What students say about this class
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"When the Woman came home that day, she looked up Barb Kobe’s Medicine Doll Workshop again. She knew that this was what she was supposed to be doing, but she had walked away before, so how could she go back? For months she pondered how to make this happen. She thought and thought and finally decided that it was something she just had to do. So she contacted Barb, and to her delight, Barb welcomed her back with open arms.
Read the entire story here 
"I came to a point of my life when I was going deeper into my emotional healing and was finding that the traditional healing channels were not touching me as an artist. I needed the whole of me healed, and my art is the major form of how I communicate. I believe art is a form of language, and I needed all of my communication skills to heal the whole of me."
Linda Working online with an anonymous group of incredible women whose stories inspired me to tell my own. I have always been in the role of inspiring others and to be able to 'sit quietly at the back of the room' and do my own work on myself for a change. I also loved journaling but that is the most important and sacred part of my day and has been for years. Do you feel as if you healed some part of yourself or life? The free feeling after making the scapegoat doll. The relief at letting out all this baggage that has been riding around with me. Permission to do something just for me, to heal me, instead of for the market or for a show. Andrea I have uncovered some things that I wasn't aware of, at least not to the depth that they control my life. I will continue with this process with the hope of getting to the other side of these issues. Just the awareness has been a breakthrough. I would like to say that this was a wonderful experience. The people involved were so open to sharing. It was great to not feel all alone in the world even though many experiences were different from mine. The connection I think may have been greater for those who knew each other prior to this but nonetheless a connection was made for me as well. Barb was a great moderator and supporter throughout the process and I for one and extremely glad she did this project. Michelle |
How wonderfully healthy to allow those feelings to surface. I love the idea that one can create dolls to contain the feelings we fear, dislike, even love. Sometimes when we've been storing our feelings in our bodies for so long it may not be safe to show others. The artmaking, the dollmaking allows you to share them, let them out and show them to yourself FIRST. Then you can decide on a structure about how to express them with others. Often the doll represents a story that when told to others expresses the feelings and opens possibilities of enhancing communication and relationship. I love the energies of support and healing that come through to you and all in this group. I'm grateful that you felt safe enough to express yourself here. Barb Kobe I'm learning to truly value myself and honor who I am. I have repeatedly stood up for myself since in a steadfast way. I adopted a mantra which is "I am no longer willing to be sick in order for someone to like me." Not that I ever particularly did things so that people would like me, but rather I am willing to risk the dislike or disapproval of others instead of sacrificing my own well-being. I no longer use my health as an excuse. I stay much more "within my own life" and detach from others, pardon the expression, crap (I'm more specific than that...) I spoke online with a very dear native friend who is also an intuitive counselor like me, and this is what she told me: "Know that every stitch that you make takes away some of your dis-ease, and every doll that goes to someone takes some of your healing with her." I finally learned that I could take care of my needs first, and honor what I've always wanted to do - express myself though my creativity - and the work I know I am to do here on this earth will still get done. Thank You to the women who walked alongside me for a little while. I pass on to you all, and to you Barb, the most incredible compliment I have ever been given, from a student of mine. For years it graced the front of my brochure, now I in turn borrow it to pay homage to this beautiful and life-saving experience." I stand on this ledge, looking out over the ominous unknown, and I am no longer afraid. I know (finally) that I am not alone." Shena, Medicine Doll online group I don't think that there is anything that you wouldn't want to keep. Each aspect serves a specific need and one of the joys was the diversity of mediums of expression.Even having tools within tools, like alternate hand dialog. And, it was also of great benefit to have the voice of a facilitator to enter the process from time to time--especially when we needed to take some time out from overload. Adilah Robyn wrote this feedback about her Medicine Doll experience. When asked what she learned she said:
When I played with the word - GUARDIAN - this is what I noted: protector, serene, keeper, all knowing, mentor, wise, ancestor, guide, spiritual being (Funny thing is that my Guardian doll is turning into an Owl - which means guardian of the underworld, seer of souls, keeper of spirits, protection, wisdom, mystery & transition. a companion to mystics and medicine people) I am loving this process - it is showing me that I am more in tune with my inner wisdom than I thought I was! Robyn |
