Idea Post #3: Gris-Gris

"Gris-Gris: either an object or an incantation used to make magic, probably from the Mande language."

Gris-Gris." The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. http://www.voodoomuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33.

"The practice of sticking pins in dolls has history in folk magic, but its exact origins are unclear. How it became known as a method of cursing an individual by some followers of what has come to be called New Orleans Voodoo...The practice became closely associated with the Vodou religions in the public mind through the vehicle of horror movies and popular novels."

Haitian Vodou." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_doll#Myths_and_misconceptions.

Anno Bib:

Gris-Gris." The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. http://www.voodoomuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33.

As I was researching voodoo dolls I found that they aren't really a common practice for people who follow the Voodoo religion. The dolls are more of a popular culture invention. Voodoo does use a practice called Gris-Gris that is where the idea comes from however. Gris Gris is an amulet that a wearer creates and sometimes can take a form of the person or a likeness of someone else. The amulet is worn daily and has different properties based on the magic that it is being called upon to use. There can be different stones or other objects that have been blessed that are placed in the amulet. Gris-Gris is also the term for the magic spells and incantations that are preformed. I was disappointed to learn about voodoo dolls being mostly a made-up situation.

Relation to my work:

With each of my characters that I am creating, I want there to be a cherished feel to them. Paul wants me to carry them around and have them wear and tear as I "love" them. People who practice Voodoo and Gris-Gris carry their amulet around each day. Even in contemporary societies in Sengal use Gris-Gris as a form of birth control. There are many uses of Gris-Gris (protection, love potion, good luck, uncrossing a hex etc) but the wearer must be faithful to its amulet and wear it everyday for the spell to carry out.

note: it was very hard trying to find information on voodoo dolls. There aren't any books at the library and most websites looks like this: http://www.calastrology.com/grisgris.html