Marilyn,

I saw your post and can relate to what you are saying.  I was date raped
myself.  And, because I gave in to make it easier on myself doesn't take away
the violation.  I questioned whether it was rape or not because I submitted.
But, I was too scared to fight.  I couldn't tell anyone.  But, my sons knew
something was wrong.  I was very depressed and only told them I had a bad
date.  They lived 3 hours away from me.  It was 8pm when I spoke to my
oldest.  At midnight I got a knock on the door and both my sons were there.
It still brings tears to my eyes to think that I am so connected to these two
boys who would drop everything to drive 3 hours to see if I am ok.

So, although healing dolls are a wonderful tool there is nothing that can
replace the love and concern of a true friend or family members presence.  A
hug, hold their hand, what ever you feel intuitively will help.  Your love
and concern is as healing as any color, herb, or crystal.

Several years ago I rented a room while I was working on a temporary
employment project.  The woman had 3 children. All of them seemed well
adjusted but one boy.  He would always act out.  She was overly sympathetic
towards him.  I didn't know why.  Then one day I reached out to hug him and
my inner voice said "don't touch him.  He has been molested."  Then I
understood.

The mother knew that I had psychic experiences from time to time and asked me
to demonstrate them.  First of all...I do not share this with everyone
because I do not tell fortunes.  And, I do not want anyone to depend on my
every word.  But, I was able to tell her several events in her life... one
being that there was an illigitimate child in her home.  It turned out her
husband's illigitimate child came to stay with them when he was a teen.  And,
he was the violator.  Probably some anger within himself because he was left
behind as the shamed and forgotten son of this religious man and his family.
So, he vented against their child.

Bottom line.  The mother felt guilty and she was overly protective of the
boy.

This was so clear to me.  It makes a difference what age the child is.  If it
happens to a young child it is really important that you understand this is
no more than being beaten with a baseball bat.  It is only what ideas they
associate with the genitals that make a difference.  If they do not know of
the tabu about sex treat it as any other wound and treat them as though they
need to heal from a physical wound.  That way you will not involve any ideas
of sexuality that would harm them.

With an older child it is important that you can help them understand that
they can limit the damage to the physical which will heal.  This is where a
ritual doll would be most helpful.  I just love Lynn Dewart who makes healing
dolls and conducts workshops.  She lives in San Diego.  And, she started
making these dolls from the exact same scenario of being raped.

Lynn said her therapist told her to make a doll to represent her when this
happened.  I am writing a news article about Lynn right now.  If you want to
email me personally I will attach that article.  It will tell you how she
used the doll to heal.

How precious you are to care for your friend.  That is the most beautiful
gift we can offer this life.  Even more important than money which we all
seem to value so highly.

Bless you and please let me know if this helps.

Beverly


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
Dear Marilyn,

After reading your post, I can't help but think that a suggestion made
by Beverly for my post would help you.

Make a cloth doll of any pattern you find easy to do using colors to
represent different emotions - such as green for healling, red for
courage, purple for peace.  You might want to add buttons or charms
to represent different things as well - such as a heart.  While you
make this doll, think healing positive thoughts for your friend and
her daughter - send them a prayer.  The doll will hold the prayer for
you and it will be felt by your friend.  Another idea - if it is
easier for you - is to use a premade doll and dress it in the colors
I suggested above and you make the clothes think your prayer.

I hope this helps.
Cheryl

Thank you for your response, Beverly.  It is a wonderful idea of the
colorful doll and the ritual to go with it.  It is very appropriate.

   I need to update my response a bit in that it seems that he did not
kill himself but may have been killed.  They are still investigating
the whole situation.  Either way he died, much healing is needed as
this was a very loved young man - by many people including myself.

