Mirroring and Voodoo Dolls

[catherine yronwode]

Could there be some kind of connection in the 'processes'?

Interesting question... and you'll get some interesting
responses here, I think... mainly because "voodoo dolls"
are somewhere far from the mental maps of most.
First off... "voodoo dolls" is a misnomer. Voodoo is a
religion concerned with the relationship of humans to "Loas",
spirits that relate to the memory and myths of ancestors.
However, there is a recurring theme in folk magic from
around the world that involves making a "magical link"
to another person or object or situation, in order to
influence it. (Interestingly enough, this is more common
in European traditions than in Voodoo, tho it does occur
there. The "doll" is a European thing, mostly.) The link
is created, these folk ways tell us, in a couple of
different ways. One is by the use of something that has
been in contact with the object (an idea that quantum
physicists have been working with, too). The other is by
creating similarity, something that matches or parallels
the object. Perhaps that's what you were hoping to explore?
Does this work? That's another question. There's much more
to be said on the idea of the magical link... but let's
see what this little bit engenders.

Thanks, Phil, for that great overview the subject. The only quibble i
have with what you wrote is that in my opinion, working with dolls is
culturally more universal and less Euro-centered than you imply. I
have samples of spells from ancient India, for instance, in which a
doll is made of pressed together sticky rice and used in
love-engendering. Also, there are old-time African American spells
that mention working with "doll-babies" (the usual term in use before
the inaccurate "voodoo doll" phrase came into vogue in the wake of
Robert Tallant's imaginatively inflammatory book "Voodoo in New
Orleans"). For instance, the 19th century African America sex magician
Paschal Beverly Randolph described working with "a ten cent doll" to
influence a target individual.

As for mirroring, this is a complex subject, because the word "mirror"
itself is applied to at least three classes of magical act:

1) The use of mirrored (physically reflected, a.k.a. modelled)
gestures and forms of speech to gain the confidence and acquiescence
of a target individual arguably has more affinity to Neuro-Linguistic
Programming than to magic. However, outside of NLP, the body language
modelling technique is explained as a tool of the fictional
magico-political sisterhood called the Bene Gesserit in Frank
Herbert's novel "Dune" -- and significantly, a google search on the
seemingly improbable keyword combination < Bene Gesserit NLP > yields
a number of interesting sites. By absorption from both sources -- NLP
and science fiction -- mirroring has emerged as a technique utilized
in Chaos Magic. However, it does not involve the use of dolls per se.

2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),
in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.

3) The use of physical mirrors for scrying is, from one point of view,
merely a form of trance divination -- but energetically speaking, the
technique is predicated upon the literal mirroring of events occurring
elsewhere or elsewhen (including in spirit realms and future worlds in
potentia) into a physical mirror, which images are then seen by the
scryer and interpreted for the purposes of divination. Interestingly
enough, one of the greatest mirror scryers, and the author of a
definitive volume on the subject, was the afore-mentioned Paschal
Beverly Randolph, who also advocated the use of the "ten cent doll" in
magical operations.

Cordially,

cat yronwode

news:alt.lucky.w -- discussions on folk magic, luck, amulets, charms

[Alexander Mulligan]

In alt.magick, catherine yronwode wrote:

[...]

[mirroring in magick refers to, among other things:]

Post by catherine yronwode
2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work
is typically a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to
return evil intentions to a malevolent enemy

I am protected from the magick of those who would do me harm with
it by the spell/belief that my natural psychic immune system
is perfectly healthy.

If thoughts alone could do harm to others (and you have no proof
that the rituals/objects have anything to do with it, because
modern magickal lore is filled with incredibly diverse rituals
said by different authorities to accomplish the same things) we
wouldn't have a population problem.

But if people believe (accept the spell and self-cast it) you and
others who say the same things, then they _will_ weaken their
natural psychic immune system, or even drop it.

[...]

An interesting article, though.


