Articles, podcasts, and reflections on intentional tattooing
In the final part of The Journey series, Mark and Taylor arrive at Returning — the integration stage that is so often skipped. You’ve been tattooed. Your skin is healing. Something has shifted. Now wh
In Part 3 we arrive at Embarking — the actual act of getting tattooed. You’ve checked the frame. You’ve oriented. Now you’re pushing off into the water. Mark and Taylor explore what it means to enter
In Part 2 of The Journey, Mark and Taylor move into Orienting — the stage of locating yourself before you push off again. Once the frame is checked, the next questions become: Where have I been? Where
After a few months away, Mark and Taylor return with the first of four conversations walking through the Tattoo Pathway’s core framework: The Journey . In this opening episode they drop into Framing —
In this episode I’m continuing with principle six and seven of the Tattoo Philosophy: tattoo time and integration . I talk about tattoo time as one of the biggest differences between simply getting ta
In this episode I’m revisiting the next two principles in the Seven Principles of Tattoo Philosophy: mapping and purpose . I talk about mapping as one of the core tools in the Tattoo Pathway, not just
In this solo episode, Mark continues revisiting the original written material behind his first intentional tattoo course, moving into the second and third principles of tattoo philosophy: intention an
In this solo episode, Mark returns to the original written material behind his first intentional tattoo course and opens it back up in podcast form. He shares the arc from street-shop apprenticeship a
The top 10 tattoo searches reveal a lot more than just what styles are trending. In this video, I break down what people are really asking when they search for tattoos. From tattoo shops near me and t
In this solo episode, Mark revisits a vivid dream from 2018 in which an artificial intelligence silently observed and documented his tattoo practice long before AI became part of daily life. From ther
All that can be said about initiating in the mystery of the sacred. Q17
Harvesting the hope of our contemporary culture .Q16
on permanence and the nature of blooming. Q15
Stop! look around. . . and look within. Are you lost? Q14
Guest: Tattooist Lars Widell (British Columbia, Canada) Themes: graffiti origins, stone masonry, music, apprenticeship era, fasting for healing, spiritual practice, big multi-day sessions, trust and R
On kindling connection with the divine spark. Q13
A spoken reflection on tattooing as threshold work, where the body becomes a place of listening, and the mark a witness to transformation.
Mark speaks with Lluna of Lluna Soul Ink about stepping from artist into guide, building devotional space, and using tattoo mapping to turn tattoos into living records. They trace her early Berlin yea
In this conversation, Mark and Josh trace a 33-year arc of tattooing—from ’90s street-shop grit and tribal magazines to private studios, bikie threats, and rebuilding community. Josh shares early spar
"He wore a black panel tattoo. . . covering a prominent place on his face." Q12
In this conversation, Mark and April explore how play, symbols, and intention open real thresholds of change. April shares her path from disability support work into Jungian sandplay therapy , why the
shifting self admiration to shared aspirtation. Q11
Self-initiatory work as a shared experience. Q10
In our first video episode, Mark and Caiyuda trace tattoos as living thresholds: from flaming-dice initiation at 18, to a decade of silence, to ancestry-rooted markings and sacred geometry as integrat
Suffering; A window into the realm of the sacred. Q9.
Binding skin to memory and meaning. Q8.
A ritual technology for witnessing and remembering. Q7.
On distraction, attention, and the quiet work of becoming. Q6.
Turning surface journeys into sacred ones. Q5.
The rites return when the path is walked. Q4
The quiet gravity in a culture of drift. Q3.
The weight of meaning in tumultuous times. Q2.
Subtle currents that influence our way.
Prophetic bleed through: Our porous reality. Q1.
Change begins before the gateway.
The most important stories we tell are the ones about ourselves and the world. Who you think you are, and what you think the world is, influences all facets of your experience – your…
https://youtu.be/tii2d41_gEo?si=txA4shqS9YpUvBRu Hey everyone, Welcome to the Tattoos With Intention blog for 2025! I'm Mark Nara, and I'm thrilled to kick off the first blog post of the year by…
Explore causes of tattoo regret, survey insights, and tools to transform misaligned tattoos into meaningful parts of your journey.
Avoid the fraudsters and self-appointed gurus of spiritual tattooing. Learn about spirit vs. soul, the importance of intention, and navigating the path.
Moko artist Turumakina Duley offers profound insights into the cultural and spiritual dimensions of tattooing and rites of passage
Tattoo Pathway education and research institute reveals insights into the pitfalls of contemporary tattoo courses and their missing curriculum.
Discover how a ceremonial tattoo can transform pain into personal growth. Lee Trew explores meaningful tattoos and forging emotional resilience.
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