About Shane Coley | Sacred Tattoo Artist & Ancestral Practitioner
I am Shane Coley, a sacred tattoo practitioner based on the Gold Coast. For me, tattooing is not only an art form but a ceremony — a way of weaving ancestry, spirit, and transformation into the skin. My work specialises in ceremonial tattooing, ta moko, Māori tattoo, Polynesian tatau, and Celtic tattooing, carried out with reverence and deep intention.
Ko Whakamārama tōku Waka
Ko Tararua tōku Maunga
Ko Manawatu tōku Awa
Ko Rangitane tōku Iwi
Ko Ngati Rangitēpaia tōku Hapu
Ko Te Rangimārie tōku Marae
Ko Shane Coley tōku ingoa
Ko Rangiotu ko Te Papaioea ahau
Kei Tai Koura tōku kāinga
My Journey
I began tattooing nearly four decades ago, walking a path that has taken me from the craft of tattooing into its deeper essence as a sacred practice. Over the years I have travelled, studied, and worked with teachers, artists, and traditions that revealed to me the true power of tattooing: not just to decorate the body, but to transform the spirit.
My own journey has been one of remembering — reconnecting with the ancestral role of the tattooist as healer, guide, and storyteller. Today, I offer this work as ceremony, creating tattoos that carry meaning, resonance, and ancestral connection for those who feel called to receive them.
Sacred Tattooing as Ceremony
Tattooing has always been more than skin deep. Across cultures, it has been ceremony — a threshold crossing, a way of embodying identity, lineage, and spiritual protection.
In my practice, each tattoo begins with intention. We open in ceremony, aligning with your ancestors and spirit to bring through the symbols, patterns, and energies that are right for you. The tattoo itself becomes an imprint of resonance — a living talisman carried in your skin, anchoring healing and transformation long after the session ends
Ancestral & Cultural Styles I Work With
• Ta Moko & Māori Tattoo – expressions of whakapapa, connection to tipuna (ancestors), and cultural recognition.
• Polynesian Tatau – Samoan, Fijian, Tahitian, Cook Islands and other island traditions, each carrying patterns of identity, strength, and journey.
• Celtic & Viking Tattoos – inspired by the Picts of Scotland and the symbolic markings of ancient Celtic and Nordic tribes, reconnecting to ancestral memory.
• Sacred Symbolism & Energy Tattoos – designs rooted in geometry, spiritual symbols, and energetic imprinting, created to align with your personal path.
Each style is approached with reverence, ensuring the symbols resonate authentically with your story and ancestry.
Working With Me
Receiving a tattoo in this way is an immersive experience. Sessions take place in my private ceremonial studio on the Gold Coast, or I travel globally to work with clients who feel called to this path.
Every journey begins with a conversation. Together we explore your intentions, your ancestry, and the symbols or energies that wish to come forward. From there, a design is created in resonance, and the ceremony of tattooing begins.
If you feel drawn to this work, I invite you to take the first step into ceremony.
continue to find out more about Shane
Born in Palmerston North, Manawatu, Aotearoa/New Zealand, my journey with tattooing began in 1987, igniting a passion that has evolved into both an art form and a spiritual practice. I opened my first tattoo studio on the iconic Cuba Street in Wellington, where my early work was deeply influenced by traditional Māori carving and Ta Moko. My foundational knowledge came from two revered master carvers and Ta Moko artists, Tom Bishop and Rawiri, whose wisdom shaped my understanding of tattooing beyond skin—into the realms of identity, culture, and spirit. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of Aotearoa’s most inspiring Ta Moko artists, including Inia Taylor III (Moko Ink), Tommy Downs, Mike E, Turumakina Duley, Gordon Toi, and the talented collective at House of Natives. My journey also led me to collaborate with globally renowned artists at studios like Into You (London), Tokyo Hardcore (Japan), and Saved Tattoo (Brooklyn, NYC), where I expanded my perspective and honed my craft on the international stage.
Tattooing as a Spiritual Practice
Tattooing, for me, has never been just about ink on skin. It’s a sacred practice, a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms. Early in my career, I became aware of the energetic and emotional shifts happening during tattoo sessions. Clients would experience unexpected emotional releases—crying, laughing, trembling—as if the process unlocked something deep within them. Some felt embarrassed, not understanding what was happening, but I always reassured them, “Let it come, let it go.”
What I was witnessing was more than emotion—it was healing, a reconnection to their Mauri (life force, energy, and source of emotion). This wasn’t just tattooing; it was an ancient ceremony in modern skin. Clients would often reach out weeks or months later, sharing how their tattoos had sparked transformational shifts—emotional healing, clarity, release of old wounds, and a deeper connection to themselves.