<+>
--
Bells Ring Under Cerulean Ecstasy

http://tinyurl.com/3kxzh

Note: I no longer read the posts of our regular and rabid
Defenders of Science, Tom, Rick, and Mark Preston, for
reasons explained in this post:

http://tinyurl.com/5bf7k

[Gentle Spirit]

Post by catherine yronwode
Thanks, Phil, for that great overview the subject. The only quibble i
have with what you wrote is that in my opinion, working with dolls is
culturally more universal and less Euro-centered than you imply. I
have samples of spells from ancient India, for instance, in which a
doll is made of pressed together sticky rice and used in
love-engendering.

Yes, you are right, Have you follwed Daya Haath or have you gotten
this from another school.

Agora's/Aghoris have used dolls quite a big and so have Thugees in
Bengals.

I am curious where/what school did you look into.

Post by catherine yronwode
As for mirroring, this is a complex subject, because the word "mirror"
1) The use of mirrored (physically reflected, a.k.a. modelled)
gestures and forms of speech to gain the confidence and acquiescence
of a target individual arguably has more affinity to Neuro-Linguistic
Programming than to magic. However, outside of NLP, the body language
modelling technique is explained as a tool of the fictional
magico-political sisterhood called the Bene Gesserit in Frank
Herbert's novel "Dune" -- and significantly, a google search on the
seemingly improbable keyword combination < Bene Gesserit NLP > yields
a number of interesting sites. By absorption from both sources -- NLP
and science fiction -- mirroring has emerged as a technique utilized
in Chaos Magic. However, it does not involve the use of dolls per se.

Frank herberts work in all his 6 Dune books has quite a bit of Magick
if you will and many of Batesons principles expanded upon.
Quite a read for both an NLP/Magick student or a causal reader

Post by catherine yronwode
2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),

this technique is also widely used in 2 other schools

1. the agohris and thugees in West Bengal and
2. practioneers of Yantra and daya haath tantra

Post by catherine yronwode
in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.

where could I find more information on this?
Would you be so kind and share some links/titles. thanks in advance

Post by catherine yronwode
3) The use of physical mirrors for scrying is, from one point of view,
merely a form of trance divination -- but energetically speaking, the
technique is predicated upon the literal mirroring of events occurring
elsewhere or elsewhen (including in spirit realms and future worlds in
potentia) into a physical mirror, which images are then seen by the
scryer and interpreted for the purposes of divination. Interestingly
enough, one of the greatest mirror scryers, and the author of a
definitive volume on the subject, was the afore-mentioned Paschal
Beverly Randolph, who also advocated the use of the "ten cent doll" in
magical operations.
Cordially,
cat yronwode
news:alt.lucky.w -- discussions on folk magic, luck, amulets, charms

[catherine yronwode]

Post by Gentle Spirit

I have samples of spells from ancient India, for instance, in
which a doll is made of pressed together sticky rice and used in
love-engendering.

Yes, you are right, Have you follwed Daya Haath or have you gotten
this from another school.
Agora's/Aghoris have used dolls quite a big and so have Thugees in
Bengals.
I am curious where/what school did you look into.

One spell i encountered in an English selection of material from the
Rgvidhana compiled by Margaret Stutley. Several other spells was
contributed by a reader from an English translation of "Mantramahodadhi."

They are archived in the alt.magick "fuck spells" collection at

http://www.luckymojo.com/altmagickfaq/fukspls.html

A partial excerpt from this archived text, giving the Indian spells
utilizing dolls, is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------

ANCIENT INDIAN SPELL TO SECURE THE LOVE OF A WOMAN

From the Rgvidhana, a religious-magical text circa 1400 BCE,
we have a coercive spell of love-binding, whereby a man may
secure a woman's love:

Another method [by which a woman may be made subject to a
man's will] is for the man to boil rice-grains which he
breaks with his finger-nails and crushes. He then forms them
into an effigy of the desired woman whilst concentrating
solely on her. The effigy is anointed with sesamum oil and
then torn limb from limb, starting with the feet. With the
exclamation 'phat' they are thrown into the fire until the
whole effigy is destroyed except for the region of the
heart, which should be placed on the suppliant's own heart
whilst he utters a specified mantra which will draw the
woman to him (Rgvidhana III.19,4ff.; 20,1ff.). The
bija-mantra 'phat' has long been used ritually as an
aggressive mantra. To the Indian ear it implies the sound of
breaking or bursting and superhuman power, and thus is
eminently suitable for use in magic formulas for destructive
ends.

