When something’s been stolen, you don’t always have time to wait for justice to find its way. In the world of folk magic, a well-made poppet can do more than stand in for a person—it can bind their actions, stop them in their tracks, and send a clear message: Your thieving days are over. This purple poppet working draws on an old Pennsylvania Dutch remedy preserved in John George Hohman’s Pow Wows; or, Long Lost Friend, with a few additions from the conjure tradition to strengthen its commanding power.
Why Purple?
In folk magic, purple is the color of mastery, authority, and control. It is used when you need to take charge of a situation or assert your will over another’s actions—especially in matters of justice.
Ingredients and Their Purpose
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Purple poppet – The vessel of your intention, used for commanding, domination, and power.
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Fern – Prevents further thieving by blocking ill intent and closing the way to future wrongdoing.
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Dirt dauber nest – Associated with industriousness and precision; in this context, it channels focused energy to hold the thief accountable.
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Tobacco – A commanding botanical long used in Southern conjure to compel compliance and respect.
Preparation
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Sew or craft your purple poppet with intention, focusing on your goal of stopping the thief.
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As you stuff the doll, add each ingredient one at a time, speaking aloud its purpose in the work.
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Name the doll, either with the thief’s actual name or a descriptive phrase such as “the thief who stole…”
The Binding Walk
Pick up your doll and tell it you are taking it for its last walk. Walk around in a slow, steady circle and repeat the following three times:
Oh, Peter, oh Peter, borrow the power from God; what I shall bind with the bands of a Christian hand, shall be bound; all male and female thieves, be they great or small, young or old, shall be spell-bound, by the power of God, and not be able to walk forward or backward until I see them with my eyes, and give them leave with my tongue, except it be that they count for me all the stones that may be between heaven and earth, all rain-drops, all the leaves and all the grasses in the world. This I pray for the repentance of my enemies.
The Closing Prayer
Pray the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer over the poppet. It is believed that if not released from this spell before the sun shines again, the guilty party or parties will die. You can release them by saying one of the following:
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“In the name of St. John, leave.”
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“The words which have bound thee shall give thee free.”
Magical Tip
Keep the poppet in a secure, hidden place until justice is served. Once the matter is resolved, dismantle it respectfully—thanking the materials for their service before disposing of them—unless you wish to release the thief as instructed above. Or you can bury it in a graveyard under the largest tree.
Historical Note: The Long Lost Friend
The Long Lost Friend (1820) by John George Hohman is one of the most famous collections of Pennsylvania Dutch folk remedies, charms, and protective prayers. Rooted in Christian faith yet steeped in pre-Christian European magical tradition, the book was carried like a talisman and consulted for everything from healing livestock to catching thieves. Many of its workings traveled far beyond Pennsylvania, finding their way into African American Hoodoo through cultural exchange in markets, farms, and river ports. This particular charm—originally meant to “fix” a thief until caught—was easily adapted into poppet magic by conjure workers, merging Old World folk Christianity with the African-derived practice of spirit-linked dolls.
