Meet Brandi Woolf | Ritual Tattooist, Weaver of Magic, Mama to Wild Things

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandi Woolf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandi, how do you think about risk?
I think that I have been taking risks the majority of my life, though I’m not sure I’ve ever called it that specifically. It’s felt more like following a god thread, and taking a chance on something bigger than myself. Like planting a seed in a field of hope, and going through the motions of nurturing that seed one step at a time. I realize that, though I may not have labeled these ‘risks’, they definitely were. The latin root of risk is danger, after all, and with any step into the unknown, there is a possibility of loss or failure. With every jump off the cliff, like the Fool in the Tarot, there is an amount of fear that jumps with you.

There are two quotes that have always resonated deeply with me: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear”, and “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’,” said by Mary Anne Radmacher. Perhaps it is my ongoing relationship with risk that draws me to their words.

Taking these risks have grown me into the human I am, the mother I am, and the creative I am. My initiation into risk taking was choosing to become a mother as a teenager, and that first true leap of faith was ultimately the catalyst for every other venture taken. My life has been led by vision and hope, from that first birth, to my decades of working with women, to my latest journey into ritual tattooing. I continue to be inspired by these leaps, to breathe into them, no matter how deep the fear settles in. I feel the fear, I trust in the process, and I move forward with a fierce, yet humble grace.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is an act of salvation and nourishment and the creative impulse comes through me in a myriad of ways. Creating through the written word rests in the background of everything I do. Everything I create has a story, it’s never just a project or singular thing. When I spin wool and weave a tapestry or a shawl, there is an inspiration behind every single thread, every shape and movement, and its story is present when I work. When I gather women, hold space on retreat or lay the foundations of ritual, it all begins with a feeling I want to invoke, and that invocation comes to me usually first, in the form of the written word; a poem maybe, an ancient tale retold and remembered, or an inspired message from the divine. When I design a tattoo, whether I am journeying for a specific intention for a client, or just being open to receive what wants to come through me, the story is important. I believe in magic and how it shows up in our lives. I believe there is an undercurrent that exists, and if we pay attention, we can breathe it in and live it out in ways that matter.

I am a good listener, both to the humans that trust me to share their story and to the whispers of the divine as they show up throughout my life. I am devoted to truly holding presence for what is needed in the moment, and I think this can be felt viscerally by others. They feel seen, and I am grateful and humbled by each experience. I think this is why people choose me, and what sets me apart. We all have our magic. This is part of mine.

My work in the world is truly just an extension of who I am personally, and I have peeled through many layers to get to the version of how that shows up in any given time. I am very good at adapting and also letting go. I see when pieces of my work get stale or stagnant and I’ve learned that I cannot serve anyone, including myself, when that happens. So I shed skins, release the ‘suppose to’ and ‘shoulds’ and trust that the next evolution of me is what is needed. I am not here for everyone. But those that need me and my particular brand of medicine will find me. I trust that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I don’t live in the city, but rather in a little magical valley of farmers and creatives on the Western Slope, we’d likely spend some time hiking some of the beautiful trails that are the backdrop of the valley or going to the hot springs a couple hours away. We’d visit my favorite farms, and depending on the time of year maybe pick some fruit to enjoy later or send back home with her. Late Spring through Fall we have amazing live music and there are festivals that showcase the local community of artists and growers. We also have to die for local cuisine. Living in a mecca of bio-dynamic farmers has many perks and I’d treat her to as many local and delicious meals as possible. We’d go dancing, and maybe to a local song circle. And of course, I’d bring her to the Studio for a custom tattoo by yours truly.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh my goodness, how on this expansive, beautiful earth can I choose just one? Every woman that I have been lucky enough to call my Sister, that has danced with me, cried with me, watched me stumble and witnessed me rise. By the Goddess, I owe my life to them again and again. In the spirit of giving over a name, though, I will offer two. My beloved Lauren Carroll, co-creator of Deathwives, whom I met when we were both moving through portals of motherhood into deeply initiatory journeys into our individual priestess ways, trying to find our balance in being fully present for our children, while moving more intentionally onto our soul paths. We were able to support each other as we undertook even bigger leaps into our work, to be each others cheerleaders and accountability partners. She is a constant reminder of strength for me, and I continue to be inspired by witnessing her journey unfold in ways beyond even what we imagined. It’s truly magical.

Another heart centered mama, whom I hold so much respect and admiration for, is my soul sister, Jessica Zinchuk. She is the creative fire and grounded earth behind The Story Medicine, and our friendship has been a lifeline of pure love and divine power. This woman is Big Magic. We met as creatives in an experimental group of women leaders on Instagram, trying to collaborate in ways that lifted each other up and offered spotlight to our own work while nurturing the collective. We learned a lot together and ultimately uncovered some deep seated sisterhood wounds that got pretty ugly. Staying the course, Jess and I traveled to the underworld and back, moving through the necessary healing needed in our service oriented work, expanded our friendship to where it could root and grow, on the land and in the flesh, and became family. Jessica and her partner were my first introduction to hand-poked tattoos, and I instantly fell in love to the space we held in ceremony together. She continues to be wildly inspiring to me and I honor her as one of my most beloved sisters and true companions.

Website: www.motherwildtattoo.com

Instagram: @brandiwoolf

Image Credits
Daisy Erickson