pages 52-53 "Ancient Indian Magic and Folklore" by Margaret
Stutley (Great Eastern Book Company, 1980)

MORE ANCIENT INDIAN LOVE SPELLS

[Note: The brief spell at entry #90 below (man controls
woman with a doll made of rice) is similar to the rice-doll
love-spell from the Rgvidhana in which a rice-doll is
partially burned and partially placed on the man's heart.
Here, the rice-doll is eaten -- but in #89, another
man-controls-woman spell, the left leg of a salt-and-honey
doll is burned (the word homa refers to a type of
fire-sacrfice), and in #105 an oatmeal cake, albeit not in
the form of a doll, is burned to get a woman. -- cat
yronwode (***@luckymojo.com)]

Love Spells from Mantramahodadhi -- just picked at random
from the text:

Taranga 7

MATANGI:

89. The devotee shall perform homa with the right leg of a
doll made of salt and smeared with honey 108 times in a fire
kindled with Khadira twigs at night. He can captivate all.

90. In order to keep a woman under control the devotee
shall eat a doll made of powdered rice.

----------------------------------------------------------------

There are more Indian spells on that web page, but no others
concerning dolls.

Post by Gentle Spirit

As for mirroring, this is a complex subject, because the word "mirror"
1) The use of mirrored (physically reflected, a.k.a. modelled)
gestures and forms of speech to gain the confidence and acquiescence
of a target individual arguably has more affinity to Neuro-Linguistic
Programming than to magic. However, outside of NLP, the body language
modelling technique is explained as a tool of the fictional
magico-political sisterhood called the Bene Gesserit in Frank
Herbert's novel "Dune" -- and significantly, a google search on the
seemingly improbable keyword combination < Bene Gesserit NLP > yields
a number of interesting sites. By absorption from both sources -- NLP
and science fiction -- mirroring has emerged as a technique utilized
in Chaos Magic. However, it does not involve the use of dolls per se.

Frank herberts work in all his 6 Dune books has quite a bit of Magick
if you will and many of Batesons principles expanded upon.
Quite a read for both an NLP/Magick student or a causal reader

I agree -- and as always, i am interested to see other folks
acknowledge the curious cross-linkages and cross-fertilization i have
witnessed between science fiction fandom, Neo-Paganism, the Society
for Creative Anachronism, NLP, the Hermetic Revival of the late 20th
century, and Chaos Magic.

Post by Gentle Spirit

2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),

this technique is also widely used in 2 other schools
1. the agohris and thugees in West Bengal and
2. practioneers of Yantra and daya haath tantra

Thanks. I know very little about Indian magic, so you have given me
some useful information and names to be aware of in this context. Can
you recommend any URLs or print books? I have heard of the thugees and
of Yantra magic, but can you tell me more about the agohris and about
daya haath tantra?

Post by Gentle Spirit

in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.

where could I find more information on this?
Would you be so kind and share some links/titles. thanks in advance

You can read about a mirror-box (or mirror-coffin, if you will) that
it used for reversing and revenge as part of my online book "Hoodoo in
Theory and Practice." This spell employs a doll-baby or a candle in
the form of a human figure inside a box lined with broken mirror
glass. It at my Lucky Mojo site; the URL is
http://www.luckymojo.com/uncrossing.html
Scroll down to the section titled "A Mirror-Box Spell Spell to Fix Bad
Work Back Onto Your Enemy."

