The combination of his elements, from the metallic fabrics, beading, and mask delighted me and the details on his bag became the finishing touch to the Medicine Man. Not long after making him available on Etsy, he flew into the gentle hands of a wonderful and energetic massage therapist, Melissa. I think she detected the powerful juju in that Medicine Bag! I hope you can feel some of that healing juju, too.
I'm sitting in the local Starbucks sipping an extra-hot soy sugar-free mocha and savoring the pillow of whip cream. It's decadence reminds me of a wonderful new spirit who recently manifested, "The Medicine Man". One of the most luscious elements of this healer is his medicine bag. I hadn't planned on a bag (though what's a Medicine Man without a Medicine Bag?) so as it manifested I simply enjoyed the ride. The beading part of embellishing a doll can sometimes be the most difficult part for me because there is such a wonderful selection of beads, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces I've collected over the past few decades to choose from. I started beading in AK inspired by an elaborately beaded bracelet I couldn't resist gifting myself with. The beading bug hit me again here in Bellingham, WA in my knitting phase where I spied a knitted, beaded bracelet at the checkout stand. They happened to be offering a class and, of course, as with all my artistic endeavors (clay, watercolors, acrylics, knitting, songwriting) I dove in. So began a knitting frenzy resulting in many sparkling bracelets to gift to my friends and loved ones. It turned out to be a wonderful skill for embellishing Spirit Dolls. Every once in a while, something calls for a tiny knitted beaded belt on a doll, like Gypsy Lee. The beads need not match or be in the same color family. In fact, the more variety the better the outcome. My default mode is to have everything match both with my beading and costumes so my fight comes in allowing a flow rather than over-thinking which beads I choose. Oftentimes, I fall back and pick out an earring with an interesting configuration to hang off of a belt or wrap around a body because all the work's been done. More and more, however, I've been taking apart those earrings and bracelets and using only parts of them. This is what happened with this Medicine bag. I started with a found crocheted, beaded bracelet. I hung the whole of it off of his hand but it just didn't feel right. So I stripped down the beads from the many strands of string and started from scratch, painting the bag white, drenching it in tiny sparkling glitter and then re-beading some of the threads. Since I couldn't find a needle that fit, I switched over to beading wire which easily hung off of the bag. Bigger, showier beads were called for at the bottom and his raiment contained a rainbow of colors so I chose whichever ones ended up between my fingers. Turquoise to represent the earth, pearls to represent the sea, white for purity and many others made out of ivory, coral and glass which held meaning to me. Anther aspect of the Medicine Man beside his belt that means a lot to me is his golden mask--the gold leaf is over 40 years old, given to me by mom who used it to gild her pottery. The mask/cab itself is one of the first 5 I made out of terracotta clay--a medium I later set aside for polymer clay because polymer can be re-worked over and over. I used to think this face/mask was a crude attempt and not one of my greater accomplishments because it had so many flaws but now I realize that those flaws contain so much character and expression.
The combination of his elements, from the metallic fabrics, beading, and mask delighted me and the details on his bag became the finishing touch to the Medicine Man. Not long after making him available on Etsy, he flew into the gentle hands of a wonderful and energetic massage therapist, Melissa. I think she detected the powerful juju in that Medicine Bag! I hope you can feel some of that healing juju, too.
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It's been a long, harsh winter with many challenges and obstacles to creating art. But...at long last, there's been a break in the clouds, buds on the trees and a fresh sense of hope in the air. A new spirit was born this month: Esperanza aka Old Bones or She Who Greets You Behind the Veil. Her gentle face has been gazing at me all winter long, waiting for a body. A clear image of her hair manifested in the deep of winter--it had to stick straight out from her head--lots of virgin wool was called for. After finishing her hair, though, there she sat waiting patiently, day after day, month after month. After much despair and accompanying the spring sunshine, I finally heard her call and she flew into being. As in songwriting, on a lucky day, her birth was fast and furious as, relatively speaking, she didn't take weeks to finish but only about a week and a half.
