Buying Voodoo Dolls on eBay       

by Voodoo Mama

Let's face it, as the most popular symbol of a largely misunderstood religion, Voodoo dolls have endured a bad rap. The media have conjured up negative images of Voodoo that incorporates satanic evil-doers, bloody sacrifices, and ugly, pin-sticking dolls used for hexing your neighbor. On the contrary authentic Voodoo dolls have many personalities, a lot of character, and multiple uses that are both positive and practical. The purpose of this guide is to provide the consumer with general information about New Orleans style Voodoo dolls, guidelines for selection, and finding and buying Voodoo dolls on eBay.

Voodoo Primer

The word Voodoo means spirit of God. Voodoo believers accept the existence of one God, below which are powerful spirits known as loas. These powerful spirits are responsible for the daily matters in life such as love, family, money, happiness, wealth and revenge. Offerings are made to the appropriate loa to ensure success in these areas, and ancestors are consulted for guidance and protection. The primary goal of Voodoo is the healing of relationships between the individual and self, others, and God.

There is no one way to practice Voodoo. In fact, New Orleans Voodoo is an inclusive religion that embraces and reflects its multicultural environment. New Orleans Voodoo is unique in that initiation is not required to be a practitioner. Because of the constant influx of cultures over time, New Orleans Voodoo is comprised of Cuban inspired Santeros, mambos and hougans who are Haitian initiates, others who follow the Obean rootwork of  Belize, Bahamas, and Dominican Republic, others who follow the Yoruban tradition of Nigeria, those in the spiritualist churches, and still others influenced by Native American traditions.

Guidelines for Selection

There are a few things that can be kept in mind when selecting a Voodoo doll for purchase. The most important things to remember are: 

• Pick a doll that you really like. Whether you are attracted to the doll, appreciate the art form, or a combination of the two, make sure it speaks to you.
• Next, consider what it is made out. If made of elements indigenous to the region from which it originates, then you are looking at one sign of authenticity. If it has plastic arms and legs, for example, then you are probably looking at an imported, mass produced doll.
• Third, ask the following questions: what does the doll represent? Is it a loa? A general purpose doll? What do you need it for? A collection? Personal use?
• And, who made the doll? Do you want one that has been blessed? An authentic New Orleans Voodoo doll will be created by a practitioner of the healing arts. Sometimes they are created by artists who are not practitioners; which is not necessarily a bad thing, as there are many talented mystical artists. It really depends on what you want the doll to do for you - it is a matter of preference.
• Finally, how much do you want to spend? High quality Voodoo dolls will start at about $35.00 and upwards to several hundred dollars. The more talented the artist, and well -known the practitioner, the more they will cost. This is why buying on eBay can be a great experience because you can often find these same dolls starting at $9.99.