A Beginner’s Guide to Doing Voodoo: Dolls, Spells & Origins

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Learn the true history of Voodoo (and whether it's evil)
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Voodoo takes many forms, including traditional practices and those influenced by Western media. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to do Voodoo, including making voodoo dolls, casting love spells, and performing other rituals. Plus, learn what Voodoo is and whether it’s actually evil or not.

Keep in mind that Voodoo and Vodou practices are considered sacred in many places and they’re often misrepresented in pop culture. Do your research to avoid any cultural appropriation or insensitivity when practicing Voodoo.

How to Do Voodoo on Someone

To perform Voodoo on someone else, make a voodoo doll or find a reputable spell or ritual. Visualize the person you’re trying to influence and your desired outcome. It may help to call on the loa, voodoo deities, for guidance and assistance. Keep in mind that you should always have good intentions when doing Voodoo.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Start Doing Voodoo

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  1. While this is up for debate among some believers, many Voodoo followers believe you must be initiated into the religion before you can practice. Ask around or look online to see if there are any Houngans (priests) or Mambos (priestesses) in your area who are willing to teach you. This is often the best way to learn which Voodoo practices are authentic and which were misconstrued by Western media. [1]
    • Some believe that you do not have to be initiated and can practice as long as you are respectful and understand Voodoo beliefs. If you’re unsure whether you should get initiated, try reaching out to current practitioners to get their opinions. There are many ways to practice Voodoo, so it may depend on the beliefs of each path.
  2. If you don’t have a priest or priestess in your area, it’s still possible to learn about Voodoo. Study the history of Voodoo, including the origins of the Haitian Vodou practice and how Voodoo evolved in America to avoid misconceptions about Voodoo. [2] Look for books from authoritative sources like scholars or practitioners to make sure you find the best information possible.
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  3. In America, most Voodoo practitioners seem to be clustered in areas like Louisiana and New York, which can make it difficult to find community if you aren’t in those areas. [3] Because of this, many believers have created online communities where they share their beliefs and practices. Look on sites like Reddit and Facebook to find groups, and engage with others to find support and guidance as you learn about Voodoo.
    • Be aware that not everyone you encounter will be extremely knowledgeable about the practice. Research any advice you receive to ensure it’s supported by evidence.
  4. Despite what you may see on TV, Voodoo isn’t about cursing people and black magic. Instead, it’s about connecting with ancestors and spirits to help guide you on your journey. Learn about spirits like the loa and begin finding ways to connect with them through rituals, offerings, and meditation . [4]
  5. Voodoo is a deeply spiritual practice that can be very personal for believers, especially given its history with enslaved Africans. Be sensitive when approaching the religion, and be open-minded if a practitioner approaches you about cultural appropriation. Many practitioners believe anyone can practice Voodoo regardless of their background, while others feel it should be reserved for Africans and those of African descent. [5]
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Section 2 of 7:

How to Make a Voodoo Doll

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  1. Your voodoo doll needs to represent an individual person, so while you’re making yours, picture them in your mind. Voodoo depends on a connection between the visible world that we live in and the invisible world where spirits reside. Concentrate on the person you want your doll to represent to channel their spirit from the invisible realm. [6]
    • It’s important to note that voodoo dolls as depicted in Western media are not typically used in the traditional Haitian practice of Vodou, from which the Western idea of Voodoo originates. It’s likely that voodoo dolls actually originated from European practices, like poppets. [7]
    • Before trying to do Voodoo, research the practices and belief system to make sure it’s right for you. Most practitioners believe anyone can practice voodoo if they respect, love, and understand the belief and its culture. Otherwise, it may be considered cultural appropriation.
  2. A voodoo doll needs to represent a specific person, and an easy way to do that is to attach a picture of that person to a doll in the shape of the human figure. [8] Collect or print out a picture of the person that you want your voodoo doll to represent and cut out their figure.
    • If you don’t have a picture of the person, use a personal item that you collected from them, like a lock of hair or a piece of their clothing.
  3. Cut enough fabric to fit the size and shape of the cut-out photograph. Then, sew the picture onto the fabric, leaving an opening at the bottom. Fill the doll with stuffing, then sew the opening closed. [9]
    • Use any fabric you like. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, or hemp give the doll a more authentic feeling.
    • Any material will work for stuffing, as well, but for a more authentic voodoo doll, use natural materials like moss or leaves.

