What if Voodoo Isn’t The Story We Were Told?

Hi there,

Lately, I’ve been deep in the research for a scandalous historical romance set in 1763 St. Augustine.

And something unexpected keeps happening.

I’ll start with what feels like a small, almost throwaway question—
and it opens into something much larger.

This week, it was “voodoo dolls.”

You’ve probably heard of them. Most of us have.
There’s a very specific image that comes to mind.

But when I went looking for where that idea actually comes from…
it didn’t lead where I expected.

Instead, I found a tangle of:

– European folklore and witch trial hysteria
– African spiritual traditions centered on connection and community
– And later, Hollywood interpretations that reshaped the story entirely

It wasn’t just about objects or practices.

It was about how narratives form—
how they travel,
how they change,
and how easily they can be misunderstood… or repurposed.

In many ways, this is the same lens I’ve always brought to astrology—
not as something fixed or fated, but as a language of movement.
A way of noticing where energy wants to go… and choosing to move with it.

And right now, there’s a lot of energy supporting movement.

Initiation. Desire. Forward motion.

Which feels fitting—because this entire process, for me, has been about following curiosity instead of overriding it.

For years, my work in reputation strategy lived in that same space—
helping people understand how stories about them were being constructed and perceived.

This feels like a continuation of that work.
Just… further back in a time when empires moved people like pieces on a board.

If you’re curious, I recorded a short video walking through what I found and the questions it raised for me.

I’m finding that the most interesting part of writing this novel isn’t just the story I’m telling—

It’s learning to recognize the ones I’ve inherited…
and actually take a closer look.

That's where it's getting so FUN!

And, um, do you have any stories about poppets or voodoo dolls? I'd love to hear them!!

Warmly,
Lori