Wax dolls, or wax figurines, often get labeled as voodoo dolls, but their uses are way broader than Hollywood suggests. They work on a principle called sympathetic magick. Basically, it's the idea that something that looks like a person can represent that person in a ritual. The phrase "like affects like" sums it up. When you use a human-shaped object, you're creating a symbolic connection that lets you direct energy, intention, or influence toward someone without them being there.
This isn't a new idea, and it isn't limited to one place or practice. Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, West Africa, Europe, and plenty of other places all used human figurines in their magick. These dolls or figures show up across time and culture for all sorts of purposes: healing, love, protection, justice, revenge, or spiritual bond. The doll becomes a very accessible tool to direct your will as needed.
In ancient Egypt, these figurines played both sides of the magickal spectrum. You’d find figures made of wax or clay with names carved into them, used to curse enemies. They’d be stabbed, broken, or burned to symbolically destroy a person or force. But not everything was aggressive. Figurines were also made for protection or healing rituals. Practitioners might transfer illness into a doll and then destroy it to clear the sickness.
Ancient Greece had its own version: the kolossoi. These were also human-shaped, made from clay, wax, or sometimes even lead. People used them when they wanted to bind or influence someone. Kolossoi usually showed up alongside defixiones, written spells on lead tablets that listed the name of the person and what the practitioner wanted to happen. Then the figurine and the defixio would be buried in places linked to death or the underworld—graves, wells, sacred areas. That’s because the Greeks called on deities like Hecate or Hermes, especially their underworld aspects, to give the spell power. The goal wasn’t always harm. A lot of the time, it was about control. Maybe someone wanted to win in court, get the upper hand in a love situation, or stop a rival. These figurines gave people a way to deal with situations where they had no direct power.
In Western Europe, wax dolls and poppets are very common in folk magick. People use them for healing, love, protection, or harm. Basically, any goal where sympathetic magick would help. The figures were usually made of wax, cloth, or wood. They’d be personalized with hair, bits of clothing, or written names to connect them to a real person. Once the link was made, the doll could be used in a spell. People would charm it for love, bless it for healing, or curse it for harm. In places like Scotland and Ireland, there was a specific practice where a wax effigy was melted near a hearth. The belief was that as the doll melted, the person would grow weaker.
In Brazil, figurines show up in both folk magick and spiritual religions. In Bruxaria, or Brazilian folk magick, they’re called bonecos. These dolls are made from materials like wax, cloth, or clay. Like in other places, personal items like hair or bits of clothing get added to link them to someone. Then they’re used in spells for love, revenge, protection, or healing. A really common practice is using the doll as a stand-in when the actual person can’t be at the ritual. This way, the blessings, protection, or energy can still be sent their way.
In Umbanda, an Afro-Brazilian religion, figurines aren’t used to control others. They represent spirits or deities like Exu or Pomba Gira. In rituals, they serve as a focus point to connect with these spiritual guides. They’re used to bring in healing and spiritual alignment.
What you see across all these cultures is the same core idea. If you make something that represents a person, and you treat it as connected to them, you can affect that person through the object. Whether it's for love, harm, healing, or protection, the method stays the same. The materials might change, the rituals might look different, but the principle doesn't shift: representation gives you access. As a practitioner, when you use a figurine, you’re choosing to shape reality with symbols and intention. That’s the real power behind the wax doll.
How to do it
To make a puppet, you’re creating a representation of a person, that being yourself or someone else. Wax is one of the most traditional materials and can easily be carved as necessary. You can also use cloth, clay, or even a carved root like ginger or potato. The important thing is to give it a human shape and include something that connects it to the target, like a strand of hair, a drop of spit, a fingernail clipping, or a written name. Some practitioners also stuff their poppets with herbs or small items depending on the intention. Once it’s assembled, you “wake” the doll up by holding it in your hands, focusing your intention, and saying clearly what it represents and what it’s meant to do. From that point on, you treat it with respect, as if it carries the energy of the person it stands for.
Ritual to Attract Love
You’ll need a red or pink wax candle poppet, rose petals or rose oil, a red or pink ribbon, a slip of paper with your love intention written on it (or carved directly on the figurine), and a fireproof bowl or dish. Sit somewhere quiet and light the candle. Hold the poppet and picture the kind of love you want to welcome into your life. Focus on feelings, not a specific person. Rub rose oil on the doll or press rose petals into it. Wrap the ribbon around it while repeating your written desire out loud. If your intentions were written on a piece of paper, place the paper under the doll and say: “As this figure holds my wish, let love find its way to me.” Burn it until the end, or let the candle burn as long as it feels right, then store the doll somewhere special to burn again later. You can keep the remaining wax or doll it until the desire comes true or no longer feels aligned.
Ritual for Protection
You’ll need a black or purple candle wax poppet, black thread, garlic or black salt, and something personal to connect the doll to you. Carve your name into the doll or attach the personal item. Light the candle and say: “With fire I wake this figure into protection.” Rub garlic on the doll or sprinkle it with black salt, saying: “All harm that’s sent to me, stop here. Turn back. Return to sender.” Wrap the doll in black thread while repeating: “This figure stands and shields my space, No harm can cross, no threat takes place.”.Let it burn until the end and refresh the spell anytime you feel the need.
Here you can find some options for sympathetic magick:
