ALIZA TONOOKA
Katashiro ・形代
Katashiro 形代 are human shaped dolls traditionally created from paper, leaves, wood and straws. These kind of dolls were originally created for the purpose of being a “substitute” for an individual. It is a form of Yorishiro (a vessel for spirit).
As a substitute, in Japanese spiritual work, these dolls are utilized to transfer illness and negative energy onto them from individuals that are in need of healing and energetic cleansing. Once the doll has absorbed the bad energy, they are traditionally burned or discarded in a body of water (river or ocean) for the energetic "filth" to be washed away.
In addition to purification rituals, these dolls were also used as messengers to send people's wishes to the gods to get their wishes fulfilled.
Another interesting thing about Katashiro is that they were also utilized as the original form of Shikigami, a vessel for conjured spirits and spiritual thought forms that were given a life force to reside in, in order to fulfill a given task by the conjurer. Many people around the world were introduced to the concept of paper doll magick when the film Spirited Away was released.
Though the use of Katashiro originated from centuries ago, the tradition to utilize them as substitutes still lives on in contemporary Japan and many people use different forms of Katashiro to perform cleansing rituals to welcome healing and blessings into their lives.
Aliza's Katashiro are crafted based on the teachings of her home country's folk magick with the purpose to spread healing, cleansing and blessings.
All Katashiro dolls are consecrated by powerful Shinto purification prayers. This process of consecration makes the Katashiro dolls an ideal tool to absorb the unwanted energy off of your physical and energetic body.
