The math curse is a phenomenon that affects many students and individuals who struggle with mathematics. It is a feeling of being overwhelmed, anxious, and frustrated when faced with math problems or concepts. For some people, the math curse begins early on in their education. They may struggle to understand basic math operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As they progress to more advanced concepts like algebra, geometry, and calculus, the curse becomes even more pronounced. The math curse can have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem and academic performance.
Traditional voodoo doll
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One of the most popularized and misunderstood tools associated with New Orleans Voodoo is. the Voodoo Doll. The pins are actually used to concentrate energy on a certain area of the human body, mind or Spirit - normally to heal and bless, not hurt the individual represented by the doll. In fact, all of Voodoo Authentica of New Orleans’ Dolls are handmade & blessed by local New Orleans Artists, Spiritualists, Healers and Practitioners who put only positive energy into their creation.
New Orleans Voodoo Doll A-1
$20
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These traditional New Orleans Voodoo Dolls are general purpose, and can be used to focus energy on almost every wish and desire. To use them, simply attach a representation of the wish, desire or goal that you have. The white pin is used to attract positive influences, and the black pin is used to repel negativity, bad habits and things that you don't want in your life. You may also attach a personal effect, such as a lock of hair, a piece of clothing or a sample of handwriting. This helps to strengthen the connection to an individual's energy.
These Dolls come in an assortment of patterns, colors and fabrics - no two are exactly alike!
Size: Approximately 5 " x 9" x 1.5 "
Voodoo Authentica ™ of New Orleans
612 rue Dumaine, French Quarter
New Orleans, La. 70116
Shop Hours: Open 7 days a week from 11AM to 7PM
Tel: 504.522.2111 • Email: [email protected]
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The Truth Behind Voodoo Dolls
You can take the girl out of New Orleans, but you can’t take New Orleans out of the girl. Such is the case with The Stockade’s innkeeper Janice DeLerno, who has brought the culture and artifacts of her hometown back to Baton Rouge. Around the Stockade Bed and Breakfast, visitors can find a wide variety of artwork and artifacts from New Orleans — including a small collection of authentic voodoo dolls.
While many tourists mistakenly believe that Voodoo is linked to satanic rituals or black magic, this is not true. Voodoo began when Catholic plantation owners forced their slaves to practice the Catholic faith. Although the slaves took up Catholicism, they also found ways to maintain their traditional African religions. Voodoo is a spiritual practice that has its roots in these traditional African religions, and it is a complex three-tiered spiritual system based on God, spirits, and ancestors.
The term “gris-gris” refers to both the objects used in Voodoo and the magic they provoke. The Voodoo doll is a form of “gris-gris,” a way of invoking the spirits to act in a certain way.
While Voodoo dolls are often portrayed in movies as being a way to harm or manipulate another person, they are more like a representation of another person that is used to make an appeal to the Voodoo spirits. To link the doll to the person it is meant to represent, hair or other personal effects is pinned to the doll using a straight pin or a thorn.
Other techniques used to strengthen the power of the doll include attaching rose petals (for love), garlic or clover (for luck), or placing it between blue and white candles (for healing). Most importantly, the doll must remain hidden — otherwise, the person it is modeled after can take measures to undo its power!
Traditional voodoo doll
Boy, did you piss me off today. So while you weren’t looking, i took a piece of your hair/clothing/belonging, went home and i am now sticking pins in it. You, of course, are having sudden unexplained pains in certain areas of your body.
This is the popular image of Voodoo Dolls. However, the use of such dolls not only for Voudon, but also across multiple cultures and history is much more varied. They are also used for healing, protection, love spells and spiritual guidance.The dolls are used as messengers to the spirit world. To accomplish this they are nailed to a tree in a graveyard with a message to the world beyond. .
As with any form of Magick, the assumption is always that symbolic actions performed with intent can have an effect in wider or spiritual realms and cause changes beyond the simple act itself. Thus the doll is not just a doll. They are made to have an empowerment potential which is activated when a piece of cloth, hair, rope, tack, etc is attached to it which can effect people or events.
So where so these dolls come from?
Voodoo dolls as we know them today are actually the combination of two sources: the Western African practice of Bocio and the european Poppet.
The European Poppet.
It is from the European Poppet that we get the pin sticking stereotype. The european Poppet uses what is called ‘sympathetic magic’. Whatever happens to the doll happens in the real world. Hence the pin sticking.
European folk magic has used the poppet since before Europe, actually. It traces back to Egypt. In 1100 BCE, the many enemies of Pharaoh Ramses III of Egypt (which included the women of his harem and a treasury official) used wax images of him to bring about his death.