Thank you again for your ideas.  I will tell you how it goes.
Cheryl

--- In healingdolls@y..., "bevhart2" <bevhart2@a...> wrote:
> I have been trying to think of some suggestions that I can offer to
> help make a healing doll for your friend that lost her son to
> suicide.  It is really  hard so I just didn't say anything.  But,
> that is a cop-out.  I lost my young nephew to suicide a few years
> ago.  I remembering wondering if I could have done anything to
help.
> Did he give us some signs that I just ignored?  His parents let him
> down so I got angry at them.  It is a very hard thing to recover
from.
>
> All I can offer is my sincere sympathy to you and your friend.  I
> think I would make a doll that has bright colors including red for
> courage, green for growth, and purple for psychic ability.  I would
> create some sort of ritual where I asked close family and friends
to
> join in and let each one hold the doll and tell how the son touched
> their life or offer some sort of healing idea for the son and
> family.  Pass it in a circle beginning with the mother.
>
> Meditate upon the idea of the mother bringing the child into this
> dimension to experience the physical dimension. And, with each
person
> who holds the doll realize that each relationship and each life
does
> make a difference.  When the doll comes back to the mother realize
> the child has gone full circle in the physical dimension & that
those
> who commit suicide lost hope that they can ever achieve any
pleasure
> from living.  Hug the doll and tell him that you love him and there
> is hope and life doesn't end when it leaves the physical dimension.
> Read something inspiring about hope (write it on paper).  Burn the
> aper and the doll, As it burns realize that the physical form is
only
> transformed into a new dimension.  Feel your son.
>
> Peace be with you. I hope I have not made your pain any worse by
> bringing this up. You did ask for suggestions.  And, the procedure
> above is what came to me for you.  It is up to you if you chose to
do
> it or not.  Either way I hope you will find peace.
>
> Beverly
>

Good morning, My name is Marilyn and I have joined your group as a
friend of mine is in pain because she is dealing with her daughter,s
violent rape. My friend feels so inneffectual as she can only stand
by and be there for her daughter, I know this is how it should be but
being a mother I also understand her frustration . if only we could
carry our children on our backs while also setting them free. Please
could you help me with some ideas as I have never made a healing doll
before, hugs to all Marilyn.

Name Marilyn Szatmari
Live Melbourne Australia
Age 58
married
30 year old son still living at home with the girlfriend.
2 dogs the cat died 2 weeks ago
love making dolls and painting any yhing that 's not tied down
can't bead as I don't know how

Good morning, My name is Marilyn and I have joined your group as a
friend of mine is in pain because she is dealing with her daughter,s
violent rape. My friend feels so inneffectual as she can only stand
by and be there for her daughter, I know this is how it should be but
being a mother I also understand her frustration . if only we could
carry our children on our backs while also setting them free. Please
could you help me with some ideas as I have never made a healing doll
before, hugs to all Marilyn.

Name Marilyn Szatmari
Live Melbourne Australia
Age 58
married
30 year old son still living at home with the girlfriend.
2 dogs the cat died 2 weeks ago
love making dolls and painting any yhing that 's not tied down
can't bead as I don't know how

I have been trying to think of some suggestions that I can offer to
help make a healing doll for your friend that lost her son to
suicide.  It is really  hard so I just didn't say anything.  But,
that is a cop-out.  I lost my young nephew to suicide a few years
ago.  I remembering wondering if I could have done anything to help.
Did he give us some signs that I just ignored?  His parents let him
down so I got angry at them.  It is a very hard thing to recover from.

All I can offer is my sincere sympathy to you and your friend.  I
think I would make a doll that has bright colors including red for
courage, green for growth, and purple for psychic ability.  I would
create some sort of ritual where I asked close family and friends to
join in and let each one hold the doll and tell how the son touched
their life or offer some sort of healing idea for the son and
family.  Pass it in a circle beginning with the mother.

Meditate upon the idea of the mother bringing the child into this
dimension to experience the physical dimension. And, with each person
who holds the doll realize that each relationship and each life does
make a difference.  When the doll comes back to the mother realize
the child has gone full circle in the physical dimension & that those
who commit suicide lost hope that they can ever achieve any pleasure
from living.  Hug the doll and tell him that you love him and there
is hope and life doesn't end when it leaves the physical dimension.
Read something inspiring about hope (write it on paper).  Burn the
aper and the doll, As it burns realize that the physical form is only
transformed into a new dimension.  Feel your son.

Peace be with you. I hope I have not made your pain any worse by
bringing this up. You did ask for suggestions.  And, the procedure
above is what came to me for you.  It is up to you if you chose to do
it or not.  Either way I hope you will find peace.

