Tattoo art as spiritual practice
Subject in Spirituality
Tattoo art as spiritual practice has come up in 1 episode across 1 podcast in TMT, including Seekers of the Eternal. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Swasthik IyengarSouth Indian-born tattoo artist and painter known as Ganga Ma, based in New York
Iyengar said that her progress stalls when her motivation is material gain rather than authenticity.
“I think the universe knows when my intent, my reasoning for it isn't one coming from a really authentic place and potentially it's for material gain”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 59:14
Iyengar said her connection to nature is as important to her as her connection to God.
“having that connection to nature is equally as important as connection to God too, for sure”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 44:15
Iyengar said that drawing deities and esoteric art reconnected her with God after losing her faith in adolescence.
“drawing deities and spiritual and esoteric art, the more I started connecting back with God, the more I would wake up”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 24:49
Iyengar argued that because tattooing is a permanent energy exchange, the artist's state of mind directly affects the quality of what she delivers.
“if I'm not in the right state of mind, then I'm not delivering something to the best of my ability”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 15:13
PalehorseArtist and host of the Seekers of the Eternal podcast, also referred to as Chris
Palehorse argued that in difficult times artists should keep making art rather than see it as trivial.
“now is the time for artists to make art and not to feel like that is a trivial thing to do”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 53:20
Palehorse expected that people would increasingly seek tattoos for ancient, medicinal and rite-of-passage reasons.
“I think in the future, people will be getting tattoos for these ancient reasons, for coming in for a medicinal reason to receive that”
Seekers of the Eternal: Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred Tattoos (Jun 30, 2025) · Listen from 17:55
Podcasts
- Seekers of the Eternal · 1 episode
Episodes
Ep 66 - Swasthik Iyengar - Sacred TattoosSeekers of the Eternal · Jun 30, 2025 · 1 h 13 min
Palehorse talks with tattoo artist Swasthik Iyengar (Ganga Ma) about her grandmother's healing kolam tattoos, devotional art, Hindu deities and the spiritual side of tattooing.