Bringing Magick to Life: The Art of Poppet Crafting

If you've ever tied a ribbon around a homemade doll or whispered a wish into a bundle of herbs and cloth, congratulations—you've already tapped into the ancient art of poppet magick. Poppets are magical dolls used to represent a person, intention, or energy. Far from being just folk remnants or Halloween tropes, poppets are powerful tools of manifestation, healing, protection, and personal empowerment. In my book Dollcraft: A Witch's Guide to Poppet Magick & Haunted Dolls, I dive deep into the rich and versatile world of doll-based spellwork. But today, let me take you on a quick journey into what poppets are, how they work, and why you should absolutely be making one.

What Is a Poppet?
At its core, a poppet is a stand-in: a symbolic representation of yourself, someone else, or even a concept (like health, luck, or courage). Traditionally, they're human-shaped and made from natural materials like cloth, clay, sticks, corn husks, or wax. But, modern witches get creative: I've made poppets out of everything from apples to bath bombs!

The real magick isn't in the material—it’s in the intention and the connection you form with your creation.

Creating Your Poppet
To make a poppet, start with your goal. Do you want to heal a broken heart? Find focus for a new job? Protect a loved one? Your intention determines everything from the materials you use to the color, herbs, and stones you include.

Some classic correspondences:

• Red for love and passion
• Green for abundance or health
• Black for protection or banishing
• Rose petals for self-love
• Cinnamon for courage or lust
• Amethyst for psychic insight

Add a taglock—something that links the poppet to its target. Hair, handwriting, photos, or even a name written in your own spit all work. Then breathe life into it with your voice, your intention, your energy.

Enspiriting and Activating
One of my favorite parts of poppet work is the "enspirit" stage. You're not just crafting a figure—you're giving it purpose. I speak to my poppets, name them, anoint them with oils, and place them on my altar. Some I light candles for. Some I bury. Some I carry with me like little magical bodyguards.

It's deeply personal. And it works.

Types of Poppets
In Dollcraft, I outline several fun and powerful types of poppets:

• Classic cloth poppets for all-purpose spellwork
• Biodegradable poppets for releasing and transformation spells
• Food-based poppets (like gingerbread or apple dolls) for abundance and feasting magick
• Crafty poppets made from doll parts, sculpted clay, or found objects

Whether you're a kitchen witch or a cemetery sorceress, there's a style that fits your path.

Living Magick
Poppets aren't one-and-done spells. The best ones become living magick—companions on your journey. They can be recharged, reworked, or lovingly retired once their purpose is fulfilled. I often tell students: if your spell matters to you, treat your poppet like it matters, too.

Some witches even create full poppet families, guardians for their homes, or effigies to help with shadow work. The possibilities are endless, and the magick is real.

Final Thoughts
Making poppets is joyful, creative, and effective. It blends the tactile with the mystical, the childlike with the ancient. You don't need to be a master crafter or have rare ingredients—you just need your intention, your imagination, and your will.

So go ahead—make your magick real. One stitch, one whisper, one poppet at a time.

Blessed be.