Beverly

--- In healingdolls@y..., cherilark <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> The book I mentioned in a previous post is called Vein of Gold by
> Julia Cameron – author of Artist's Way.
>
> She used dolls as a physical wish for something you want in your
> life. She called them 'creativity dolls.' I thought it was a
> wonderful idea and so for my birthday a friend and I made dolls.  I
> wanted to be more of a free spirit so my doll (whose name is my
> online name – Cherilark) was a bit of a hippy/bit of a fairy.  I
had
> so much fun making her.  And I think she helped because within a
> month of her creation, I got rid of my traditional couch and bought
a
> futon (which is free spirited for me).
>
> I now want to help other people create creativity dolls/healing
> dolls/spirit dolls.  I have used the doll figure to create a
collage
> paper doll.  That for me recently has been very healing.
>
> I do have a bit of trouble with creating hair.  Cherilark is
> wonderful although her hairdo is a bit pathetic.  I blame it on her
> hair dresser  ;-)  .
>
> I am needing this week to make a healing doll for me and a family
> friend who just lost her son to suicide this weekend.  Any
> suggestions?
>
> I am so glad this group is around and am excited to see what takes
> place.
> Cheryl

The book I mentioned in a previous post is called Vein of Gold by
Julia Cameron – author of Artist's Way.

She used dolls as a physical wish for something you want in your
life. She called them 'creativity dolls.' I thought it was a
wonderful idea and so for my birthday a friend and I made dolls.  I
wanted to be more of a free spirit so my doll (whose name is my
online name – Cherilark) was a bit of a hippy/bit of a fairy.  I had
so much fun making her.  And I think she helped because within a
month of her creation, I got rid of my traditional couch and bought a
futon (which is free spirited for me).

I now want to help other people create creativity dolls/healing
dolls/spirit dolls.  I have used the doll figure to create a collage
paper doll.  That for me recently has been very healing.

I do have a bit of trouble with creating hair.  Cherilark is
wonderful although her hairdo is a bit pathetic.  I blame it on her
hair dresser  ;-)  .

I am needing this week to make a healing doll for me and a family
friend who just lost her son to suicide this weekend.  Any
suggestions?

I am so glad this group is around and am excited to see what takes
place.
Cheryl

Hello to all of you and thank you for coming to this group and
creating such wonderful dialog about what you are doing with dolls,
posting the pictures of the beautiful dolls and your interest in
writing and other things.  As I clear my head I will respond to the
threads you have going.  You sound like very thoughtful, creative
people whose hearts are comfortably in place.  Your presence helps me
to focus on my true intention for starting this group.  I wanted to
connect with others who are working with similar heart and mind
manifestation ideas.

Yes, the doll challenge is still on.  I would like to receive your
images by August 25.  Paste them into an e-mail  to
webmaster@..., make your subject Doll Challenge and include
a brief bio of yourself  and a description about your doll.  Doll
submissions will be posted to  the Healing Doll Gallery .

A little about me.  My name is Patricia and I think a lot about the
sense of place and the creation of patterns through actions and the
thoughts we choose to use in our lives.  For me healing dolls are the
concrete manifestation of a heart/mind thought coming together.

I had a young woman friend die unexpectedly and have been thinking
about her light presence.  She was a healer and attempting to live
fully within the rainbow.  Her primary goal was to be a part of a
healing center where she could work with crystals and plants as
healing allies and the use of creative thought to assist one in
bringing wholeness to the body/mind/spirit.  I will make a doll in
memory of her.  At this time though, a part of me is still accepting
my loss of her ancient wisdom and I am filled with remembrance.