    Tip: If you don’t have a picture of the person, sew together 2 pieces of fabric cut in the shape of a doll, stuff the doll, and sew a personal item like hair, clothing, or a button that belonged to the person to the front of the doll.

  4. After you’ve added the personal effects of the person to the doll, their energy pattern is imprinted and fused with the doll. Close your eyes and set an intention with the doll, like to heal the person it represents, for example. It’s generally best to use the doll for good, as many traditional Vodou practitioners do not believe in using the craft to cause harm. It is ultimately up to you, however. [10]
    • Hold the doll and channel all of your energy into your intention. Picture exactly what you want to happen. For example, if you intend to use the doll to heal someone of an illness, imagine the doll absorbing the illness and the living person being happy and healthy. It may also help to mentally or verbally say what you want to happen.
  5. Focus on one of the loa, or Voodoo deities, and ask them to help make sure that the doll embodies the person you intend it to, like praying to any other deity. It may also help to leave offerings of food, flowers, or items that represent the loa you’re calling upon. Ask the loa to help you accomplish your goal with the doll, be it good or evil. [11]
    • You can also make a voodoo doll that contains the spirit of a loa to serve you. For example, concentrate on Ogun (the warrior loa) while you make your doll to channel his courage and bravery into your doll.
    • Go to your local library or look online to research the loa so you can choose one that corresponds with your voodoo doll. This research is also a great way to learn what offerings to leave for each loa.
    • For example, Agwe is a loa associated with the sea, so you may offer him shells or depictions of boats. [12]
  6. The final step of infusing a person’s energy into your voodoo doll is to baptize it with water, repeat the baptizing prayer, and state the person’s name in the prayer. Drizzle water over the doll and repeat the prayer 2 times, making the sign of the cross before you begin the prayer. [13]
    • State the prayer as follows: “I baptize you, (Person’s Name), all that I do to this doll, I do to you. Amen.”
    • Use holy water or bless a vial of water. Get holy water by visiting a Catholic church, or bless the water yourself by saying a prayer over it.
    • Cleanse the doll or release the spirit by baptizing it in salt water.
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Section 3 of 7:

How to Cast Voodoo Love Spells

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  1. If you want a specific person to love you, make a voodoo doll that is infused with their energy and pin it next to your pillow when you go to sleep. Speak to the voodoo doll and imagine that you are speaking to the person you want to love you. Because visualization and intent are such an important part of Voodoo practices, it is believed that the person’s soul will hear your voice and want to be with you. [14]
    • Some people also believe pinning the voodoo doll to your bed will prevent the person you want from having physical contact with another person. Still, ultimately, your desired results are up to your intent.
    • Be aware that there is no scientific or proven evidence that this love spell, or any love spells in this section, work.
  2. Anointing oils have been used for centuries in all kinds of practices to enhance the desired result of spells. However, for this specific Voodoo love spell, you need to be in physical contact with the person you’re trying to attract. [15]
    • Take 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of vegetable cooking oil, place one of your eyelashes in it, and allow it to sit overnight.
    • Have the person you want to be your soulmate dip their index finger in the oil for 1 minute. Apply the oil from their finger to your lips and kiss them.
    • According to Voodoo belief, the person will then become your soulmate.
    • However, the person needs to be already attracted to you in order for the spell to work.

    Tip: Tell the person that they need to dip their finger into the oil to prove that it isn’t hot so they don’t suspect anything.

  3. On the left side of a piece of paper, write the name of the person you want to attract 4 times. Then, write your name 5 times on the right side of the paper. Melt purple candle wax, drip 4 drops of wax onto the left side of the paper, and fold the paper so the wax seals it. Lastly, place the paper in a dish, cover it with water, and burn a red candle on top of the paper. Red is not only associated with love and passion, but it’s also often used in Voodoo rituals to invoke the energy of the loa. [16]
    • As the red candle wax melts into the water, Voodoo belief says that the person will become attracted to you.
    • Binding spells can also be used for protection or to stop someone’s influence.
  4. For a simple Voodoo love spell, count how many letters make up the first and last name of the person you desire. The 2 numbers put together make up your lucky number for the love spell. Write your lucky number on the inside of every pair of underwear that you own. This may be based on numerology , in which the number of letters in your full name represents your life path or destiny number. [17]
    • For example, if the person you desire is named Timothy Smith, then your lucky number would be 75. Timothy has 7 letters, and Smith has 5 letters.
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Section 4 of 7:

How to Cast a Voodoo Healing Spell

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  1. Make a voodoo doll out of white fabric or put a white “dress” on it. Mix rosemary oil , tincture of wormwood , sage, brandy, and almond oil, stir it all together, then add sesame seeds to the mixture. [18]
    • Light a white candle and rub the oil onto the doll in the area that needs to be healed. Then, rub the oil on yourself in the same location.
    • Pierce the doll with a white-headed needle into the lubricated spot, and visualize the illness or injury leaving the person and transferring into the doll. If you prefer, say a prayer instead
    • Once the spell is performed, bury the doll or place it into moving water.
    • For best results, perform the ritual during a waning moon.
Section 5 of 7:

What is Voodoo?

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  1. Depending on where and how it is practiced, it is also known as Vodou or Vodun. The exact practices and beliefs vary from region to region, but at its core, Vodou believes that a divine force called Bondye created the universe. It combines cultural and spiritual practices from West and Central African cultures with those of Roman Catholicism. [19]
    • Vodou is sometimes considered both monotheistic and polytheistic, as practitioners believe Bondye alone created the universe, but they communicate with other deities or spirits known as the loa. These are sometimes compared to Catholic saints.
    • Vodou priests are called Houngans, and priestesses are called Mambos. Together, they facilitate ceremonies for devotees to honor the loa. These ceremonies often include rhythmic drumming, dancing, and chanting.
    • Vodou is commonly practiced in or has historical roots in Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, and Barbados.
  2. Traditional Vodou does not focus on casting spells on individuals. Instead, common practices include the performance of rituals and offering gifts to the loa to gain their favor, practicing divination before casting a spell to gain insight and guidance from the loa, and using rhythmic chants, prayers, and incantations to invoke the presence and assistance of the loa. Practitioners may also cast healing/protection and love/relationship spells. [20]
    • Some common offerings include food, drink, candles, flowers, and items that symbolize the desired outcome of the ritual or spell.
    • Practitioners often incorporate visualization and symbolism into their spells, as well. This practice is where the idea of voodoo dolls comes into play, though they are not typically used the way they are in Western media.
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Section 6 of 7:

Voodoo History & Origins

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  1. Haitian Vodou comprises aspects of various religions from Africa, though it primarily originated with the Vodun religion of Dahomey (modern-day Benin). Vodou was brought to Haiti by an enslaved person who was captured from Dahomey, where many different tribes shared similar religious beliefs about worshiping family ancestors and being possessed by spirits. When these peoples were enslaved, they created the Vodou religion from their shared beliefs. [21]
  2. As enslaved people were brought to America, specifically Louisiana, they continued to practice Vodou, which enslavers prohibited. In an attempt to put a stop to the practice, the enslavers threatened the enslaved people and baptized them as Catholics. Rather than converting them, Catholic traditions were instead adopted into the practice. Over time, Vodou became known as Voodoo or Voodoo-Catholicism. [22]
    • After the 1791 slave revolt in Haiti, many formerly enslaved people migrated to Louisiana, as well, which helped the practice spread even further. Voodoo kings and queens became important spiritual and political figures in 1800s New Orleans.
    • The most famous Voodoo queen was Marie Laveau, a free woman of color who helped enslaved servants and escapees. It is said that she was feared and respected by white men even during the time of slavery.
  3. While Voodoo has become commercialized and appropriated to attract tourists, many modern-day practitioners still incorporate their beliefs into their everyday lives. Rituals are typically held privately, but there is a formally established temple called the Voodoo Spiritual Temple in New Orleans. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is also a great place to learn about the practice. [23]
    • A Voodoo celebration, St. John’s Eve, is still celebrated on June 23rd each year for the summer solstice. This celebration began in the 1830s with Marie Laveau on Bayou St. John as a head-washing ritual and public party.
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Section 7 of 7:

Is Voodoo evil?

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  1. Because of its portrayal in Western media, Voodoo has faced many misconceptions and prejudices from non-practitioners. Despite how it’s often depicted, Voodoo is not about voodoo dolls, zombies, and spiritual possession. Instead, true voodoo is about strength, identity, and cultural preservation. Practitioners typically do not seek to do harm to others; instead, Voodoo is a personal religion that allows them to connect with spirits for guidance. [24]
    • In some practices, it is believed that practitioners do become possessed by the loa, during which the loa gives advice or prophecies for future events. This experience is often considered a privilege in many Voodoo traditions and is nothing to be frightened of. [25]
    • In many cultures, Voodoo leaders are also community leaders who provide guidance, settle disputes, and provide medical care to others.
    • Voodoo practitioners also do not worship the devil, as the devil is not a religious figure in their beliefs.

