Dolls for spellwork, witchcraft and seasonal celebrations. 

By Lucya Starza

In witchcraft and in traditional folk beliefs, a poppet is a doll used for sympathetic magic. Poppets are designed in the likeness of individuals and can be used to represent them in spells to help, heal or harm - although, in itself, poppet magic is neutral. The word poppet comes from the Middle Ages in England, originally meaning a small doll or child - and it is still in use today as a name of endearment as well as meaning a little magical doll. 

The term is older than the phrase "Voodoo doll". This book explores the history of poppets and offers a practical guide to making and using them in modern witchcraft. It also covers seasonal dolls, from Brigid dolls, woven from reeds or grain stalks and used in celebrations for the first stirrings of spring, to fairy dolls enjoyed in tree-dressing at Yuletide. Other topics include spirit dolls, ancestor dolls and dolls as representations of mythological beings and creatures from folklore.