I finally got the new web site up.  It is http://www.dollbooks.net.
I know that I need to get more pictures of my dolls up; I am working
on getting someone to come photograph for me.  My own efforts are not
always successful.  It is something with my eyes focusing the camera.
A friend asked why books.  First I love books. Second I am in need of
creating an income.  I have been a home schooling mom for over
seventeen years with one just at the fifth grade level and within the
last few years decided that I needed to have an income.  I once, in
the young days had any job I chose to seek.  Reality is that although
I could make money teaching art and poetry writing classes,
storytelling and describing for the visually impaired, I could not
manage to piece together enough that I could live off of it.  I
positioned myself over a number of years to be an organic market
gardener and just when I was really on top of it, I found out that I
had a skin allergy to, can you figure, the sun.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
That was a few years ago and to make it short.  My beautiful gardens
and orchards are in desperate need of loving tending hands.  Perhaps,
I will get up the courage as I have said to a few and write the books
called "The Night Gardener". Perhaps I will have the courage to
pursue that.  I attempted getting other work and have not because I
am also chemically sensitive and taste the chemicals in perfumes,
clothing, and product treatments, the whole works.  So I turned to
the computer and my art and writing, as for many artist and writers I
found that I needed something more if I was to up my possibilities
and I decided that books complemented my life and art work.

The information I used on the Doll Books website was accumulated over
a number of years and do express my true interest.  I would like to
flesh out the site with real information on every page, even have a
short healing newsletter.  But first, I must finish getting it up and
running. If you have anything you would like to add or articles for
me to consider, drop me a line at dollbooks@....

  If you need a web site built, check out the Writers and Artist Web
Builders .

  If any of you visited my 13 Moons Art site  you know that many of my
images are missing.  There is a problem with the server  and I am
considering moving the domain to the host I use for Doll Books if the
problems cannot be resolved.

I am looking forward to receiving your healing doll images and to new
discoveries through healing dolls.


In wholeness,
Patricia

In a message dated 7/11/02 5:55:51 AM !!!First Boot!!!,
healingdolls@yahoogroups.com writes:


>

Hi Cheryl - Hi Crystal

So good to hear from you guys.  Crystal, I love the doll picture you posted.
She is so beautiful.  How big are these dolls?

I don't remember whether it was me or Crystal that mentioned the ritual dolls
but I am doing some news articles and my focus has been a combination of the
artists personality and own story combined with their work and all this tied
into ritual dolls.  A couple of magazine/newsletters for doll makers have
"Magic" as an upcoming topic and the ritual dolls work perfect for that
theme.  Also, next topic is "Woman" and the artists stories are so great for
that theme.

I love to write and making dolls is new for me.  I made one recently that is
like my own ritual doll because she is so much about how I feel about being a
woman.  But, I did not make her a healing doll because I don't know much
about that.  I have been doing tons of research and am starting to get a
really good picture of what a healing doll is.

I studied a modern philosophy called Concept Therapy for several years.  It
taught me so much about Life.  And, I have found that the ideas I learned in
that instruction are so generic in a sense that all the other philosophies
and religions can be understood.  Basically, if you would have asked me about
a healing doll before I had that class my superstition- or fear would have
controlled my actions and I would have said it was witch craft and be totally
against it.

But, now I am open to greater understanding.  I still need to study more.
But, so far, I believe it is the thought, attention, and ritual that are
important combined with the colors, crystals, herbs etc.  I don't believe the
doll has any power until it is released by the one who believes and accepts
the intention.

Actually, it is ideas that we impress on others.  If they don't believe...
nothing will happen.  I like the idea of the voodoo doll if not for the
negative image so many people have given it.  The intent can be really
positive and healing in the doll, but we need some sort of ritual to activate
the response of the reciever such as a nail driven into the doll to release
the intention or magic if you want to call it that.  Or, burning a candle
while meditating on the idea of being healed etc.

I am treading deep waters here and could offend someone with my own
opinions... and they are opinions... since I am too new at this to know it
all.  And, I never forget that I am programmed by society etc so my ideas
will change as my experience and knowledge expands.

Oops  too much writing again.  Hope to hear more from you all.

Beverly from San Antonio


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the healingdolls
group.

   File        : /Seer.jpg
   Uploaded by : foxybeader <Beadfox@...>
   Description : A doll created for protection and visioning

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingdolls/files/Seer.jpg

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

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Regards,

foxybeader <Beadfox@...>

Hi Cheryl,

I am not familiar with Julia Camerion's book.

I have been creating dolls for healing and protection for a long while.  I do
meditate on the person that wants one, to see what they need. I then place
crystals, herbs and other special items inside of the doll that will aid in
what they each need. Like items placed in a medicine bag.  I do use my
Cherokee teachings to place the prayers in the doll, and I smudge everything
I put in them.  The color of beads I use all have meanings...

