INNER CHILD
This is a series of dolls made in response to an exercise in Heather C. William's book,
"Drawing As A Sacred Activity."
I dislike drawing but I really wanted to participate in this activity with a group of fellow seekers.
So, I designed a template for a doll.
My inner child, instead of drawing with her non-dominant hand, filled in a template (scroll down to bottom of page).
I then made the doll.
I set several parameters:
the doll had to be made within thirty minutes;
I had to use materials immediately available on hand;
I used the same doll pattern: 20cm high, no limbs, oval for face.
I could not edit or revise what was evolving.
Then I listened to my doll.
Holy ground.
"Drawing As A Sacred Activity."
I dislike drawing but I really wanted to participate in this activity with a group of fellow seekers.
So, I designed a template for a doll.
My inner child, instead of drawing with her non-dominant hand, filled in a template (scroll down to bottom of page).
I then made the doll.
I set several parameters:
the doll had to be made within thirty minutes;
I had to use materials immediately available on hand;
I used the same doll pattern: 20cm high, no limbs, oval for face.
I could not edit or revise what was evolving.
Then I listened to my doll.
Holy ground.
INNER CHILD DOLL PATTERN
THE ACTIVITY
Here is the exercise DRAWING THE INNER CHILD
It is recommended that you do this each day for a month but whatever suits you will be fine.
Relax and breathe.
Sit comfortably with paper and crayons before you.
Close your eyes for a moment and see or feel a child near you.
Notice the colour of her hair, her height, her posture and clothing.
Open your heart and feel yourself unconditionally accepting this child
exactly as she is, even if she is angry, sad, or frightened.
Ask this child to play a game with you.
Sit down together on the ground or floor of your imagination.
The adult you will ask the child you three questions:
What is your name?
What are you feeling right now?
What can I do to help you feel really good?
Let the child draw a picture for you using crayons/pens and your non-dominant hand.
Thank the child for sharing with you.
It is recommended that you do this each day for a month but whatever suits you will be fine.
Relax and breathe.
Sit comfortably with paper and crayons before you.
Close your eyes for a moment and see or feel a child near you.
Notice the colour of her hair, her height, her posture and clothing.
Open your heart and feel yourself unconditionally accepting this child
exactly as she is, even if she is angry, sad, or frightened.
Ask this child to play a game with you.
Sit down together on the ground or floor of your imagination.
The adult you will ask the child you three questions:
What is your name?
What are you feeling right now?
What can I do to help you feel really good?
Let the child draw a picture for you using crayons/pens and your non-dominant hand.
Thank the child for sharing with you.
THE DOLLS
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Hope.
I am feeling unsure.
Can you hold me?"
My doll will have dark brown, medium length straight hair.
Her eyes will be hazel. She wears pyjamas and is barefoot.
My favourite colour is yellow.
My doll's name is 'No-Name'.
"My name is Hope.
I am feeling unsure.
Can you hold me?"
My doll will have dark brown, medium length straight hair.
Her eyes will be hazel. She wears pyjamas and is barefoot.
My favourite colour is yellow.
My doll's name is 'No-Name'.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Ella.
I am feeling unsure.
Save me."
My doll will have long, curly, brown hair.
Her eyes are hazel. She wears a frilly pinafore and red shoes.
My favourite colours are blue and white.
My doll's name is Dorothy.
"My name is Ella.
I am feeling unsure.
Save me."
My doll will have long, curly, brown hair.
Her eyes are hazel. She wears a frilly pinafore and red shoes.
My favourite colours are blue and white.
My doll's name is Dorothy.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Grace.
I am feeling sad.
Take me to where I can be ... (silence)"
My doll will have black hair, shaved.
Her eyes are grey.
She wears anything that has pockets. In a pocket, there is a locket.
My favourite colours are grey and orange.
My doll's name will be Lucy.
"My name is Grace.
I am feeling sad.
Take me to where I can be ... (silence)"
My doll will have black hair, shaved.
Her eyes are grey.
She wears anything that has pockets. In a pocket, there is a locket.
My favourite colours are grey and orange.
My doll's name will be Lucy.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Prudence.
I am feeling curious.
