Though the word "voodoo" in modern day usage has become associated with black magic and cult mysticism, as personified by the conception of voodoo dolls as a torture medium, Voodoo actually refers to a series of belief systems and spiritual rituals originating from West Africa. As a faith system, Voodoo is deeply spiritual and metaphysical, and encompasses such aspects as tribal relationships, healing, and deities. The phenomenon of voodoo dolls and pin-sticking emerged as a mixture of European and African folk magic traditions practiced by small sub-sects, which then became sensationalized in popular imagination.