  Meet artist and health coach, Chloe Anselmo I am honored to have Chloe Anselmo of Clementine Crossing on the blog today talking about ALL things tattoos, veganism, art, & plant based healing. Chloe is an artist, an impactful influencer on social media, and has conquered (and is still healing some) major health obstacles including Lyme disease, RA, IBS, pituitary cyst, vertigo, POTS/ dysautonomia, asthma, manic depression, OCD, and anxiety. Her passion for wellness spills over into the realm of art and tattoos, where a beauty of it’s own is being born. “Look, tattoos are not healthy. But there’s always the lesser of two evils. If you want tattoos, there’s ways to make it work.” Chloe, you live in NJ, what is the culture like there? Do you feel inspired by your surroundings? I’m not quite inspired by NJ, per-say. It’s too congested for my liking. When it comes to inspiration, I’ve always gone inward / by my mood, events, and by other artists who’ve inspired me over the years. Though, I am thankful to be near the beach. What has inspired you to first get tattooed? I got my first tattoo on my 16th birthday. Honestly, my first tattoo is nothing special, just a star on my hip - haha! But as a teenager, I really wanted to be a tattoo artist/makeup artist/ designer. Kat Von D was my Muse - really aspired to be just like her in a lot of ways. I was always unique / the outcast growing up. She was a woman who I related to greatly as a teen.  “The clouds no longer shadow me.” (Latin) Kat is so rad, such a true artist— like yourself. You have drawn up most of your own tattoos, right? All of my tattoos I designed / hand-drew. Although I don’t have many, I have designed a bunch for myself over the years that I still have saved in my sketch books. Plus, I used to design tattoos for people, especially for people who’ve lost loved ones to suicide. Tell us about the your artistic process. How long does it take you to draw your tattoos? What goes through your mind while you are creating artwork that you’ll wear on your body forever? It’s hard to explain my process, especially when it comes to myself. I have to be “in the moment.” I get more inspired by ideas rather than actual designs. So I tend to draw a lot of different ideas, and end up eventually pieces the fragments together. When I think of it in terms of permanence, I tend to go through my old designs and see what still resonates with me at the time I’m about to get tattooed. Although, I’ve always been a fan of fine line work, sacred geometry, flowers, and mandalas. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of that. I also place my designs in a mirror and look at it daily before I get. If you get sick of seeing it in a mirror, you sure as hell won’t want it on your body forever.  Chloe you’ve been a plant based vegan for a while now. How many years? How has this impacted your art? I wish I could say I am super creative, but the last few years have been so focused on healing and my mental health, that I haven’t had the head-space to really draw or create anything new, aside from my recent tattoos. I would love to get back into art again, once I get back in touch with my creative side. For now, I love using my coloring book. How has going vegan impacted your tattoos and tattooing process? It’s made me extra conscientious of what I’m putting in my body. “ I also place my designs in a mirror and look at it daily before I get. If you get sick of seeing it in a mirror, you sure as hell won’t want it on your body forever.” “Isshin Ryu” (Okinawan) Meaning: One heart way. Tell us about your tattoo process. After drawing up your tattoo, how do you choose an artist to actually tattoo you? What matters most to you in this process? I think for me, since I design my own tattoos, I look for an artist who reflects my own style, and is consistent in that style. And that goes for anyone: find an artist that reflects your style. There are some amazing artists out there that can do any style, but typically, I would still recommend someone who is within a radius you’re comfortable, accommodating to your ink/request, and to your liking. There’s things to look for, too. For example, if you’re like me and you love line work, floral work, mandalas, etc… you want to look for a good line artist. Typically GOOD traditional tattoo artists will have clean line-work. You’ll be able to tell by really going through their previous tattoo gallery, too. If you’re looking to get more of a shaded tattoo, look for an artists that accommodates to that style.  