November 2015 Featured Fellow Artist When I hold an egg a picture starts to form in my mind. Then I start to look for all the right pieces so that I can share what's in my head with everyone else. Debbie Schneider Exquisite is the perfect adjective to describe the art dolls of Debbie Schneider who has taken her natural talent for portraits and transformed them into some of the most unusual dolls I've come across. I'd never heard of using an ostrich egg in the crafting of a doll, hence my fascination with these little treasures! I delved into the world of ostrich eggs researching the eggs, ostrich egg carving and I even broke down and bought an ostrich egg! What will I do with it? Who knows--right now it's just a pretty fascinating piece of nature. Debbie Schneider feels the same way and she's taken her fascination to new heights --here's a bit of her journey with ostrich eggs and doll-making in her own words. "I'll start with a bit of info about me. I have my own art business teaching art to kids since 2002 and I have also been doing pencil portraits. I enjoy both of these things but I don't believe they are my passion. (Debbie Schneider Art on FB) I started looking for something different. A year ago I was at the Evergreen State Fair and saw these ladies working and creating with eggs. I was fascinated! I got some info from them. It took almost a year for my schedule to open up and I made it to an egg club meeting. At the club there was a lady selling ostrich eggs so I bought one because the eggs themselves are amazing :) They remind me of glass or porcelain. I took it home, set it on a shelf and I would look at , hold it, ponder it. The next month I went back to the egg club and they were talking about Steampunk. I love Steampunk :) There was a photo there of a small egg with a small porcelain lady bust on it made up like a Steampunk doll." "As soon as I got home I knew exactly what the ostrich egg was going to be: a large Steampunk Lady. I went out looking for just the right doll, fabric, charms etc. ... and she came to life! When she was done she looked exactly like what I had pictured in my head." "Why ostrich eggs? I guess because they speak to me ;) I made 2 dolls and took them to the next egg club meeting and everyone there really liked them and they were so positive and encouraging that they convinced me to make more and have a table at the June egg show to show and sell them." "I went home and made 14 more. I had a table at the egg show and sold 13 of the 16 and also got 2 commissions. I couldn't believe it! At the show lots of the ladies convinced me to make a "Special Doll" and enter her in the fair. So I made a lady walking a peacock and entered her in the "Egg" category and, also, I made a steampunk lady and entered her in the "Steampunk" category. They both won first place! I was very surprised and excited about this." From Start to Finish... "I really love making these dolls. I love how they take on personalities of their own as they come to life. I think I have found my passion!" Thanks so much, Debbie, for sharing a bit or your passion with us! You can collect Debbie's dolls at her store Eggcentric on Etsy.com AND at the following Shows November 2015: Sat. 7th - 9613 20th St. SE, Lake Stevens, WA Sat. 14th - 25800 164th Ave SE, Covington, WA 98042 Sat. & Sun. 21th & 22nd - Holiday Inn, Everett, WA Become a fan on Facebook at "EggCentric Dolls" October 2015 Featured Fellow Artist Robin Alice, of Robin Alice Creations on Etsy.com, is a natural empath, artist, and dancer who displays her creativity in countless ways. A dance major in college, she darted and twirled her way onstage for many soul-satisfying years. In her mid-20's, though, an unexpected challenge arose with the onset of mental illness, later compounded by breast cancer in 2010. A daily battle to survive has become the impetus for her detailed, gorgeous bead creations, necklaces, totem bags, earrings and dolls. Her love of movement and freedom poured into each piece, some taking hundreds of hours, some taking years. Her reputation, as both an accomplished bead and Goddess Doll artist, has spread with her growing body of art and is enjoyed by collectors around the world. Explorations into Primitive dolls, Spirit Dolls, and Goddess Dolls all manifest her love of nature, movement and her strong connection to the creative power of life itself. She continues to serve as a mentor and source of inspiration in my life and art and I am honored to share a little of her spirit with you. What follows is a love letter which offers a fascinating glimpse into her unique universe from Robin to you. "If we look at the world with a love of life, the world will reveal its beauty to us." The Gathering "I have always felt out of step, literally stumbling through my life. I've never fit in and because of that I've found solace in places many dare not tread. My grandma, mom, sister and myself all have special gifts we were born with. The true aspect manifests for me in how we utilize these gifts and express these treasures."
