I may enter the temple
On my way back, I shall thank you for this favor

The serpent is the central figure of New Orleans Voodoo. Known as Li Grand Zombi, the serpent also became associated with Saint Patrick. Traditionally, St. Patrick expelled all snakes from Ireland, and is frequently depicted standing on or brandishing his staff at a snake. During a Voodoo ritual, the Voodoo queen focuses on the snake as she acts as diviner or prophet for the rest of the members of the rite.

Other Catholic practices adopted into Louisiana Voodoo include reciting the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer.

A common misconception of Louisiana Voodoo is that its relationship to the Catholic Church is one of opposition. The similarities between Voodoo and Catholicism are what kept African beliefs from dying out as they did in other areas of the world. Historically, there has been little hostility between followers of Catholicism and Voodoo in New Orleans. Although Voodoo later experienced opposition from Protestant churches, its relationship to the Catholic Church has always been amicable. Today, most followers of Voodoo also practice Catholicism and see no conflict between the two religions.

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Influences To Voodoo

African Influences

Voodoo was brought to the French colony Louisiana through the slave trade. From 1719 to 1731, the majority of African slaves came directly from what is now Benin, West Africa, bringing with them their cultural practices, language, and religious beliefs rooted in spirit and ancestor worship. Their knowledge of herbs, poisons, and the ritual creation of charms and amulets, intended to protect oneself or harm others, became key elements of Louisiana Voodoo.

The slave community quickly acquired a strong presence in Louisiana. The colony was not a stable society when slaves arrived, which allowed African culture to maintain a prominent position in the slave community. (160) According to a census of 1731-1732, the ratio of African slaves to European settlers was over two to one. The ownership of slaves was concentrated into the hands of only a few of the white settlers, facilitating the preservation of African culture. Unlike other areas of active slave trade, there was little separation in Louisiana between families, culture, and languages. The Embargo Act of 1808 ended all slave imports to Louisiana. Authorities promoted the growth of the slave population by prohibiting by law the separation of families. Parents were sold together with their children under fourteen years of age. The high mortality of the slave trade brought its survivors together with a sense of solidarity.(160) The absence of fragmentation in the slave community, along with the kinship system produced by the bond created by the difficulties of slavery, resulted in a “coherent, functional, well integrated, autonomous, and self confident slave community.”) As a result African culture and spirituality did not die out, but rather thrived in French Creole culture.

The practice of making and wearing charms and amulets for protection, healing, or the harm of others was a key aspect to early Louisiana Voodoo. The ouanga, a charm used to poison an enemy, contained the poisonous roots of the figure maudit tree, brought from Africa and preserved in the West Indies. The ground up root was combined with other elements such as bones, nails, roots, holy water, holy candles, holy incense, holy bread, or crucifixes. The administrator of the ritual frequently evoked protection from Allah, the Christian God, and Jesus Christ. This openness of African belief allowed for the adoption of Catholic practices into Louisiana Voodoo.

Another component of Louisiana Voodoo brought from Africa was the worship of ancestors and the subsequent emphasis on respect for elders. For this reason, the rate of survival among elderly slaves was high, further “Africanizing Louisiana Creole culture.”

Catholic influence

The slave trade also brought the belief in spirits which is central to Louisiana Voodoo. The spirits presided over every day matters of life, such as family, love, and justice. Originally, these spirits were called by their African names, but once French Creole replaced native African languages, their original names were no longer used. The spirits then adopted the names of Catholic Saints. Each spirit was paired with a Saint in charge of similar spheres of life. The adoption of Catholic practices to the voodoo faith soon became an integral part of what is known today as New Orleans voodoo. Catholic traditions, such as prayers including the Hail Mary and the Lord’s Prayer, baptism, and the sign of the cross were incorporated into voodoo practices.

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How To Make A Wax Voodoo Doll

Voodoo dolls suffer from a maligned reputation, thanks to the overheated notions of Hollywood movies. In truth, the practice of using voodoo dolls arose fairly recently--in New Orleans--and voodoo dolls can serve benign functions as well as malignant ones. Pins of different colors can be placed in them to trigger romance, financial windfalls and similar acts of good fortune. You can create a voodoo doll out of cloth, moss or other forms of stuffing, but a wax voodoo doll is inexpensive and holds pins extremely well. 1.

