Art
Medicine Dolls
I created this series of medicine dolls over a span of seven years. It represents the healing of trauma that stemmed from sexual violence I experience at age twenty-six. Discussed at length in my memoir A Fierce Belief in Miracles, these dolls have been the source of much of my emotional healing.
Dolls have been used for thousands of years and in many cultures for the purpose of healing. For me, it was the ability to express emotion through the human figure and facial expression that drew me to this genre.
This journey was guided by the medicine wheel - a sacred symbol of indigenous people that is used for, among other things, the process of transformation. I've adapted the medicine wheel as I know it for use with making healing dolls as you'll see in the symbol I included here. Below I offer you photos and brief descriptions of each stage of my healing process. I invite you to read A Fierce Belief in Miracles to learn more about my healing journey.
Doll of the East - Gentle One
The East represents new beginnings, openings, vision and connection with Divine Mother - a guardian who oversees my healing journey. This doll hangs in my creative/healing studio and has watched over my entire doll creation process.
Doll of the South - Fear
The South represents a place of growth, teaches us about faith & trust, and is home to the shadow self. Working in the South was a long, somewhat painful journey. It required patience and courage to invite Fear to my kitchen table so I could get to know it well.
Doll of the West - Compassionate Mother
The West is a place of letting go and cleansing, thus leaving a void which is likened to the womb and welcomes in new creation. The West holds the power and magic of dreams and is where we can access the capacity to transform. Compassionate Mother appeared in the West gifting me a message about the importance of being gentle and compassionate with myself, listening deeply to inner needs and responding to my hurt with loving kindness.
Unraveling of the Black and White
This doll was a powerful messenger for me. She reminds me that each moment holds our ‘completeness.’ There are always layers to peel away that will reveal more of the beauty that's been hidden, there are parts we'd like to change or embellish, but we're always the creators of the true beauty of life by how we hold or release our judgement - the black and the white.
Painbody
This doll represents a big turning point in my healing. Once I let go of my resistance, the path for healing my own pain body became clear. From my dialogues with Painbody, I was guided to actions that would relieve my pain and bring my body into a place of balance and strength.
Doll of the North - She Who Drums
The North represents a place of truth and of wisdom and offers us a place to see ourselves clearly. This talisman represents the embodiment of inner strength, trust in self and the unfolding perfection of all life.
Walking to the North on the medicine wheel offered me opportunity to release the things that no longer served me and to remember those that were more authentic expressions of me.
Going to Seed
My most recent doll, Going to Seed represents the time of life when we’ve concentrated our gifts and are ready to distribute them to the world. Her choice of lotus as her seed dispenser was intentional. Lotus, symbolic of purity of body, speech, and mind, is rooted in the mud, its flowers blossom on long stalks as if floating above the muddy waters of attachment and desire. Lotus is also symbolic of detachment as drops of water easily slide off its petals.
Littles of the Forest
My next creation’s in the works - a book of forest fun.
Rhymes for children young and old, a treat for everyone!
You’ll learn about the Little folk who live among the trees -
Their magic tiny kitchens, their mushroom fricassees!
How to spy a forest elf, with wisdom from the pros;
A bit of magic sprinkled in - and yes, there’ll be photos!
I’m excited for this project, I think you’ll be as well;
So here’s a wee book sample, verse and photo in one shell ~
Roan
This little elf—his name is Roan
‘cause on his head red hair has grown—
has eyes so tiny, fingers three,
and just adores hot rooibos tea!
He lives among the spruce and pine
(is tattooed where the sun don’t shine).
His pockets filled with acorn caps,
and teeny, tiny gingersnaps . . .