I Put A Spell On You
Skin Deep|Issue 283

Have you ever considered your tattoo session as a form of spiritual guidance?

Becky Rimmer
I Put A Spell On You

Marking your skin forever can be a life-changing moment and for US artist and spiritual healer Rachel Howe, those marks can represent something quite profound for their wearers.

Rachel practices a very unique craft that brings together tarot reading and stick ‘n’ poke (homemade, machine-free, single needle) tattooing. She runs private tattoo, tarot and reiki sessions for her Los Angeles client base. Her aim is to guide others, to ultimately lift them and their self-awareness, to eventually encourage their healing and growth.

This is her story.

Thank you for sharing your craft with us. Is your background tarot, or art?

I've made art my whole life, since I was a child. I went to art school and have always considered myself an artist.

I have always been fascinated by the mystical side of life. I started learning tarot about 6 years ago. A tarot reader who I saw took me under her wing. She saw some strong intuition in me and taught me how to read cards. 

Your own designed cards are so unique. What was your approach when interpreting them?

Since I had been reading for a while, using the classic Rider Waite deck, I already had some ideas about my own interpretations of certain cards, so a lot of the imagery in the cards came to me easily.

These designs came more from an emotional and intuitive place, rather than an intellectual place. Each card image had to feel right. 

Is LA an inspiring place to work and tattoo?

I recently moved from New York City to Los Angeles. NYC was my home for many years, but I started to feel stuck there, as it was not giving back to me things that I needed, as my own spiritual connection grew.

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