Instructions:

1. Step 1

Tie two pieces of wood together with a piece of twine to form a cross. Traditionally, the process required twigs from local trees, but you can use any wood that's handy. This forms the basic structure of the doll.

2. Step 2

Apply sculpting wax to the wood, then mold and shape it into a basic human form. The wax should be easy to mold by using the heat of your hands to soften it.

3. Step 3

Insert a small item with a personal connection to the person you want the voodoo doll to represent. It can be a small charm or trinket, a lock of hair, or even a coin that the person carried. Embed it in the wax as you sculpt so it doesn't stick out. This step is optional, but it increases the potency of the voodoo doll.

4. Step 4

Wait for the wax to dry, then wrap it in fabric. Form the fabric into an "X" shape around the torso and secure it with a ribbon. The color of the fabric and/or the ribbon can help activate a specific type of good fortune. Yellow represents success, red represents power, purple is spirituality, green is financial success and blue is love. White represents positive energy while black serves as protection against negative energy.

5. Step 5

Place a pair of buttons or dried peas in the head to simulate eyes and a mouth.

6. Step 6

Insert colored pins in order to activate the proper symbolism for your voodoo doll. The pin colors correspond to the fabric colors noted in Step 4. Insert the colored pins matching the good fortune you wish to experience.

Tips & Warnings

* If you're using particularly difficult wax, try warming it with a hair dryer before you sculpt it. Be careful not to melt it to a liquid state, only warm it to the point where you can shape it easily.
* Use of voodoo dolls is largely a mater of faith, You need to believe in their power in order to tap into it.


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How To Make A Voodoo Love Doll

Everyone is familiar with the Hollywood version of a voodoo doll; an evil witch places a pin in a frightful bit of cloth while mumbling and the person the doll represents immediately goes blind. Because of the popularity of this myth, voodoo dolls are associated with vengeance and retribution. Voodoo dolls are more commonly used to promote healing or improve luck. They are made from on-hand or found materials and decorated in a manner which best represents their purpose. The love doll is designed to help the creator find romance and improve the general status of her love life. By following the instructions below, you can create a love doll of your own out of plastic.

Instructions:

1. Step 1

Remove a large rectangle of cling wrap from the roll. Fold the cling wrap lengthwise to form a long, skinny rectangle. Then fold it again, this time end to end, forming a shorter skinny rectangle.

2. Step 2

Remove a smaller piece of cling wrap and roll it into a ball. This will be the love doll's head. Place the head into the center of the rectangle and fold the rectangle over it. Now you have a short, skinny rectangle with a lump in the middle. This will become the love doll's torso.

3. Step 3

Tear off another piece of cling wrap and fold it in a similar manner as the first piece. Form a second short and skinny rectangle but this time without the lump. This will form the arms of the doll.

4. Step 4

Slide the arms through the center of the torso.

5. Step 5

Snip off a piece of pink yarn, approximately 2 feet in length. Wrap the yarn around the love doll's head and bring it across the chest, moving under and around and across the back. Wrap around the head again and move on to the other arm forming yarn neck and an "X" across the upper torso.

6. Step 6

Repeat this several times to separate the head from the rest of the doll and to support the arms.

7. Step 7

Give structure to the love doll's arms and legs by wrapping the basic shape with multiple layers of cling wrap. Keep wrapping, pulling the cling wrap tight, until you are happy with the look of your love doll.

8. Step 8

Cut off the bulging ends of the love doll's arms and legs and seal with a bit of glue.

9. Step 9

If you have a specific someone in mind, use yarn and fabric scraps to mimic his hair and eye color. Also, if you can, dress your doll in a piece of cloth that comes from a garment he has worn.

10. Step 10

Cut a red heart shape from a scrap of red felt or fabric and glue it to the left hand side of the love doll's chest.
To Use Your Love Doll

11. Step 1

Take your love doll to a quiet, peaceful place and call on Venus, or the guardian of your choice, and ask for assistance and guidance.

12. Step 2

Name your love doll to establish a connection to the real world.

13. Step 3

State your intentions for the love doll. Then take the white pin--which represents positive energy and enlightenment--and place it in the center of the doll's head. Say: "By placing this pin, I create light and love in your life."