Crystal


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi there,

I am also new to this group.

I made a 'creativity' doll suggested in Julia Camerion's book Vein of
Gold a couple of years ago and found myself loving the idea of making
dolls.

You mentioned something about the ritual use of dolls in your
original post.  Tell us more about that.  That sound svery
interesting.

I am excited to see how this group develops.

Cheryl

Hi Crystal,

I wasn't really affected by the floods.  Do you live in the San
Antonio area?
I would love to see some of your work and learn more about how you
came into the business of making the healing dolls.  You say that you
get commissions for the dolls?  I don't know much about the beading.
I am diabetic myself so my vision is not that great.  I avoid the
tiny beads for that  reason but wish I could work with them.

Do you have a picture of your doll I could see?  I didn't see it
posted on this group.

I'd like to know more about you.  Maybe we can do an article about
you and your dolls for a newsletter or magazine.

By the way...what does it mean when they post a message that says
they uploaded a file to this group?  I am new to groups.  Thanks.

Beverly


-- In healingdolls@y..., Beadfox@a... wrote:
> Hi Beverly.... You in from my home town.... I am an Army brat... my
Mom is
> there now. I hope you have had no damage from the rains.
>
> I make mostly beaded healing dolls. I just finished "Spirit
Keeper", she was
> created for a lady that experienced incest as a child.  There are
many
> meanings to the colors and design of the doll.. I get several
commissions for
> these dolls a year....
>
> Crystal
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Beverly.... You in from my home town.... I am an Army brat... my Mom is
there now. I hope you have had no damage from the rains.

I make mostly beaded healing dolls. I just finished "Spirit Keeper", she was
created for a lady that experienced incest as a child.  There are many
meanings to the colors and design of the doll.. I get several commissions for
these dolls a year....

Crystal




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the healingdolls
group.

   File        : /Healingdoll2.jpg
   Uploaded by : foxybeader <Beadfox@...>
   Description : The back

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingdolls/files/Healingdoll2.jpg

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

foxybeader <Beadfox@...>

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the healingdolls
group.

   File        : /Healingdoll.jpg
   Uploaded by : foxybeader <Beadfox@...>
   Description : The front

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/healingdolls/files/Healingdoll.jpg

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

foxybeader <Beadfox@...>

I joined your group today and was surprised to see so few members. Is
this a new group?  Please don't think I am being critical... I am so
happy to find a group such as this and I hope that my energy can add
to it's growth because I think there is a huge interest in this type
of dollmaking.  In fact if it is okay with you I would like to post
this group address to another doll making site I am working with.

Also, I write magazine/newsletter articles about doll making.  My
focus is not technique but the inner workings of the doll on our
nature.  I believe in the way they can be used to empower and heal
us.  So, I do feature articles about them.

I am doing a feature on Lynn Dewart who has a wonderful story about
the ritual use of dolls.  I love Lynn.  She is so magical.  In fact I
want to write a book about women who make healing and ritual dolls.
I am interested in the fact that you  are printer.  Maybe you can
tell me about that aspect of getting a book into print.

And, wow!  the challenge sounds great!!! Count me in,  Is it still in
the works?  I don't have much time but I can do it.  How do I submit
my entry?

I have only made 2 dolls.  My first was a mermaid out of a "Twisted
Sisters" class by Anne Hesse in March 2002.  Then I just made my
Fabric Magic Challenge doll "Woman".  I made her body from rust
colored velvet (symbolic of the idea of women's skin being soft as
velvet.  And, rust because I am older.)  She is naked for truth with
a metal owl armor sheath for wisdom.  I stuffed her with lint from
the dryer symbolic of the chores of a woman..and our ability to
cleanse souls.  She is draped with a heavy chain with a variety of
charms attached. One is Mom to show how our roles act as chains
restricting our acts but also they bind us to all that we value as
well connecting us to life itself.  She has very thin wisps of
stringy peacock fringes to symbolize the pulling out of the hair due
to the many frustrations that she is confronted with.  And, the
ingrained idea of women being princesses is conveyed by a crown made
of aluminum twisty ties that I salvaged from things I purchased for
the home (the kind that ties an item to a piece of card stock to hold
the item in the package).  I embellished it with glass beads that we
settle for instead of fine jewels we deserve.  An antique white tule
bridal veil symbolic of loss of virginity and multiple marriage
partners.  She has wings of pheasant feathers symbolic of her angelic
nature and ability to rise above the lower dimensions into those
higher worlds of intuition and spirituality.  Her head is resting in
a shell symbolic of our evolution from the slime of the ocean into
human forms and higher.  She is beautiful to me.  And, I use her for
a reminder of how far I have come...my dreams...my ability to live on
all planes of exhistence.