See me ... I am not invisible."
My doll will have orange, uneven, fluffy hair.
Her eyes will be grey.
She will wear anything with stripes, and is barefoot.
My doll loves bells.
My favourite colours are orange and red.
My doll's name will be Chime.
"My name is Prudence.
I am feeling curious.
See me ... I am not invisible."
My doll will have orange, uneven, fluffy hair.
Her eyes will be grey.
She will wear anything with stripes, and is barefoot.
My doll loves bells.
My favourite colours are orange and red.
My doll's name will be Chime.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Matilda.
I am feeling frustrated.
Let me be who I am."
My doll will have straight, black hair of medium length.
She will have odd coloured eyes.
Her clothing is a uniform with boots.
My favourite colours are black and blue.
My doll's name is Clavis.
"My name is Matilda.
I am feeling frustrated.
Let me be who I am."
My doll will have straight, black hair of medium length.
She will have odd coloured eyes.
Her clothing is a uniform with boots.
My favourite colours are black and blue.
My doll's name is Clavis.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Lizzie.
I am feeling squeezed, confined,
like in a womb or a muslin bag of fruit."
My doll will have short, straight blonde hair.
Her eyes seem to have no colour - invisible.
She is swaddled in a wrapping cloth.
My favourite colours are yellow and white.
Her name will be Chance.
"My name is Lizzie.
I am feeling squeezed, confined,
like in a womb or a muslin bag of fruit."
My doll will have short, straight blonde hair.
Her eyes seem to have no colour - invisible.
She is swaddled in a wrapping cloth.
My favourite colours are yellow and white.
Her name will be Chance.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Maisie.
I feel overwhelmingly sad and responsible.
Encourage me ..."
My doll should have medium length, wavy black hair.
She will have dark brown eyes.
She will wear a long red coat, and earrings.
My favourite colours are red and black.
My doll's name will be Courage.
"My name is Maisie.
I feel overwhelmingly sad and responsible.
Encourage me ..."
My doll should have medium length, wavy black hair.
She will have dark brown eyes.
She will wear a long red coat, and earrings.
My favourite colours are red and black.
My doll's name will be Courage.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Stretch.
I feel like I don't fit.
Find me a place where I belong."
My doll will be bald, and have grey eyes.
It will wear bright-coloured clothes and a scarf.
My doll's name will be Enigma.
"My name is Stretch.
I feel like I don't fit.
Find me a place where I belong."
My doll will be bald, and have grey eyes.
It will wear bright-coloured clothes and a scarf.
My doll's name will be Enigma.
The Inner Child says,
"I am invincible.
Let me do what I want."
My doll will have short, black, spiky hair.
He will have blue eyes.
He will wear trousers, a shirt and boots.
My favourite colours are camo, black and green.
My doll's name is Zeus.
"I am invincible.
Let me do what I want."
My doll will have short, black, spiky hair.
He will have blue eyes.
He will wear trousers, a shirt and boots.
My favourite colours are camo, black and green.
My doll's name is Zeus.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Angel.
I need comfort.
I want to nestle in your arms.
My doll will have golden, short curly hair.
She will have blue eyes.
She wears a tunic with ribbons.
My favourite colours are pink and white.
My doll's name will be Re-Nee.
"My name is Angel.
I need comfort.
I want to nestle in your arms.
My doll will have golden, short curly hair.
She will have blue eyes.
She wears a tunic with ribbons.
My favourite colours are pink and white.
My doll's name will be Re-Nee.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Inheritance.
I am feeling displaced and out-of-kilter.
I want to find where I belong.
My doll will have short, uneven, fluffy light brown hair.
It will wear shorts, a T-shirt, and carry a satchel.
I like any colours ... no preference.
My doll's name will be Gene.
"My name is Inheritance.
I am feeling displaced and out-of-kilter.
I want to find where I belong.
My doll will have short, uneven, fluffy light brown hair.
It will wear shorts, a T-shirt, and carry a satchel.
I like any colours ... no preference.
My doll's name will be Gene.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Ogre.
I am feeling large, clumsy, awkward.
Teach me what need."
My doll will be bald with black eyes.
he will have a tie, and shiny black shoes.
