46 Comments
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Margaret Carol's avatar

Hello Josie… wow! Your writing about the doll touched me so deeply. Many years ago when my husband was alive and chronically ill, I made myself a doll to hold and to hold me… it felt sacred to me too to create her, me from cloth. A different skin but no less precious… ultimately.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It resurrected a powerful memory and allowed tears to open my heart wider. I am grateful for your touch ..

Blessings….

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Josie George's avatar

I am finding something increasingly powerful about fabric, needle, thread. There is something deeply meaningful in slow stitching, forming something, the softness and malleability of it, the way we can repurpose old things. I'm so glad you found a way to work this very profound magic too, at a time you needed it so deeply. Sending you much much love.

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Margaret Carol's avatar

Thank you Josie… I’m inspired to consider doll making again. It’s been many years … but it is such a powerful art form …

❤️

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Lia Leendertz's avatar

So beautiful josie, here’s my hand reaching back xx

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Josie George's avatar

So grateful to have you with me, Lia!

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Claire Harvey's avatar

Thank you so much Josie for your, as always real, raw & beautiful reflections. For reminding us of small, simple acts that can offer a holding place; a holding hand.

I’d like to offer another perspective on the “fearfully” quoted (from Psalm 139, The Bible). The interpretation often used is misleading; here better indicating that creating life is a reverent, holy process.

The word in Hebrew is yārē’. It is translated fearfully but isn’t about being scared but rather about being in the presence of what is sacred.

That seems to me to describe well & honour deeply, something of your process with the doll.

With love & gratitude for/to you

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Josie George's avatar

Thank you for this Claire! So interesting!

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Maria's avatar

Yes, your piece made me look again at Psalm 139, and the Hebrew 'yārē'. I agree with Claire that you seem to have captured very well the reverence in the process of creating.

Thank you

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Wendy Turner's avatar

Oh Josie. She is beautiful and you are beautiful. I am weeping, weeping, for all of us who spend so much time in hospitals, and who feel starved of tender touch. What a difference you will have made to the man in the waiting room. What a difference you make. You are so loved. Xxx

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Josie George's avatar

Oh Wendy, such deep love in your words. Thank you. We are all so precious! x

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

What an extraordinary offering here. Your reaching and holding (both for self and other) are so tangible, so honest. I fell into needle felting when I was struggling the most with my health, drawn to creating sculptures of hairless cats because their furless, exposed shapes, felt so much line my own raw vulnerability. Sometimes we need to feel our pain outside of ourselves in order to cultivate compassion for the experience. At least that’s how it was for me. Your desire to connect with all those other fragile forms is so touching.

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Josie George's avatar

What a beautiful comment. I wholeheartedly agree. The worst thing we can do with pain is hold it, lonely and isolated inside of us. If we can let it stretch out, connect with others' pain and stories, touch the whole world with it, something transforms in us, powerfully. I really believe we're all here to learn how interconnected we all are. Thank you so much for your reading and gentle heart x

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Sarah Fleming's avatar

I am so touched by your hand reaching out to mine, I am reaching back, being held, through words feels big and a beautiful calming blue. Thank you. X

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Jude Hatfield's avatar

Your beautiful words reached me all the way across the world in our cold Wintery June in Australia. Thankyou.

They're resonating and bearing witness within my heart.

Reaching my hand gently to yours, to thank you and simply be together for a moment.

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Josie George's avatar

I am so grateful to have you here. Sending you much, much love all the way around the world.

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June Girvin's avatar

So tender, so full of love. And thank you for the link to Ann Wood's shop - it's heaven.

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Josie George's avatar

Isn't it just?! Thank you June!

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Steve Blum's avatar

Just love…

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Josie George's avatar

Always always!

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Katy Lou's avatar

This was so exquisitely poignant and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the wider world ❤️

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Aly McDonnell's avatar

So beautiful. The doll is beautiful and your words touched me. Thank you for sharing your experience and your heart.

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Heather's avatar

My heart is warm as I sit here well after midnight in NW Canada, the pain like a vice gripping my body, because you, Josie, you! Made a difference to those people, just like you make a difference to us, and just like you made your beautiful tiny doll. You are a wonder. ♥️

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Josie George's avatar

Oh Heather. I hope you can get some sleep. Wishing you respite and rest and good things to cheer you xx

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Heather's avatar

Thanks, Josie. I will sleep soon. You’ve already done good things to cheer me!

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Cat's avatar

Beautiful. Does Tiny Doll have a name?

Take care, Josie. Glad you have F (and K) by your side. 🙂

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Josie George's avatar

She doesn't! She just feels like a mini me really. I think I need to spend some more time with her. Thank you Cat xx

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Ronnie Herd's avatar

Wonderful Josie, as always. Lying in bed this morning in discomfort, your beautiful words have healed me a little, thankyou. Xx

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Josie George's avatar

Wishing you ease and rest and sunshine, dear Ronnie.

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Lindsay Trevarthen's avatar

Beautiful as always: you, your writing and your doll. Much love xx 🫲🏻

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Josie George's avatar

Thank you dear Lindsay!

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This is Rachel's avatar

Oh wow! Thanks for this gorgeous post.

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Josie George's avatar

Thank you so much for reading!

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