OOpss...sorry if I have written too much.  I am just so excited to
find this site.  I really hope to see so many more posts.

I am wondering how the doll worked out for the granddaughter that had
the emotional problems.  Please let me know if you feel comfortable
enough to share your story.

Know that I will not print anything about anybody in this group
unless I obtain your permission.  I dream of being a writer..so I am
going to add a pen to my Woman doll.

Take Care...Beverly Hartman...San Antonio, TX

--- In healingdolls@y..., Beadfox@a... wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I make a lot of healing dolls, and dolls for protection. I place
different
> items inside of the doll, crystals, herbs, prayers and etc. I use
colors that
> represent different aspects of healing on the dolls.. most all of
my dolls
> are totally beaded.

Hello Crystal,

I had a look at your work on display at the website, it must take
hours to complete all that beading, but the end results are great!  I
think I have come across some of your work before, are you a member
of other doll groups at Yahoo?

I am still deciding upon the design of my healing doll and what
techniques and fabrics to use, not sure if I want to choose coloured
fabrics or just hand dye the colours I decide upon.

I also like the idea of worry dolls, the story is that you place
these small dolls under your pillow at night, and they take away your
worries, you are refreshed upon awakening from your nights sleep.

Another story I came across regarding dolls is about the tassle
doll.  During World War I people in French cities and London, England
would make little tassle dolls for the children as a protection
/comfort during the bombing raids.  Some of the little tassle dolls
for added luck were attached to discarded horse shoes.

Cheers for now*

Hello all,

I make a lot of healing dolls, and dolls for protection. I place different
items inside of the doll, crystals, herbs, prayers and etc. I use colors that
represent different aspects of healing on the dolls.. most all of my dolls
are totally beaded.. You can see some of my dolls here.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=858984&uid=77430
<A HREF="http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=858984&uid=77430">
crystalfox : Gallery</A>

Sometimes I out things on the outside of the doll too...

Crystal Fox

Beadfox@...

--- In healingdolls@y..., "thirteenmoonsart" <pccoleman@1...> wrote:
>
> > I would like us together to create a dialogue about color,
imagery,
> intent, focus, ideas, object association, presentation, form,
vision,
> whatever topics you want to consider exploring.  Where do you want
to
> begin?

Hello to all of the other five members or more of this group, as I
have just joined I wanted to say hello and introduce myself.

My name is Audrey and I live over here in Northern Ireland in the
city of Belfast.  I am very new to doll making, but am very
interested in colour therapy and creating medicine/healing dolls, I
have found the work of Cody Goodin to be very interesting and
informative.  I have researched a little into colour symbolism and
listed some of my findings on my website www.fibreart.co.uk
I work mostly with Merino wool and hand felt this to create one of a
kind bags and headwear and some pieces of jewellery, my wall art is
fibre/mixed media, but as I will be spending a spell in hospital and
having to take things easy for the summer, I thought this would give
me time to work on creating designs and making healing dolls, I have
decided to make my first healing doll for myself, to take with me
during my stay in hospital, this healing doll can be my funky mascot
friend.

Anyhow I look forward to hearing lots of exciting stuff from this
group, bye for now!

I realize as I write this how slow I appear to myself in working on
this group.  I have been working to build a web site anew so that I
can move it to a different address with a different look because
the "free" program that I used to build it is to painful to use or
maintain.  I will just say, I could work for any amount of time, go
to save it and their program would crash, all my work would be lost.
I am very close to being finished with the site and will post the
address here.  Currently, you can see some of my dolls in a couple of
the gallery pages at http://www.13moonsart.com/gallery.htm

Because of my interest in healing and dolls, I decided to start this
group.  I hope that others will join in and offer up suggestions,
ideas, inspirations, references and more.  When my new web site is
completly up, there will be general references that I have found to
be useful in exploring various aspects of creating healing objects
and dolls.

