Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Many witches that I know are hesitant in using poppets as a form of magick because of the belief that they are unethical. These mindset generally comes from the fact that they relate poppets to voodoo magick, and voodoo dolls are often considered to be harmful in nature.

The reality is, both voodoo dolls and poppets can be used in a completely benign manner and can be a very beneficial form of magick when used correctly. While it is true that a poppet can be used in a way which would be harmful to others, it is also true that you can use poppets in helpful magick, such as healing spells, harmless binding spells or spells that can help a person achieve something such as losing weight or quitting smoking.

Before making your poppet, ask yourself what you are wanting to achieve from the spell. Are you creating the poppet with pure and true intentions? Poppets are designed to be representations of people, so if you are creating a poppet with a specific person in mind, you want to make absolutely sure that the poppet you create will in no way harm the individual. In my opinion, the moral thing to do is ask the person you are creating the poppet for if you have their permission to do so. I myself do not advocate creating a poppet of someone without their knowledge and permission, as I feel it is an unethical thing to do. Depending on the circumstance however, you may have to make this choice for yourself and determine whether creating the poppet without the persons knowledge is something you feel is acceptable and necessary.

There is another thing that you must also consider when making a poppet to determine if it is the correct choice. Because poppets are very strong forms of magick and a representation of the person you are designing the poppet for, you must be able to make sure that the poppet will remain completely safe. If you cannot guarantee that the poppet will remain safe, or you are unwilling to take the steps necessary to make sure the poppet will stay unharmed, you should not make the poppet. As a representation of the person you are doing the magick for, you must make sure that nothing unplanned happens to the doll, as it could result in harm to the person it represents.

Poppets are only meant to be used until the magick you have created with them manifests itself. At that point, the poppet needs to be properly dismantled to stop the spell. This is another reason why you must be committed to keeping the poppet safe, because this part of the process is essential. As a representation of a person, the poppet cannot be left together once the magick has been completed or the spell may continue to work even after it should be stopped. For instance, if you have created a poppet as a spell to help someone lose weight, once that weight has been lost the poppet needs to be dismantled otherwise the person may continue to keep losing weight which could pose a health risk.

Poppets are ethically safe to used if used correctly, but they are a form of magick that should be taken very seriously. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of using a poppet for magick, then by all means use a different method. However, if you have never used a poppet out of fear that it may be ethically wrong, rest assured that as long as you do it properly, there is nothing wrong with it. It can be a powerful source of magick that is very effective, as long as you use them as you would any type of magick, with a pure heart that seeks to harm none.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne,
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”