www.kirknilson.com What advice would you give someone who is looking to get tattooed and also be health conscious? Look, tattoos are not healthy. But there’s always the lesser of two evils. If you want tattoos, theres ways to make it work. Also know there is more healing required with shading due to the extra ink / shading needles. In your opinion, how can tattoos be dangerous? How do you protect your body and stay strong while getting tattooed? I think it’s important to go to a good quality artist, who you can trust and feel comfortable with. it’s worth the wait and the money. Also, go at a time where you’re not under tremendous stress or detoxing. Tattoo’s tax the adrenals, so you want to make sure you’re really in a stable place - mentally and physically - prior to getting one. Focus on detoxifying foods that support adrenals, provide hydration, and eliminate metals: fruits - berries, melons, apples, citrus, mangos, dates - lemon water, green juices, cilantro, celery, parsley… CELLULAR hydration is key. this means eating and drinking hydrating foods, especially weeks prior and weeks to come. Balance it out with grounding foods and cooked veggies at night. Focus on herbs prior and after getting tattooed, either in forms of teas, infusions, and/or tinctures. (Do some research, consult with a detox specialist, such as myself, and consult with your physician prior. You don’t want to just take a bunch of herbs at once, not knowing). Nervine and adaptogens are your best bet. Nervine examples would be St. John’s Wort, lavender, lemon balm, valerian, chamomile, etc… and adaptogens ashwaganda, astragalus, holy basil, reishi, etc. If you don’t have high blood pressure, taking licorice root for a few weeks can help improve adrenal function as well. You don’t want to be in FULL detox mode while getting a tattoo. You’ll feel really shitty! Just focusing on hydration, eating well, some herbs to help your central nervous system and glands (nervines and adaptogens). Focus on more of a deeper detoxification in weeks to follow. WARNING: I am not a doctor. This is just info!  Ink is important to you. Do you have a favorite ink? I personally will only use black ink now, just for health purposes. Plus I personally love fine line work / black work. I find back ink to the safest. My two favorites are Eternal and SkinCandy. I know most artists also like using those brands as well, since it’s a good quality ink. I would contact the artist ahead of time and ask if what ink they use, and if it’s not vegan, if they can order ink for you. You may have to pay extra but usually the artist won’t mind, at least if they’re accommodating they won’t! Do you have plans for getting tattooed in the future? Tell us about that. Yes, I plan on finishing the sleeve I started. More of my art work of flowers, sacred, geometry, and mandalas. I most likely will never get another color tattoo, just for the chemical factor. Plus I’ve grown to really love simple, black, line-work. What is one thing you’d like to see change in the tattoo industry? Regulation of ink! There’s really little to no regulations as far as what is organic, what is good quality, or what is vegan. Tell us about your most recent art project. What has inspired that? I recently created an e-calendar of seasonal fruits, including fun facts & ways to eat them, to make it easier to find and eat fruit that is in season. It’s original art and illustrations + content, made by me. I put a lot of love and good vibes into it. The idea literally just popped into my head one day. I have a lot of people who come to me, asking what fruits they should be eating, or they fear eating fruit. I figured this was a great way to get people to ease their fruit fears and have fun exploring a new fruit each month! I wanted this e-calendar to be a fun guide and monthly reminder. Or if you’re focusing more on detox, use these fruits as a guide for mono-meals and cleanse ideas! You can print, save to view monthly, or use as a screen saver each month!   Isn’t Chloe amazing, you guys? To peep more of her artwork visit https://www.clementinecrossing.com/e-calendars where you can purchase her latest release: Clementine’s Calendar Catch up with her on Instagram & get inspired at @ClementineCrossing ! Thank you all for spending time with us today. I want to hear your tattoo stories and can’t wait to share more of these! Now, it’s your turn— we all have a dream tattoo, what’s yours? Comment below!      I want to talk about something pretty real with you guys today. I want to talk about how healing takes PATIENCE. I know many of you are frustrated with your skin, dealing with chronic acne, as well as so many other symptoms that have stripped your confidence. And so you start this healing diet full of fruits and veggies, you have high hopes, and you’ve been working sooo dang hard to stay on track! And yet, days, weeks, and months pass— & somehow nothing seems to be changing. In fact, your skin is looking even worse than it did before. This must not be working, right!?? You start to question yourself & this information. You get frantic and start looking for other answers. But wait. Please— stop right there!! I know this process. I’ve been there. I get it and want to help you understand what is happening. Your body is working hard to clear out all the toxins which is why things seem to be worse. Take the image that Anthony William uses of the dirty fish tank. When you start to clean it, the water gets stirred up and things seem even dirtier! Or the visual that Whitney DeMaria uses of remodeling a house! And how as you begin this process things get MESSY. You work, room by room, ripping out old appliances and replacing them with new ones. It takes time for this house to feel like home. Please, don’t give up. I have experienced firsthand how slow this can be— but how over time it dramatically changed my life for the best. Slow things down if you need to. Fruits especially, are very powerful!! Add more steamed veggies in if it’s too much. Because healing takes time, it’s vital to keep your vision of your future-self strong. She/he is the one who will be thanking you for sticking it through the hard stuff! Hang onto that vision with all you’ve got. The journey may not be easy but you WILL get there. I am rooting for you all the way!     