My favourite colours are green and black.
My doll's name will be Helpmate.
"My name is Ogre.
I am feeling large, clumsy, awkward.
Teach me what need."
My doll will be bald with black eyes.
he will have a tie, and shiny black shoes.
My favourite colours are green and black.
My doll's name will be Helpmate.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Mini Me.
I am shrinking, disappearing.
I want to be seen.
My doll will have long, yellow braids.
Her eyes are purple.
My barefoot doll wears frills.
My favourite colours are purple and yellow.
My doll's name is Indigo.
"My name is Mini Me.
I am shrinking, disappearing.
I want to be seen.
My doll will have long, yellow braids.
Her eyes are purple.
My barefoot doll wears frills.
My favourite colours are purple and yellow.
My doll's name is Indigo.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Mary Francis.
I am afraid.
Help me not to make mistakes."
My doll will have untidy, medium length, red hair.
His eyes will be green.
He will wear armour, boots and carry an amulet.
My favourite colours are purple and grey.
His name is Invincible.
"My name is Mary Francis.
I am afraid.
Help me not to make mistakes."
My doll will have untidy, medium length, red hair.
His eyes will be green.
He will wear armour, boots and carry an amulet.
My favourite colours are purple and grey.
His name is Invincible.
The Inner Child says,
"I feel empty-headed.
I want wisdom and a firm foundation."
My doll will have curly, uneven, golden hair.
Her eyes are hollow voids.
She will wear a dress and a crown.
My favourite colours are purple and yellow.
My doll's name will be Omni.
"I feel empty-headed.
I want wisdom and a firm foundation."
My doll will have curly, uneven, golden hair.
Her eyes are hollow voids.
She will wear a dress and a crown.
My favourite colours are purple and yellow.
My doll's name will be Omni.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Helga.
I am damned.
I need forgiveness and punishment and retribution."
My doll will have long blonde hair, tied in braids.
Her eyes are blue.
Her clothes are adorned with pins.
My favourite colours are red and blue.
My doll's name is Icarus.
"My name is Helga.
I am damned.
I need forgiveness and punishment and retribution."
My doll will have long blonde hair, tied in braids.
Her eyes are blue.
Her clothes are adorned with pins.
My favourite colours are red and blue.
My doll's name is Icarus.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Tom.
I am feeling excluded.
Help me become without discrimination."
My doll will have black, uneven, unruly hair.
He will have yellow eyes.
He will be wearing a suit and shoes.
My favourite colours are black and brown.
His name will be Nike.
"My name is Tom.
I am feeling excluded.
Help me become without discrimination."
My doll will have black, uneven, unruly hair.
He will have yellow eyes.
He will be wearing a suit and shoes.
My favourite colours are black and brown.
His name will be Nike.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Martha.
I am feeling ill-defined.
Apply some heat: transform me, purify me, refine me."
My doll will have medium-length grey hair, cut short and neat.
Her eyes are light brown.
She wears a skirt and cardigan and orange fluffy slippers.
My doll is always knitting.
My favourite colours are orange and pale blue.
My doll's name is Granny.
"My name is Martha.
I am feeling ill-defined.
Apply some heat: transform me, purify me, refine me."
My doll will have medium-length grey hair, cut short and neat.
Her eyes are light brown.
She wears a skirt and cardigan and orange fluffy slippers.
My doll is always knitting.
My favourite colours are orange and pale blue.
My doll's name is Granny.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Forgettable.
I feel subsumed, unrecognised.
Put my name in neon lights."
My doll will have shot, spiky, striped hair.
His eyes will be blue.
He will wear leather, chains and boots, with a heart and a patch.
My favourite colour is black.
His name will be Link.
"My name is Forgettable.
I feel subsumed, unrecognised.
Put my name in neon lights."
My doll will have shot, spiky, striped hair.
His eyes will be blue.
He will wear leather, chains and boots, with a heart and a patch.
My favourite colour is black.
His name will be Link.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Sarah.
I need friends. I need to be chosen.
Pick me."
My doll will have bouffy dark brown hair.
Her eyes will be hazel coloured.
She will wear lacy clothes, and will show courage.
