THE HEROINE'S JOURNEY
I was intrigued by this TedX talk about the Heroine's Journey through transition.
I considered all the changes that have occurred throughout my life -
and I saw that there was a pattern.
My younger self fought change, saw it as a foe,
but now I recognise change as being an intrinsic part of being human.
These days,
I enter into the process,
name, welcome and dialogue with the emotions and reactions,
and continue forward,
one foot step at a time,
one precious moment at a time.
I considered all the changes that have occurred throughout my life -
and I saw that there was a pattern.
My younger self fought change, saw it as a foe,
but now I recognise change as being an intrinsic part of being human.
These days,
I enter into the process,
name, welcome and dialogue with the emotions and reactions,
and continue forward,
one foot step at a time,
one precious moment at a time.
SHRESTA
Shresta is starting out on a journey -
a heroine's journey perhaps.
She is poised on the cusp of hope;
balancing dread with anticipation;
ready to step out with faith and courage.
a heroine's journey perhaps.
She is poised on the cusp of hope;
balancing dread with anticipation;
ready to step out with faith and courage.
PILI
Pili is the second doll in a short series exploring the journey.
She walks into the mystery carrying a basket.
What problems, blocks, hang-ups in my life fill this basket?
What things from my past that I have given up getting over
do I carry with me every moment?
My past continues to incapacitate my life.
Will I set it down
and continue the journey unburdened?
She walks into the mystery carrying a basket.
What problems, blocks, hang-ups in my life fill this basket?
What things from my past that I have given up getting over
do I carry with me every moment?
My past continues to incapacitate my life.
Will I set it down
and continue the journey unburdened?
TREY
Trey holds a lotus flower as she steps out in faith.
For some, the lotus is a symbol of rebirth -
the lotus disappears into the night, re-emerging in the morning.
Its breaking of the surface of the water is suggestive of desire.
What do I desire?
What will emerge as I continue my journey?
For some, the lotus is a symbol of rebirth -
the lotus disappears into the night, re-emerging in the morning.
Its breaking of the surface of the water is suggestive of desire.
What do I desire?
What will emerge as I continue my journey?
SULASTRI
Sulastri carries something that many of us fear - a spider.
What do I fear?
How do I let fear paralyse me, or control me, or motivate me?
How does fear manifest itself in my life?
How can I integrate fear into a healthy life style?
What do I fear?
How do I let fear paralyse me, or control me, or motivate me?
How does fear manifest itself in my life?
How can I integrate fear into a healthy life style?
QUINTA
Quinta is the fifth doll in a series about walking into mystery, the unknown.
She wraps around her a shawl of leaves,
sensing deep within that nature is a great teacher.
Quinta recognises that change is a constant in the natural world,
that life is lived "on the edges of Time".
She embraces these words by Rabindranath Tagore,
"Let your life dance on the edges of Time
like dew on the top of a leaf."
She wraps around her a shawl of leaves,
sensing deep within that nature is a great teacher.
Quinta recognises that change is a constant in the natural world,
that life is lived "on the edges of Time".
She embraces these words by Rabindranath Tagore,
"Let your life dance on the edges of Time
like dew on the top of a leaf."
CECELIA
What happens during a time of transition -
resting?
challenge to the status quo?
reshaping of self and purpose?
Perhaps Cecelia intuitively understands this.
She holds and releases butterflies
who so poignantly and mysteriously show us
that even though nothing appears to be happening,
there is hidden movement,
and then - voila -
transformation!
resting?
challenge to the status quo?
reshaping of self and purpose?
Perhaps Cecelia intuitively understands this.
She holds and releases butterflies
who so poignantly and mysteriously show us
that even though nothing appears to be happening,
there is hidden movement,
and then - voila -
transformation!
ASONG
Asong is the seventh in a short, reflective series exploring journey -
not a physical journey, but one through change and transition.
She carries laces for the boots beside her.
She does not know how long this journey will take.
She does not know who or what she will encounter.
Nor does she know her destination.
So, consciously, mindfully, attentively, unhurriedly,
she puts one foot in front of another
and greets a world full of possibility.
Open hands. Open mind. Open heart.
not a physical journey, but one through change and transition.
She carries laces for the boots beside her.
She does not know how long this journey will take.
She does not know who or what she will encounter.
Nor does she know her destination.
So, consciously, mindfully, attentively, unhurriedly,
she puts one foot in front of another
and greets a world full of possibility.
Open hands. Open mind. Open heart.
OCTAVIA
Octavia is the eighth doll in this series.
She carries a doll -
reconnecting with the child within;
acknowledging past wounds, naming them, embracing them;
celebrating the giftedness of the child.
Together they move forward into the unknown -
reunited, grateful, loved.
She carries a doll -
reconnecting with the child within;
acknowledging past wounds, naming them, embracing them;
celebrating the giftedness of the child.
Together they move forward into the unknown -
reunited, grateful, loved.
NOVA
Nova is the ninth doll in a series exploring entering into mystery.
She carries a green bouquet,
to represent a time of greening,
of flourishing,
of consolidating,
of ripening.
She wears a cloak that gives her protection during the day
and warmth at night.
What is this cloak?
Prayer, meditation, self-care.
She carries a green bouquet,
to represent a time of greening,
of flourishing,
of consolidating,
of ripening.
She wears a cloak that gives her protection during the day
and warmth at night.
What is this cloak?
Prayer, meditation, self-care.
BADU
Badu is the tenth doll exploring the mystery and the giftedness of change.
I am reminded to acknowledge and thank this stage of my life
for all it has given me;
for the riches it has bestowed;
for the freedom it has offered.
I am grateful.
I am blessed.
I am reminded to acknowledge and thank this stage of my life
for all it has given me;
for the riches it has bestowed;
for the freedom it has offered.
I am grateful.
I am blessed.
DUKU
Duku is the penultimate doll in a series exploring change.
She is about to release a bird.
In the end, change is about being willing to let go of something -
an idea, a dream, a relationship, a job, a way of living.
Sometimes we are the creators and masters of change.
More often, however, we are a small part of larger events,
over which we have little or no control.
We need to mindfully, graciously, let go ...
and trust.
Our lives will be enriched.
She is about to release a bird.
In the end, change is about being willing to let go of something -
an idea, a dream, a relationship, a job, a way of living.
Sometimes we are the creators and masters of change.
More often, however, we are a small part of larger events,
over which we have little or no control.
We need to mindfully, graciously, let go ...
and trust.
Our lives will be enriched.
STYX
Styx is crossing the river -
leaving behind one stage or aspect of her life,
beginning another.
It can be difficult to say good-bye to a way of living,
or of being, or of feeling, or of doing.
It is important to acknowledge the grief
and integrate it into our life story.
leaving behind one stage or aspect of her life,
beginning another.
It can be difficult to say good-bye to a way of living,
or of being, or of feeling, or of doing.
It is important to acknowledge the grief
and integrate it into our life story.
