The first tattoo artists were most certainly shamans. Tattoos served many purposes in tribal culture — status indicators and clan affiliation, seeking favor and protection from the Gods, embodiment of supernatural powers, trance states, and rites of passage. Tattooing has always spoken to a deeper part of the spirit, bringing meaning by making a permanent mark in living flesh, commemorating important memories and transitional events in our lives.

People often tell me, “I have been thinking about getting a tattoo for years.” When the date of our appointment arrives, often within a few short hours the tattoo is completed and that person is permanently changed for the rest of their life. Tattoos are one of the most powerful and rapid portals of transformation there is, which is why the practice has endured for centuries.

The current popularity of tattoos reflects the desire to have something we can “hold on to” when everything else may seem uncertain, and planetary change is affecting us whether or not we choose to acknowledge it.

When I did my first tattoo in 1992, an epiphany helped me to understand “this is what I want to do with my life.” I’ll never forget that pivotal moment which still guides me in this rich and challenging career. I always honored the responsibility involved. Because of the permanent nature of the tattoo, I needed to be offering my clients, not only my best artistically, but the best of myself as well.

I became involved in healing and yoga in 1996 to relieve my pain from a fairly severe scoliosis curvature, aggravated by long hours of tattooing. I developed my consciousness along with my art through massage school, Reiki, and Kundalini Yoga teacher training.

As I learned to touch people with clear intent, I witnessed how a physical body responds to touch. I experienced how energy moves in my own body and I could see and feel this energy in others. It was natural to bring this to my tattoo clients.

As my journey progressed, my relationship with the earth as the source of healing deepened, and I grew into my work as a shaman naturally. I have worked directly with and received initiations from shamans in both North and South America. Through this, my awareness of the transformational nature of tattooing grew.

The possibilities for healing became more clear as I blended various healing techniques with my most adventurous tattoo clients. I developed “sacred tattooing” to bring the spiritual depth of this ancient rite of passage to modern-day seekers and to assist their integration of the new tattoo art. I believe this knowledge has been revealed to me through the Akashic records, by the ancestors of tattooing.

A “sacred tattoo” session is a collaborative ceremony. Some of my clients are already familiar with ceremony and we customize to their traditions. Others want to deepen their experience because of the significance the tattoo holds for them.

I begin by opening a sacred space, by calling in the four directions. This energetic container of protection concentrates our intention and clarifies transmission of the highest wisdom for my client and myself. Each client builds a personal altar that brings their creative wisdom to the present and opens a vortex to their guides.

I do a clearing of their aura with sage, and an annointing blessing on their 3rd eye point to seal the intention they are holding for their tattoo. Prayers are offered before we begin the actual work. Typically, the tattoo itself is discussed and designed ahead of time, consulting with clients via emails or in person, by appointment.

Tattoos have a great deal of healing potential as well. A client’s intuition picks up on their body’s request for energetic stimulation where the tattoo is placed. It’s similar to how acupuncture works through the meridians, but more intense and concentrated.

I worked with a young man recently who wanted his tattoo on a very unusual part of his low back. Though uncommon, it looked fine aesthetically with his anatomy, so I trusted his intuition. He chose a bible verse, speaking of God’s unfailing support when you are in a weak place.

As our session progressed he shared more about himself. He revealed that he had been in recovery from alcohol for about a year, and this was how he wanted to commemorate his anniversary. His intention for the tattoo was to permanently anchor his lifestyle change. It wasn’t until I had finished the piece that I realized we had done the tattoo directly over his liver! This is an exciting new direction for tattooing to move in. What is needed is training for interested artists to expand their awareness, and open-minded adventurous clients.

The Law of Attraction works with tattoos as well. Tattoos comment on your core values, your emotional and mental state. What you ink in your skin will bring more of that into your life. It is very common for young people to get tattoos impulsively, expressing  independence, individuality, and the intensity of their personal challenges. As we mature, people usually outgrow their early tattoo choices.

It is very important to choose life-affirming, universal themes to take you in a positive direction, and illustrate the qualities you wish to embody. I do a fair amount of “cover-up” work, creating  new designs to completely cover the old design. This energetic “upgrade” overrides the energy of the old tattoo, clearing a space for growth and change.

I have created a sacred tattooing workshop for tattoo artists. It is for a growing number of artists who want to understand that being psychically sensitive is a gift instead of a weakness. Learning to work gracefully, with intent, one conducts the “energy dance” of a tattoo session, rather than being drained by it.

It is very intense... managing client comfort, communication, and focused concentration is a lot to ask of one person! If an artist is not connecting their mind to their heart, the session can feel very cold and impersonal, not to mention more uncomfortable for the artist and recipient.

Many clients come in to me because they feel that their artist seemed a bit disinterested, flaky, aloof, or even downright hostile. This is an unconscious defensive technique, when you don’t feel comfortable or safe in close proximity to people. It reflects a need for healing.

My intention is to teach artists how to navigate these challenges with energetic tools so they can enjoy their creation, attract the best clients and build a conscious thriving business through honoring the sacredness of this ancient art.

To schedule an appointment for a sacred tattoo, tattoo mentoring, or a healing session, Jen can be reached at jenschichi@yahoo.com, or (714) 418-0269. For more information about her work visit www.mermaidtale.net and www.shamanicsynergy.com For current workshops, events, and inspiring artwork “like” her Mermaids Tale fanpage, join the Shamanic Synergy group page on Facebook.