I would like us together to create a dialogue about color, imagery,
intent, focus, ideas, object association, presentation, form, vision,
whatever topics you want to consider exploring.  Where do you want to
begin?

Hello Donna,
Thanks for your interest in this Healing Doll Group.  Yes, please
post this challenge to another doll group.

I am new at Groups, and am still figuring out how to move forward. If
you have suggestions, let me know.
Thanks,

Patricia




--- In healingdolls@y..., "annodstorm" <annodstorm@e...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I think this challenge sounds great!  Would it be OK if I posted it
> to another doll group???
>
> Thanks,
> Donna
> --- In healingdolls@y..., thirteenmoonsart <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> > Just as I left the computer, an idea came to me, I would like to
> > suggest a challenge.  I would like to put forth a challenge to
make
> a
> > Healing Doll for the Earth.  The dolls can be made from anything
> and
> > can be any size.  The dolls must be completed by August 15th,
> 2002.
> > One doll from each of you will (if you agree) appear in a Healing
> > Doll Exhibit in the 13 Moons Art Gallery.
> >
> > The dolls selected for this exhibit will be made into a simple
book
> > and each featured dollmaker will receive a copy of the book at
cost
> > of duplication or be able to download it free from the computer.
> >
> > Are you interested in this idea?  Let me hear from you!
> >
> > Happy healing dollmaking,
> >
> > Thirteenmoonsart

Hi,
I think this challenge sounds great!  Would it be OK if I posted it
to another doll group???

Thanks,
Donna
--- In healingdolls@y..., thirteenmoonsart <no_reply@y...> wrote:
> Just as I left the computer, an idea came to me, I would like to
> suggest a challenge.  I would like to put forth a challenge to make
a
> Healing Doll for the Earth.  The dolls can be made from anything
and
> can be any size.  The dolls must be completed by August 15th,
2002.
> One doll from each of you will (if you agree) appear in a Healing
> Doll Exhibit in the 13 Moons Art Gallery.
>
> The dolls selected for this exhibit will be made into a simple book
> and each featured dollmaker will receive a copy of the book at cost
> of duplication or be able to download it free from the computer.
>
> Are you interested in this idea?  Let me hear from you!
>
> Happy healing dollmaking,
>
> Thirteenmoonsart

Hi,
I am new to group.  I know from experience that it takes a while for
a new group to get rolling so please hang in there.  I hope this
response in April may still be of help.

I think creating a healing doll for your granddaughter will be a very
personal growth experience for you.  The type of doll you make will
come from within yourself.  You may want to make a collage doll that
incorporates items that have very personal signifigance into your
piece.

I would like to suggest two dolls.  One that you make for yourself -
to address your love, your fear, and your concerns.  Your heart will
lead you in this creation.

The second?  -- would you consider creating a doll together with your
grandchild?  Lead the ongoing activity with no pretentions or
concerns regarding the feelings you are putting into your own doll,
though it would be great if she could see you working on this doll
and share in its growth.  Rather allow her to just play at making a
doll and see where it goes.  Accept any efforts, forget ideas of
perfection.  Use the time to connect with her - perhaps she will
bring up the issues that frighten her at school.  Be relaxed and
accepting - what seems like unreasonable behavior and thoughts to
grownups is making perfect sense to her.  She needs gentle guidance
that comes from a place of trust and confidence.

I realize this assumes you live close to your grandchild.  If you
don't - share through the mail, phone and email.  Small doll pins are
quick, easy and fun to wear.  Could you make a doll pin that she can
wear to school that will remind her of you and your presence in her
life?  Schools don't allow children to bring toys to school so a doll
pin is the ideal way around this.  She could keep it pinned to her
backpack if she preferred.  A small doll pendant on a necklace would
work.  A doll can be a source of comfort to her and when she wears it
she can place her hand on it to gather comfort and strength.