The poppet later pops up with great zest in Greek culture. Called kolossoi, they were not only used for sympathetic magic (i.e. pin sticking) but to constrain ghosts, troublesome spirits, and even gods. They could also bind lovers together. Most anything you think about when you think about Voodoo dolls the Greeks were all about. The Tragedy writer Theocritus writes about burning and melting wax poppets to achieve love spells. (poppet candle magic! What didn’t the Greeks do? Geometry, philosophy, poppets and butt sex. Damn, they could party.)
They made their way into folk magic in europe. From there they branched off. Much like Tarot branches into both an esoteric art and playing cards, poppets exist as not only folk magic, but children’s dolls and then theater as they evolved into the modern day puppet. I would note that puppets as theatrical devices trace back to 1000BC in India and China. Never the less, the word puppet comes from poppet and the two traditions evolve and intersect in tangent with one another.
The influence of the European poppet on the Voodoo doll is greater than people realize, who assume it is purely an African invention popularized by slaves brought to the New World. The slaves did bring their own version which differs in some subtle but profound ways: bocio.
The African Bocio.
The slaves torn from Africa brought with them their own fetishes (and by fetish, i of course mean the traditional defintion of “the attribution of religious or mystical qualities to inanimate objects”) Bocio.
Bocio were designed more as objects that take on animation and become mediators to the spirit world. They could communicate with ancestors, gods and if necessary, through that intereaction the ancestors or dieties could bring some type of help, supplication or protection to the doll’s sender, influencing events both positively and negatively. The point of difference is that traditionally, the doll itself is not the power nor does it represent a real person. It is merely a messenger to those with the power to affect change. Eventually the doll did came to be able to store, harness and direct the owner’s own spiritual power therebye containing spiritual powers, although it still did not represent another human being.
Sacred materials like claws, feathers and animal skulls are bound to the surface of a wooden figure with cord or cloth, then encrusted with clay, palm oil or sacrificial blood. The bocio are very striking, very intense and are supposed to be that way.
When the slaves arrived the marriage between european traditions and african traditions resulted, the combinations of which have sparked some of the greatest creative artistic explosions in history. (we could talk only about music for days). The poppet and bocio merged in varying degrees and became the Voodoo Doll that we think of today.. There are of course a myriad of Voodoun traditions, from Louisiana to Haitian, who practice their own variations when using Voudon dolls. Aditionally, Poppets themselves have also evolved and enjoyed a resurgence in modern evolutions of European magic, with Wicca being the most well known.
The math curse can have a negative impact on a person's self-esteem and academic performance. Students who believe that they are "bad at math" may avoid taking math courses or pursuing careers that require a strong math background. This can limit their opportunities and potential for success in various fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The math curse is not limited to students. Many adults also experience anxiety when faced with math-related tasks, such as managing finances, calculating measurements, or understanding statistical data. This can create barriers in their personal and professional lives, affecting their ability to make informed decisions or solve problems efficiently. While the math curse can feel overwhelming, it is important to remember that it can be overcome. Seeking help from teachers, tutors, or math resources can provide the guidance and support needed to improve math skills and confidence. Developing a growth mindset and practicing regularly can also help to break the curse and develop a more positive attitude towards math. Ultimately, it is essential to understand that the math curse is not a reflection of intelligence or worth. With perseverance and the right support, anyone can conquer their math curse and discover the beauty and usefulness of mathematics in their everyday lives..
Reviews for "The Math Behind Cryptography: Exploring the Science of Codes"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I found "The Math Curse" to be extremely confusing and difficult to follow. The author's attempt to intertwine math concepts with a story fell flat, as it only served to make the book more convoluted. The illustrations were lacking in clarity, making it even more challenging to understand the math concepts being discussed. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a clear and engaging introduction to math.
2. John - 2 stars
As an educator, I had high hopes for "The Math Curse" in terms of its potential to make math more interesting for young readers. However, I was let down by the book's execution. The story line was disjointed and lacked a cohesive narrative flow, making it difficult for students to engage with the math concepts being presented. Additionally, the illustrations did not effectively complement the text, which further hindered comprehension. While I appreciate the intention behind "The Math Curse," it unfortunately did not resonate with me or my students.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I struggled to connect with "The Math Curse" due to its overly complex language and lack of clarity. The book seemed to assume that readers already had a certain level of mathematical knowledge, which left me feeling lost and frustrated. Additionally, the illustrations did not add any value to the story and appeared distracting rather than enhancing the text. Overall, I believe "The Math Curse" missed the mark in terms of accessibility and failed to effectively engage readers, especially those who may be struggling with math concepts.
4. Michael - 3 stars
While "The Math Curse" had an interesting concept, I found the execution to be lacking. The story was confusing, jumping from one idea to another without clear transitions, and I struggled to follow the math concepts being introduced. The illustrations were also underwhelming and did not capture my attention. I think the book had potential, but it needed better organization and clearer explanations to truly engage readers and help them understand math in a more accessible way.