Sympathetic magic is a ritual employing objects and actions which symbolize an event or individual over which supernatural influence is sought. Desired effects are achieved via imitation or making use of associated objects: a practitioner can injure an enemy by sticking pins into an image of him/her, mentioning his/her name in a spell or by burning hair or nail clippings from his/her body. The strength, speed or skill of an animal can be acquired by eating its flesh or using tools made from its skin, horns or bones (1).
- Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, vol.15.