WITCH CHALLENGE - Air Magick
AIR POPPET (not like Air Guitar… which I’m not in tune with)
[Female air elemental from Magicstudio.com AI art]
A Poppet is a small figure (often doll-like) used in folk magic and witchcraft to represent a person, spirit, or force. Poppets get a negative reputation – mostly because of the movies and the Voodoo aspect of them. However, they are quite useful because they give a focus to any spell or working – having something tangible to work and keep a spell is helpful.
There is a wonderful link about them on Spells8 over HERE. Also, a lot of what will be covered was presented in the Pagan Portal’s book “Poppets and Magical Dolls” by Lucya Starza. While Lucya Starza did NOT cover Air Elemental dolls, she did cover important points for any doll and is a good (and easy) read if you want to know more.
The doll I made for this is at the bottom of this post. I made it with a 3D printer and some doll clothes but great dolls can be made with very simple materials. Even sticks found outdoors can be tied into a Poppet. See the Spells8 link for examples.
Essentially, you can use Poppets for most workings. Here is a Poppet I made for protecting my workspace.
She has a name but she doesn’t like me giving it out. She is made from a clothes pin and some scrap cloth (OK… I bought the cloth just for the doll… I’m obsessed sometimes). If I had used cloth that I already had, I would have used less than a dollar’s worth of material.
Naming The Poppet
Naming Poppets is important and the name should refer to what or who the poppet refers. If aimed at yourself, then maybe your name or nickname. If aimed at someone else, then their name or known reference, etc. I will name my Air Poppet “Poof”.
Making a Poppet
To make a Poppet for air elemental energy, we need to craft a doll that channels some of air’s qualities such as: communication; intellect; inspiration; travel freedom; invisibility; swiftness; and the mind. For this one, I’ll aim more towards inspiration and mind and use it while meditating.
Materials
Since the air doesn’t have a tangible image, we need to construct the doll from items that are light and breezy and channel the feeling of air or alignment with the concept of air.
Use light, airy, or flying-associated materials like white, yellow, pale blue or silver fabrics. Use herbs and stuffing like lavender, mint, sage, or light feathers. If you sew the doll, use yellow, white, or gold thread. For extra things to add, try small feathers, bird bones, dandelion fluff, thistledown, clear quartz or amethyst crystals and/or tiny bells. Cotton balls or poly stuffing are handy for stuffing extremities if making a cloth doll. Note that all of these stuffings are not necessary. Use what you feel is appropriate.
Poppet shapes are generally made to represent your subject matter. If you are representing someone with red hair, then red yarn, string, red artificial hair or red cloth is glued on the head. If the subject is intangible, like air, then a general humanoid shape is common. For air, we should use light materials, just like the clothing. Clothes pins, with appropriate ‘hair’ glued on and facial features drawn on with a Sharpie would be fine. Since Air Elemental is our target, then we should use light materials – no heavy and solid woods, stones, metals, or other heavy stuffings. However, a clothes pin would be OK and probably lighter than a cloth doll you have to stuff. Air is usually considered masculine but feminine or androgynous is also OK. For my example here, I chose feminine.
You can make or buy cloth dolls. Here is a YouTube for how to make one.
Buying one is OK but you need to modify it so it is yours. They are available on Etsy, Amazon or on many other websites. I think the YouTube version is the one I would use since it is simple to make and it would be mine. Some of the sellers are a little too proud of their simple dolls ($$).
We have a Poppet and a name, now what?
You will formally give your poppet its name. This will be what you use when saying your spell. It is simple – ground yourself, whisper into your Poppet’s face “I name you Poof” (or whatever name you choose.) Breath lightly into your Poppet’s ‘mouth’ while saying it. Reference the Poppet by name when using it.
Empower your Poppet’
You then need to “wake up” or empower the poppet. Like almost everything in our paths, this can be a bit flexible. It is the intent that counts. One method is: place it outside on a windy day or on a windowsill where the wind can touch it; whisper your intentions into it – compact and even simple intentions are best; invoke the Air Element. For example:
“Poof, this is for you:”
“Spirits of Air, winds that dance,
I call you here to weave and prance,
Fill this poppet, light and free,
With air’s bright energy, so mote it be.”
You can also state a more specific intent such as “With Air’s blessing, may my words flow clear,” or “With Air’s blessing, may inspiration find me,” or “With Air’s blessing, may I travel swiftly and safely.”
I usually make it simple and I don’t try to rhyme. I had to ask chatgpt for the rhyme above. 
Rhyming is not important - Intentions, as always, are the most important. You may also cleanse the Poppet with sage smoke before starting the empowerment and even burn a white or yellow candle while invoking your intentions.
You can now use the Air Elemental Poppet for your intended purpose which could be communication - hold it during difficult conversations or speeches; travel - keep it in your vehicle or suitcase; mental clarity - meditate with it on your altar (which is my purpose).
Important: Always treat a poppet with respect, especially when it carries elemental energy — when you’re finished working with it, thank the Air spirits and release the energy (you can dismantle it and return biodegradable parts to nature).
Here is “Poof”. She has a hollow belly and that is where all the herbs, oils, and crystals go.
