all peoples across the world have a history of tattoo / body modification as ceremony.
ancestrally, tattoos represented rites of passage, markings of celebration and grief, initiation rituals, or markers of lineage/community.
tattooing has deep medicine to offer us in current times, where it is even more important to return to our roots.
what is handpoke tattooing?
I practice handpoke tattooing, which means I do not use a machine.
instead of tattooing with a bone, shell, or thorn like our ancestors did, I am tattooing with stainless steel needles. these needles would typically go into a machine powered by electricity, but instead I am holding these needles by hand. this creates a special experience merging our past and present together.
all of these markings are created dot by dot. a line is ultimately hundreds of dots connected closely together! this is a much slower, present, and meditative process of tattooing.
tattoo is thousands-year old ancestral technology
there are 3 main pathways that we can work together for tattoo medicine:
pre-channelled “flash” design
these are pre-drawn designs awaiting their forever home. some designs repeatable.
custom tattoo design
you gather inspiration and prayers to share with me. we interpret this material into a custom tattoo.
multi-day tattoo ritual where we ask your guides, guardians, and ancestors for insight on a design unique to your journey.
