'Making A Poppet'
Making a poppet is one of the easiest things in magickal crafts. You can
make a simple poppet, or a very detailed and intricate poppet. It's all up
to you. Let's go over the basics for making a poppet.
Select your Medium:
A. Paraffin (Wax) Poppets
Before you begin decide what you will be making the poppet out of. If its paraffin, you will need to obtain uncolored paraffin (wax). Most arts and
craft shops have these.
For a human shape mold, you can use gingerbread cookie molds.
With wax you are more limited in terms of decorations. But this is the basic traditional material of the magick doll. If you are familiar with working in paraffin, you can add food coloring to make a wax poppet of your desired color. If not, plain white will do.
Paraffin must be melted in an iron or stainless steel pot; follow the
directions on the package. Have the gingerbread cookie molds nearby,
and place some wax paper under the molds. These shapes will be thin
at best and delicate. So work carefully with them. Most people prefer
to pour the paraffin into a large mold, a clean and dry milk carton
will do nicely. Tear off the top of the milk carton and then pour the
liquid wax. Allow to cool and harden don't make the mistake of trying
to handle hot and soft paraffin with your bare hands. You'll only
have painful burns as a result. When the wax has sat over night,then tear
the milk carton away from the paraffin, and using a scraper or small knife
you can carve the human shape out of this block.
Why go through all the trouble of melting the paraffin? Ahh...because at
this time you add the oil or herbs you wish to infuse into the paraffin. If using oils, add only a couple of drops. If using herbs, a tiny pinch. If
adding food coloring, a small drop will do nicely. Remember to fit the oils, herbs and colors to the need.
Shaping a human form out of a piece of wax is time consuming, but this is exactly what is best for this magick craft. As you carve, you are creating
in your mind the shape your hands will make. Here is the magick, here is the animation of a dead piece of wax into a live representation of a human being or a magickal force.
Most witches will advice you to never do magick to harm someone, but I won't do that here! I'm not here to judge, but to teach! What you use the knowledge for is up to each witch! But ask yourself, can I live with myself if I do this thing!? You must judge yourself! Lets move on......
B. Wooden Poppets:
A wooden poppet can be as simple as two sticks of wood tied with rope or cord into an X shape. Fabric can be wrapped around it to represent the person or property. This is one of the most primitive shapes for poppet magick and is very common in the folk magick.
C. Fabric Poppets:
This is what we will concentrate on because it is the easiest to make
and its components easy to obtain.
For a fabric poppet you will need:
1.) The fabric-
Have ready 2 pieces of 12 inches by 12 inches fabric. You can use any
type of fabric except silk. My favorites are velvet, linen and burlap.
You can cruise the fabric stores and check out the Remnants Section.
Although some people will use prints, I tend to avoid prints and opt
for the solid colors. Of course, if you find a really witchy print,
then go for it!
2.) Thread to match the fabric-
I am a stickler for this. You don't need to be a seamstress to make a
doll, but attention to detail I feel is important in the craft.
3.) Accessories-
If you are going to accessorize your poppet, be certain to know ahead
of time what items you will need. Don't go overboard. Simplicity is
your best rule of thumb. You can find some real gems in arts and craft
stores and for a couple of dollars you have purchase some very nice
decorations and accessories. These items are there to help focus the magick
and are not the source of the magick itself. You can add eyes or hair, you can be inventive.
4.) Herbs and Crystals-
Select your herbs and crystals and set them aside. Remember to match
the magick to the need. Select herbs and a crystal that have the
correct properties for your magick.
** Note **
You must make sure you wipe your crystals and any accessories with some
lemon juice to cleanse them from negative energies. And also, place the
fabric under direct sunglight for at least 24 hours.
5.) A good pair of scissors.
6.) A piece of light yellow or white chalk (depending on the color of
the fabric).
7.) A couple of boxes of soft tissue paper, unless you purchase cotton
stuffing. I use white soft tissue paper.
Instructions:
Using the chalk, trace a human shape on the fabric. Make sure your fabric,
is folded so that when you cut, you will have two identical shapes. Pin the shape before cutting. Using a sharp pair of scissors begin cutting.
Thread same color thread as fabric through a needle's eye and begin sewing
the dolls legs up to the waist. Stop there.
Stuff the legs with the tissue or stuffing. Add some herbs. When the dolls
legs are sturdy and thick, continue sewing until you get to the doll's chest. Stop there. Now stuff the doll's arms and chest. Use more herbs (just a pinch each time) When the doll's arms and chest are nicely stuffed, continue sewing until you get toward the head and stop there. Stuff the dolls as best as possible and then sew its head shut.
ANOTHER alternate method, but this is very difficult with small dolls, is to sew the doll shapes first leaving the head open and then turning the doll inside out so that the stitches do not show. This works well with dolls that are about 12 inches long. Anything smaller than that is harder to turn inside out. But if you are sensitive to this type of thing, turn it inside out before you stuff. I use this method because the dolls look nicer.
** NOTE **
Plan ahead to add a crystal depending on what the doll is for. Example:
If the doll is to give someone health, place the crystal in the area where
the person's organ is diseased. If the doll is for love, place the crystal
in the heart area. If the doll is to cure mental stress or any mental illness, place the crystal in the head. If uncertain, do not use the crystal at all!
Once your doll is stuffed, you can begin the decoration process. Its not necessary to draw a face, but many people do. In this manner, the witch identifies if the doll is male or female. Symbols and signs pertinent to
whom or what the doll is for should be drawn on it. If the doll is for a specific person, then you must create a doll that represents this person.
Remember: the doll is like a mirror. In order to work properly it must reflect the person or thing you are making it for! If you're making a prosperity poppet for a friend, decorate the doll with items or symbols associated with the person. For example, if the person is a teacher, then a little pencil tied to the doll's hand will do. If the person is a widower looking for new relationships, dress the doll in black; if the person is a policeman, draw a little badge on the doll's chest. If the doll is for prosperity, draw the
money signs and symbols on it and dress the doll in green.
Also, always match the color of the fabric to the magick!