I have also written a book on African American hoodoo folk magic in
which this and other mirror techniques are mentioned. The book is
called "Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic." The book's major emphasis -- as
the title makes clear -- is on natural magic, but a good deal of
spell-craft in which man-made objects are used is presented as well.
You can read more about the book at
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodooherbmagic.html

Additionally, i teach a 52-week correspondence course on hoodoo, and
one of the lessons (Lesson 42) is devoted to spells of reversing and
revenge, including detailed instructions in how to burn candles upside
down on mirrors. You can read more about the course at
http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocourse.html

Cordially,

cat yronwode

Hoodoo in Theory and Practice - http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoo.html

[Gentle Spirit]

Post by catherine yronwode

Post by Gentle Spirit

I have samples of spells from ancient India, for instance, in
which a doll is made of pressed together sticky rice and used in
love-engendering.

Yes, you are right, Have you follwed Daya Haath or have you gotten
this from another school.
Agora's/Aghoris have used dolls quite a big and so have Thugees in
Bengals.
I am curious where/what school did you look into.

One spell i encountered in an English selection of material from the
Rgvidhana compiled by Margaret Stutley. Several other spells was
contributed by a reader from an English translation of "Mantramahodadhi."

this is interesting, have neevr seen this before, so thank you so much
for bringing this to my attention. I will search for the Sanskrit
texts on this one. there is so much subtle language/syntax issues
which are lost in engligh. thanks again

Post by catherine yronwode

Post by Gentle Spirit
Frank herberts work in all his 6 Dune books has quite a bit of Magick
if you will and many of Batesons principles expanded upon.
Quite a read for both an NLP/Magick student or a causal reader

I agree -- and as always, i am interested to see other folks
acknowledge the curious cross-linkages and cross-fertilization i have
witnessed between science fiction fandom, Neo-Paganism, the Society
for Creative Anachronism, NLP, the Hermetic Revival of the late 20th
century, and Chaos Magic.

Its interesting if you compare the works/findings of Frank herbert, Ed
Hall, Eliade, Joe Campbell and then throw into the mix Crowley, R
Anton WIlson, Chris Hyatt, and of late a lot of Physists too... seems
they all lead towards the same - :)

Post by catherine yronwode

Post by Gentle Spirit

2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),

this technique is also widely used in 2 other schools
1. the agohris and thugees in West Bengal and
2. practioneers of Yantra and daya haath tantra

Thanks. I know very little about Indian magic, so you have given me
some useful information and names to be aware of in this context. Can
you recommend any URLs or print books? I have heard of the thugees and
of Yantra magic, but can you tell me more about the agohris and about
daya haath tantra?

There is a series of three books called Aghori, whose author i forget.
This has been the closest thing in english I have seen to the
authentic Indian teachings. The sublte teachings are very deeply
rooted in our culture and sometimes hard to explain the mythos behind
it, unless you grow up with the teachings.

Most of the material on aghori/yantra/tantra is hardly explosed in the
west. Perhaps partly by design perhaps partly due to the nature of
losing out a lot in translation. I still have a very hard time
expressing some of the indian ideas in any other langauge besides
hindi, partly due to the fact that there are no reference points to
many of these practices Germanic/Latin based languages.

Interestingly it seems much easier to tanslate some of these ideas
into Italian and Spainish.

If you are interested in Indian mystism/Magick, what ever you call it
:), i would suggest find someone who grew up with it and is also
educated in the west. If not, they are most likely not to share the
Inner Workings or not share the complete teachings. Sad, but thats
just the way it is.

Post by catherine yronwode

Post by Gentle Spirit

in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.

where could I find more information on this?
Would you be so kind and share some links/titles. thanks in advance

You can read about a mirror-box (or mirror-coffin, if you will) that
it used for reversing and revenge as part of my online book "Hoodoo in
Theory and Practice." This spell employs a doll-baby or a candle in
the form of a human figure inside a box lined with broken mirror
glass. It at my Lucky Mojo site; the URL is
http://www.luckymojo.com/uncrossing.html
Scroll down to the section titled "A Mirror-Box Spell Spell to Fix Bad
Work Back Onto Your Enemy."

thanks for the lead.

