My tattoo road trip to PAOH (Pennsylvania and Ohio) all started with the above image created by artist Kitty Meltvedt.
Last year while I was studying for the bar exam I needed some creativity time, so I started thinking very seriously about my sleeve. I had a few tattoos on my arm already but I knew I wanted to build a full sleeve although I hadn't decided on a theme just yet. As I was researching random things I knew I wanted, it came to me -- this major vision for my entire arm. The top half would have to do with the universe only, and things I'd experienced in this lifetime that came directly from the universe such as with very special individuals and other things that touched me very deeply. The bottom half would consist of everything I had experienced in the physical realm, down here, such as love/loss, pain, childhood trauma, and things I am very attracted to such as a gothic aesthetic, the theory of the devil etc. I didn't realize it but only one tattoo didn't make sense as it was placed where I would theoretically keep the universe theme (top half of arm) but really that was it, so this idea would work because my other tattoos happened to be in corresponding places.
The most important part of this theme would be the centerpiece, the core, the crux of the entire thing -- what came to me was a planchette which would bring the whole vision together. Inside it would contain my futhark runes (which were already near the crease in my elbow) and that made perfect sense because the planchette would symbolize my spiritual awakening, which triggered every single belief I now hold about the universe and the physical realm, and basically changed the trajectory of my entire life. So if the planchette held the runes (which on their own each meaning was placed according to the order in which I was awakened) it just would be so perfect.
So I started looking up hashtags on Instagram for planchette ideas, and that's when I came across two artists. One was Kitty Meltvedt of Black Dahlia Tattoo Studio in Willoughby, Ohio (and her eye photo up above) and the other was Jessica Czernics of Alter Ego Body Art Studio in Castle Shannon, PA. I loved their styles and how dark they were and at the time although I thought it would be cool to visit them (the shops were about 4 hours apart) it wasn't possible or at least I didn't think it was due to money, time, etc. at the time. I followed them both on Instagram and admired from afar until this whole earth shift occurred in March 2020 and I started doing a lot of new things.
After traveling to Salem on my own (first trip I ever took alone) last year, I was totally ready for this second solo trip but most importantly I placed faith in the universe that I could pull it off and I did which was the most amazing feeling - this once again reiterated to me that I am safe and protected and they have my back at all times. So I booked it and here are some highlights!
I decided best thing to do for a trip like this was to rent a car. I wouldn't have to worry about anyone knowing I wasn't from PA during this punishing time by authority figures (esp. in PA) - my license plates said PA and I didn't even notice that until I got home with the car! Once again my spirit guides were totally supporting me on this trip. I planned to get my hotel at the exact center between both shops if I could, and stay for 4 days, the first to hang and relax/second to go to PA/third to go to OH/then I could sleep and last just get up and drive home. All of this worked out very well and seamlessly.
I planned my clothing/accessories just like I did for Salem, I wanted to make it a similar trip, dark and spiritual.
First up was Jess over at Alter Ego. She was just like I had imagined when we met and we took these awesome pics. She even offered to go get a drink with me if I was hanging around overnight which was super cool. I chose to get her signature pumpkin spider, a Jess Czernics original which I loved how it came out. I was in and out of the shop. I did visit some spiritual shops throughout PA as well.
Next day I went to see Kitty of Black Dahlia. She was equally as lovely and I just couldn't wait to get this centerpiece done with that beautiful eye, an eye that I felt resembled mine because I have extra long lashes, and in a way felt like it would be my third eye wide open, very similar to what the person got written under theirs above ("awake and unafraid"). I was so very inspired by that image. To further my idea as the centerpiece I was going to have it say "as above" on upper part above planchette and "so below" under planchette, but I'm going to add this at a later time because I couldn't decide what font I wanted or the placement exactly.
To be really honest getting the planchette tattoo was one of the most painful experiences - very fitting because my spiritual awakening was triggered by one of the most painful experiences of my life with a partner. I shouldn't have expected any less, but since all of my tattoos are very petite, I've only ever known going in and out of a tattoo shop very quickly and almost painlessly - and if there was pain it was minor, only lasted about an hour. This was very different, I was at the shop from 12pm-7pm at night. My Sunday was shot, my plan to go to Cleveland and explore was shot, and halfway through I got very worried that I wouldn't make it through to the end. But Kitty was an absolute wonderful coach and she understood me. It's funny she had to get me cookies and she also used this numbing spray, so those two things actually saved me that day. Thinking about it now it's so funny but during that time I was very upset lol. I believe I was going to use Hecate for help but I was so thrown that this is the experience I was to have with this tattoo, that I forgot all about being able to use her to get through a fear-filled time (I had used her in three other instances and she was so helpful).
Overall I had a very fulfilling trip and I would definitely do this again to go somewhere new to get more tattoos by more talented people. I was very grateful to these women for accommodating my schedule and helping me make this happen.
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