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The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Ancient and Contemporary Spells and Rituals
The Pin Is Mightier Than the Sword
"Denise Alvarado is a true hoodoo mamba home girl who burned hi-octane conjure in New Orleans where she grew up, and on visits to relatives in the Mississippi bayous, where she was formally introduced to the Voodoo/hoodoo path. Called by the spirits and taught conjuration by family members, she was working the goofer from five years old. That's some serious heat. Denise is no pretender. She's for real. She fixes the formulas, raises the spirits, calculates the mathematics, and works wonders at the old dirt track crossroads." -Doktor Snake, author of "Doktor Snake's Voodoo Spellbook"
When it comes to Voodoo, few things are more iconic than the Voodoo doll. Known also as conjure dolls, doll babies, dollies, baby dolls, poppets, fetich, fetish, and effigies, they are servants of fast-acting, long-lasting magic. If you are seeking a new job or new friends, need to find your one true love or keep your lover at home, wish to be rid of your enemies or protect yourself from thievery, in these pages you will find the doll and the spell to do just that and more.
Drawing not only on New Orleans Voodoo and hoodoo traditions, Alvarado also presents doll spellwork from ancient Greece, Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, Africa, and the European grimoires of old magic. You'll learn how to make, use, and properly dispose of your Voodoo doll.
Be warned: this is some of the most effective magic that exists so be ready to reap what you are about to sow, or in this case, "sew"!
"Denise Alvarado is a true hoodoo mamba home girl who burned hi-octane conjure in New Orleans where she grew up, and on visits to relatives in the Mississippi bayous, where she was formally introduced to the Voodoo/hoodoo path. Called by the spirits and taught conjuration by family members, she was working the goofer from five years old. That's some serious heat. Denise is no pretender. She's for real. She fixes the formulas, raises the spirits, calculates the mathematics, and works wonders at the old dirt track crossroads." -Doktor Snake, author of "Doktor Snake's Voodoo Spellbook"
When it comes to Voodoo, few things are more iconic than the Voodoo doll. Known also as conjure dolls, doll babies, dollies, baby dolls, poppets, fetich, fetish, and effigies, they are servants of fast-acting, long-lasting magic. If you are seeking a new job or new friends, need to find your one true love or keep your lover at home, wish to be rid of your enemies or protect yourself from thievery, in these pages you will find the doll and the spell to do just that and more.
Drawing not only on New Orleans Voodoo and hoodoo traditions, Alvarado also presents doll spellwork from ancient Greece, Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, Africa, and the European grimoires of old magic. You'll learn how to make, use, and properly dispose of your Voodoo doll.
Be warned: this is some of the most effective magic that exists so be ready to reap what you are about to sow, or in this case, "sew"!
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
38 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Denise Alvarado
45 books174 followersIndependent scholar, ritual artist and prolific author of Southern folk magic, spiritual traditions and culture. I create art and describe my life experiences as a Creole woman growing up in the Hoodoo capitol of the World, New Orleans, Louisiana. That said, my life experiences are by no means limited to New Orleans as I have been all over the world and currently call Arizona my home.
Please visit my website: Creole Moon
Please visit my website: Creole Moon
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 9, 2011
Disclaimer- I wouldn't feel right publishing this review without disclosing that I contributed one spell to this work, which the author found in my blog and thought would make an excellent contribution to this book.
The Voodoo Doll Spellbook is the direct follow up to Denise Alvarado’s Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual and promises to be the first in several volumes. Whereas the former delved into the history and types of dolls, the latter contains over 180 spells and rituals from various magickal disciplines including Hoodoo, Voodoo, Wicca, Paganism, and Ceremonial Magic.
Though these spells come from various traditions, they all have one thing in common, that is, the construction and use of dolls used in the casting of spells. The author gives detailed instructions on how to construct various types of dolls (poppets, effigies, waxen images, etc…) as well as how to use them to achieve various goals. The spells themselves are organized by purpose in an A to Z format for easy reference.
In addition to the spells, Alvarado has gone a step further and included various formulas for oils, and powders such as Lost and Away Powder and Bend Over Oil among others which some practitioners may be familiar with and which are utilized in the casting of spells. The inclusion of these formulas alone is well worth the price of the book. Throughout the Voodoo Doll Spellbook there are several photographs and illustrations of various voodoo dolls in the author’s collection which add to the mystique of this powerful tool of magick!
Although the author has included some basic information on the theory behind how magic works, I suggest you refer to Alvardo’s previous work Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual if you wish to delve into the history of voodoo dolls. The Voodoo Doll Spellbook is a practical, hands-on grimoire on the art of casting spells using various types of dolls. Here you will find everything you need to construct a doll in order to cast a spell for virtually any practical goal. This is a reference that you will return to again and again.
The Voodoo Doll Spellbook is the direct follow up to Denise Alvarado’s Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual and promises to be the first in several volumes. Whereas the former delved into the history and types of dolls, the latter contains over 180 spells and rituals from various magickal disciplines including Hoodoo, Voodoo, Wicca, Paganism, and Ceremonial Magic.
Though these spells come from various traditions, they all have one thing in common, that is, the construction and use of dolls used in the casting of spells. The author gives detailed instructions on how to construct various types of dolls (poppets, effigies, waxen images, etc…) as well as how to use them to achieve various goals. The spells themselves are organized by purpose in an A to Z format for easy reference.
In addition to the spells, Alvarado has gone a step further and included various formulas for oils, and powders such as Lost and Away Powder and Bend Over Oil among others which some practitioners may be familiar with and which are utilized in the casting of spells. The inclusion of these formulas alone is well worth the price of the book. Throughout the Voodoo Doll Spellbook there are several photographs and illustrations of various voodoo dolls in the author’s collection which add to the mystique of this powerful tool of magick!
