In Service To Spirit

Most of you who read this blog know that I am crafty and that one of the things I do for a living is to make dolls. I don't always talk about this except in the most general of terms but I thought I would write a short post on what it means to craft these small representations of Spirit.

My pays-most-of-the-bills job is to craft New Orleans Style Voodoo Dolls for a company with stores across the country as well as a substantial web presence. I have worked with them now for about 3 years and I thoroughly enjoy it. I began my tenure making less formal 'hoodoo dolls' -dolls that represented a condition one wants to manifest--Love, Money, etc.
  After a year or so I was asked to begin making the Voodoo Dolls.
   The first question I'm asked when someone learns what I do is 'Do you practice Voodoo?' No, I don't. I find the religion fascinating and the sacred art vibrates with its intensity and energy but I am not a practitioner. I am a respectful observer and I think this is why the Spirits that are represented in the dolls that I make are so ready to speak to me.
                                             Oh-and I mean that quite literally.
You see, THIS is ground I rarely tread on when it comes to my making of dolls.. They talk. The Spirits, I mean. And they are a mighty chatty bunch, at that! If Erzulie Freda wants a certain lace when I'm at the fabric store She will most definitely tell me. That it costs $24.95 a yard? No matter says Herself-- 'I Want That'. I cannot shop for supplies without Papa Legba talking away about his gold glitter-- heaven forbid I run out of gold glitter for Papa!
And so it goes-- as I go along with the making of Their physical representations these Spirits love to be in on the process-- its a wonderful experience and one I am so grateful to be a part of. Its very much a collaboration and I adore it!

  Over the past 2 years I've began to feel other Spirits whisper for a physical representation-- some are recognizable Deities and some are wanderers that want a home.
  Hattie is a Hoodoo lady who lives(d) in a small shack along the banks of a bayou.. she is quite powerful and was once a reigning beauty. She began whispering to me about--of all- things! her hair. She is quite vain about her hair and likes to wear it piled on top of her head in an old fashioned chignon... This is Her doll..

 

The Morrigan, a Celtic Goddess near and dear to my heart, began asking earlier this summer-- it was a most intimidating request because She wanted raven's wings--gah! but when She asks it is best to simply tuck in and do your best. My 'best' included over 60 hours of work and raven's wings comprised of dozens of hand-placed feathers. This doll is one of my favorites and The Lady is pleased as well (Thank Goodness!) Lately though She has been sending whispers of dolls in Her other guises so there may be a few more Morrigan dolls! This is The Morrigan as The Raven Queen:

 

Last night the itch to create a doll began after dinner. Since I was caught up on all of my orders for the Voodoo company I began the process of making the base body. A head was attached and a grayish blue paint applied. This was odd, I thought, but lets just see where this goes... the features were added--an old woman; handsome but certainly not pretty..

Her under-dress from yellow washed silk, her outer dress from a somber colored tartan.

Ah-Ha....

I said Hail and Welcome to The Caileach Bheur.

The second Celtic Goddess had arrived for Her doll..

 

I am so honored that these Spirits come to me for a physical vessel. These are the Old Gods--the Forgotten Ones. I give them a presence again, a place in our world again..

I am grateful.