#voodoo digest

Despite what most pop-culture would have you believe, Voodoo Dolls are rarely used for nefarious purposes. The image of a victim writhing in pain as an evil witch doctor sticks pins into a doll representing them is practically the single most well-known hex, but unfortunately this is a complete fabrication and the dolls were never intended for such a purpose.

Quite the opposite, in fact, as Voodoo Dolls are largely created as good luck charms and wards against evil. The idea is to craft a humanoid vessel for one or more helpful loa spirits to inhabit. This loa then inhabits the doll for a time, usually as directed by the pact made with the practitioner, and blesses the target of the ward with good financial fortune, swift recovery from an illness, or protection from hexes.

The doll is usually made from blessed materials and has to contain artifacts to both indicate who the doll has been made for and what effect it is intended to have, with more powerful artifacts resulting in a stronger effect. For instance, a picture of the target or a lock of their hair may be sewn into the doll, along with money for fortune or herbs for health. Incantations or prayers may also be pinned to the doll, with these pins being the genesis of the aforementioned fake hex.

However, there is nothing stopping a particularly cruel practitioner from making deals with loa to inflict misery instead of prevent it, though the effects of such a charm would be pretty subtle.

Most Loa, from the almost deific greater ones to the lesser ones, are inherently neither good nor evil. They are instead divided into several distinct groups dependent on their general temperament or sphere of power. Of course, some Loa, particularly the big-names ones like Maman Brigitte or Papa Legba, do have their own, more distinct moral compass.

Rada Loa are often mistaken for being “good” Loa, but it would be more accurate to describe them as “cool”, as in not being very aggressive. They are often associated with water. Petro Loa are not evil, but rather “hot”, as in hot-blooded and temperamental. They are often associated with fire or even gunpowder.

Both these kinds of Loa are equally capable of good or evil, it’s just the passion in which they approach their tasks are different. As spirits, Loa are very empathic and do not put much thought into aspects of good or evil, instead drawing upon the will and desire of the individual calling upon them.

One of the tricky things about writing a fictional voodoo practitioner is finding out exactly what rules apply to the practice in that particular setting. Voodoo (or vodun, or hoodoo, or any number of other variants) have a long history and an extremely diverse set of practices. There are common themes, but there aren’t many hard “rules” that all practitioners would actually agree on, and particular practices and beliefs will vary widely from region to region, or even practitioner to practitioner.