Children are great and true friends to this world, they bring grace, tranquility and the joy of discovery. Because you see, it is all within us, not lounging on the outside but waiting deep within our atoms in our own internal universe." "I began to dance at age four. I couldn't live without it. I could express treasures and discoveries I never dreamed. I think one small story will help explain my nature and tenacity to create through dance my will to live and the foundation for my life and creativity. At age five in a dance recital, I found myself in the front line, my glorious coral tutu swirling in time with all the dancers. Then...I fell. As I hit the floor, it felt as if a sledge hammer knocked the wind out of me. Everything happened in a split second while at the same time in a slow motion cocoon. As I looked out in the audience, everyone was laughing uproariously.
We are all given such opportunities as gifts--what makes the difference is if we can recognize these moments as such and incorporate them into our daily lives." "Dolls are as old as time itself. The gathering of leaves, sticks and tanned hides made wonderful dolls for little girls & boys, thousands of years ago. Many dolls were used in rituals and ceremonies. The Goddess doll originates not only from voodoo dolls, but from the Ancients and their use of dolls in ceremonies. "I love the timeless, tender feel of the dolls I make. I channel a lot of my spirit into these dolls, resulting in very powerful and protective energies. I intuitively let the work flow through me, rather than me guiding the doll. My hands are only the instrument. The creation of my work with dolls has enabled me to heal and assist in healing others. It's my way of saying, "I love You" to the world." "To start, I gather some fabric, fibers, buttons, beads, threads and just surrender to the doll. Much of the time as I shift fabric, wrap yarn and embellish I don't know where I'm going. In dance terminology, this is a "trance dance" between the doll and myself. I took a dance class from a master once and I will never forget how the nature of the ingredients that exist in all life comes through, and flows through and, oftentimes, knocks hard on our door to get our attention. Everyone is a great creator. One does not have to be a dancer, poet, painter etc. in order to be a creative person." "All beings thrive in this creative force. Many religions have a name for it. I practice Nichiren Buddhism and it is referred to as 'the Mystic Law of Cause-and-Effect' or "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo". I think of it as the Divine Force." "Each person has their own way of divining this life force called creativity. It manifests in how you live your life. Each moment is a creative force that connects us to each other and everything else in the universe and can manifest in both wonder and great suffering. The name we call this force is our own and cannot be taken away by another soul." I encourage all who may read this little diary to take a walk and breath in the wonderful fresh air. Pay attention to your footsteps with each movement. Notice the sounds and the sights of the gatherings of little creatures and how they, too, dance to their own little rhythms. Be aware of the breath of the wind, the heat from the sun and maybe, just maybe, you will hear the whisper of all the guardians who walk with you and every person, who dances side-by-side with us and all of creation." Love, Robin Alice Thank you so much, Robin Alice! As always, I'm fascinated by your generous and warm-hearted spirit, abundant wisdom and awe-inspiring, diverse body art!
