Tattoos With Intention Podcast

Mark Nara
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Hosted by Mark Nara, Tattoos with Intention is a Tattoo Pathway Podcast that explores the deeper dimensions of tattooing – not simply as a trend or art, but as a living practice of identity, memory, and personal transformation. For those who sense there’s more beneath the surface, this podcast opens a space for reflection, story, and self-discovery. We speak with artists, clients, researchers and practitioners about how tattoos mark turning points, restore coherence, and align the body with one’s inner life. Explore more at http://tattoopathway.com/tattoos-with-intention-podcast/

  1. FEB 3

    35. Tattooist Lars Widell - Moving Past Pain into Vibration and Trust

    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 Revelation imagery, offering rites of passage in 2026. Episode summaryMark and Lars trace a path from freight-line graffiti and stone masonry to a mature tattoo practice shaped by music, meditation, and faith. Lars shares how a long experiment with fasting and cold water reshaped his tattoo healing and presence in the chair, why he sold his studio, and how he now guides select clients through deeper, more devotional work. The back-piece story covers trust, Revelation’s seven-horn sheep, and learning to “go to the needle” and feel vibration rather than pain. Lars also outlines a simple fasting-supported healing protocol that cut his heal time roughly in half. Not medical advice. LinksGuest: @lars.alexander.widellMark: @themarkofnara | @tattoopathway | @jadecicada.tattoo When you are ready→ Book a 1:1 consult with Mark→ Get tattooed by Mark Recommended next episode→ Ep 34. Artist to Guide with Lluna Soul Ink Support the showLike and subscribe for more conversations.Comment with your takeaway or question.Brands or studios aligned with our message can collaborate or sponsor via support@tattoopathway.com Timestamps[00:00:00] Music, tattoos, and balance [00:02:17] Farm kid to freight graffiti [00:06:12] First tattoo and fatherhood [00:07:05] Stone masonry as rhythm [00:11:53] 2008 crash to apprenticeship [00:12:28] Seeing Steve Moore’s color [00:16:34] From biker era to trade talk [00:19:26] Fasting: the long experiment [00:21:21] Refeeding risks and recovery [00:24:30] Chest and throat energy work [00:30:55] Day 21: inflammation reset [00:32:44] Adhesive reaction and cold water [00:35:39] Fasting protocol that halves healing [00:40:00] Past the pain: feel vibration [00:43:10] Two artists, five days, back piece [00:45:33] Trust, Revelation, seven-horn sheep [00:48:20] Healed in two and a half days [01:00:25] Rites of passage offering in 2026

    1h 4m

  2. 12/07/2025

    34. Map The Skin: How Lluna Uses Tattoo Mapping to Guide Real Change

    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 years, informal apprenticeship, and the shift that came through the Tattoo Pathway community. Practical talk on boundaries, cancellations as energy, listening with all senses, and holding a frame that is safe and clear. Lluna also shares festival talks in Europe, placement questions she gets asked most, and her vision for a small retreat style space near Berlin. Links Guest site: llunasoul.comInstagram: llunasoul.ink When you are ready→ Book a 1:1 consult with Mark→ Get tattooed by Mark Recommended next episode→ EP 32. Sand, Symbols and Metamorphosis with April Support the showLike and subscribe for more conversations. Comment with your takeaway or question. Brand or studio aligned with our message? Collaborate or sponsor: tattoopathway.com/contact Timestamps[00:00:00] Welcome and why this conversation[00:01:05] Ten years in: early starts and Berlin beginnings[00:02:31] Australia years and traction in the studio[00:03:22] Language: artist and guide, tattoos with intention[00:03:58] Finding Mark and the Tattoo Pathway work[00:05:06] Courses and tea ceremony as the opening frame[00:06:50] Boundaries, cancellations, and reading the energy[00:08:38] A firmer foundation and less doubt in practice[00:12:28] Beyond the image: what we print in the skin[00:12:48] Mapping as method: skin as a life map[00:14:39] Using mapping with every client[00:16:30] Festival talks: placement questions and strong interest[00:18:40] Why intentional space matters for change[00:21:36] Body maps that stay simple and useful[00:23:03] Stepping into the role of teacher in public[00:26:32] Devotional space: getting yourself out of the way[00:28:24] What lights her up: long term client bonds[00:30:53] Advice to artists: community, fundamentals, reflection[00:33:22] Next steps: Europe base and retreat style vision[00:37:26] Staying open to cycles and places[00:39:15] Where to find Lluna and how to connect Connect with Mark and Tattoo PathwayInstagram: @themarkofnara | @tattoopathwayWebsite: https://tattoopathway.com

    40 min
  3. 33. Street Shops & Community: Presence Over Popularity (with Josh Roelink)

