A get-what-you-get tattoo experience. Nobody knows what the tattoo will be until the day of your appointment!

Getting a new tattoo is a big commitment. You spend time and energy deciding what your new forever art piece will look like. You also think about where you will put it. Imagine you leave the process up to fate. You get messages from your guides through a Tarot card reading to decide what your new art will be. Well, if this sounds crazy to you or interesting, keep reading. There is a place that does this, and I did it.

Amber and Toni Brennan, who are married tattoo artists, founded Plush Tattoo. It is a cozy, private studio in Portland, Oregon. They offer a chill and personalized tattoo experience.

How it works:

Once you get to your appointment to the quaint little studio that looks like a house on a street, you are greeted by a customized sign that they are waiting just for you:

Once inside, you are greeted by Amber and Toni. They sit you down and go over the process.

The Meditation: You sit with Amber, and she walks you through a beautiful scene in your mind. In this scene, you become a beacon of light for your spiritual guides to find you. visiting a place where you feel completely loved, seen, respected and accepted. Releasing tension, feeling surrender in a sanctuary of sights, sounds and warm hugs from your loved ones. Focusing on your glowing light you are now ready to bring in all this goodness into your session.

The Reading: Amber was drawn to do something a little different with me. She felt my reading warranted four cards with an elemental direction. This meant one card for each direction. I chose four cards at her direction and put them in the compass configuration, with some charms to come along.

I chose 4 cards from the deck. I placed them in the configuration she instructed me to. I also handed her a handful of charms from her bag.

I handed Amber a small handful of charms. As she shuffled them and dropped them, the little heart went flying to the left. I said oh shit, there goes my heart. She said, “Your open heart.” She added that your open heart gives gifts. These gifts are not always received well. They are not always appreciated and sometimes tossed to the side.

The first card she read was my North/Earth and was Temperance Reversed with a Diamond Charm Reversed. We have to go through hard things to become a diamond. Sometimes caught in the middle we cant let the past drag us down. The receivers of the gifts of your heart don’t know how much you truly gave. Despite this, you are still torn in different directions. If you knew how much I gave, you wouldn’t have reacted this way. You are just like this compass. You are being called to be grounded, to get stable even if it means letting go of what is comfortable. If you hold on to something for too long, and no changes occur, it’s time to let go. You can assume it’s the right moment to release that thing to make positive changes.

The next card was my East/Air Card. It was the King of Swords reversed. Amber said that sword cards represent Air in the Tarot. This really shows how aligned I am in my process. That I am going in the right direction. She asserted that I approach things logically and methodically. She compared it to unlocking a lock. All the gears at once align when the key is inserted. Then the lock opens. She said that I need to align my rules to release control of others. I should understand my own needs. I must find other ways to satisfy them and resist the urge to act from a wish to punish. This card was also accompanied by an upside dolphin which represented the upheaval in my community, family and relationships. I need to stop overthinking. I have people in my corner. Even though it’s hard to hear what they have to say, I can find peace and equilibrium.

The next card was My South/Fire Card Ace of Swords. Efficiency on all things, discovery, clarity, new perspectives. Sifting through the uncertainty to find truth or choose suffering. Chose to destroy or wield the power of the sword for your highest good. New plans with clear intentions. added to this card was an arrow and a plane signifying going the right direction and traveling my journey. Cut away all the unnecessary details and focus on the facts of what needs to be done. Start by writing down all your tasks. Remove anything that doesn’t align with your main focus. Organize ideas visually, especially when dealing with obstacles. Embrace new beginnings without hesitation.

The last card was West/Water the eight of cups. Here to break our hearts she said. All about the emotions. Fear of change, Stagnation, Avoidance. The fool tries to improve an unfortunate situation. It is hard for them to let go of something they put so much effort into. Staying longer than you should in a unfulfilling life will keep you from finding a life of true fulfillment. What desires are you truly suppressing to stay comfortable. Starting over seems more difficult than bearing the status quo for another day. Yet, denying your own happiness can be more damaging in the long term. Confront your fears, examine what stops you from taking stock of your life and finding true happiness. Pinpoint what you’re scared of leaving behind. Discover why your current situation seems easier to ignore than to choose yourself. Return to gratitude. This card was accompanied by a snow flake, which Amber said signified a do over. time for rest, like how the seasons take a winter to hibernate then start fresh with the new season.

Lastly there was a little music note. I think I know why that one was there. Music is my life. She also said to go to the beat of your own drum and be loud. Who cares? There is not a lot of time in this life to be yourself, so just do it. “Tough Love are the best readings, sorry my deck is calling you out so hard. “

The Design: So after all that, whew you need a drink. It’s now time to take a break for an hour while the artists design something for you to choose from. We went to this cute little bar nearby for some snacks and a drink.

I came back 60 minutes later to choose my fate. I as presented with these four designs:

With the help of my dear friends I went with the mirror. It represented a Japanese art form called Kintsugi. This art involves repairing broken objects with gold to highlight their imperfections. The word “kintsugi” literally means “to join with gold”. 

The concept of kintsugi can be applied to mirrors and other objects. This shows the idea that brokenness can be beautiful. Resilience also shows the idea that we can heal from wounds. We can embrace imperfections and become stronger.

It was surrounded by a blue lotus flower. The flower has many cultural meanings. These include enlightenment, wisdom, and purity. It is often depicted partially open, representing the beginning of a spiritual journey. 

When my friend told me about this I found it relevant to the trials in my life. I felt this was the message I needed on my arm. It is something I can carry with me as I grow further in my journey. Amber also placed in the middle a sigal, signifying transformation.(a sigil refers to a symbolic representation of the practitioner’s desired outcome.)

After a lovely trip to Portland, my beautiful friends and these two amazing souls. I have my art, my reminder to keep going, keep transforming and to keep choosing me.

Thank you Amber and Toni for an amazing experience.

You want your own experience? Book one now! You won’t regret it.

https://www.plushtattoo.me/

Bex