You can find more of Robin Alice's dolls and jewels at her Etsy store, Robin Alice Creations. Follow her art and inspiration on Pinterest. Become a fan on facebook and drink in more of her process on her wonderful blog. September 2015 Featured Fellow Artist “Everything as it moves now and then, here and there, makes stops. A bird as it flies stops in one place to make its nest and in another place to rest from its flight. A man when he goes forth stops when he wills. So the god has stopped. The sun, which is so bright and beautiful is one place where he has stopped. The moon, the stars, the wind he has been with. The trees, the animals, are all where he has stopped, and the Indian thinks of these places and sends his prayers to reach where the god has stopped and to win health and blessing.” - I first encountered Story Kaiora through her adorable Goddess Dolls on Etsy.com in her shop "Spirit Fusions". She features nature goddess dolls, as well as, miniature sculpting feats of fairy gardens, magic doors and wiccan charms , all radiating her beautiful spirit of mystery and wonder. Her unusual name has a lovely history detailed on her blog, representing both the freedom and magic in her life and art. What follows is a short article she submitted for her featured post. I hope you enjoy getting to know Story as much as I did! "My art features nature prominently, including everything from the four elements to wildlife to plants and rocks. But more than just trying to depict natural things, I strive to infuse my work with stories. I like to give my dolls a slightly open mouth – like they are about to speak, about to bring forth their own story. I also make spirit dolls that convey a relationship to nature through charms (like crystals or tree branches or feathers) that I place around them." "My love of stories probably fuels my interest in sculpting faces more than doll bodies. Faces are so full of emotion, mystery, and dreams. I also love the challenge it takes to sculpt an interesting face. I am by no means a master at this, I’ve only just begun and I can see an amateur quality in my work. But the learning curve has been fulfilling in itself. I look back on photos of my very first attempts and chuckle a little, but I’m enjoying the journey of trying new techniques and adding new details." "Fun fact: I am writing this with a tiny baby bunny tucked in a sling beneath my breasts. This does, believe it or not, relate to my art! I make dolls and other art pieces that I refer to as “spirit-sent”, meaning inspired by my spirituality. My spirituality has some elements of shamanism, but follows no religion and is an ever-evolving work in progress based on what I observe in nature and the universe. My main belief is that the world and all existence are made up of stories. I’ve since taken on “Story” as my chosen name. " "Another reason I love dolls is because I believe I am full of multiple spirits. I like to make dolls that represent these individual spirits. They are different aspects of my personality. My main self, Story, is matched by another personality named Kai, who is a bit more outgoing and loud. I have a herd of child-parts who are fun-loving and carefree: Bobby, Kassie, and Woo top that list. I have parts named Tipi and Pomona who are very spiritual; a part named Shannon who loves to sing, and a part named Robert who is a caretaker and a great father figure. My parts work together like a family and are all present in my daily life".
"For me, starting a new doll is all about deciding their individual story. Who is this spirit? What aspects of nature are they aligned to? What is their personality? Sometimes I set out to make a specific personality, but other times I free-sculpt and let the emerging face speak to me."
I'm constantly inspired by other artists, particularly doll artists, who drive me to continue evolving in techniques and expression. After admiring Debra Bernier's driftwood sculptures I decided to try my hand at it. "She Who Emerges", my first attempt to somehow marry driftwood and clay brought a refreshing break from fabrics, buttons and bows. I really enjoyed sculpting more body parts other than a face and I think she turned out pretty cute. I noticed a few areas that needed work, like her hands, arms, eyes...well, basically, everything but I still love her despite her flaws! For my second attempt, I dove deeper into muscle structure, proportions and trying to capture a bit more realism. As with most creative endeavors, the first time is really an opportunity to prove to oneself that I could indeed 'do' the work and come up with something close to what I was trying to capture. I really enjoyed teasing her out of the driftwood, working with the shape of the wood as inspiration and listening to the whispers of the spirit ready to be captured. I completed the sculpture but she didn't feel complete and so I started work on resolving those things that bothered me. Her lovely hair, made out of twine, painstakingly separate, attached and braided, brought me one step closer. Still, there was room for something else, the crowning touch. I tried all sorts of things, sparkling beads, interesting buttons, nothing seemed to work. Then I tried this preserved moss which 'fit' her perfectly. The bottom 'fan' is a piece of dried moss that my husband had carefully packed back home from a hike in the mountains. Finding just the right base that would be heavy enough and match with the other piece took a little time. Lastly, I shaved a bit of the clay, touching up parts of the wood with acylic paint and sealer. At last! She felt finished. She tried on a few names like, "The Swimmer", "She Who Dives", "The Beauty of the Dive", until finally settling on, "The Dive". I think of her more as an art sculpture than a spirit doll but there is so much spirit in her!
