Do they really work?

wanga dolls are a bit iffy — there's no real tradition behind them, and I only know of one website that sells them: a commercial site that also sells spells and magical supplies with bizarre characteristics, like the "Valentine's Day Money Spell."

The dolls themselves are very traditional and I've heard many people report their effectiveness. For example, I knew a girl who was cursed by someone hiding a tiny one in the lining of her purse — it was years before she identified the problem.

Doll Babies, or "Voodoo Dolls" as they are more commonly called, have a variety of magical uses. Purposewise, they are used as a stand-in for an actual person on whom a spell is being worked, and are not themselves inherently used for evil. They are generally used in a symbolic way that is representative of the sort of effect the practitioner wishes to produce upon their human target. In previous times, they were a virtual necessity for any sort of influencing or commanding spells; however, the advent of photography has put them somewhat on the decline, since photographs are typically cheaper and easier to use. The doll baby still holds a certain place in magic, however; for it is a time-tested and traditional working of the oldest sort. A curse is known from Ancient Egypt in which practitioners would make up such a doll, and after covering it in magical writings it would be wrapped up and thrown into a fire. The ashes would be mixed with dung, and it would then be burnt a second time.