The following is an excerpt from my guidebook, Finally Healing Acne: This story begins back in 2004 when I first started experiencing an array of strange symptoms such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, and eventually skin issues and painful menstrual cramps. But it was my skin that spoke to me the loudest. It is what gave me the biggest challenges, but also the motivation to learn how to heal my body, mind, and soul. I know what it’s like to deal with an absolutely confidence-shattering, life- altering skin issue. The kind that keeps you from doing things you love, like hanging with your friends, dating, taking family pictures, and the worst part— how it keeps you from loving yourself and living your purpose. I know what it’s like to be searching for answers under every possible promise and money-back guarantee. But best of all, I know what it’s like to HEAL and experience a joyful life.  I know your struggle and I do not take your attention lightly. I have put my heart and soul into this book to help you connect the dots and fill the gaps. What I share comes from years of my own experiementing and following my instincts. I have been inspired by healers, pioneers, and teachers such as David Wolfe, Natasha St. Michael, Leija Turunen, Freelee the Banana Girl, Dr. Nick Good, Michael Mackintosh, Daniel Vitalis, Anthony William, Dr. Kim Palka, Ram Dass, and Louise Hay. I strongly believe in what has helped me. With willingness and dedication, I have faith that healing will be a rewarding experience for each and every one of you, too. So what actually helped me? That’s what I am here to talk about. Here I will be briefly outlining the top 6 things that have helped me, and then in later chapters I will be diving further in depth to make sure you get all the details of what will help you be most successful in freeing yourself from chronic acne.  We all know that diet is important, but it is confusing figuring out exactly WHAT diet. I figured out what worked for me by eliminating processed sugars first. I then slowly worked my way into eliminating dairy, eggs, and eventually lowered my fat intake substantially. I experimented with eliminating certain foods a little at a time. As I did this I was documenting what foods seemed to accelerate a reaction. For me, I was able to see the e ects of the food I ate by the next day. The foods that seemed to trigger a negative response I cut out. This was how I naturally found myself eating what is known as a “high carb low fat vegan diet”, and also what is known as a “raw til dinner diet”. I followed this diet for about 2 years until I began adding in more of variety of foods again. Tip: Eat much more simply than usual so you can easily document the reactions your skin is having to specific foods.  Throughout my healing journey there wasn’t an herb or vitamin I did not try— yet it seemed nothing was helping me. I am not suggesting supplements don’t work, but more that they do not always offer the quick fix we are hoping for. After years of seeing my naturopathic doctor, she had a suggestion for a supplement that changed things for the best. I will be sharing more on this with you later. Tip: Be mindful that herbs are not always quick fixes, they are more for long term support of the body. Experiment with the suggestions in later chapters for supplements that can help curb breakout symptoms.  Probably the most important piece of the puzzle for me was understanding what was actually causing acne. I finally received that piece from author and Medical Medium Anthony William when I consulted with him in 2010. He told me that my skin issues were stemming from a bacterial infection that made it’s way to my lymphatic system. The in ammation was causing stagnation, which in turn was causing my acne breakouts. At the time Anthony and I didn’t talk about diet, and that’s likely because I was already doing so much with my diet that was working for me— even though I didn’t realize it fully at the time. Instead, we focused on the importance of movement. He told me that I needed to get my lymphatic system MOVING. He helped me gain clarity on a specific plan which I put into action right away. Tip: Incorporate consistent forms of exercise into your day! It is important to choose forms that do not stress your adrenals out!  