WORKS OF WILL

The Original Voodoo Doll Came from Europe

The use of poppets in European folk magic—particularly within English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish traditions—was rooted in sympathetic magic: the belief that what is done to a representation of a person can influence the actual person themselves. These figures were not toys, stage puppets, or decorative dolls. They were private ritual objects used in folk healing, protection, cursing, love magic, and communal justice. Most were handmade in secrecy and intended to be hidden, buried, burned, or concealed within homes rather than displayed publicly.

The word poppet comes from the Middle English popet, meaning a small doll or human figure. By the late medieval and early modern periods, the term became associated with magical effigies used by folk practitioners often described in records as witches, warlocks, cunning folk, charmers, or wise women. It is where we also get the word Puppet.

When being used for…

Working the Craft

Focus Over Flash, Presence Over Props

A recurring myth in modern Craft communities is that effectiveness is proportional to how much money you spend or how elaborate your setup looks.

That you need rare tools, antique curios, imported herbs, carved bone wands, or an over-designed altar that costs more than a month’s rent in order to be “more powerful than someone else.”

• Ritual also is an expression of spirituality.

Welcome to Works of Will. This is a dedicated space for serious practitioners of the Craft to convene, collaborate, and share profound knowledge and authentic experiences, while also helping others purge their minds of the myriads of misinformation spread by those who are little more than cosplayers—people with little to no respect for genuine culture, evidence-based spiritual practice, and the discipline required to master the work.

Here, we prioritize clear-headed insight and a genuine willingness to help others understand the deeper side of the spirituality behind such things, stripped of all the delusions, manufactured hype, and performative nonsense. If you are a seasoned adept or new to the subject, you are welcome here to educate and be educated. Pull up a chair—or perhaps a runic circle—and let's get to work.