Yantras are sacred geometrical diagrams, with origins in India. As their usage spread into Thailand, they became integrated into Buddhist spiritual practice as well, incorporating Thai prayers, symbols and mantras. They can be drawn on any surface, and, honestly, Thai yantra tattoos deserve an entire post to themselves! But for more on the meaning behind specific Thai Buddhist symbols, this article is a fantastic resource.

I’m particularly smitten with the yantras that are pressed into thin metal sheets. As someone who is obsessed with beautiful tin nichos, and old pressed tin ceilings, it’s not surprising I find these metal yantras just as aesthetically alluring.