I view skin care as a way to nurture the skin, but not to x the problem. As we know now, the real problem is under the skin. But because of the duration of time that it can take to heal a systemic imbalance in the body, it is good to have a consistent skin care routine down that will help you recover from breakouts and prevent scarring. At di erent points I tried washing my skin with raw Manuka honey, aloe, apple cider vinegar, prayer infused mixtures, Ayurveda pastes, Bentonite clay, and ALL the popular over-the-counter skin care systems. Then one day, I got lucky I purchased a speci c skin care line that consisted of natural and conventional treatments combined and WOW—did it help! I used the entire system at rst, and eventually switched to just using the cleanser. More details on that, along with my favorite resuce remedy, later! Tip: Be aware that 100% natural products are wonderful, but not always the best choice chronic acne. Experiment with the products listed here later on in this guide.  Getting excited about your healing, your WHY, and your dreams is important. I will be sharing with you about my experience in cultivating a strong vision that keeps our inner-world aligned with all the work we are putting in externally. This helps us stay motivated and on track. Tip: Get clear on your vision! Create a vision board using the suggestions outlined in this guidebook in later chapters.  As I started my physical healing journey, I began naturally gravitating to practices like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and journaling. I believe this is a natural occurrence as the soul and mind desire to come into alignment with the body. Although there are many healing art forms that I adore, there are a few practices that have stuck with me over the years that I’d love to share with you. Tip: Develop a relaxation practice. The tools outlined in later chapters will help you to develop consistent, daily habits, regardless of your budget. If you have tried everything and are ready to get clear on how you can heal your skin too, I wrote Finally Healing Acne for you. I know this season of healing is frustrating and there are a million things you’d rather be doing, but trust me. It’s going to be okay. You are going to figure it out and get through this. I’ve got you!     You can heal your acne! Healing on a low fat high carb vegan diet Posting this picture is pretty hard, despite knowing now that acne was never my fault. But I want you to know what is possible. I have learned that with the right information, truly anything is. When I was dealing with this confidence-shattering skin issue I was often told that I must just have bad skin, that it’s all just “the luck of the draw.” But deep down, I knew was more than that. I couldn’t help but notice with these sudden, chronic breakouts I was also having panic attacks, extreme anxiety, fatigue, depression & debilitating menstrual cramps every month. I refused to take acne medications and instead kept looking for ways to connect the dots. My intuition first led me to diet, where I started eliminating certain foods one at a time. I began cutting out everything that seemed to trigger a reaction. Over time I was naturally eating what is coined today as a “high carb, low fat diet”. It seemed things were getting a little better but I was still struggling to make sense of it all. I found supplements & products along the way the helped to speed the recovery time of breakouts, but couldn’t figure out WHY they were happening. It wasn’t until about 2 years later I was fortunate to have an appointment with Anthony William #medicalmedium. He informed told me I was really doing well with my diet but there was a major aspect I was missing. And that was: MOVEMENT. He told me my lymphatic system was stagnant and I needed to get it moving. That I was dealing with a strep infection in my lymphatic system and I needed to help my body clear it out. He recommended that I purchase a rebounder and start bouncing every day! So, I did. Incorporating movement into my life changed things for the better almost right away. I was eating a diet that promoted healing and now I was also flushing toxins OUT. Within about 18 months of that call, I was no longer suffering from symptoms of acne. Understanding the “why” of this condition brought me incredible peace. It wasn’t that I was just unlucky. I now understand from listening to the Medical Medium podcast, Healing Acne, even more about how a vaccine could cause pathogens to begin thriving in places they should not. This also explains why I was having an array of other symptoms at the same time like fatigue and painful menstrual cramps. I know how hard it is to live with skin conditions like this. But if I can heal, you can heal! I learned that with patience & dedication you can heal your body from so many crazy symptoms. None of it is your fault! You won’t feel punished forever. You will have the chance again to the life you have dreamed!    |
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