I'm working on a third driftwood sculpture right now, stalled out on the ears and debating whether she needs a wire armature to keep her head and arms positioned correctly. This work requires more planning and a precise rendering but I've been discovering more artists, like Jeanne Fry, who emphasize more stylistic sculptures and, hopefully, with practice, I'll be able to bring my own style out, pushing my skills and continuing my creative evolution. Fellow Featured Artist: August 2015"Don't ever let anyone tell you that magic doesn't exist, for it is always alive in your heart". Jeanne Fry, Contemporary Folk and Visionary Artist I first encountered Jeanne Fry's Spirit Dolls through fellow artist, Robin Alice, who eagerly shared a doll made by Jeanne with a gourd as its foundation. This encounter spurred me to spend time researching and discovering one of the most talented and prolific 'visionary' artists of today. Of course, I fell in love with her gorgeous and moving Spirit Dolls which she aptly calls, "Wisdom Keepers," that explore modalities in Cloth & Clay, Gourd & Clay, Painted Muslin, or All Clay sculptures. Her Wisdom Keepers Art Dolls Blog is a veritable treasure trove of inspiration, techniques and creativity that I've been feasting on for weeks. Her other artistic endeavors include Original Paintings in acrylics and watercolors, Gourd Art, Sculpting, Mixed Media, and Assemblage AND, to add to all that creativity, she also works in tandem with her husband John at Conscious Art Studios. With that impressive and, quite frankly, daunting biography, I didn't know whether she'd return my call or not. However, when I contacted her through Etsy, she immediately wrote me back and despite a very hectic schedule agreed to be featured and asked what I needed. I was going to conduct an interview but after reviewing all of the material she's made available I asked if I could simply use some quotes and images. I'm honored to present excerpts from her blog along with examples of her Wisdom Keeper Art Dolls. "Some people may wonder what a Visionary Artist is...A visionary artist is often a self-taught artist who creates by connecting with and expressing through their most intuitive self in order to portray a wider awareness and perception of life itself. This is often done within a spiritual or mystical theme. For me, this way of creating is my passion, like the air that I breathe."
"As an artist, I delve into many forms of art and technique, depending on where the source of my inspiration comes from. But the creation of my Art Dolls is the most freeing form of art. The inspirations can come from anywhere; they can come from history, ancient culture, a found object, a skein of fabric, a glimpse of a woman and our phases of life. Wherever the inspiration comes from, there is no predestined thought in mind. That raw fire is left to its own devices to become whatever it is meant to become. Sometimes they go in a much different direction than I would have thought...The more diverse they are in the creation, the more complex their artistic value. No matter the materials or techniques used, this creative form is depicting figurative sculptures of our human identity, and can be a part of our history and culture as they have for centuries. My art dolls are called "Wisdom Keeper Art Dolls", and are created as an empowering form of art for women. They come with short stories that focus on reminding us who we are and being supportive in our personal growth. They are meant to bond us as women and celebrate our diversity."
"When I need to spend time on my own soul healing, creating Art Dolls is where I turn my energy. In turn I always hope that the beautiful expressive feelings they bring me, are gifted to their collector." Each of Jeanne Fry's Art Dolls is unique and meaningful, and comes with a snippet of a short story or piece of poetry, original from Jeanne. You can find them in her store on Etsy , at her website under "Jeanne Fry Art" and also at the Conscious Art Studios site.
