The Bohemian Art Spirit

Spirit Dolls for "Soulmaking"

Long ago, people used to teach their children to make their dolls with corn husks and twigs wrapped with rags, the same way my Nana Maria did with me when I was a little girl, my dolls were intended to be my toys, but she would also make other kind of dolls and "Catrina" with sugar skulls, a kind of Spirit Dolls to give away for Dia de los Muertos which she placed in her altar to celebrate All Soul's Day.

I love tribal art and have been doing research in old traditions from many parts of the world where small images were made and used as "power tools" often found in burial sites. I believe that the creative spirit that moves within each and everyone of us, shapes our lives with inspiration and brings forth images that come awake and alive in one form or another through art. It is amazing that some of these figurines, "soul making dolls" have lasted this long as silent sentinels in time.

During the Paleolithic period people would make portable figurines or decorative objects which were carved from bone, stone or antler. In the old traditions these little totem-fetishes were molded mostly with clay, stone, coral, jade and other semiprecious stones, a few have been found made of metal. These were small figurines of animals and human forms, little goddesses, detailed female shapes. They often served as symbols of protection in some form of ritualistic or magical purposes infused with magic and good intentions, the very same life force by their makers. They all seemed to be helpers to the main concern of peoples for food (hunting and harvest) or fertility, and to gain some kind of control over their environment, or in the case of Egypt and Peru they placed small dolls on graves. It is not certain whether they served as company to the deceased or if they represented offerings to the dead or their gods.

In ancient religions, the numen or manitou was a protector spirit or force which was anonymous. Although it was not known as a person, its power and presence was felt, usually, it was regarded as being attached to some place or object, like a tree, or a large rock. 

There is a storyteller, a woman I admire, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés  in in her book Women Who Run With the Wolves, tells the story of a doll, Vasalisa, given to a little girl by her mother.  Vasalisa is clearly the voice of intuition who helps the little girl to succeed while making choices, Dr Estés wrote:

 “The doll is symbolic homunculi,  little life. It is the symbol of what lies buried in humans that is numinous. It is a small and glowing facsimile of the original Self. Superficially, it is just a doll. But inversely, it represents a little piece of soul that carries all the knowledge of the larger soul-Self. In the doll is the voice, in diminutive, of old La Que Sabe, The One Who Knows...the psyche works even when we sleep, most especially when we sleep, even when we are not fully conscious of what we are enacting."

"In this way the doll represents the inner spirit of us as women; the voice of inner reason, inner knowing, and inner consciousness.”
~~ Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés~~ 

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. Estess)  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 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 you laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom."
~~ Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés~~ 

I am sure my dolls serve mainly as decoration to some of my buyers and collectors, but for others they are symbolic of magic and good will, a kind of good luck talisman...quite simply, they are great helpers, little messangers of healing ...like an image of an angel by your front door or besides your bed. I like to think each one of my little dolls finds its own way to your hands charged with good energy and full of creativity, they may serve as a focal point for meditation, as a reminder of intuition, a mandala or a feng shui remedy, my intention is to share with others a little miracle which is still working its magic on me.

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.

Bright Blessings everyone,

Griselda