CHAPTER 7:How to Prepare your Voodoo Doll forRitual Use

From

Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual

by Denise Alvaradohe process for making a Voodoo doll to use in ritual andmeditation involves

charging

it. Charging is an essential part of any type of magick system. This is a relatively simple process,assuming you have the ability to focus and direct your energytowards a target object. You can charge any kind of object, from sigils andtalismans, to dolls and mojo bags.

Classic ritual charging requires directing your energy towardssomething and feeding it with your energy. When you draw a sigil or create atalisman, all you have to do is place your hand over the drawing and focusyour intention. However, to charge a Voodoo doll, you must complete at leastthree, if not four steps, depending on the nature of the work. The four stepsare: (a) clearing, (b) creation, and (c) consecration, and (d) baptism. Notethat you will not have to baptize your doll unless you want to name it. I willdescribe these steps in further detail in the following sections.

Clearing

Clearing an object is the process by which you neutralize or removethe energy that exists in it. In essence, clearing gives you a clean slate fromwhich to perform your ritual work. This is a necessary step to perform prior tocreating your doll and ultimately consecrating or baptizing it. There are a number of items that are needed to create a Voodoo doll.Aside from the natural items obtained from Mother Earth, there may bebeads, buttons, fabric, thread, paint, glue, feathers, string, etc. Think aboutthe number of hands each of these items has been through in the process of their own creation. Brand new items will be relatively clear, but will still haveresidual energy from the people and/or machines that created them. If youare using items given to you by someone else, items that you bought, or1 © 2009, The Mystic Voodoo, All rights reserved.www.mysticvoodoo.com

Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritualitems won in an auction, there will be energy attached to the items that arenot aligned with your specific purpose. On the other hand, if you are usingitems given to you by a mentor or teacher, or items that have been blessedby a priestess, then you may want to retain that energy and supplement itwith your own. There are many ways to clear an object. For example, you can placeyour hand over the object and direct your energy through it, you can washthe item with saltwater, you can sprinkle the item with salt, you can smudgeit with purifying incense such as sandalwood or sage, you can place it in thesunlight or moonlight, or you can bury it in the earth and allow Mother earthto transform the energy. It doesn’t matter which of these methods you choose- just pick one and do it!

Creation

Creating a Voodoo doll for use in ritual work involves more than merelyslapping together a couple of sticks, and wrapping them with moss and cloth.It is a creative process that involves your will and imagination, changing yourmind state, and directing your energy. The entire act of creating a Voodoo doll is part of the charging process.For some, the process of creating a Voodoo doll is a conjuring process. Icannot emphasize this enough. This is why it is extremely important to bemindful of your intent and exercise self discipline with regards to yourbehavior during this process, including your thoughts and the words that youspeak. You must prepare to mesmerize. If you are unable or unwilling to dothis, then you have no business working any kind of magick, much lesscreating a Voodoo doll. The first thing you should do is anoint yourself with some holy oil orSeven African Powers oil and say a short prayer or meditation asking theUniverse or Higher Power to work with you in the process and help you toaccomplish your goals. Try to achieve a trance like state that is in completeharmony with the change you desire to create (this is mesmerizing). You willbe able to feel it when you have achieved this. You may feel a little dreamyand calm, and you may feel like you have your feet in two worlds; one in theworld of Spirit, and the other in the world of the mundane. This simple act© 2009, The Mystic Voodoo, All rights reserved. www.mysticvoodoo.com2

Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritualhelps to put your mind, heart, and spirit in the right place for creating yourdoll.While it is not completely necessary, you can be mindful of the phaseof the moon when creating your Voodoo doll. For example, it is good to createyour doll when the moon is waxing (growing larger) for drawing rituals.Drawing spells are spells that involve bringing something to you, such aslove, luck, or money. It is good to create your doll when the moon is waning(growing smaller) for banishing spells, or spells of a negative nature likehexing.Next, it is essential that you are mindful of your intent for creating thedoll. If you are creating a doll to bring you luck in financial matters forexample, you will want to focus all of your thoughts and energy on havingmoney, paying off your debts, or whatever may be the case. You shouldvisualize success in whatever your intent is, as this is part of the manifestingprocess.Finally, be mindful of the words you speak. Words are energy, andwhatever tone and subject you project will be projected right into your doll.So it is wise not to yell, curse, gossip, or otherwise speak negatively whilecreating your doll. If you do so you will be capturing that energy into the dolland your doll will be the essence of the feelings and words used during itscreation.

Consecration

The final order of business for ritually charging a Voodoo doll is toconsecrate the doll. The act of consecration involves opening up to andtapping into the Universal Divine force from which all possibilities, solutions,and miracles emanate. To consecrate an object for ritual use is to connect tothis Universal Divine force and to declare sacred or appropriate for sacred usethe object at hand.Consecrating an object removes any negativity that may be attachedto the object and purifies it. It removes the vibrational energies of anyonewho has handled the object other than you. This is the foundation of anyeffective magick or ceremonial work.© 2009, The Mystic Voodoo, All rights reserved. www.mysticvoodoo.com3