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Voodou dolls have nothing to do with
the vodun religion, nor the Hollywood voodoo, but come from the Yoruba
tribe in Western Africa (tribespeople who were forced into slavery
brought their practices to Haiti where vodun originated).
The Yoruba people made dolls as tools for emotional,
spiritual, and physical health. These therapeutic dolls were vessels,
or had vessels embedded in them, complete with lids. People placed
inside the vessels difficult emotions or situations to rest, for
example: as in setting something aside or on the back shelf
temporarily, giving the practitioner a chance for mental clarity and/or
emotional distance in a difficult or charged life situation. The
vessels were also used to hold useful attributes and attitudes as in
courage, passion, love, stamina, insight, etc, to be called upon in
time of need. In these instances, nails or pins were driven or pushed
into the doll at specific times to "activate" the desired influence and
bring it to life within the intended.
My voodou dolls are made according to this Yoruba folk
tradition. I have drawn from my own ethnic heritage and studied the
folklore practices of many cultures where icons, fetishes, dolls and
totems are used in ritual and play. I am fascinated by the roles of
these ritual items, the forces they represent and the empowerment they
bring to people's lives. My voodou dolls are incantations and invocations, charms for attracting and empowering that which one desires
Dolls are one of a kind and have a specific intention or
spell worked in an amulet sewn inside made of gems, minerals, herbs,
powders, oils, charms, etc. The amulet's contents are listed on an
accompanying tag. The dolls can be used in ritual practices and hang on
the wall by a loop on the back.
These works average in size 13" x 7" x 3".
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