We were lucky to catch up with Theia Zo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Theia, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

At some point as a creative, you begin to practice the deep art of being a constant student to the vast knowledge available in this world. There were a few key things I learned which gave me the opportunity to integrate all different types of art, thus becoming a Renaissance woman of sorts.

Form, design, juxtaposition, hand-eye coordination, composition, meticulousness, and diligent practice are all aspects that give any creative the foundational structure necessary to learn and perform any craft proficiently. These absolutely essential aspects have given me the tools to create anything I want.

At first, the aspects listed might sound like vague concepts; Once you integrate a relationship with each of them, you’ll then be able to take those parts and apply them to a multitude of studies. There’s a reason why many creatives are multifaceted in their work. When you have a solid foundation in all those forms, there is a limitless body of knowledge you can research, integrate, and produce professionally.

A lot of my time within my own life ways spent on connections that ultimately didn’t give to me in ways I had invested, and that definitely hindered my learning process. Often, these relations ended up taking a lot of my precious time and energy that could’ve gone to mastering other crafts and studies. While I recognize that they ultimately served their purpose and I carry no regrets, I still see how much of my energy was spent there.

Other than that, the only thing that has ever stood in the way of learning more was myself and my own mental structures and avoidances. The mind is a complex mechanism that’s capable of performing incredible feats; however, we live very messy lives and may think less of our capabilities. The only time I wasn’t able to learn more was when I didn’t think I was worthy or capable of doing so. These thoughts we utilize in order to avoid our potential are perhaps an aspect of our fear or self-comprised limitations trying to convince ourselves we aren’t capable. You are capable of doing anything you truly open to setting your mind to – the important part is stepping out of your own way in order to do so.

Theia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Theia Zo, and I’m an interdisciplinary creative.

I offer a wide and varied list that grows exponentially over time, so it would be pity to pigeonhole me to one craft.
I am, foremost, a handpoke tattoo artist – yet I also fulfill a number of other roles: archer, tribal body painter, tarot reader, fashion designer, flower essence cultivator, herbalist, butterfly gardener, taxidermist, sound healer, writer, and teacher to some of these arts. Throughout all of these practices, I do my best to ensure that I am operating from a space of integrity and reverence to what I’ve learned and thus able to pass on. It’s important to me to show others these different modalities and crafts with a sense of openness and safety. I avoid marketing any of my offerings, rather allowing for word-of-mouth in order to connect with those who are truly interested in what I have to give.

As a handpoke tattoo artist, I share a one-of-a-kind experience where a client can be tattooed ceremonially out in nature in a safe space. Most of my tattoo clients approach me with the concept of commemorating something very important in their life. It’s a deep and sacred practice to be able to offer that as someone originally from the Philippines, which has a rich history with tattooing.

I’ve been shooting traditional archery for seven years, teaching it for five, and recently transitioned over to compound. I really admire its meditative aspect of it and absolutely love teaching people. I’m currently in the middle of writing a couple of gear guides for those who want to begin on their archery journey and are unsure of where to start. This sport promotes discipline, physical awareness, patience, and focus – so it’s extremely helpful for those with plenty of raw energy they’d like to refine. Teaching private classes has been really gratifying me as each adjustment allows for the student to immediately see what they need to change. It very quickly becomes a mutually gratifying experience.

As a tribal body painter and tarot reader, I offer these services to those open to having a unique experience with the capacity to leave lasting change or something lighthearted. I’ve been reading for eight years and body painting for three – I offer these services to small festivals, individuals, large parties, unique events, and large clubs all over South Florida. Tarot has the capacity to create very deep conversations and epiphanies which may open the door to different perspectives and understanding. Many times those I’ve read have never gotten a reading before, so a lot of what I do is demystifying tarot and explaining it in a way that anyone can comprehend.

Herbalism, butterfly gardening and flower essences all fall under my personal relationship with the plant/pollinator world. Florida gives so much access to interacting with all types of plants. Learning how to make teas, tinctures, understanding what practices are supportive to our much needed pollinators, and how to work effortlessly with the earth is a beautiful practice. It’s great to see an uptick in trend over botany, and I hope this focus shifts more towards food sovereignty and cultivating a deeper relationship with the natural world. I’m deeply passionate about nature, so teaching others how to butterfly garden or create teas out of their own plants brings me a significant amount of joy.

Taxidermy and preservation went hand in hand with my studies in college when I studied Medical Illustration and became fascinated with bodies. Learning how to draw, clean, and study them became a normal practice for me as these techniques also transitioned into my tattooing. This study also connects to plants and archery, as both interact with the natural world. I come across other gardeners who study botanical illustration and bowhunters also interested in preservation methods. Mixing scientific and indigenous methods has created a hybrid practice. I’m interested in teaching this regularly, maybe even writing a book on the topic.

These are only small insights to the variety of crafts I delve into, and I stepped into these disciplines through a variety of ways. Whether through choice, chance, or hidden opportunity, my studies were born out of a deeper passion and curiosity. As I learned each topic and became emboldened by them, I’ve been lucky enough to inspire others to take steps into these crafts as well. This vast body of knowledge has opened doors to all different types of opportunities and communities. I’ve worked with all types of people ranging from hunters, producers, private parties, large events, entrepreneurial businesses and large corporations. I connect with my clients mainly through word-of-mouth and tend to be called upon to provide unique experiences that aren’t easily found.

As someone who offers so many varying modalities, what I’m most proud of is the fact that almost every experience is a different opportunity paired with their own set of challenges and benefits. I never know what phone call or message I’m going to get because I’m known for so many different things. This makes my life extremely exciting and adventurous, and I certainly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I’ve consistently run into throughout my life is experiencing non-creatives judging or trying to redirect my personal flow to what they believe I should do with my art. I’ve undergone listening to a lot of unsolicited advice and assumption on whether or not exploring different creative avenues is a good investment, the rate or application of focus when studying something new, or even its validity. Sometimes a creative wants to create for creation’s sake. At times a creative wants to learn something new because it brings a sense of aliveness, new energy, and fulfillment that isn’t found doing other things that might have become routine. Artists continuously pull inspiration from unseen realms that entice them to create – we literally interact with muses of varying degrees just by living. So much of western society sees anything creative and new to be immediately monetized, and artists understand that not everything is meant to be created solely for profit. I can’t count the number of times I’ve delved into a craft and I was pushed to begin selling my work immediately, just to lose the spark I had because of the pressure to perform. However, when given the space to create out of a deeper want than for money, I am able to enact lasting effects that pays itself back tenfold.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

By far, the most rewarding part of being a creative is being able to inspire others with things that I’m passionate about, along with connecting with those who have similar interests. Being able to learn, express, share, and teach a craft of any kind yields new opportunities and connections. I’ve been given the opportunity to know so many cool and good people through different communities because of my passions. Many of those connections are deep and resounding – ones that I cherish very much and wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t open to exploring the unknown. Creativity thrives by flowing through multiple channels of expression, thus opening doors to inconceivable experiences.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jungleflower
• Other: @theiapokes

Image Credits
@marsdescendant