I want to thank Jeanne for being a never-ending source of inspiration, hope and endless creativity! June 2015 Featured Fellow Artist
Griselda Tello, artist and teacher, has been exhibiting her artwork for over 40 years. With a prolific body of work and generous spirit, she serves as a mentor to myself and many other artists. Visiting Pinterest and other artists' doll sites, you'll find her dolls showcased as examples of what a Spirit Doll remains: little healers with a big mission whose beauty and power touch one's heart. Her signature dolls feature beautifully sculpted faces wrapped in many layers of fabrics and art fibers, often with a little moon cradled in its arms. These small cocoons of love perfectly express her dynamic spirit and appreciation of nature. You'll find here a small sampling of her luscious dolls and paintings which continue to inspire artists and collectors all over the world. I don't pretend to know much about ancient traditions, but they resonate with me and I allow spirit to guide me, making dolls makes me feel good, as simple as that...they make me bloom (using the words of Dr. Estes) When people ask me why do I make art dolls...my answer is always the same...because they keep me sane and fill my soul with gratitude and peace! I am moved to seek inspiration in nature, myth, and folklore. My only hope is that people may find through my art a sense of serenity and peace. All my dolls are charged with Reiki energy, Universal Love and light force. Griselda Tello
What do I call them, people ask...they are Totem Fetishes, Numen Spirits or Fantasy Art Dolls, they are my interpretation of Manitou, they are Nature Spirits. That is what I call my little dolls, a little mystery that keeps on giving me joy. Griselda Tello
Here's a generous gift from Griselda for you: a step-by-step tutorial on making a Nurturing Doll from Griselda's FB site! I encourage you to try your hand at one. “Dolls are one of the symbolic treasures of the instinctual nature. For centuries humans have felt that dolls emanate both a holiness and mana – an awesome and compelling prescience which acts upon persons, changing them spiritually. Dolls are believed to be infused with life by their makers. They are used as markers of authority and talismans to remind one of one’s own power.” "You are not just a drop in the ocean. You are the mighty ocean in the drop." Rumi Surfing the net, tonight, I discovered on artist Amy A. Crawley's site a new term to define Spirit Dolls: Milagros Spirit Messengers. I learned from her that 'milagros" means 'miracle' in Spanish and that in Folk Art, Milagros can be talismans against illness, trouble, and pain. They are symbols of hope or dreams; a promise made or fulfilled. A perfect way of describing the healing nature of these mystical Spirit Dolls. Then there appears this list that reminds me of our connection between the physical and spiritual realms: Eyes: Vision, Future Hands/Arm: Connection, Labor, Healing Head: Wisdom, Thoughts, Mind Heart: Love, Healing, Gratitude Leg/Foot: Support, New Path, Journey Mouth: Words, Language I found a couple of great other ways to describe the roles that these Milagros Spirit Messengers play in our lives followed by pix of my own MSM's... "Dolls bring us back to our ancient tribal roots and have been found in every indigenous culture." Julie Mitchell "Dolls have been used throughout history as repositories for intense feeling, hopes, and aspirations. Because the forms can be simple and primitive, this medium is less intimidating than making paintings or talking, but still very effective as an expression for deeply-held feelings, healing thoughts, and as a way of working through past traumas and hurts." Pamela Hastings "We tend to see ourselves in the doll. It represents an aspect of the human condition. When one engages with the process of making a doll all kinds of possibilities come to the surface. Doll-making is a way to free oneself of worries, struggles and emotions. Creating a doll, or any art, directly affects the automatic nervous system which controls body functions and the immune system." Doll-maker Barb Kobe "...And this is the gift of doll-making as a spiritual and expressive practice: there is not only the initial creation of the doll (the embodied creative process) that is gift, but also the companion that remains ... one that speaks in many different seasons of life." Healing Dollmaker - Tina Forster I keep rolling around the term 'Milagros Spirit Messengers' in my head, comparing all of the different ways artists & healers refer to their 'Dolls': Healing Companions, Spirit Messengers, Milagros, Luminaries, Guides, Beings. No matter what you call them, I'm happy to describe mine as Milagros: tiny miracles that have touched my life and the lives of many others. I welcome your thoughts on this subject and delight in discovering ever new ways of referring to these mirrors of our deepest selves.
