We were lucky to catch up with Emily Sakhila recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emily , we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I walked into the forest the other day and made a pact with myself that I wouldn’t leave until I had learnt to love myself.
I sat. And waited. I focused on loving the tree in front of me. That part was easy. I saw its perfection in its imperfections and saw its perfect place positioned in the forest. I felt adoration. I felt love for the whole forest. I could then feel myself in and as part of the forest. I couldn’t love myself alone, but seeing myself as part of the forest, I could. .
Sometimes you can’t stop the negative self talk.. You don’t feel more confident or like yourself or your work anymore, but you just stop responding to the self built blocks. Your mental health might feel like it’s taken a step backwards, but you pick up the pencil and start drawing
You just do it anyway.
The negative self talk doesn’t go away, but you don’t respond to it. And after awhile, after less responding, it’s quieter. And there’s space for something else to take its place.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m an artist, working both as an illustrator and skin-illustrator (tattooist). I work without a machine with more traditional handpoke methods to tap designs into the skin. I create designs based on the stories my clients share with me and try to make them as meaningful and symbolic to their life story as possible. I really love my job. I love the depth of communication it brings, the people it introduces me to, and the insights into fascinating human minds. It does make me love humanity! Im very grateful for this path.
I’ve been calling Thailand home for the last decade, but in recent year’s I’ve been traveling more and living semi-nomadically. Of course this is amazing for feeding creative inspiration and opening doorways to different mindsets, but creating a routine to dig out larger projects can be more challenging. I’ve been creating an oracle and a tarot deck for a very long time now…
I’m also dyslexic and have decided to not spend so many hours of my life grammar and spellchecking anymore so my writing can be a bit messy 🙂
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
– meditation. Learn to see your own mind before trying to see another. Find peace in stillness. And accept all that exists within.
– the Buddhist philosophy of before making any decision, consider whether it’s the most loving and the most wise choice you can make
– ignoring every single art teacher. Fuck it, just express yourself, and stay out those boxes
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes! I love collaborating with others. It sometimes gets a bit loopy when rattling ideas around and around in just my own mind… Tattoos are always a collaboration between myself and my client, but I would happily welcome in new collaborations for other artwork projects with writers, artists, musicians. Like I said, I’m slowly making an oracle and tarot deck, and would be interested in anything similar to this or anything to accompany a narrative or music
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.inkandearthstore.com
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/ink.and.earth
- Other: Portfolio: www.inkandearth.com