    10/22/2025

    33. Street Shops & Community: Presence Over Popularity (with Josh Roelink)

    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 sparks (drawing on siblings, an art-teacher mum), his first experiences at Illustrated Man, the rise of custom work, and why a good street shop can still be a true neighbourhood heartbeat. We dive into identity vs discovery psychology, cultural lineage vs contemporary mix, apprenticeships vs quick courses, social media’s specialisation trap, when to say no ethically, and what it means to put presence over popularity in the chair. If you care about the craft and the culture, this one’s a map and a mirror. LINKS Josh's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tatudharma/ WHEN YOU’RE READY → ⁠Book a 1:1 consult with Mark⁠ →⁠ ⁠Get Tattooed by Mark⁠ RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠19. Phillip Milic: Tattooing’s Evolving Culture – A Veterans Perspective SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed – we’d love to hear from you. Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us: ⁠tattoopathway.com/contact⁠ TIMESTAMPS [00:00:00] Why Tattoos Hooked Me (remote childhood, Nat Geo spark) [00:01:51] First Studio Reality Check (Illustrated Man, Kim changes everything) [00:04:15] Designing Our First Pieces (from cliché to considered) [00:05:57] Meaning vs. Aesthetic (initiation, identity, appropriation) [00:08:54] Street Shop = Community Engine (why it still matters) [00:11:45] The New Problem Set (courses, saturation, skipped apprenticeships) [00:28:32] Apprenticeship > Online Course (what real learning looks like) [00:33:13] Algorithm Ink (how tech reshaped tattoo culture) [00:41:47] Phones, Trains & Small Talk (connection is a skill) [00:50:51] Instagram vs. Presence (the chair-side experience wins) [00:57:18] Specialist Trap vs. Generalist Freedom [01:08:48] From Churn to Ceremony (private studio intimacy) [01:21:18] When the Shop Burned Down (what it taught me) [01:22:58] Byron Reset (rebuilding community and pace) [01:33:05] The Emotional Load (boundaries, saying no, tough calls) [01:39:37] Fit, Placement & Regret-Proofing (how we decide) [01:59:23] Tattoos for Your 2050 Self (longevity & planning) [02:12:12] Should Tattooers Get Tattooed? (the debate) [02:20:22] Numbing Cream: When, Why, Risks [02:23:13] Real Advice for New Artists (skills, mindset, business) [02:24:54] Closing + Self-Care (stay human)

    2h 29m

  4. 10/12/2025

    32. Sand, Symbols & Metamorphosis: Pain as a Portal with April

    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 subconscious chooses the right symbols before we do, and how a pair of intentional tattoos (“Letting Go of Fear” / “Letting Love In”) became a living practice. We get into metamorphosis as a template (egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly), her project The Quiet Space, writing Pain as a Portal, an unexpected health initiation that forced deep embodiment, and how ecstatic dance (Dancing Freedom) moves energy through the elements - earth, water, fire, air, ether. If you’re navigating discomfort or longing for transformation, this one’s a field guide made of stories. LINKS Website: The Untold SpaceBook: Pain as a Portal  WHEN YOU’RE READY → ⁠Book a 1:1 consult with Mark⁠→⁠ ⁠Get Tattooed by Mark⁠ RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠EP 18. Tattoo Therapy and Suffering Well - With Lee Trew SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed – we’d love to hear from you. Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us: ⁠tattoopathway.com/contact⁠ TIMESTAMPS⁠⁠ [00:00:04] Two “guides,” one conversation [00:01:12] Sandplay 101: Jung, trays, and living symbols [00:03:35] The subconscious chooses—then shows you the next step [00:05:21] Working with youth (and why adults can still play) [00:07:06] Altars everywhere: reading life’s symbolic language [00:09:46] When the story doesn’t match the symbols [00:15:59] Tattoos as thresholds: fear out, love in [00:17:25] Ceremony in the studio: intention changes everything [00:22:13] Naming a practice: from Blue Soul to The Untold Space [00:26:40] The Quiet Space: six months of communal stillness [00:29:37] Pain as a Portal and the butterfly template [00:34:54] Watching metamorphosis (literally) changes the work [00:39:06] Burnout, blood, and a body-led initiation [00:41:59] From head to body: integration as a survival skill [00:48:04] Dancing Freedom: earth → water → fire → air → ether [00:52:02] Purification vs transformation (and choosing harmony) [00:55:17] The Diamond Metamorphosis Template (12 facets) [00:57:12] Celebrate chrysalis → butterfly (don’t just rush ahead) [01:01:01] A practice you can do now: say hello to the discomfort @themarkofnara⁠ ⁠@tattoopathway⁠ tattoopathway.com

