'Charging and Naming a Poppet'
The real magick of the poppet is not its color, accessories or symbols. The
real magick is the energy and intent poured into it by the creator of the
doll. As you work, from the moment you decide you are going to make a poppet, odds are that the poppet is already forming in your mind exactly as it should
be made. This happens very often with experienced poppet makers. The poppet
makes itself in astral and presents itself to you in your mind. You are the
instrument that brings it into the third dimension (our dimension). As you cut, sew and stuff the poppet, talk to it, tell it what its purpose is, what it is
supposed to do. If its to represent a person, call it by its name. Some create a simple chant that they always say. Something like this:
"I make you, I shape you, I name you."
Chant this or something similar to this as you are making the poppet. Or you can devise your own impromptu chant which will empower the poppet. Chant it as you work.
A. Charging the Poppet:
Charging the poppet is simply telling it what it is supposed to do. You can
create a simple chant to fit the type of doll you are making or allow your
creative mind to come up with something as you work. Always speak to the poppet as if its real. It is, and it is listening.
A sample chant for charging is:
"You are for (love/health/protection/other) and nothing else;
No other can command you, you serve my will."
Now, this is a pretty generic chant that tells the doll:
1.) What it is made for and notice, for "nothing else" except that which you
have said.
2.) Tells the dolls no one else can command it except you.
Its a good idea to throw this part in so that only you can de-activate the
doll if the need arises. In this way, if it falls into the wrong hands it
cannot be used against you or anyone else! Can this happen? YES!
B. Naming the Poppet:
"Your name is (insert name); this name I call.
You are he/she, and no longer a doll."
This chant above is actually a spell. These dolls, once made and named, represent the person they are made and named after. Anything and everything done to the doll will also be done to the real flesh and blood person. Therefore, and it must be stressed, there are certain points of ethics which
I strongly suggest you follow if making this type of doll. These are:
1.) When making a doll for a friend who is sick ask them for their permission.
2.) Once the doll is made, charged and named, it should be given to the
person it is made for.
3.) Instruct the person to keep this doll safe and out of view, hidden where
it cannot be found.
4.) Explain to the person that what happens to the doll, will also happen to
them.
5.) There is no reason to make this type of doll unless the person is
suffering from an illness or extreme bad luck. Hint: do not make these dolls
because you feel like it!
6.) Do not make ANY type of poppet and give to someone who is not familiar
with magick. Their fear would counteract the magick.
C. De-activating the Doll:
There may be times the doll needs to be deactivated. Why? Well, if you made
a doll for a person and the person dies, the doll should be buried with the
deceased. But if the family balks at this, then the best course of action is
to de-activate the doll and scatter or burn its materials.
Since you made the doll you are the only one it will "magickally" listen to.
So, it is your responsibility to de-activate it. (This is one of the reasons
I stress to never make a doll for another person unless they agree to it).
Take the doll some place safe. Place it on a table or flat surface. Sprinkle
some lemon juice over it and say:
"When I made you I stated my will.
Now your mission has been finished.
May your power wane and diminish.
In the service of the Goddess you are done;
Your magick is over and my spell is done."
Begin by opening the doll, removing all the stuffing, herbs and crystal.
Take the doll and its stuffing and burn. Scatter the ashes over the earth.
Bury the crystal. If, for some reason, you are unable to de-activate the doll, one traditional method is to have the person that the doll represents urinate over the doll and then throw it into running water. However, if this is not possible, you will need to make arrangements to have the doll sent to you for
de-activation. However, each witch creates his/her own brand of personal magick.
In poppet making, naming, charging and de-activation, you must follow careful
methods, no matter what they may be.
D. Active "Lost" Dolls:
What happens if you make a doll for someone and they lose it? Well, this
happens more often than we'd like to think about. Before this happens to you, make sure you explain carefully to the person that a doll is not a passive tool. It is an active magickal participant in a very ancient and potent brand of witchcraft. Therefore, the doll merits special attention and honor. If the lost doll represents a living person, we have a problem.
The problem is that there is a charged doll some where and whatever happens
to the doll, happens to the person. A very distasteful scenario. But if this should happen, don't despair. De-activate the doll at once. Even if you do not have it. Remember when you activated and named the doll, you added the part about it only listening to you and your spells.
Pick a time and call the doll. Sample call:
"Listen poppet to my spell.
Heed me whether far or near.
You have served your purpose well,
Now your power disappears.
I release you from my hold,
Be forever free.
No other magick can be bold enough to empower thee!"
With a spell like this one you are:
1.) calling the doll wherever it is.
2.) telling the doll to listen to you.
3.) thanking the doll for its service.
4.) releasing the doll from your hold AND
5.) importantly, telling the doll its magick is waning
6.) and you are wisely adding a blurb that no other magick can ever be
used to reactivate it!
Can a doll be used against its maker?
Yes, it can. Remember, not all witches have the same set of ethics! Someone may find the poppet and not really know what they have and start "dabbling". Others, totally ignorant of what it represents, may re-use the doll for another magickal purpose. And since the doll is bound to the maker, whatever happens to it will not only affect the person it was made for but it can also bring some nasty things to you. Which brings me 'round to saying again: always make sure you have a very valid reason for making a poppet. A poppet can start out as a well conceived idea and can really turn into a major headache!
D. Who Should Make Poppets?
Anyone can make a poppet! Poppets are versatile and very effective. A poppet can be made with very little expense to your pocketbook. If you use poppet magick wisely and carefully, it can be a great tool in your magickal cabinet!
But as with everything in life there is those who desire power! In the hands of a witch who wishes to use a poppet for their own desires and negative deeds, they can be deadly! So the witch must learn her limits! Never over stepping that line between good and evil! The magick itself is not evil, its the hands who perform it that can create that negative energy! So never perform magick when you are enraged with hatred because that energy will do no good, only negative! I speak from experience...