14. Step 4

Insert the purple pin between the eyes, making a statement about becoming aware of your love. Then place the blue pin into the throat making a statement about the manifestation of your love becoming reality.

15. Step 5

Stick the green pin into the heart to generate energy and the yellow into the center of the chest to improve their access to information. Don't forget to state what each pin should accomplish as you insert it.

16. Step 6

Place the orange pin in the stomach which helps them to absorb and accept all this information and last, but not least, put the red pin directly between the legs. Red represents power. Remember to reflect that idea in your statement.

17. Step 7

Leave the pins in the love doll and set it in a suitable location. Remove one pin 24 hours later. Begin with the red pin and work your way up, taking one pin out every day. When you remove the white pin, the ritual is complete.

Tips & Warnings

* Traditional voodoo dolls are made from items which suggest or aid in their function. These plastic love dolls could be stuffed, during the wrapping process, with herbs or other items you feel are appropriate.
* Be sure your intentions are good prior to using the doll. It is never wise to attempt to tamper with the free will of another person. It is far better to use a love doll to bring love, not a specific lover, into your life.

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How To Make Voodoo Dolls At Home

Voodoo dolls are often found in shops in New Orleans and other areas of the world where the art is still practiced. A voodoo doll can make an interesting decorative item and an unusual or funny gift. A basic voodoo doll is easy to make, and the process can be refined to make the doll similar to a particular person. Voodoo dolls can be as plain or elaborate as the designer likes.

Instructions

1.Step 1

Place the sticks in the shape of a cross using a longer stick for the body and a shorter stick for the arms. Tie the sticks together with string. You can substitute wooden dowels or other craft-type wood pieces for the sticks.

2. Step 2

Tightly wrap Spanish moss around the sticks to form the mass of the doll's body. Try to use a single attached piece of moss for the entire doll. If necessary, secure the moss with string when you are done.

3. Step 3

Wrap fabric scraps around the moss, leaving a bit of moss sticking out at the top and bottom of the doll. Either sew or glue the fabric to secure it. For the best effect, use one solid color of scraps for this step. White, black and tan are good colors for the base covering of the doll.

4. Step 4

Sew or glue the beads in place for the eyes. If you want your doll to have a mouth, use another bead, a button or other sewing embellishment.

5. Step 5

Use different colors of fabric to create clothes for your doll. Wrap the fabric around the doll to create skirts, dresses, shirts and other clothing, leaving the solid color scraps for the doll's base body color. Sew or glue the fabric to secure it. Add jewelry, purses and other objects to make your voodoo doll more elaborate.

6. Step 6

Push the straight pins through the doll in different locations, and your doll is ready for display or a gift box.

Tips & Warnings

* If your doll is intended as a gift, then try to find a fabric similar to a favorite outfit of the gift recipient. Use feathers to make an elaborate headdress for your doll. Craft stores are a great source for small items that can embellish a voodoo doll.


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How To Make And Use A Voodoo Doll

It is a common misconception that Voodoo Dolls are used primarily to place a hex on someone or to exact revenge on enemies. In truth, Voodoo dolls are used to represent the spirit of a particular person, and the pins are used primarily to target positive energy of aid in healing. Voodoo dolls work by summoning an ancient force known as Loa, commonly worshipped in Western Africa during the 16th century. This guide will provide a simple process to the proper construction and use of Voodoo Dolls.

The Construction and Use of Voodoo Dolls

1. Step 1

Make a cross with the two sticks.

2. Step 2

Tie the sticks together with the Spanish moss by wrapping it around the intersection of the sticks. If possible, use moss that is connected together in a piece long enough to cover the sticks without breaking the moss apart.

3. Step 3

Wrap the moss up and down the length of the vertical stick to form the "body" of the doll.

4. Step 4

Cover the moss with the fabric strips. Leave moss exposed at edges of all points on the cross. Secure the fabric using the needle and yarn/ hemp cord/ wax thread.

5. Step 5

Secure the beads or buttons near the top of the cross to create eyes with the needle and yarn/ hemp cord/ wax thread.

6. Step 6

Light a candle in front of the Voodoo doll. The color of the candle should match the color of the pin you will insert into the doll.

7. Step 7

Meditate using deep breathing techniques to focus on your desire (see link in Resources).

8. Step 8

Insert the pin whose color corresponds with your desire into the heart or head of the Voodoo Doll.

9. Step 9

Keep the doll in a sacred and safe place and wait for the effects to take place.

Tips & Warnings

* The seven colors each have different meanings: yellow represents success; white, positive; red, power; purple, spirituality; green, money; blue, love; and black, repelling negative energy. Oak is a good wood to use because it is strong and resists breaking. You can dress your Voodoo Doll in particular outfits, depending on the person you wish the doll to represent.
* It is not recommended to use a Voodoo doll to inflict harm on another. Karmic backlash can often result on the person wishing to spread negative energy to another.





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How To Learn A Voodoo Spell

Voodoo is a faith that is a combination of Roman Catholicism and the tribal spiritualism of West Africa. When the slaves (primarily in Haiti) were taught Christianity, it blended with their own spiritualism and became what's known as voodoo. While a complicated faith to an outsider, voodoo can be learned and understood. Additionally, the inherent magic of voodoo can also be performed if a person learns it.

How to Learn Voodoo Magic

1. Step 1

Learn about voodoo as a religion and faith. Voodoo is a religion first and a form of magic second. One cannot practice the magic until they learn about the spirits, called the Loa, who grant this power and aid.

2. Step 2

Find an experienced teacher, if possible. Voodoo is like any other faith; you can read all the books that you want, but in the end you should speak with other practitioners about it to learn from their experience.

3. Step 3

Design a ritual. Voodoo, like any other faith, is symbolic. However, that doesn't mean that voodoo spells are created like a recipe. There isn't a "speak these words, perform this action" sort of formula to voodoo magic. Rituals represent a spell, and they should be unique to each person. For instance, a love spell could call out to a certain Loa for help, and while you speak a poem that you wrote yourself, you could light red candles to represent love and power. You could also keep a photograph of the person you love on the altar as you ask for the Loa's help. Each "spell" should be unique, and crafted to the needs of the caster and the unique situation they need help in.

Tips & Warnings

* Be realistic in your expectations. Voodoo won't be a quick fix to your problems if you aren't willing to solve them from a spiritual and a reality-based perspective.
* Avoid internet sites or mass media books that claim they can teach "voodoo spells" that will make you rich, powerful and attractive. At best these spells are fluff, and at worst they could make you seem like an unbeliever, ruining your chances of getting actual help.

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Pamela Ball - The Ultimate Book Of Spells.pdf
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How To Dispose Of A Cursed Voodoo Doll

So you think you have a Voodoo doll that has been cursed, or you feel it is haunted and is bringing you bad luck? What do you do with it? Well, there are a couple of options and lucky for you that I am sharing it here!

If you really feel that you have somehow acquired a negative Voodoo doll, the best thing to do is to put it in a white cloth and shake a whole lot of sea salt on it. Sea salt is routinely used as a purifier in magick. Then, take it to a river or stream or somewhere deep in the woods with an offering of fruit and some coins. Ask the spirits of the water or the trees to take the negative energy and transform it through the power of the earth. Leave the area without looking back and when you arrive home light a 7-day protection candle and take a bath with cleansing herbs, including sea salt. Basil and juniper are two good options for this type of cleansing spiritual bath.

Another option is to wait until a Saturday to get rid of it. Put the doll in a clean, white cloth and dig a hole in the ground somewhere far away from your home. Place the doll in the hole and burn it. When it has reduced to ashes, sprinkle some Holy Water on it and cover the hole over with dirt. The earth will transform that negative energy very quickly and turn it into positive energy and blessings. When you return home afterward, bathe very well, adding some Holy Water to your bath.

Don't know where to get Holy Water? I'll tell you an old Indian secret. Take a glass of ordinary water and place it in the east window of your home. In the morning as the sun shines on the water, it will be transformed into Holy Water.

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How To Cast Voodoo Spells

Casting voodoo spells is associated with dark magic in popular culture. Followers of voodoo, however, frown on most forms of magic. They believe that a body that lives in harmony with the lwa (spirits) does not require magic to balance its existence. For those that do practice magic or charms, they must never practice selfish magic or spells. When ougans (priests) and mambos (medicine men) use magic, it is protective in nature.

Casting voodoo spells instructions

Step 1. Consult an ougan or mambo prior to performing a voodoo ritual yourself (see Resource section below). Devotees of voodoo do not perform magical rites or spells without the guidance of a strong ougan who has taken an oath to do no harm.