April 2015 Featured Fellow Artist I first discovered Sharon's work on Pinterest. Her 'Sacred Luminaries' fascinated and intrigued me with the stories of their births, obvious loving creation and amazing details. I immediately found her blog and drank in the genesis of these wondrous beings. I couldn't leave her site, I read it all. Reaching the last sentence, I knew I had to reach out and convey my praise and appreciation to Sharon. With warmth and recognition of a like-minded soul, she invited me into her world, a magical place populated with fairies, dragons, sacred sounds and ancient secrets. I've still not quenched my thirst for this amazing artist's mystery and adventures. What follows is a minute slice of the wonderment of Sharon Riley and the many incarnations of her boundless creativity and expressive writing. In Sharon's own words: As a little girl, I would sit by the hour watching my mom and grandmother as they shared a cup of tea ~ mending in their laps, often cutting down outworn dresses and other pieces of outgrown clothing to make something for my sisters, myself or my brother. I marveled at their perfect stitches, an almost musical rhythm as the needle moved in and out of the fabric. And oh, the things they would create. Sometimes there would be a tiny trail of embroidered flowers. Both were very skilled with embroidery and I feel truly blessed to still have table runners and cloths with their detailed, perfectly stitched hand work. They patiently taught me by encouraging me to conjure, to make things from my own creative inner landscape. I still recall the way the sewing needle felt in my small hands the first time, fierce determination on my face, eager to show them what I could make all by myself. In no time I was obsessed with making clothing for my dolls ~ keeping them warm in winter, adding magical bits so they could play with Other Worldly Beings who came out at night to share time with me. I've always felt these beings around me ~ guiding, comforting, loving me. Over the years I would become enraptured by the textures, color and wonder of the treasures of the Earth and how these gifts from nature would interface with fibers to give new life in the form of a doll, a sculpture. In the late 80's after an experience that was to shape my journey for years to come, I was exposed to a healing circle facilitated by a very special mentor, therapist and friend. It was a very Sacred Healing Circle for women who have experienced rape and other forms of violence. One of our 'assignments' was to write a fairy tale about our experience and translate that story into a doll. The emotion and texture of those sacred sharings have definitely shaped me, transforming me in ways impossible to describe; Fragments have lingered, etched in aspects of my being, expressed in my artwork. I remember being absolutely awed by the level of transparency. I can recall with crystal clarity and much tenderness the sound of certain voices as stories were shared in the circle ~ raw, uncensored emotion ~ some women breaking a lifetime of silence. In those moments I knew the power of making a healing doll, and that one day I would hold circles for women using the doll as a tool for personal healing and transformation. My journey with Healing Voices Art dolls began shortly after a pivotal time in my life when I came home to care for my Mom who was very sick. She would leave us that May. In late July I had an opportunity to visit friends in Nova Scotia for some healing time. One day we packed a picnic and took ourselves to the Bay of Fundy, a truly magical place called Scot's Bay. I've always found healing and rejuvenation by the sea, something about the smells, the sounds of the waves & seagulls, marveling at the patterns of the driftwood. The tides there are known to be the highest in the world ~ sandbars stretching out for miles at low tide. You can climb over ancient lava rock formations with veins of crystal peaking out, shimmering geodes strewn over the salt-water kissed rock. I'd never been to this part of the Bay before. The energy of it all washed over me in healing waves. I was truly bedazzled. Chunks of quartz crystal embedded in the grey green rock, some pieces broken free from larger rock formations by the force of the tides, tucked in amongst the rocks and boulders, here and there small fields of salt-water kissed pebbles with small, perfectly formed crystals nestled amongst them. Absolute awe and excitement filled me. I found a handful or more of small quartz crystals as I meandered along, holding them simply to feel their vibration, unsure if I should remove them from their home. Thinking back I was clearly being guided so totally, so tenderly. I found myself drawn to a particularly smooth outcrop of rock spread out like a large bed. All I could think of was to lay down upon it. Heat from the sun warmed the rocky bed, I closed my eyes and felt myself becoming one with the rock. I seemed to effortlessly drift into a most beautiful dream. I literally felt myself propelled out into the cosmos among a universe of stars. I could hear women's voices singing ancient, primal soundings. Their harmonics were rich and vast. Out of this starry mist the sounds traveled toward me. I saw a great circle of woman moving in a weaving formation, their collective energy enveloped me in a sphere of cradling light ~ a wondrous, womb-like space. One woman stepped out of the circle and moved until she stood in front of me. It wasn't so much that