Poppets have been around for a long, long time. Witches from all over the world have used them for all kinds of spells—sweet, protective, healing, passionate, and yes… a little vengeful too. A poppet is simply a small, human-shaped figure made from natural materials and filled with magick. It becomes a stand-in for a person, and with a little intention and care, it can become a powerful tool in your witchy work.
Forget what you’ve seen in movies—this isn’t about creepy voodoo dolls with pins stuck in them (unless you’re working with revenge… and even then, there’s more heart behind it than people realize). Real poppets are gentle, beautiful, sometimes messy creations that carry your energy and your will. You can craft one to attract love, to keep someone safe, or to gently return someone’s bad energy right back to them.
Whether you’re new to spellwork or you’ve made a dozen poppets already, this guide will walk you through how to make one step-by-step. We’ll cover different materials, enchantments, and the special touches that make each poppet unique. You’ll also learn how to connect it to your target (or yourself), how to bless it, and how to use it in your magick.
So grab your thread, herbs, and intention—let’s breathe life into a little magickal friend.
What Is a Poppet?
A poppet is a small figure made to represent a person in spellwork. It can be made from cloth, clay, wax, corn husks, paper, or anything you can shape into a little body. You can make one for yourself, someone you love, someone who needs protection—or even someone who needs a little karmic correction. The key to making a poppet powerful is your intention, the materials you use, and the energy you pour into it.
Once it’s created, a poppet becomes more than just a doll. It holds energy, memory, and magick. You can talk to it, bless it, give it offerings, or use it in rituals to bring about change. The closer the poppet is tied to the person it represents, the stronger the spell becomes. Hair, nail clippings, handwriting, photos, or personal items make it even more connected.
When to Use a Poppet
Poppets can be used in almost any type of spell, but they’re especially strong when it comes to personal matters. Here are a few common uses:
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Love: To attract romance, rekindle a connection, sweeten someone’s feelings, or help your own heart open up.
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Protection: To shield a loved one, guard your own energy, or keep negative forces away.
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Revenge (or Justice): To return harm to its source, stop someone from messing with you, or give someone a taste of their own medicine—always with caution.
No matter your intention, poppet magick is personal. That’s what makes it so strong.
Choosing Your Materials
Here’s where the fun begins. You can make a poppet from just about anything. The most important thing is that you’re thoughtful and connected to what you’re using. Here are some options:
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Fabric: Soft and easy to sew. Choose colors that match your intention (red for love, black for protection, white for healing, etc.).
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Wax: Moldable and great for quick work. You can add herbs, glitter, or ashes into it.
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Clay: Durable and holds shape well. Great for outdoor rituals or long-term spellwork.
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Paper or Cardboard: Quick and simple. You can draw the figure, write messages inside it, or fold it like origami.
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Corn husks, sticks, yarn, moss: If you’re feeling crafty or want a natural, earthy vibe.
You’ll also want to stuff the inside with herbs, crystals, symbols, or personal items. Think of it like giving your poppet a little soul.
What to Add Inside
Every poppet has a core, and that core should match your spell’s purpose. Here are some classic additions:
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For Love: Rose petals, cinnamon, honey, a heart-shaped charm, a photo or lock of hair.
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For Protection: Black tourmaline, garlic skin, basil, sage, an iron nail, sea salt.
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For Revenge/Justice: Thorns, chili flakes, vinegar-soaked cloth, ashes, pins (if you must), or a piece of a written curse to bind and return.
Also consider adding:
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A petition (a paper with your intention written on it)
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A taglock (a personal item from the person it represents)
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Essential oils
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Runes or sigils drawn on small paper or cloth
The more personal, the more powerful.
How to Make Your Poppet
Step 1: Cleanse Your Space.
Before you start, cleanse your space with smoke, salt, or sound. Light a candle. Set the mood. This is sacred work.
Step 2: Create the Body.
Cut out your figure (or mold it). It doesn’t need to be perfect. You’re creating a vessel for energy, not a toy store doll. Think simple—two arms, two legs, a head. Sew or glue the edges, leaving space to fill it.
Step 3: Fill With Intention.
Add your herbs, crystals, personal items, and petitions. As you place each one inside, whisper your intention. Speak clearly and kindly. You’re giving your spell a voice.
Step 4: Seal and Decorate.
Once your poppet is full, close it up. Sew, glue, press—whatever fits your material. Then, decorate it! Draw on a face, add buttons, a little charm, embroidery, or paint. Give it a name if you feel called to.
Step 5: Connect It.
