Sympathetic magic

Sympathetic magic is a type of magic which uses objects bearing some superficial resemblance to a target in order to act as a taglock. Performing some action on the object is intended to produce a similar action in the target. A popular example is voodoo dolls, dolls made in the likeness of a person which can be used to hurt them by sticking pins in their bodies, causing some kind of injury or disease to that area.

Despite the dark implications of the most popular example, sympathetic magic is also commonly used in healing applications, for example ritualistically performing surgery on a doll to produce the effects of a surgery on the target without ever having to actually perform it.

See also

• Wicca
• Voodoo