she spoke words, more as if she communicated telepathically ~ soundings so exquisite, colors dancing like the Aurora Borealis ~ glyph-like, diamond-dusted, patterns being scribed in the starry fields. She spoke of the crystals of Scots Bay, how they were encoded with special information that had been held in stasis for eons. I saw ice ages and melts, witnessed the ever changing landscape. It was like peering through a special lens. I saw great beings made entirely of light imbuing the crystals with information. These women did various things with the crystal fields, blowing their breath on them, sounding over them. Their movements were fluid and natural, as if they were moving through a celestial sea. I was able to see fields of information wakening in each and every crystal. I watched an aspect of me gathering these crystals, honoring the information stored within, wrapping them in small bundles of sacred herbs (sage, tobacco, resins and rose petals) and placing them inside the bodies of healing dolls. Healing Dolls that I would give birth to, what they would look like, what they would represent - how women would come forward wanting to be stewards of these Healing Voice beings - how they would travel the globe and find themselves in trigger places on the Earth. These places I have come to know as Ley Lines, vast networks of energy lines connecting them altogether. Throughout our history, many cultures have actually built temples, altars and sacred dwellings in many of the places where these Ley Lines intersect. I witnessed the energies of the crystals contained within each Healing Voices doll receiving sequences of sound and light particles, Code patterns. I saw these doll beings carrying their harmonics to places throughout the Earth. In the final moments of my dream state I was gifted a very small crystal. It was placed in my heart. I felt it enter my body, warm, alive and humming with energy. The woman returned to her place in the circle and I watched her disappear into the stars. I opened my eyes to find myself back on the rock formation. It would be a year before I'd begin creating these Healing Voices Beings. The first twelve Healing Voices Dolls were birthed in Nova Scotia. Since then there have been so many voices. I've never made a sculptural healing doll without including a crystal, most have been gifted from Scot's Bay. In recent years I've felt compelled to bring crystal from other countries to the bay, leaving them in places amongst the rocks at the edge of the tide line, crystal voices uniting. My work from the last couple of years is my response to a powerful calling from the realms of Mother-Father-God, from the Guardians that speak to me through dreams, Journeys, Meditation. It's as if all my life has been leading up to the time when these Sacred Luminaries would be born. I don't really know how to describe this ongoing communication with this intelligence field, though I've done my best to do this on my website. Words feel so limited in the face of the Infinite limitlessness of the Cosmos. Yet words are what I have to somehow convey what I'm being shown as I work. Every stitch is a prayer ~ absolutely intentional, the addition of each bead, each rolling of the raw wool as I knead the wool to form the bodies of felt. Felting them seems to be the only way to bring their essence from the realm of the collective dreaming and highest heavens into the world of form. The Luminaries feel as real as you or I. They surround me with their energy signatures, their vibration, their Codes, use my hands and heart as tools to create them in the physical. I've thought if only I could use sound to describe my experiences of them I know it would be amazing. Sometimes at night when the house is quiet I sit in the darkness with my crystal singing bowl and am immediately drawn into a field of love so enveloping, so pure and tender, so amazing. It's as if I can see the sounds, their colors, their textures, their swirling patterns. As I surrender into the vastness of this field of no words. I feel as if I'm in the presence of the Infinite Creator of All That Is, witnessing and hearing the Language of the Highest Heavens singing it's HEARTSONG. I tend to be spontaneous much of the time but I have recorded moments of sounding as I sit with the Luminaries, playing the crystal singing bowl. As I listen back, often with a needle in my hands, I naturally translate my experiences of those times into the Sacred Luminaries... Each of them has a crystal or two that has volunteered to become part of a Luminary, and these crystals sing almost all of the time. In stillness I hear them, sounds like Dolphins and Whales... so beautiful. I hope one day soon to have a sound file of the crystal bowl, the luminaries sounding through my voice.... Thank you so much, Sharon, for inviting us into your eternally changing and wondrous universe of your heartsong, "...releasing the dream of a healed Earth in a rhythmic dance." Please visit Sharon's Sacred Luminaries and share in her ongoing adventures with them, on her blog. To meet more of her Healing Voices dolls, buy her wearable felted work, drums, rattles, paintings and much more visit Sharon's website. To close this chapter, I'll share a favorite quote of Sharon's from Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes: "I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and laughter til they Bloom, til you yourself burst into Bloom." |
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