    1h 4m

  5. 08/19/2025

    31. Tattoos, Thresholds & The Sacred Hunt with Caiyuda Kiora

    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 integration. We get into rites of passage vs initiation, plant-teacher apprenticeship in Peru, reclaiming Filipino lineage through traditional motifs, being visible online without losing integrity, and the sacred hunt as a way back into the web of life. LINKS Instagram: ⁠@caiyudakiora⁠ Podcast: Birdsong with Caiyuda (Spotify, YouTube, Apple) Website: ⁠caiyudakiora.com⁠ WHEN YOU’RE READY → Book a 1:1 consult with Mark →⁠ Get Tattooed by Mark RECCOMENDED NEXT EPISODE → 22. Shane Coley – Energetic Alignments and Ancestral Resonance in Tattooing SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed – we’d love to hear from you. Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us: tattoopathway.com/contact [00:00:04] First video episode, why this one matters [00:02:03] “Just another guy” - anti-pedestal humility [00:06:04] Breakup mirror: the painful turn inward [00:10:36] From drugs to sacraments: a 180° reframing [00:11:06] Raindrop / lightning: the calling lands [00:11:59] Six months later: Peru, ayahuasca & wachuma [00:16:20] Flaming dice at 18 - pain, threshold, initiation [00:23:30] Identity on skin: bands, “be the change,” jaguar [00:28:19] “The plants saved my life” - from self to relation [00:34:00] Rite of passage vs initiation - clean distinctions [00:43:40] Returning to Philippines: lineage, tattoos, repair [00:51:10] Armour & order: Filipino motifs + sacred geometry [00:54:50] Being seen online: voice, Chiron, and boundaries [01:08:00] Sacred hunt: reverence over factory-farmed distance [01:20:30] Soul (descent) vs Spirit (ascent); Plotkin’s lens [01:27:20] On thresholds: answer the call, honour the season @themarkofnara @tattoopathway tattoopathway.com

    1h 32m

  6. 04/20/2025

    30. Sacred Geometry: Meaning, Misuse, and the Hidden Order of the Body

    In this episode Mark Nara explores the deeper dimensions of sacred geometry – not just as a visual trend, but as a symbolic language that connects our bodies, our stories, and the cosmos. He breaks down the three layers of mathematics (quantitative, symbolic, and sacred), shares reflections on how geometry shapes meaning, and examines the risks of unanchored design in modern tattooing. Drawing from thinkers like Michael Schneider and Dr. Ibrahim Karim, this episode challenges the surface-level use of geometric forms and invites you to consider how tattooing can become a contemplative, energetic, and deeply aligned practice. Whether you're an artist, a seeker, or someone drawn to sacred symbols, this episode offers new insight into how geometry lives through us – and on us. LINKS Michael S. Schneider Shane Coley WHEN YOU’RE READY → Book a 1:1 consult with Mark →⁠ Get Tattooed by Mark → Join the FREE Community RECOMENDED NEXT EPISODE → 22. Shane Coley – Energetic Alignments and Ancestral Resonance in Tattooing SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed – we’d love to hear from you.Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us : tattoopathway.com/contact TIMESTAMPS [00:01:12] – What Sacred Geometry Really Is[ 00:03:42] – Quantitative vs. Symbolic vs. Sacred Mathematics [00:06:12] – Defining "Sacred" as a State, Not a Thing [00:11:30] – Geometry as a Study of Harmony and Creation [00:13:21] – Ancient Worldviews and the Language of Pattern [00:15:04] – Fractals, Spirals & the Holographic Universe [00:16:14] – Tattooing as Microcosm of the Cosmos [00:17:28] – Dark Matter, Spirals, and Galactic Intelligence [00:19:32] – Tattoo Placement and Energetic Alignment [00:20:58] – The Risk of Unanchored Geometry [00:21:50] – The Importance of Specific Placement [00:23:25] – Sacred Body Maps & Vertical Alignment [00:23:33] – Archetypes in Sacred Geometry [00:24:45] – Choosing Design Based on Frequency, Not Form [00:25:45] – BioGeometry and Shape Resonance [00:26:19] – Tattoos as Contemplative Practice [00:27:10] – Living Meaningfully Before Tattooing Intentionally [00:27:34] – Tattoo as Ritual, Not Just Transaction [00:29:19] – Final Reflections & Invitation to Go Deeper

