Guarded by a Sak Yant – A Buddha Tattoo from a Monk

I wanted to immerse myself in my Sak Yant experience as much as possible. 

For me, this was to hold nothing back when talking to the Ajran. Then let him pick my sacred bamboo tattoo, and its placement.

Sharing with the monk my deepest fears and worries. If the monk presented me with a Tattoo I didn’t like I could have said no or told him that I did not feel that this particular tattoo was the protection I needed.

But  even though I had veto power I knew I was not going to use it. 

I was committed to trusting the monk, and was set on letting him choose the tattoo and placement for me.

So in a sense. I had no say in what bamboo tattoo I got, or the location of where I got it. 

However, there are thousands of different yantras and their meanings are all unique. So the monk could has easily presented me with another Sak Yant if I did not have a good feeling about the first one.

I trusted that after our conversation he would give me the right blessed tattoo.

So just before the monk started going through the designs we were sitting facing one another.

I started spilling my guts to the Ajran, with the help of my interpreter Lowey. The monk and I held eye contact as he listened intently.

I told the monk about my life on the road. The struggles and rewards that it brings.

I shared with him the ways that I felt travel improved me. How its made me a stronger person, how it makes my soul come alive and taught me how precious the small things in life are.

I told with him how much beauty and love I’ve found in the vast landscapes and cultures across the world.

But then I shared with my monk my fears, struggles, and weaknesses.

I was worried I would never find love. I shared with him how I had sacrificed friendships, and relationships to travel full-time.

Every step I keep taking on the road takes me further from the girl I love and the battle between the two.

I told him everything this lifestyle cost me, and the fears of what it would cost me in the future.

Half ashamed I looked to the ground; this was stuff I’d never admitted to anyone before, but I kept going.

I was sick of 3-day friendships, and tired of starting over in a new place every week. Once the road made me so social, but the longer I am on it, the more reserved I was becoming. I more I travel the more I keep to myself.

But travel is my passion, it makes me feel alive, and something I can’t imagine stopping.

I told him I needed a tattoo to give me the strength to keep living my dream, chasing my passion, and pressing through the hardships.

We finished the conversation as I told him I wanted to tattoo that would inspire me to grow as a person, but also remind of who I am and where I want to go.

My mother, who left during my conversation walked back into the shrine. She interjected that I am always jumping out of planes, off cliffs, or climbing mountains.

She added that some added protection for that wouldn’t hurt. Which made everyone chuckle.