Make Your Own Intention Doll: Workshop for Healing, Protection & Self-Care

Join us at Wild Willow Farm, with facilitator Amanda Calkins from Wild Willow Herbals, for a deeply meaningful workshop that reimagines the ancient practice of doll-making as a sacred art of self-care, healing, and empowerment.

While popular culture has long misrepresented the “voodoo doll” as a tool for harm, the true roots of these sacred objects are far more beautiful. Across cultures—from Haitian Vodou to Native American traditions—dolls have been crafted as conduits for love, protection, prayer, and spiritual growth. In this gathering, we will honor these traditions by creating our own intention dolls—symbols of care for ourselves, our loved ones, and our wider community.

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Voodoo Dolls for Healing & Protection

• A conduit for positive energy – Dolls can be infused with protective and healing energy for a person, place, or situation.

• Symbolic representations – Serving as tangible representations of loved ones or intentions, they help focus energy toward healing and well-being.
• Rituals for well-being – Used in blessings and ceremonies, dolls can encourage recovery, ward off negative influences, and foster emotional and spiritual balance.

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Dolls & Positive Intentions

• Pin color symbolism – White for positive energy, green for prosperity, red for passion, yellow for joy, and more.

• Empowerment, not malevolence – These practices center on personal growth and spiritual empowerment, not harm.
• Personal transformation – The act of crafting and blessing a doll becomes a ritual of self-reflection, healing, and manifestation.

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Cornhusk Dolls & Native American Tribes

We will also honor the tradition of cornhusk dolls, created by Native American tribes for children and ceremonial use.

• Cornhusk dolls often carried teachings about humility, community, and connection to the earth.

• Crafted from the gifts of the harvest, they symbolized the relationship between humans, nature, and spirit.
• Like intention dolls, cornhusk dolls are reminders of how sacred objects can hold stories, prayers, and values passed down through generations.

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Cultural Context

• Beyond popular myths – Media portrayals of “voodoo dolls” have overshadowed their true purpose as sacred tools of love and healing.

• Respect for tradition – In this workshop, we honor the heritage and spiritual significance of doll-making across cultures.
• Approaching with reverence – This is not a craft to be taken lightly; it requires mindfulness, respect, and intention.

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Workshop Experience

Together, we will:

• Learn about the rich history of dolls in Vodou, Native American, and folk traditions.

• Set personal intentions for healing, protection, or self-care.
• Craft our own muslin or cornhusk dolls, filling them with herbs, symbols, and love.
• Close in a circle ceremony, blessing our creations as tools of empowerment.

This is a chance to reclaim the sacred story of the doll—as a vessel of care, healing, and honoring. You will leave with not only your own handmade intention doll but also new rituals for weaving self-care, protection, and love into your daily life.

Also check out other Workshops in Franklin, Arts events in Franklin.