Hold your poppet in both hands. Close your eyes. Visualize a glowing thread linking it to the person it represents. Say something simple like:
“With this thread of energy, I connect thee. May your spirit walk with this poppet, as I will it to be.”
How to Use Your Poppet in Spellwork
For Love
When using a poppet for love, the key is tenderness and consistency. This isn’t just about romance—it can be self-love, healing a friendship, or reigniting a long-lost spark. You’ll want to place the poppet somewhere personal and warm, like under your pillow, on your altar, or in a special drawer. Light a pink or red candle nearby and speak loving, clear words over the doll. If you made the poppet for someone else, imagine your bond growing stronger each time you tend to it.
Treat the poppet like it’s sacred. You can write little notes to tuck into its hands, dress it up in charm bracelets, or dab essential oils like rose, vanilla, or jasmine onto its chest. You can even sing to it or place it in moonlight during a full moon for charging. The more you interact with it, the more energy you build. It’s like watering a plant made of love magick—it grows with attention.
This spell works best when it’s rooted in truth. Don’t try to control someone’s will or force a relationship where there’s resistance—that’s not real love, and the poppet will feel it. Instead, focus on what’s possible, what’s ready, and what your heart honestly wants to give and receive. When the work is complete or the bond has blossomed, you can either keep the poppet as a love charm or bury it with rose petals and gratitude.
For Protection
A protection poppet becomes your silent guardian. It works by holding space for safety, peace, and energetic shielding. If the poppet is for you, you can place it somewhere in your home—under your bed, on a bookshelf, tucked in a closet corner. If it’s for someone else, give it a home near your front door or window to watch over the space they pass through. You can also carry it in your bag for on-the-go shielding or keep it near your car keys or travel items.
Anoint the poppet with oils like frankincense, cedarwood, or rosemary. You might also stitch or draw symbols of protection on it—like the evil eye, pentacle, rune Algiz, or a small cross. Wrap the poppet in white or black thread to bind it with protective energy, or surround it with herbs like basil, bay leaf, mugwort, or garlic skin. Light a candle beside it and call in your protective spirits, guides, or ancestors to lend their energy.
When you feel unsafe, drained, or targeted by negative energy, hold your poppet and speak to it. Ask it to block the harm and surround you with light. If someone specific is the source of the bad vibes, you can redirect their energy by placing the poppet in a mirror box, burying it near salt, or creating a charm bag around it. Once the danger has passed or the spell has finished its work, you can thank the poppet and respectfully release it—return it to the earth, burn it, or keep it sealed away for emergencies.
For Revenge / Justice
Let’s be honest—revenge magick gets a bad rep, but sometimes, it’s really about justice and protecting your peace. If someone has harmed you, betrayed you, or repeatedly brought you pain, a revenge poppet can help you spiritually release that energy while letting the universe do the rest. The goal isn’t to destroy someone, but to return what they sent and make it stop. It’s a form of energetic balance—not chaos.
Start by creating your poppet with clear, focused energy. Add thorns, ashes, black pepper, or vinegar-dipped cloths inside. Write down what happened, how it made you feel, and what you want the universe to do about it (return the pain, block them from harming others, reveal their truth, etc.). You can bind the poppet’s arms and legs, place it in a jar with reflective items like mirrors or foil, or stick it with pins—but only with purpose. Never act from raw rage. Breathe first. You’re here for resolution, not destruction.
Set boundaries with your poppet. You might burn it under the dark moon, bury it at a crossroads, or toss it into moving water to wash it all away. Speak your truth aloud. Name the hurt. Then, release it. Justice magick is most powerful when you walk away feeling lighter, clearer, and no longer bound to the person who hurt you. When the poppet is gone, it takes the weight with it—and that’s the real power of revenge done right.
Caring for Your Poppet
Poppets don’t last forever, and that’s okay. Some are meant to stay for years, while others do their job quickly and are released. You’ll know when it’s time.
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Keep it somewhere sacred and safe.
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Feed it with offerings, oils, candles, or words.
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If it’s no longer needed, bury it, burn it, or return it to nature with thanks.
Always close your work with gratitude and grounding.
Your Little Doll of Power
Poppet magick is beautifully human. It’s handmade, imperfect, full of hope, and packed with purpose. Whether you’re stitching for love, shielding someone’s spirit, or drawing a boundary the world can’t ignore—your poppet becomes your voice, your heart, and your magickal will, all stitched into one.
Trust your instincts. Let the materials speak to you. And remember—every knot, thread, herb, and whisper you place inside your poppet is a promise that your magick is alive, real, and ready to help. Blessed be, little witch. ??
