What are Voodoo dolls?

Voodoo dolls are generally a tool of New Orleans style Voodoo. Those who practice Santaria and Hatian Voudu do not use Voodoo dolls. A Voodoo doll is a tool to help a practitioner focus their energy on a particular person (even themselves). They are most often used for healing, fertility, protection or to draw prosperity to their target. Very rarely, a practitioner will use a Voodoo doll to seek revenge on a person who has done them wrong. This is very dangerous, as misdirected negative energy tends to come back to the practitioner and it is frowned upon by most practioners of Voodoo. A Voodoo doll is a representation of it's target. It can be made from any material the Voodoo doll's maker has access to, so there is great variety in the appearance of Voodoo dolls. Many have a very primitive appearance (like rag dolls), while some can be quite elaborate and beautiful! Fertility dolls tend to have an exagerated female shape and often appear pregnant. Since a Voodoo doll is used to ...  more