A SkeptiChat elist subscriber posted a brief email containing a link to a site devoted to creating virtual voodoo dolls:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hilary A. Thomas" <standingrock@pagosa.net>
Subject: [SC] Make Your Own Voodoo Doll

http://www.virtual-design.com/v2/onlinedemos/voodoodoll/voodoo.htm

(That site loads a Java applet, so you need a Java-enabled browser to get anything out of it.) I checked it out, then responded:

I find the physical sort to be much more satisfying. I've devised a modern method for quickly preparing such dolls, requiring only some glue, a picture of your target, and some thin Styrofoam [old take-out coffee cups work just fine.] The procedure is simple:

1. Glue the picture to the Styrofoam
2. Cut out along the outlines of the target
3. Poke, impale, dunk, scrape, cut, burn, etc

Some extensions of this technique are:

•   Cut the heart from the figure, place figure in an envelope, address and mail to the target. Return address is optional.
•   Multiple figures can be assembled, affixed to a fence, and blasted with BBs, shotgun, flung dung, paint thinner, etc.
•   Figures of public persons [celebrities, politicos, athletes etc] can be placed on public noteboards [in laundromats, etc] with invitations for passers-by to apply their own mayhem.
•   Figures may be glued to the bottoms of toilet bowls

But Voodoo Dolls are just so symbolic, so abstract. Sometimes you just want to reach out to someone and rip their focking heart out of their focking chest, tear their eyes from their sockets, pull their focking guts out like a long bloody smoky rope, etc. But society frowns on such behaviour. So you use a Voodoo Doll, have a vicarious experience, hope that the object of your displeasure feels SOMETHING. Yeah sure.

Other Things You Can Do With Voodoo Dolls:

• Douse the doll with pesticides, corrosives, urine, etc,
• Douse the doll with a flamable liquid. Ignite it.,
• Attach the doll to an explosive device. Detonate it.
• Attach the doll to a military munition (Nuclear/Biological/Chemical)
• Tape the doll to your TV screen. Shoot-out the focker.
• Tape the doll to your car bumper. Run-down a pedestrian.
• Tape the doll to a rabid dog. Shoot the dog..
• Swallow the (small) doll. Shit-out and flush it.
• Swallow the doll. Die. Take it with you to Hell.

OTHER VOODOO DOLL RESOURCES:     Fred, the Voodoo Doll     Evil Voodoo Doll Kit     Voodoo Doll Spell Kits     Oxley Moron Voodoo Doll     Java Voodoo Doll     (PalmPilotVersion)     Anti-Voodoo Doll     PinStruck!     Win.3 Voodoo Doll     Archie McPhee Voodoo Doll     Stick Voodoo Doll     Computer Voodoo Doll     Stress Management Voodoo Doll     Sadddam Hussein Voodoo Dolls     Google search    

Gentle readers, if you have any suggestions of other methods of creating voodoo dolls and/or other magickal manipulative figurines and/or artifacts, all your contributions will be welcomed and credited. Click on my address below to email me.

Coming soon! SYMPATHETIC MAGIC

sympathetic magic
Sympathetic magic is based on the metaphysical belief that like affects like. Sympathetic magic is the basis for most forms of divination. The lines, shapes and patterns in entrails, stars, thrown dirt, folded paper, the palm of the hand (the longer the lifeline, the longer the life), etc., are believed to be magically connected to the empirical world--past, present and future. It is also the basis for such practices as sticking needles into figurines representing enemies, as is done in voodoo. The pins and needles stuck in a doll are supposed to magically cause pain and suffering in the person the doll represents.