    30 min
  7. 29. How to Mitigate Tattoo Regret with Research-Backed Guidance

    03/02/2025

    29. How to Mitigate Tattoo Regret with Research-Backed Guidance

    In this episode of Tattoos With Intention, Mark is joined by Taylor, Tattoo Pathway's research lead, to unpack the complex topic of tattoo regret and how tattoos influence our self-perception and identity. Drawing from a comprehensive survey conducted last year, they dive into the most common reasons people experience regret and explore how tattoos can either conceal or reveal our true selves. Whether you're considering your first tattoo, reflecting on past tattoos, or exploring the deeper meaning of body art, this episode offers valuable insights. WHEN YOU’RE READY →⁠ Book a 1:1 consult with Mark ⁠ →⁠ ⁠Get Tattooed by Mark⁠ → ⁠Join the FREE Community⁠ RELATED EPISODES → 17. Ego or Integrity – Discerning the Two in Tattooing – with James Sherrah → 27. Pathways and Progress: Navigating Your Tattoo Psychology in 2025 SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed—we’d love to hear from you. Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us: tattoopathway.com/contact [00:00:00] – Introduction[00:00:25] – The Five Reasons for Tattoo Regret[00:01:35] – “Tattoos Are More Than Just…”[00:03:09] – Survey Overview[00:04:56] – The Meaning Changing Over Time[00:05:39] – Risk Window: Ages 18-25[00:08:43] – Internal vs. External Motivations[00:09:12] – Placement Regret[00:12:22] – Technical Dissatisfaction[00:15:22] – Artist Input and Influence[00:18:47] – Mismatched Expectations[00:28:01] – Tattoos and Self-Perception[00:31:10] – Revealing vs. Concealing Self[00:37:17] – Tattoos as Navigational Tools[00:42:20] – Self-Responsibility in Tattooing[00:46:00] – Mapping and Reflection[00:51:45] – Embracing Change in Meaning[00:55:20] – The Value of Discomfort[01:00:00] – Closing Thoughts

    1h 20m
  8. 28. Meaning and Resilience Through Logotherapy with Dr. Daniel Franz

    02/05/2025

    28. Meaning and Resilience Through Logotherapy with Dr. Daniel Franz

    Welcome to the Tattoos with Intention Podcast, presented by the Tattoo Pathway Research and Education Institute! In this episode, Taylor, our lead researcher, engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Daniel Franz—licensed mental health counsellor, addictions specialist, and expert in Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. Together, they explore how Logotherapy's core concepts—self-responsibility, resilience, and self-transcendence—can guide us in living a meaningful life. Dr. Franz shares practical tools for cultivating meaning in everyday life, emphasising the power of intentional choices, community connection, and using life’s challenges as opportunities for growth. They also discuss how living a meaningful life directly influences the experience of meaningful tattoos. If you’re searching for ways to integrate deeper purpose into your life and tattoo journey, this episode is packed with valuable insights! 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Dr. Daniel Franz: https://danielafranz.com/The Meaning Project Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxNSpXYgXKQJU1iR-4n1GOA Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: https://amzn.to/4hFAtr4 🔥 WHEN YOU’RE READY →⁠ Book a 1:1 consult with Mark ⁠ →⁠ ⁠Get Tattooed by Mark⁠ → ⁠Join the FREE Community⁠ 🖤 SUPPORT THE SHOW Like this episode? Hit the like button and subscribe for more. Leave a comment if something landed—we’d love to hear from you. Know a brand or business aligned with our message? Sponsor or collaborate with us: ⁠tattoopathway.com/contact 00:00 Introduction to Tattoos with Intention Podcast 01:00 Today's Episode: Conversation with Dr. Daniel Franz 02:12 Exploring Logotherapy and Meaningful Tattoos 05:08 Viktor Frankl's Legacy and Logotherapy 09:37 Self-Responsibility and Meaningful Choices 13:51 Turning Challenges into Growth 16:31 Self-Transcendence and Community 21:16 Practical Steps for Living Intentionally 26:39 Embracing Healthy Inner Tension 30:58 Exploring the Crisis of Meaning 31:42 Reframing Challenges as Opportunities 32:51 The Empowering Aspect of Logotherapy 33:35 Using Emotions as Signals 35:08 Practical Strategies for Navigating Inner Tension 39:22 The Hero's Journey and Personal Transformation 44:25 Building Resilience for a Meaningful Life 53:02 Final Thoughts on Meaning and Resilience.

    56 min
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About

Hosted by Mark Nara, Tattoos with Intention is a Tattoo Pathway Podcast that explores the deeper dimensions of tattooing – not simply as a trend or art, but as a living practice of identity, memory, and personal transformation. For those who sense there’s more beneath the surface, this podcast opens a space for reflection, story, and self-discovery. We speak with artists, clients, researchers and practitioners about how tattoos mark turning points, restore coherence, and align the body with one’s inner life. Explore more at http://tattoopathway.com/tattoos-with-intention-podcast/

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