Yesterday, me and my friend Mercede got up at the crack of dawn, and made our way over to Wat Bang Phra, a temple about an hour away from the centre of Bangkok.
Here, we waited for 4 hours for the chance to be tattooed in this ancient sacred tradition.
We were both blessed with the Gao Yord Yant or 9 Spires Yant at the base of our necks.
Wat Bang Phra is a Buddhist monastery that teaches the art of Sak Yant for years, passed down from teacher to student.
When you receive a Sak Yant, you won’t get to pick the design or where it goes on the body. Traditionally, the monk, or teacher, will read your aura, and bless you with a tattoo based upon that aura.
The Gao Yord is usually the first Sak Yant you receive, and after that, all other Sak Yants are based upon what the monk tattooing you thinks you need. I.e. good luck, protection etc.
Do It Yourself
If you’re in Bangkok, and want to get a Sak Yant, it’s simple enough to do.
All the Tuk Tuk drivers know about the temple so you can pretty much ask any Tuk Tuk driver to take you there and back. They’ll charge you between 1,000 baht and 1,200 baht.
Remember, even though you may get bestowed a tattoo on your back or shoulder, this is still a temple, and you need to dress appropriately. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. Maybe take a scarf or sarong to cover your shoulders, but still allowing the monk access to your back.
Once you reach the temple, you’ll need to buy an offering for the monks, which consists of flowers, cigarettes, candles, incense and a small cash donation.
After that, it’s your choice if you would like to donate money to the monk who will bless you with a tattoo.
Most people tend to give around 100 baht ($3.50), but I would highly recommend donating more if you can afford it. The monks are blessing you with a tattoo to bring you luck for the rest of your life, a donation of more than $3.50 is appropriate and appreciated.
You’ll wait for your turn, and once your called up, bow to the monk. He’ll then decide where and what tattoo he wants to bestow on you.
Usually there will be people either side of you holding your skin taunt, to help assist the monk.
Ladies, please remember that the monk cannot touch you, so bear that in mind. If he needs part of your clothing to move, you, or another female will have to do so as the monk cannot touch your skin.
The instrument used is usually a large metal rod, with a bamboo needle at the end.
Here’s a little warning…
It hurts! Be prepared for some pain!
Once the tattoo is completed, the monk or teacher will blow on the tattoo and bestow you with a blessing which activates the power of the tattoo.
Once this is done, make sure to thank and bow before the monk.
You now have your first Sak Yant!
Within the many temples of Wat Bang Phra, you can meet some master monks, who will again bless your tattoo.
Each year after your tattoo, make sure you get it blessed by a Buddhist monk, to keep the tattoo magic alive.
Remember, this is a sacred tradition in Thailand, and should not be taken lightly. After receiving a Sak Yant, there are a list of rules to follow in order to bring luck, so make sure you do your research.
The main theme of the rules is to be a good Buddhist… do good to others, and do not sin.
Good luck!
After spending a couple of hours scouring the net for a sign of destiny or fate, we couldn’t really find one we liked, until we came across a symbol on Pinterest.
offwiththefairies 