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    Putting a root on someone means to put a curse or other spell on them. This practice often involves using materials such as candles, herbs, and special substances like graveyard dirt or powdered lizard or snake skin. Depending on the spell, you may also need to obtain a personal item from the target person.
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    The word “voodoo” comes from voudon, the name of a traditional Afro-Caribbean belief system that originated in Haiti. Voudon is a combination of traditional African religious beliefs and Catholicism. It involves not only magical practice, but also medicinal practice, worship of a variety of spirits or deities, and its own system of morals and ethics.
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    Voodoo priests are called houngans, and priestesses are called mambo. Black magic practitioners are called bokor.
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      • The word “Voodoo” comes from the Fon language of the kingdom of Dahomey (present-day Benin) and roughly translates to “god” or “spirit.” [26]
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      • While it’s okay to use voodoo dolls in your rituals, it’s important to remember that they are not a part of traditional Vodou and are not an accurate representation of the belief. In general, it may be better to think of voodoo dolls more like poppets or as a general pagan ritual tool.
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      Warnings

      • Always do your research before performing any spells or rituals associated with Western Voodoo or traditional Vodou. Make sure to fully understand the practice to avoid cultural appropriation.
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      Things You'll Need

      How to Make a Voodoo Doll

      • Photograph
      • Scissors
      • Natural fabric
      • Stuffing
      • Needle and thread
      • Holy water or salt water
      • Pins
      • Paper
      • Assorted candles

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      References

      1. ↑ https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=socanthro_faculty
      2. ↑ https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/people-places/the-truth-about-louisiana-voodoo-vodou/
      3. ↑ https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/environmental-studies/voodoo-in-new-orleans
      4. ↑ https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.1966.0028
      5. ↑ https://mcquad.org/2022/01/27/to-whom-it-may-concern-a-discussion-about-race-closed-practices/
      6. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7392.html
      7. ↑ https://www.livescience.com/40803-voodoo-facts.html
      8. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7392.html
      9. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7470.html
      1. ↑ https://www.louisiana-voodoo-rituals.com/voodoo-doll-to-control-someone/
      2. ↑ https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7403.html
      3. ↑ http://faculty.webster.edu/corbetre/haiti/voodoo/biglist.htm
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/cO3wZCzlkd4?t=266
      5. ↑ https://www.louisiana-voodoo-rituals.com/voodoo-doll-to-control-someone/#penci-Be-Clear-About-Your-Desires
      6. ↑ https://spells8.com/love-oil-to-attract-love/
      7. ↑ https://www.pagangate.com/voodoo/color-symbolism-in-voodoo-dolls/
      8. ↑ https://www.numerology.com/articles/about-numerology/what-is-numerology/
      9. ↑ https://www.pagangate.com/voodoo/healing-voodoo-spell/
      10. ↑ https://sites.udel.edu/movingfictions/the-books/american-street/vodou-2/
      11. ↑ https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.1966.0028
      12. ↑ https://sites.udel.edu/movingfictions/the-books/american-street/vodou-2/
      13. ↑ https://sites.udel.edu/movingfictions/the-books/american-street/vodou-2/
      14. ↑ https://sites.udel.edu/movingfictions/the-books/american-street/vodou-2/
      15. ↑ https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1072917.pdf
      16. ↑ https://www.historymuseum.ca/vodou/possession%20
      17. ↑ https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/pluralism/files/vodou-serving_the_spirits_0.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Voodoo is a religion that borrows elements of traditional African religions and Catholicism. One of the best-known voodoo practices is making a voodoo doll, which is thought to help practitioners magically manipulate specific people. To make a simple voodoo doll, focus on the specific person you want your doll to represent. Cut out a picture of the person or collect a personal item, like a lock of their hair or a scrap of their clothing. You can then attach the picture or item to a small cloth figurine to make your doll. You’ll need to visualize your intention for the doll, such as cursing the person or making them fall in love with you, and call on the appropriate voodoo Loa or deity to help you accomplish your goal. Finish up by sprinkling some water on the doll and saying a prayer to baptize it with the person’s name. For more tips, including how to cast a voodoo love spell, keep reading!

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