Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls: Dolls for Spellwork, Witchcraft and Seasonal Celebrations

by Lucya Starza

Poppets are dolls used for sympathetic magic, and are designed in the likeness of individuals in order to represent them in spells to help, heal or harm. 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. The term is older than the phrase ‘Voodoo doll'. Pagan Portals – Poppets and Magical Dolls 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, used in celebrations for the first stirrings of spring, to fairy dolls enjoyed in tree-dressing at Yuletide. Other topics covered include spirit dolls, ancestor dolls and dolls as representations of mythological beings and creatures from folklore. The newest book from Lucya Starza, author of Every Day A Pagan Book of Days.

Genres: Witchcraft, Magick, Research

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2018

Reviews

[Gilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kindle version has no illustrations and none of the patterns referred to in the text. There's some interesting information here, to be sure, but instructions and inspiration for making poppets can easily be found elsewhere.

[Allie Marini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like other books in the Pagan Portals series, this is a fast, straightforward read with lots of practical, accessible information about poppet magic, traditions in different cultures for using poppet magic, and a solid section on ethics and poppet making. There is also good information with regard to "voodoo dolls", cultural appropriation, and stereotypical depictions of poppet magic in white-dominated media. The author is careful to note that there is a school of the craft that utilizes poppet magic for cursing, and devotes a solid chapter to the ethics of using poppets for hexes, bindings, curses, and other dark magic -- while encouraging the reader to use their own ethical barometer to determine how they can use poppets for their own craft.

There's directions to make poppets and a lot of really good info for people who collect dollies and other poppet-type toys to see if perhaps there's a reason you're drawn to dolls and poppets as a source of power and inner creativity.

Highly recommend this series of books, and will definitely be following this author's other entries in the series.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful, straightforward tips with some historical information about poppets and dolls.
Gives information on how to make poppets, rituals to enchant my poppets, specific spells using poppets. Just a really great source book for someone (Like me) who is a creative witch. I wish this book included photos of poppets and dolls, I think visuals would have made this book a 5*.
Regardless, it is an informative and fun read.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its alright. I found 2 chapters some what helpful. The rest just seemed to be a repeat of other books.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful, filled with tips and projects. A perfect introduction on the subject, although I would have liked it to be longer than this. Will definitely check another one on the matter and see more books from the author.