Feeling your emotions 

Today in group therapy, we talked about emotions and “stuck points” — those places where we get caught not being able to let go, replaying old patterns or memories that keep us from moving forward. It’s not easy work, facing what still hurts or what still holds power over you.

I started my day with my usual art time. During my Artist Hour, I started a simple drawing — just a campfire with logs and flames outlined in bold lines of a traditional tattoo flash. Nothing complicated. But the more I looked at it, the more it pulled something up in me. It reminded me of the campfires from my younger days — nights filled with laughter, stories, and a sense of belonging. I could almost smell the smoke, hear the crackle, and watch the embers drift upward like small fire spirits disappearing into the night.

That memory made me feel happy, calm — grounded. I decided to add a background to capture that moment, that warmth. What started as a basic sketch turned into a visual memory of peace.

It made me realize something we often forget: you’re allowed to feel your feelings. You don’t have to bury them, hide them, or “get over” them before they’ve had space to exist. Art — whether it’s a drawing, a painting, or a tattoo — can be that space.

A tattoo can hold those emotions honestly. It can capture a story, a lesson, or a memory — not to erase the pain, but to honor what it taught you. Just like that campfire, sometimes the flame that burns inside us can also light the way forward.

⸻

“A reflection from John deGeest, Lead artist at Honor and Ink™ — where every mark tells a story”