Post by catherine yronwode
I have also written a book on African American hoodoo folk magic in
which this and other mirror techniques are mentioned. The book is
called "Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic." The book's major emphasis -- as
the title makes clear -- is on natural magic, but a good deal of
spell-craft in which man-made objects are used is presented as well.
You can read more about the book at
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodooherbmagic.html

thanks again

Post by catherine yronwode
Additionally, i teach a 52-week correspondence course on hoodoo, and
one of the lessons (Lesson 42) is devoted to spells of reversing and
revenge, including detailed instructions in how to burn candles upside
down on mirrors. You can read more about the course at
http://www.luckymojo.com/mojocourse.html

interesting, will look into your site for more details

Post by catherine yronwode
Cordially,
cat yronwode

Cordially

GS

Post by catherine yronwode
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice - http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoo.html

[Imaginess]

Post by catherine yronwode
2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. >

A few musings here...

So, when mirrors are used as defense - as in prevention - in the case
of deflecting further inadvertant or intentional ill-wishing (as in
the evil eye), what is your opinion on how often they should be
renewed for best effect?

Do you think the moon phase is important?

Do you think that these things could also reflect back desired things,
as well?

Personally, I've found that in acute cases, especially, that daily
renewal is probably best.

I know one lady who does regular banishings (black candles, sometimes
with mirrors) every waning moon phase to reflect back any general
negativity (from self or others) which may have built up over the
course of the waxing moon phase. In my experience, banishings in which
candles are used do seem to last a bit longer. But I think that in the
case of a simple mirror spell that it doesn't matter what the phase of
the moon is in.

A Wiccan I used to know told me that the mirror spells should not be
kept up for extended periods, as they tended to reflect "good", as
well as "bad". It seems to me that if one specifies the intention that
only harmful energies be deflected, that the intention should color
the ritual. I think that if one were to choose to regularly employ a
mirror in defensive magick for only a set period of time, that it
would be wise to add other protective (even if passive) techniques,
such as charged talismans, sigels, herbs, gemstones, combined with
appropriate mantras, visualizations, or whatever, after they dismiss
with it. If someone you run into regularly strongly doesn't like you,
and you successfully protect yourself and deflect back their bad
vibes, what is to prevent them from projecting the same negativity at
you sometimes in the future? Not that people should be unnecessarily
paranoid. It just makes sense to be cautious in the same way that we
use common sense in locking our doors at night.

[Ka]

Post by catherine yronwode
2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),
in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.

An interesting post, thanks Cat. Robert Bruce mentions something about
mirrors in his book "Astral Dynamics" and that if one strays into a
mirror while OOBE it tends to lead into the Astral proper, similar to
Alice through the looking glass. He also mentions a traditional
practice of covering all mirrors in the house after someone has passed
on and suggests this might be so that the recently departed have time
to say goodbye without inadvertently moving onto the Astral through an
uncovered mirror before they are ready.

So if we indentify the world inside a mirror as representing the
Astral, or a doorway to it, then working with mirrors then becomes an
attempt to work directly on the Astral level thus making the magical
act more potent.

Just to follow the subject of mirrors for a few: I tend to think that
the stories of Vampires having no reflection in a mirror indicates
that the author was stating these Vampires weren't physical. Try
looking in a mirror next time you're OOBE.

And the first Matrix film also used this idea at the beginning where
Neo enters the "Real World" through a mirror.

[Ka]

Post by Ka
An interesting post, thanks Cat. Robert Bruce mentions something about
mirrors in his book "Astral Dynamics" and that if one strays into a
mirror while OOBE it tends to lead into the Astral proper, similar to
Alice through the looking glass. He also mentions a traditional
practice of covering all mirrors in the house after someone has passed
on and suggests this might be so that the recently departed have time
to say goodbye without inadvertently moving onto the Astral through an
uncovered mirror before they are ready.

So if you have any resident ghosts, put up a few mirrors in strategic
places and hope they stray into them. It might be an efficient way of
doing some space clearing. I doubt you'll find any ghosts in a hall of
mirrors at a fairground.

[Ketkrash]

Post by catherine yronwode

Could there be some kind of connection in the 'processes'?

