Imagine feeling so connected to the elements it takes over your life, your body. Becomes a part of you in every way. The connection this woman has with the natural environment, ‘Āina, wai and native birds, has been nothing but inspiring and beautiful to witness as our tattoo sessions grew to over 30+ hours and more to come.
I met Anya as a young lady and never did I imagine how many years we would stay connected thru art and tattoos and how healing our journey has been together.
I recently attended her Environmental Internship presentation at UH and was of course blown away by her poetic nature, how the the elements provide our deepest love of self and how our journeys are truly shaped by wai and the elementals.
I’m more inspired by her than ever.
Her tattoo ideas made me elated yet nervous knowing she would be in constant connection to the smallest microbes, micro organisms and beings marked on her for this life, I called upon my wildest dreams to bring her vision to life.
As an artist who is deeply connected to the spiritual realms elements and symbolic is my language. I often feel disconnected being my human self, I wanted to create new pieces for her that would challenge me to also embody my truer nature but also assist her to create a deeper relationship with the environmental and her true self.
Our journey in the body is the most spiritual practice I can think of and how temporary our lives really are.
I am inspired by so many young wahine I get to work with here in Hawai’I who are true advocates of protecting of our elements. I want to create a masterpiece for each to further a deeper love of self and place, and move women closer to higher empowerment walking, living and birthing in their bodies loving herself more and more.
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As the goddess puhi & milo create love magic, the coral and microbes move in the depths of kai takes us back to ancient days when humans were not born into form. What a sight to see.
Imagine floating deep with the ocean seeing all the relationships, movement and life that has been around long before we have. In creation.
Thank you Anya for your trust in me and our vast conversations I appreciate so much. Nothing is more satisfying to me that tattooing for wahine who embody the elements in symbolic ways to deeper their connection with spirit. How beautiful our world is when wahine are not afraid the live in their true sovereignty with no need for anyone outside of themselves to validate their journey of love within.
When the palila sing, our hearts are melted by song of old.
When the raindrops land on skin, we are kissed and nourished into our true form.
When the microorganisms dance, we get to play in their waters without acknowledgement of being in their space.
When puhi comes to say hello, remember to give thanks for her confident beauty.
When the corals and weeds sway, we gladly get to ride the waves in enjoyment.
When we give praise the the creatures and cells before us, it enriches our lives in ways we may not fully understand. Spirit if fulfilled.
Can’t wait to do more!
-Ka’ohu
Light flickers in and out
I want love that feels endless like the
star people
Safe and unknown
It will always come back to us
Light flickers in and out
I remember you
Not interested in normal
Hold me how you can
Hold me how you can
Will you come when I’m no longer afraid?
Only if you love the parts of me you can’t see.
I love the parts of me I can’t see
Will you trace my face like the wind does?
Grounding like my body
touching cool streams.
-Anya
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