Step 2. Choose the lwa (spirit) for the charm. A typical voodoo spell or charm protects from harm or evil. The charm may be inscribed on a person (via tattoo) or on an object that is dedicated and blessed by the ougan.

Step 3. Dress in red. The ougan will dress in red and sacrifice a rooster or a chicken to summon the lwa for the protective charm. Be aware that ritualistic animal sacrifice is illegal in most states unless it is part of an organized religion and recognized as such.

Step 4. Carve the symbol of the lwa onto the object for the charm. The ougan may also tattoo or paint the symbol on the person receiving the charm.

Step 5. Use herbs to cleanse the wound or tattoo (see Resources section below). The types of herbs used are often at the discretion of the ougan or mambo who should be well-versed in herb-lore. Some herbal concoctions can be purchased through designated voodoo shops for ritual purification. Certain initiation ceremonies require the ritualistic marking of members with identifying marks.

Tips And Warnings

Beware of fake voodoo practitioners on the Internet. Do not perform voodoo charms or magic unsupervised. Voodoo is a religion and should be respected.


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How Does Voodoo Work

How Does Voodoo Work?
1. Voodoo originates from the African word for spirit, which is "vodun." Although often portrayed as an evil form of magic, voodoo is actually a type of religion that is practiced by over 60 million people, mainly in Haiti and some African and South American countries.
What is Voodoo?
2. Voodoo is a mixture of many types of beliefs, including Catholicism and various African religions. Just as the Christian religion offers several denominations, there are many different groups of voodoo practitioners. While each group follows different traditions, the basis of the religion is that all of nature is controlled by spiritual forces. Indeed, there are hundreds of spirits, found in the Vodun religion as well as one supreme god.
What Types of Spirits Do Voodoo Practitioners Worship?
3. According to Vodun, each person has one soul that is comprised of two spirits, or guardian angels. Although one spirit is always present, the other, called the "Ti Bong Ange" or "Little Good Angel," leaves the body during sleep and rituals. As a result of this departure, voodoo practitioners believe that the soul can be trapped while outside of the body.
Why Do They Perform Rituals?
4. Rituals are used to keep the Ti Bong Ange from remaining earthbound. During these rituals, gifts--often in the form of animal sacrifices--are provided to the spirits to gain their favor. Rather than promising fortune in the afterlife, Vodun spirits focus on the present by providing health, happiness and good fortune to their followers. In addition to celebrating special events, these rituals are also performed at one's birth, marriage and death
What Exactly Is a Voodoo Ritual?
5. During the ritual, voodoo followers will chant and dance in an effort to make contact with one of the spiritual forces (they do not seek out one specific spirit, but rather, seek out the spirit that is available at the time of the ritual). Once they have gained the attention of a spirit, that spirit will temporarily possess one of the dancers. The chosen person will fall to the ground, which indicates to the other followers that the spirit has made contact with the group. The selected individual's Ti Bon Ange will then leave his or her body and the spirit will take over. Because the spirit selects whom to possess, spirit possession is viewed as a gift from God. The possessed individual is treated with the utmost respect during the course of the ritual. In fact, many believe that simply touching the person during possession can lead to death.
Is There Really a Such Thing as a Voodoo Curse?
6. The hexes and spells commonly associated with voodoo beliefs are actually components of these rituals. Although their function is primarily for healing and protection, they may also be used for revenge against enemies. Because voodoo relies on the belief that what may be good for one person could be bad for another, these spells and hexes are perfectly acceptable. Of course, for voodoo to work, one must believe in the power of the religion, for without this belief, spells and hexes are useless.

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Haiti Spirit Politics

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 30 (AP)—Shaking bundles of pungent leaves and swaying to a frenzied drum beat, hundreds of Haitians flock to a temple to beg the spirits for U.S. visas and lucky lottery numbers.

At a time of deepening poverty and despair, many people in this Caribbean country see only one way out.

"Voodoo is Haiti’s only hope," says Solange Patrice, a 19-year-old street vendor who took Wednesday off to make meager offerings of coins and candles at a voodoo temple. "We have nothing else—unless you’re willing to risk your life to make it to the United States."