My favourite colours are pink and white.
Her name will be Magnet.
"My name is Sarah.
I need friends. I need to be chosen.
Pick me."
My doll will have bouffy dark brown hair.
Her eyes will be hazel coloured.
She will wear lacy clothes, and will show courage.
My favourite colours are pink and white.
Her name will be Magnet.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Svelte.
I am feeling desirous, covetous.
I want to tame the beast inside me."
My doll will have long, straight black hair.
Her eyes are dark brown.
She will wear an apron with pockets, in which will be a cat's tail.
My favourite colours are green and yellow.
Her name will be Martha.
"My name is Svelte.
I am feeling desirous, covetous.
I want to tame the beast inside me."
My doll will have long, straight black hair.
Her eyes are dark brown.
She will wear an apron with pockets, in which will be a cat's tail.
My favourite colours are green and yellow.
Her name will be Martha.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Doggard.
I feel exhausted but determined.
Show me the right path.
My doll will have straight brown hair.
His eyes will be light brown.
He will wear trousers and have tattoos.
My favourite colour is brown.
My doll's name will be Bland.
"My name is Doggard.
I feel exhausted but determined.
Show me the right path.
My doll will have straight brown hair.
His eyes will be light brown.
He will wear trousers and have tattoos.
My favourite colour is brown.
My doll's name will be Bland.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Imagio.
I feel that nothing is real;
that I cannot tell the difference between reality and fiction.
I need a mentor.
My doll will have short, blond dreads.
Her eyes will be dark brown.
She will wear a cloak, which hides her navel piercing.
My favourite colours are green and grey.
Her name will be Verity.
"My name is Imagio.
I feel that nothing is real;
that I cannot tell the difference between reality and fiction.
I need a mentor.
My doll will have short, blond dreads.
Her eyes will be dark brown.
She will wear a cloak, which hides her navel piercing.
My favourite colours are green and grey.
Her name will be Verity.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Garth.
I feel pissed off.
I don't want to be different.
I don't want life to be so bloody hard."
My doll will have short, spiky, multi-coloured hair.
She will wear a T-shirt, skirt and earrings.
My favourite colours are orange and blue.
Her name will be Amanda.
(I later found out that Amanda means 'deserving of love')
"My name is Garth.
I feel pissed off.
I don't want to be different.
I don't want life to be so bloody hard."
My doll will have short, spiky, multi-coloured hair.
She will wear a T-shirt, skirt and earrings.
My favourite colours are orange and blue.
Her name will be Amanda.
(I later found out that Amanda means 'deserving of love')
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Gabriel.
I feel that I have something to say.
Coach my voice. Give me courage and perseverance."
My doll will have orange, medium length hair.
It will have grey eyes.
My doll will wear T-shirt and pants, and carry flowers.
My favourite colours are red and yellow.
My doll's name will be Prophet.
"My name is Gabriel.
I feel that I have something to say.
Coach my voice. Give me courage and perseverance."
My doll will have orange, medium length hair.
It will have grey eyes.
My doll will wear T-shirt and pants, and carry flowers.
My favourite colours are red and yellow.
My doll's name will be Prophet.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Grace.
I am feeling calm, expectant.
Sit with me."
My doll will have long, curly, grey hair.
She will have grey eyes.
My doll will wear clothes made of plastic, and gumboots.
She carries a camera, and is masked.
My favourite colours are white and pink.
Her name is Obscura.
"My name is Grace.
I am feeling calm, expectant.
Sit with me."
My doll will have long, curly, grey hair.
She will have grey eyes.
My doll will wear clothes made of plastic, and gumboots.
She carries a camera, and is masked.
My favourite colours are white and pink.
Her name is Obscura.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Matthew.
I have a feeling I am in the wrong place.
Please explain the signs ... show them to me."
My doll will have short black hair which is neat and tidy.
His eyes are dark brown.
He wear trousers and a belt.
My favourite colours are bright.
His name will be Aquila.
"My name is Matthew.
I have a feeling I am in the wrong place.
Please explain the signs ... show them to me."
My doll will have short black hair which is neat and tidy.
His eyes are dark brown.
