METTA
Rakshanda Khan (MA, DTATI, RP-Qualifying)
Richmond Hill, ON
Meet METTA, also known as unconditional love and compassion. She is a traveler as old as time. She may be a version of what Clarisa Pinkola Estes (2003) referred to as an old crone; a wizened older woman who has seen it all and fears no one.
This video of a customized doll is a product of an online course on Integral Expressive Arts Therapy taught by Krupa Jhaveri at Sankalpa: Art Journeys (www.sankalpajourneys.com). The doll was part of an art kit that arrived all the way from Auroville, India, containing a small stuffed doll form, fabric pieces, some beads, yarn, needle and thread. The course module explored a theme of 'Sincerity'.
After a brief meditation to connect with the art materials, I started by creating the doll's hair, layering thick yarn that I sewed onto the head as I wanted her to have voluminous grey hair. The clothes and accessories emerged as I played around with the materials in the kit, as well as some of my own.
She carries a bag of potions tied to her waist, and has a tattoo on her left arm, representing energy. She also has a third eye on her forehead to represent her intuition.
I had been wanting to explore stop motion video for some time, so this exercise was a great opportunity to give it a try. It was a lot of fun to come up with creative solutions for the backdrops, camera angles, and accessories.
This exercise in creating a doll and animating it to the theme of 'Sincerity' created space for a playful and meaningful exploration. I crafted a character, a setting, and a story that felt in-the-moment and authentic.
References:
Estes, C. P. (2003). Women who run with the wolves; Myths and stories of the wild woman archetype. Ballantine Books.
Music: 'Supreme Ishq' based on Sufi lyrics by mystic Baba Bhulley Shah, performed by Riaz Ali Qadri and others, and directed by Shoaib Mansoor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4uOuKyHhU8. Used with permission from director.