Everything you need to know about
Getting a Sak Yant in Thailand
Definitions and Terms
Sak Yant – Also commonly referred to as ‘bamboo tattoo’, are sacred blessings said to have enchantments and magic powers, native to several countries in South-East Asia.
Ajarn – An ajarn simply means a master of something – this can be applied to people in education, the arts, martial arts, and in this case, sak yant. They have practiced and studied the ancient rituals and beliefs for many years to master the powers and significance of giving sak yant. They are not just a tattoo artist copying an old design – they understand it’s meaning and have been bestowed the ability to perform the magic associated with it by their own master, or Kru (head master).
Khem Sak – These are the metal rods, specially designed to administer the sak yant. They are often custom made or hand crafted for the ajarn, if not passed down to him from his own master. They are designed to replicate the shape of a bamboo stick
Amulet – Often a small figure or symbol in an encasing which can be worn on a necklace or a belt loop. They are said to have magic powers and protections, not dissimilar to sak yant
Samnak – The ‘tattoo studio’, often filled with statues, figurines, incense and joss sticks, and other relics and wall hangings. This is where the magic happens – literally, and figuratively.
Sangha – a word in Pali and Sanskrit meaning “community” and most commonly refers in Buddhism to the monastic community of ordained Buddhist monks or nuns.
Travel Guru – These are your WSE Travel specially-trained guides, tour leaders, translators, facilitators of cultural exchanges, and hopefully by the end of your experience – your friends! They are there to make sure you are comfortable and informed about everything that you are experiencing. Use them to dig deeper while on your sacred journey!
Frequently Asked Questions about getting a Sak Yant
If there a questions we missed that you’d like answered, please feel free to contact us at any time!
Please Note – it is commonly expected that EVERY buddhist man in Thailand and neighbouring countries will undergo training to be a monk at some point in his life. This can be for 2 weeks, 2 months, or even 2 decades. It is up to the individual to choose if they stay or not. Of course, this does mean that those who have studied and learned the ancient practice of Sak Yant may not be a monk forever, and in essence, 2 types of ajarns evolved. Those who remain in the temples (monks in saffron robes), and those who practice outside of them (often wearing white robes). As long as they have undergone adequate training, both should be bestowed the power to give sak yant and their enchantments.
There has been an emergence of tattoo artists who have copied designs and learned how to wield a khem sak to give bamboo tattoos – though these are not sak yant, and the artist often does not understand the code which they have copied or know the deep meaning behind the sak yant they have given. If unsure, it is best to consult with an expert if they are legitimately trained or not, if you seek a traditional experience.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: Each Ajarn Where Sidewalks End works with believes that sak yant should be made accessible to anybody regardless of gender. We have strived to find open minded ajarns who can transcend gender in their beliefs and recognize this is not a sexual act in any way. This being said, some still prefer not to have photos taken during the process, and we ask that this is respected at the ajarns wish.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: Ideally, you should make your reservation as soon as you know your dates, and then plan your other activities around that. As this is not a daily group tour, and is fully customized to your own needs, there is a fair amount of planning and co-ordination with you which needs to be made. On your behalf, we will be confirming the ajarn’s availability, securing a personal travel guru to accompany you, and also managing your own expectations through questions and your personal preparations. We can prepare experiences on a last minute basis, though these are not guaranteed as the ajarn or travel gurus may not be available on short notice. It is advised to book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: Though standards do vary we have vetted the ajarns we collaborate with to ensure that cleanliness is of their utmost priority. Clean needles, fresh ink pots, and a safe environment are always on the top of our priority list when interviewing an ajarn to collaborate with. One of the best answers we’ve heard was “if I am giving a yant to protect someone and give them good luck, it wouldn’t make sense to use equipment to make them sick in the process”. This is the type of answer and value we seek when choosing who we will practice with, as not all ajarns hold the same concern or attention to this vital detail.
Please Note: Most temples and samnaks do have either cats or dogs living there, as part of the Buddhist philosophy is to treat all living things with equal respect – if they are hungry, they should be fed – which usually means they like to stick around the hands that feed them. If you do have an allergy, please advise us before hand, and we can try to make sure they are at least not in the room you are in while you are there. If it is a severe allergy, please take the necessary antihistamines prior to your arrival.
The inks are made from natural ingredients, such as charcoal, oils, flowers and herbs – some of which act as natural antiseptics which do add to the hygiene but can also add to the sting. The custom mixture has had special blessings bestowed on it, which is said to give it the magic powers or charms.
Similarly, the needles (khem sak) have either been hand crafted by the ajarn using them, or passed down by their master teacher. Because the inks and khem sak are hand crafted, it is near impossible to buy your own to be used, or similarly, to keep the needle used as a souvenir, as they each have sacred value and much time invested in their creation and significance. There are generic needles which have been adapted for conventional tattoo studios now offering the bamboo style tattoos, though it would be inappropriate to ask an ajarn to use one which is not his own.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: The ajarn’s that we use do tend to charge a fair bit more than a busy temple such as Wat Bang Phra simply because they will take the time to give a full consultation with our guests, and this is their livelihood, so we also negotiate a fair price with them to benefit them without sacrifice, but also to give our guests a fair price. Built into the cost of the Sak Yant Experiences is the service of having a specially trained travel guru who can act as a translator between you and your ajarn, but also to help ease you into the deeper cultural connection we want each guest to feel during their experience. Again, we make sure travel gurus are paid a fair wage, as we feel it very important that locals benefit from this exchange in a fair way. Additionally, snacks, a local meal (customizable based on your food preferences) and transportation to and from your experience are also included.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: We have different bulk and group rate discounts available depending if it is for yourself, or with a friend. Please contact us directly for details.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: You don’t need to learn Thai or any other local language for this experience – that’s why you have a personal travel guru accompanying you – so please use you travel guru! They are there to help with everything. If you have a question you don’t feel has been answered, or if something doesn’t feel comfortable, please express it to them – it’s much easier for them to deal with any situations as they happen, than for us to deal with them after the fact. They are there to make this whole process make sense, and to help connect you to this cultural experience as best as possible. We’re pretty picky too, and made sure they don’t have a history of biting – so warm up to them. You may even end up with a lifelong friend!
After discussing these things the Ajarn will suggest a yant. As this is a spiritual practice we suggest you allow the Ajarn to be part of this process instead of just choosing a yant based on image. Something you may think to be ‘pretty’, may actually not have any relevance to you or your life. The magic of the yants is not in the picture itself, but in the script which surrounds it.
Please note: Unlike many perceptions of getting a sak yant which have been written all over the internet, the ajarn is not supposed to ‘read your aura’. This has come about due to many foreigners not understanding what they were witnessing, and being unable to communicate with the ajarn – as a result, the ajarn has to choose a random design (often one which is a basic or general protection), as they aren’t able to understand the needs of the person requesting a yant.
Sak Yant Tip: Though it is very fashionable, we advise against getting a sak yant on the ribcage unless completely necessary or suggested by the ajarn. This is one of the most painful places to get a sak yant, and though some ajarns will tell you ‘more pain = more power’, we think that’s just a tough-man game, and the yant will be just as powerful in a less painful placement. You have been warned.
WSE Travel’s Ink Experience: During the Sak Yant Experience, we must also factor in travel time to and from the samnak, any possibly wait times once arrived, the time spent consulting with the ajarn, and the time getting a local meal afterwards. A typical experience will last between 4 to 6 hours, with all things considered. This is just the average, and will depend entirely on the traffic of the day, how long your consultation lasts, and which design is chosen in the end too.
If there a questions we missed that you’d like answered, please feel free to contact us at any time!