Shanna Stojakovich

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

The topographical heart on my bicep is a map of Pittsburgh, and I chose that piece for a few reasons: Aside from being someone who often wears their heart on their sleeve, Steel City is the place I had lived the longest - and although I wasn't born there, it's where my Pradeda landed when he emigrated there from Serbia as a kid. The land and rivers have grown into my body, and when I chose to move to Pittsburgh it changed every aspect of my life. I was almost crushed, but I blossomed instead.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My ink tells stories of my healing, strength, protection, and perseverance - and most importantly, love. How I relate the world around me, and within me, as well as the tools I use to build bridges in my communities. Just as written and spoken words are spell work, so are my tattoos - they are magickal talismans married into my flesh as promises to myself, my Creator, and act as a sacred reminder. My ink says, "imagine your reality and act in alignment to make it real".

What would you do with the $25,000?

Purchase a van to live and travel, so I can practice my healing arts across the country and meet some of the many friends I've connected with online over the past several years. Chronic illness took a lot away from me: jobs, relationships, my home ... even tattoos for a while! Recovery has been a hard road, but 25k would kickstart my life again so that I can fully reclaim so much, and expand how many folks I can help overcome similar experiences. I teach embodiment & creative expression skil