Although the author has included some basic information on the theory behind how magic works, I suggest you refer to Alvardo’s previous work Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual if you wish to delve into the history of voodoo dolls. The Voodoo Doll Spellbook is a practical, hands-on grimoire on the art of casting spells using various types of dolls. Here you will find everything you need to construct a doll in order to cast a spell for virtually any practical goal. This is a reference that you will return to again and again.
August 13, 2014
The Voodoo Doll Spellbook was written by Denise Alvarado, with foreword by Dorothy Morrison ( a dear friend who also ironically wrote the foreword for my book.) I have the utmost respect for Ms. Alvarado and I have long enjoyed her artwork and her writings. I eagerly looked forward to hearing what she was going to write about this problematic topic.
“Voodoo Dolls,” are the stuff of Hollywood legend. In the book Ms. Alvarado makes this clear from the very start saying ” Hollywood and the media are not the only ones to blame…. the presentation of the evil Voodoo doll began with the enslavement of African people and subsequent attempts to dehumanize them.” New Orleans Voodoo has long been the target of such demonization on many levels. This book helps to challenge that.
“Voodoo Dolls,” are the stuff of Hollywood legend. In the book Ms. Alvarado makes this clear from the very start saying ” Hollywood and the media are not the only ones to blame…. the presentation of the evil Voodoo doll began with the enslavement of African people and subsequent attempts to dehumanize them.” New Orleans Voodoo has long been the target of such demonization on many levels. This book helps to challenge that.
October 17, 2014
4.0 of 5 stars – Nice, Interesting Collection for the Uninitiated.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Red Wheel/Weiser!)
I’m intrigued by voodoo and magic (being from Mississippi, frequent partier in New Orleans, and a big fan of American Horror Story: Coven); and as an amateur myself, I read more for curiosity and cultural interest. This did not disappoint me in giving me good spells and background that tickled my fancy.
To me it seems that Denise Alvarado was very knowledgeable about the topic, organizing the book well and clearly spelling out the spells. Although the “Voodoo” of the main title represents only about half of the book, I appreciated that it included as well a collection of spells and rituals that were true to the subtitle, drawing from ancient and foreign cultures beyond the Alvarado’s New Orleans roots.
I imagine this would be a good starter for the beginner, or a good reference for the more experienced; and as for me, this served well as a good intro to a whole culture of spells and rituals.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Red Wheel/Weiser!)
I’m intrigued by voodoo and magic (being from Mississippi, frequent partier in New Orleans, and a big fan of American Horror Story: Coven); and as an amateur myself, I read more for curiosity and cultural interest. This did not disappoint me in giving me good spells and background that tickled my fancy.
To me it seems that Denise Alvarado was very knowledgeable about the topic, organizing the book well and clearly spelling out the spells. Although the “Voodoo” of the main title represents only about half of the book, I appreciated that it included as well a collection of spells and rituals that were true to the subtitle, drawing from ancient and foreign cultures beyond the Alvarado’s New Orleans roots.
I imagine this would be a good starter for the beginner, or a good reference for the more experienced; and as for me, this served well as a good intro to a whole culture of spells and rituals.
March 7, 2015
Lovely book!
I truly enjoyed this book, there really is no book like it on the market. It is packed full of various doll spells, from simple cloth dolls to dolls made of sugar and dough. It really is a treasury, containing bits of folklore and juicy morsels from other times, cultures, and histories. Not to mention that there is a liberal sprinkling of authentic formulas. Even though I still feel like the author capitilizes on super spoopy Bayou negro magic, this is one book I can't find anything to dislike. Four stars.
I truly enjoyed this book, there really is no book like it on the market. It is packed full of various doll spells, from simple cloth dolls to dolls made of sugar and dough. It really is a treasury, containing bits of folklore and juicy morsels from other times, cultures, and histories. Not to mention that there is a liberal sprinkling of authentic formulas. Even though I still feel like the author capitilizes on super spoopy Bayou negro magic, this is one book I can't find anything to dislike. Four stars.
August 26, 2016
This book is fantastic. So much information in it. Not only a great read it is a wonderful reference book that I will go back to again and again. I have several of Denise's books and I am not disappointed in any of them. I would highly recommend this book!
February 27, 2013
Good collection of doll magic. I think that the using the word "Voodoo" in the title is a little deceiving seeing as spells relating to Voodoo and Hoodoo really only make up half the book.
January 31, 2015
A very interesting book. If you are looking for voodoo doll spells or spells that use dolls this is a good starting point.
April 27, 2016
Surprisingly well researched. Full review coming later.
May 5, 2024
Interesting book to read, I like to explore other paths and practices though I will probably never personally perform any of these spells myself because I'm not from those particular practices, out of respect. Learnt quite a lot, but one thing in particular that caught my attention was 'Ushi no Koku Mairi', which is also known as Japanese Voodoo. I didn't have a clue this practice even existed and interestingly it's against the law in Japan to perform.
August 16, 2020
The title of this book is misleading to an extent, but it is also a rare case of the book being even better than implied. Alvarado outlines a range of spells involving dolls from a diverse range of occult traditions and takes steps to include information many other authors would leave out assuming the reader already knows them.
February 25, 2024
Pretty good. My 2nd favorite.
November 30, 2020
I received my copy today - I'll let you know how my ex is doing soon!
I would have preferred if there had been illustrations but it is an interesting book.
I would have preferred if there had been illustrations but it is an interesting book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews