Spirit Doll

There is a little piece of soul that carries all the knowledge of the larger soul-Self and it is this doll that holds the voice of old La Que Sabe the one who knows"  Clarissa Pinkola Estes

One of the first Spirit dolls I made was on a vision quest (a time spent alone in meditation in nature) I made her by the light of the full moon.  I stitched her lovingly and cooed words of affection into her soft velvet body. She was my companion and through her I imagined a world of ancient Grandmothers sharing with me their wisdom.

Since then I have made many dolls Some are inspired by the magic of story and the archetypal characters that are imbued within those myths and legends. Others echo the exquisite beauty of the natural world. Often, they are accompanied by an emotive feature that comes alive through the process of crafting the doll. 

I have the honour of listening to who they are and how they want to appear in this world.  And the joy of their creation.

Dolls and sculpted figures have been used for spiritual rituals, rites of passage, healing and celebration in many cultures around the world, for thousands of years. Some used specifically for fertility, others as a ‘rite of passage’ helping young girls and boys understand social roles, acting out community events and ways of behaviour. 

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.  Dollmaking is a way to free oneself of worries, struggles and emotions. Creating a doll, or any art, directly effects the automatic nervous system which controls body functions and the immune system. 
A doll can be a tool, it works on the artist as the artist works on it, as you listen it instructs. It contains the sacred being created from your soul self and represents the deep desire of the body to expresses its truth. A doll allows you to see who you are.   

This one day workshop explores through intention, myth, shamanic journey and the creative process the crafting of your personal doll. 

​Create a doll that is birthed from your own unique and authentic self, reclaim aspects of your deeper soul self and discover a greater understanding of who you are. The very act of doll making can take you through a process of transformation, awakening and spiritual medicine. 

Learn the art of felting and working with polymer clay and natural materials.  All materials are supplied. No art experience necessary. 

A little about Jo Rockendorfer

Jo has training as an art therapist and transpersonal counsellor.  She has facilitated group workshops for adults and children for over 20 years and utilises creative techniques to enhance the therapeutic relationship.

​Jo lives on the South Coast of New South Wales and has  found the natural world to be her greatest friend and teacher.  As a young girl she had a special connection to nature and to the land and spent hours "just being"in the natural environment.  

​This love of the natural world deepened as an adult and she discovered as a therapist the value of working  restoratively with the land and with earth-based practises.

Through Jo's involvement with ‘Rites of Passage’ work she has found a special joy guiding individuals and groups as they move through life’s transitions and assisting them to find their full potential and true essence.  Jo has come to believe that when someone has a need to understand themselves at a deeper level, they can achieve this through a weaving of the arts such as body movement, stories, archetypes, writing, collage and with earth-base medicine and more.  In this way a person's psyche strengthens and resolves and reflects back inner wisdom, guidance and healing.

And I have made many many dolls, each with their own unique personality, they continue to inform me of my inner world even years after their making.