Interesting question... and you'll get some interesting
responses here, I think... mainly because "voodoo dolls"
are somewhere far from the mental maps of most.
First off... "voodoo dolls" is a misnomer. Voodoo is a
religion concerned with the relationship of humans to "Loas",
spirits that relate to the memory and myths of ancestors.
However, there is a recurring theme in folk magic from
around the world that involves making a "magical link"
to another person or object or situation, in order to
influence it. (Interestingly enough, this is more common
in European traditions than in Voodoo, tho it does occur
there. The "doll" is a European thing, mostly.) The link
is created, these folk ways tell us, in a couple of
different ways. One is by the use of something that has
been in contact with the object (an idea that quantum
physicists have been working with, too). The other is by
creating similarity, something that matches or parallels
the object. Perhaps that's what you were hoping to explore?
Does this work? That's another question. There's much more
to be said on the idea of the magical link... but let's
see what this little bit engenders.

Thanks, Phil, for that great overview the subject. The only quibble i
have with what you wrote is that in my opinion, working with dolls is
culturally more universal and less Euro-centered than you imply. I
have samples of spells from ancient India, for instance, in which a
doll is made of pressed together sticky rice and used in
love-engendering. Also, there are old-time African American spells
that mention working with "doll-babies" (the usual term in use before
the inaccurate "voodoo doll" phrase came into vogue in the wake of
Robert Tallant's imaginatively inflammatory book "Voodoo in New
Orleans"). For instance, the 19th century African America sex magician
Paschal Beverly Randolph described working with "a ten cent doll" to
influence a target individual.

Yes, they have corn dollies in rural parts of the UK as well.
In terms of mirroring, my query related principally to type 1 you list below
but in the manner of resonating the (focussed on and) directed behaviours of
the
'doll' symbol with those of the target subject.

Post by catherine yronwode
As for mirroring, this is a complex subject, because the word "mirror"
1) The use of mirrored (physically reflected, a.k.a. modelled)
gestures and forms of speech to gain the confidence and acquiescence
of a target individual arguably has more affinity to Neuro-Linguistic
Programming than to magic. However, outside of NLP, the body language
modelling technique is explained as a tool of the fictional
magico-political sisterhood called the Bene Gesserit in Frank
Herbert's novel "Dune" -- and significantly, a google search on the
seemingly improbable keyword combination < Bene Gesserit NLP > yields
a number of interesting sites. By absorption from both sources -- NLP
and science fiction -- mirroring has emerged as a technique utilized
in Chaos Magic. However, it does not involve the use of dolls per se.
2) The use of physical mirrors to reflect back spell work is typically
a form of reversal (not revenge) engaged to return evil intentions to
a malevolent enemy, to ward off incidental, non-intentional jealousy
(the evil eye), or or to reflect back disadvantageous placement with
regard to the landscape (arrows of sha). The use of mirrors in these
contexts are found all around the world. Examples can be found among
the Kalbeliya Gypsies of India
(see http://www.luckymojo.com/gypsymirrors.html ),
in Chinese Feng Shui, and in African American hoodoo, where mirrors
are frequently used as a base upon which to burn candles marked with
the name of the offending person written *backwards* -- and when the
candles thus used are "image" candles (human figural candles, either
naked or clothed), there is a succinct identification between the
doll-baby and the mirror-working.
3) The use of physical mirrors for scrying is, from one point of view,
merely a form of trance divination -- but energetically speaking, the
technique is predicated upon the literal mirroring of events occurring
elsewhere or elsewhen (including in spirit realms and future worlds in
potentia) into a physical mirror, which images are then seen by the
scryer and interpreted for the purposes of divination. Interestingly
enough, one of the greatest mirror scryers, and the author of a
definitive volume on the subject, was the afore-mentioned Paschal
Beverly Randolph, who also advocated the use of the "ten cent doll" in
magical operations.
Cordially,
cat yronwode
news:alt.lucky.w -- discussions on folk magic, luck, amulets, charms