Try to step back from her problems and focus on her beauty and
strengths.  While having this focus, fashion the doll that you give
to her.

Your grandchild is making sense of the world in the best way she
can.  Institutions such as school aren't shaped for her and the
struggle of her independent shape not smoothly fitting into the set-
in-stone structure of school is a painful reality many kids go
through.  Kids get the feeling that they are all wrong and need to
escape that feeling and have trusted adults understand the position
they are in.

Acknowledge to her that school is not perfect (just like no person is)
and that having a wrong fit with it does not mean that there is
something wrong with her.  Humanity has been blessed with many types
of learning styles and personality styles.  Our culture and school
systems teach, test, reinforce and reward primarily two kinds of
intelligence: verbal/linguistic and logical/mathematical.  There are
at least seven other kinds of intelligence that are just as important
and the kids operating through these forms are being shortchanged.
Take time to learn about the multiple intelligences (Howard Gardner :
Theory of Multiple Intelligences and I highly reccommend Thomas
Armstrongs books (In Their Own Way is a classic).  Help her recognize
her learning strengths.  Chances are that for the last few years she
seen what she can't do be constantly pointed out.  Start reversing
the demoralization now. Is homeschooling a possibility?  There are
huge homeschool groups around that support, encourage, field trip,
and provide social interaction.  Encourage whatever can be done to
stop a downward spiral and get the child your family knew before
public schooling back.

I hope this helps.
Blessings.
Donna

--- In healingdolls@y..., eidelweis99 wrote:
> my grand daughter has bi polar condition and
> chemical imbalance which at this time there is no
> medication to correct. she also has siezures and ADD..my
> heart is saddened being unable to help her.she attends
> special classes. the danger is she runs away from school
> when she is frightened and i worry she may be harmed
> or stollen when she runs off. she is 8 years old. is
> there a doll i can make to guide her?

Just as I left the computer, an idea came to me, I would like to
suggest a challenge.  I would like to put forth a challenge to make a
Healing Doll for the Earth.  The dolls can be made from anything and
can be any size.  The dolls must be completed by August 15th, 2002.
One doll from each of you will (if you agree) appear in a Healing
Doll Exhibit in the 13 Moons Art Gallery.

The dolls selected for this exhibit will be made into a simple book
and each featured dollmaker will receive a copy of the book at cost
of duplication or be able to download it free from the computer.

Are you interested in this idea?  Let me hear from you!

Happy healing dollmaking,

Thirteenmoonsart

Welcome to Members and Visitors,
When I originally set up this group, I was unclear of what I was
really doing.  I just knew that I wanted to connect with people who
were interested in healing dolls.  I started making "healing dolls"
back in the 80's.  The dolls were simple cookie cutter types with
stones to incorporate their historically recognized attributes.
Today I am still making this type of doll, but have begun to branch
out.

I discovered my libraries collection of dollmaking books.  I have
been exploring a variety of techniques.  I am a painter and one thing
has led to another and I have begun incorporating dolls into my
painting.  Look for pictures in the coming months!

I would like to hear from you and where you want to see this group go.

You can see a couple of my dolls at
http://www.13moonsart.com/gallery5.htm     I have got to improve my
photography techniques.

Thanks for stopping in.

Thirteenmoonsart

my grand daughter has bi polar condition and
chemical imbalance which at this time there is no
medication to correct. she also has siezures and ADD..my
heart is saddened being unable to help her.she attends
special classes. the danger is she runs away from school
when she is frightened and i worry she may be harmed
or stollen when she runs off. she is 8 years old. is
there a doll i can make to guide her?

I have been very busy since I joined this club so
I may have missed the answer to my question. I want
to know what Healing Dolls is about and what
constitutes a 'healing doll?' It sounded like something that
I would be interested in, but I'm not sure of what
it is about. Could someone enlighten me? Thanks, Ms
Chita

Hi Everyone, I hope that you Healing Dollmakers
will join with me and help make this a club that is a
support and valued resource for the intentional
dollmaking we do. I will add information, photos and links
to any information and sites I think will be
helpful. I am working on my Healing Doll Site and will let
you know when it is ready. Beauty and Peace to you.

Welcome to the Yahoo! Message Board for Healing Dolls