On Tuesday, more than 200 Haitians did just that, jumping from a ship that ran aground in Miami with the Coast Guard in pursuit.

The journey was one of hundreds each year by Haitians who brave the sea in rickety, overcrowded boats. Dozens have died in such attempts this year. And unlike Cubans who reach dry land, Haitian migrants usually are returned home.

"We are all desperate," said Marie Pierre, a 35-year-old vendor in Port-au-Prince’s chaotic marketplace who sells leaves, candles and moonshine as offerings to the spirits.

The government blames the situation on the lack of international aid, suspended after the Lavalas Family party of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide swept flawed elections in 2000. Two years later, the country is locked in a political stalemate. Two-thirds of workers are unemployed and crime is on the rise.

Until foreign aid is restored, people will continue to flee to U.S. shores, said government spokesman Mario Dupuy.

But even in the best of times, Haiti is a country of scant resources, with much of its arable land ravaged by decades of deforestation.

For people who make do on less than a dollar a day, voodoo understandably has strong appeal.

"Voodoo has always been about survival when hope seems lost," said Laennec Hurbon, an anthropologist and author of several books on the religion that evolved in the 17th century when the French brought slaves to Haiti. "When people feel abandoned, that desperation manifests itself in voodoo."

On Tuesday at the Desermite temple, songs asking the gods for U.S. visas and lucky lottery numbers reverberated against the concrete blocks as believers stomped their feet. Some fell to the ground, believing they were possessed.

"Open the door for us if it is closed!" worshippers wearing brightly colored satin scarves sang in Creole as they waved white candles.

Practitioners believe in a supreme God and spirits who link the human with the divine, and who are petitioned by offerings that include everything from rum to roosters.

"Every day we make offerings and people come to see me," said Exilien Francois, 75, a voodoo priest or houngan. "Even though they don’t have much to give me or the spirits, we will keep praying. We have to."

Voodoo, or Voudou, as preferrd by Haitians, only became recognized as a formal religion in 1987, under a new constitution that recognizes the rights of all religions. But this fusion of West African beliefs has long been seen as a path toward emancipation.

In 1791, an escaped slave named Boukman gathered thousands of followers in the forests of northern Haiti and sacrificed a wild boar. He pledged that with the spirits’ help, he would liberate his people and free Haiti.

After 10 years of bloodshed, slavery ended and Haiti became the world’s first black republic, making Boukman a hero and giving special prominence to the religion.

Slaves forced to practice Catholicism remained loyal to their African religions in secret by adopting Catholic saints to coincide with African spirits. The Virgin Mary became Erzulie, St. John became Ogun, a warrior spirit.

Still, voodoo worshippers were persecuted, with a church-led campaign in the 1940s leading to the destruction of temples and sacred objects. Voodoo only became recognized as a formal religion in 1987, under a new constitution that recognizes the rights of all religions.

Today, voodoo is an inseparable part of Haiti’s rich culture of art, literature, music and film. Hymns are heard on the radio, and voodoo ceremonies are broadcast on television along with Christian services.

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California Man Convicted After Voodoo Curse Inexplicably Fails In Fraud Case

Ruben Hernandez, 34, was convicted this week of fraud in a house buying scheme but not before he tried some extra-judicial remedies of his own. Hernandez was found to have performed a voodoo ritual to place a hex on the prosecutors. They survived and Hernandez was convicted.

A search of his home revealed a shrine with voodoo dolls dunked headfirst in cups of water with pins in their eyes. The case number and names of the prosecutor and investigators were reportedly written on the dolls. It is a ritual performed by followers of Palo Mayombe, a religion that is popular among drug dealers and is known for its animal sacrifices.

Hernandez was convicted of four counts of filing a false application and three counts of grand theft. Judge Lance Ito (yes of OJ Simpson fame) sentenced Hernandez to 12 years in prison but he still faces an additional 28 counts, including charges of grand theft and filing a false application, for allegedly engaging in fraud at his used-car dealership.

That is a lot of wax for the next round and prosecutors may want to brush up on their Cole Porter:

Why, when you appear,
something happens to me
and the strangest feeling
goes through me?
You do something to me,
something that simply mystifies me.
Tell me, why should it be
you have the power to hypnotize me?
Let me live ‘neath your spell,
Do do that voodoo
that you do so well.

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