Ayahuasca made me do it! How I became a tattoo artist

When people asked me how I got into tattooing, short answer is Plant Medicine.

It was 2021, I had a successful job in operations Management, but I was absolutely miserable. My friend invited me to visit her in Colombia. At the same time, another friend went to South America to sit with Ayauasca and I've noticed the positive changes it brought into her life. So I decided to go down to Colombia, work remotely and attend a 10 day Plant Medicine Retreat.

As I was there, I thought "I don't know what I'm going to do next, but I cannot do this job anymore. Even though I'm very good at it, it kiils my soul." And there was my two week notice.

While I was at the retreat, which admittedly completely changed the trajectory of my life and the way I understand the world, I started drawing again. Something that I've done all my life, but never thought I was good enough to do anything with it. The medicine gently reminded me of my gifts. My skills didn't change. The only difference was that now I had the strength to believe in my self.

And so after spending 6 weeks in Colombia. which I completely fell in love with, I returned home, rested and recalibrated after 6 years of rat racing combined with loads of partying.

I gave myself time and space to sit down and ponder: What is the coolest job in the world? Who do I look at and think - damn, their job is really fun, they got it good! I wrote down a list of those jobs and looked at what kind of skills they require. Is it so out of reach for me to learn those skills? I could never learn to be an astrophysicist, but I am already a creative, musician and artist. I just had a hard time admitting that to myself.

At the same time as my spiritual journey started unfloding, I stumbled on a podcast that was explaining how tattoos are connected in energetics and vibration and are able to affect us, for better of worse. How they can serve as medicine when done with intention. When I heard this information, my body started shaking, tears rolling from my eyes. In that moment, I understood - this is it. THIS is where my heart is leading me. To remember how ancient people, knowing this wisdom, worked with marking their skin. To honor this process, knowing its power. I need to bring this medicine back to the people. AND, I was fascinated with tattoos and am a collector myself.

As a statement of NO WAY BACK, I got finger tattoos while in Medellin, to confirm to myself that I am never getting an office job again. It was time to start over. I decided that I will give it my best to learn and become a good artrist. And if I fail, I can stand back up and try something else. Thank you, Plant Medicine, for helping me believe in myself no matter what.

There I was, drawing day in and day out for a month, creating a portfolio to find an apprenticeship.

For a year, I was studying under an artist, while also learning the energetics of the body and all spiritual/energetic information connected to it.

After finishing my apprenticeship, I set on a quest to find my first job at a tattoo shop. After countless attempts and interviews, understanding how tough it is to get into the industry, I finally found a street shop that just opened and was willing to take me in. Thank you, Alejandro Tinoco, for tough lessons and all your patience. There I continued learning, having to keep a second job to support myself through it. During my first two years I received a lot of NO's, disrespect and shit-talking behind my back because I brought spirituality and intention into my work.

There I understood how much more important it is to continue bringing this awareness to people and do this work. This led me to realizing I will not water it down to fit into to the environment.

So I set on to create my own Studio Sanctuary, where this work can be honored and done in a proper way. Where my clients can be safely held in their vulnerability in this deep process.

Where I can have an altar without getting weird looks and burn all the sage I want :)

I am very excited to have build this space that is now open and to welcome you. This space is bridging all the work I've been doing with my spiritual studies, sound, community gathering and plant medicines.

There will be held Earth and Soul Journeys that are a fusion of Past life Regression, Shamanic Journey and Sound Bath put into a meditation, accompanied with plant medicines like Cacao and Hape. As well as Song Circles, Community gatherings and guest artists.

More on my values and the way I approach my space and client's sessions in the next post <3