He wear trousers and a belt.
My favourite colours are bright.
His name will be Aquila.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Griswald.
I am sad - saddened that I cannot change the past.
Sorry.
I need you to change the past."
You cannot see my doll's hair.
Her eyes are grey.
She wears a garment made of sack-cloth and carries a shell.
My favourite colours are brown and grey.
My doll's name is Marjory.
"My name is Griswald.
I am sad - saddened that I cannot change the past.
Sorry.
I need you to change the past."
You cannot see my doll's hair.
Her eyes are grey.
She wears a garment made of sack-cloth and carries a shell.
My favourite colours are brown and grey.
My doll's name is Marjory.
The Inner Child says,
"My name is Greg.
I am feeling content - surprised by content, mystified by content - but content.
Enable me.
My doll will have short, blonde, fluffy hair.
Her eyes will be green.
She will wear robes and a bell.
My favourite colours are gold and white.
Her name will be Pan.
"My name is Greg.
I am feeling content - surprised by content, mystified by content - but content.
Enable me.
My doll will have short, blonde, fluffy hair.
Her eyes will be green.
She will wear robes and a bell.
My favourite colours are gold and white.
Her name will be Pan.
The Inner Child speaks,
"My name is Elan.
I feel ready to go.
Let me go."
My doll will have long, straight, black hair.
His eyes will be green.
He is in his birthday suit, and carries a key.
My favourite colour is gold.
My doll's name is Ray.
"My name is Elan.
I feel ready to go.
Let me go."
My doll will have long, straight, black hair.
His eyes will be green.
He is in his birthday suit, and carries a key.
My favourite colour is gold.
My doll's name is Ray.
INNER CHILD DOLL TEMPLATE
based on the tutorial by Sayraphim Lothian
Designing a doll for my inner child
Dear child, my tender self,
I wish to create a doll for you.
Please circle the characteristics that appeal to you or add your own.
I will create a small doll for you to cherish.
My doll's hair colour is:
blonde dark brown
light brown red
brown black
grey orange
My doll's hair length is:
short medium
long uneven
other _______________
My doll's hair style is:
spiky fluffy
curly straight
dreads braids
2 ponytails 1 ponytail
french plait shaved
other _____________
My doll's eye colour is:
blue green
light brown dark brown
hazel grey
odd
I would like my doll to wear:
trousers t-shirt
pyjamas skirt
shorts dress
tights hoodie
cardigan other __________________
My doll's footwear should be:
boots jandals
sandles slippers
trainers ballet shoes
barefoot other __________
Anything else you would like your doll to be wearing?
My favourite colour is :
Another colour I like is:
Draw what expression you would like your doll to have
My doll's name will be:___________________________________________________
May she bless you today.
May she accompany you today.
May she bring you peace.
May she embody your true self.
May she be your friend; your soul friend.
May she be a safe harbour.
May she absorb your secrets.
May she catch your dreams.
Dear child, my tender self,
I wish to create a doll for you.
Please circle the characteristics that appeal to you or add your own.
I will create a small doll for you to cherish.
My doll's hair colour is:
blonde dark brown
light brown red
brown black
grey orange
My doll's hair length is:
short medium
long uneven
other _______________
My doll's hair style is:
spiky fluffy
curly straight
dreads braids
2 ponytails 1 ponytail
french plait shaved
other _____________
My doll's eye colour is:
blue green
light brown dark brown
hazel grey
odd
I would like my doll to wear:
trousers t-shirt
pyjamas skirt
shorts dress
tights hoodie
cardigan other __________________
My doll's footwear should be:
boots jandals
sandles slippers
trainers ballet shoes
barefoot other __________
Anything else you would like your doll to be wearing?
My favourite colour is :
Another colour I like is:
Draw what expression you would like your doll to have
My doll's name will be:___________________________________________________
May she bless you today.
May she accompany you today.
May she bring you peace.
May she embody your true self.
May she be your friend; your soul friend.
May she be a safe harbour.
May she absorb your secrets.
May she catch your dreams.
" The most potent muse of all
is our own inner child."
Stephen Nachmanovitch
is our own inner child."
Stephen Nachmanovitch