The Evolution of My Creative Process
As I grew into this understanding, I shifted how I approached design. Initially, I’d create designs before meeting clients, but it felt disconnected. I realised that the energy needed to flow in the moment, with the person present. When I let go of control, stood beside them, and opened to the energy, the designs began to emerge effortlessly—not from me, but through me.
It felt like I was downloading their design from the universe. These weren’t my creations; they were already out there, woven into the client’s story, their ancestry, their soul. I was simply the channel, the bridge bringing their design to life. Their tattoo was already written in their energy—I was just the one to uncover it.
Dreams, Symbols, and Intuitive Connection
Sometimes, days before a session, I’ll have vivid dreams revealing symbols or images meant for a specific client. Other times, an image will flash into my mind during the day, a clear message that this element needs to be included. When I share these with clients, they’re often met with awe—the symbols hold deep personal, ancestral, or emotional significance they never mentioned, yet the tattoo speaks directly to their soul.
Tattooing as a Portal for Transformation
This is more than art. It’s a rite of passage, a sacred dialogue between the individual, their ancestors, and the universe. Every line, every mark, carries intention, energy, and healing. Through this process, I’ve come to understand that tattooing is an ancient language, etched into the skin but written by the spirit.
If you’re drawn to this work, it’s because your story is ready to be told—not just on your skin but within your soul.
Let’s uncover it together.
A Powerful Tattoo Story: The Connection Between Spirit, Symbols, and Skin
I’d like to share a memorable tattoo experience that has stayed with me over the years. I was tattooing a friend and client when something extraordinary unfolded—one of those moments that remind me how deeply connected tattooing is to the spiritual realm.
The Albatross (Toroa) and a Powerful Connection
The night before the session, I had vivid images appear in my mind. I knew instinctively that these symbols needed to be part of his tattoo design. As I sketched, one image stood out—a giant albatross (Toroa). It felt significant, though I didn’t yet understand why.
When I met with my client, I explained the korero (story) woven into his design, detailing which sections represented his family members, his ancestral connections, and personal journey. As I pointed to the albatross, he stopped me in awe and shared an incredible story.
Just a few days earlier, he had been driving with his son when an albatross landed right in front of their car. They both got out, standing face-to-face with this magnificent bird. He described it as an eerie, powerful encounter—a silent connection, like meeting a guardian or even an ancestor. The timing of the tattoo and the image felt deeply significant, as though the universe had orchestrated the moment.
The Sun, Ra, and Ancestral Presence
We started the tattoo at his home in Wellington, set up in his lounge near large bay windows. It was a typical overcast Wellington day, grey skies and muted light. But as I began tattooing the section dedicated to his son, named ‘Ra’ (which also means sun in Māori), something incredible happened.
The clouds suddenly parted, and the sun shone through with overwhelming brilliance, bathing us in warmth and light. This radiant energy stayed with us the entire time I tattooed his son’s symbol onto him. The moment I finished that section, the clouds closed over, and the sunlight disappeared. It felt like a blessing from the universe, perfectly timed with the story we were etching into his skin.
The Spirit of His Uncle
As we continued the tattoo, a sudden noise came from behind us—something falling, though we were alone in the house. I felt a distinct presence standing behind me, as if someone was watching over my shoulder. Every time I glanced back, I could almost see someone there, just beyond the edge of my vision. A voice echoed in my mind:
“It’s his uncle, it’s his uncle. Everything is good.”
I didn’t say anything at the time. We finished the tattoo, but that night, I couldn’t shake the feeling. I knew I had to tell him.
The Confirmation Over Coffee
The next morning, we met for coffee. As we talked about the tattoo, I gently asked,
“Was there someone you were really close to growing up?”
He looked at me, eyes widening, and replied,
“Yes, my uncle.”
Without missing a beat, we both said in unison,
“But he’s passed away now.”
I shared what had happened—the noise, the presence, and the message I’d heard:
“Your uncle was there, standing behind me, watching over us. He was giving us his blessing.”
Tears welled in his eyes. That simple confirmation meant everything to him. It was more than a tattoo; it was a moment of ancestral connection, healing, and reassurance.
The Deeper Meaning of Tattooing
This is just one of many experiences I’ve had throughout my life as a tattoo artist. Moments where the veil between worlds feels thin, and tattooing becomes more than art—it becomes a spiritual ceremony, a bridge between the living and the unseen. I hold these moments with deep respect, as sacred reminders of the power that exists beyond ink and skin.
Everything Is Vibration
When I reflect on it, everything is energy—everything carries a vibration. Whether it’s trees, plants, or people, every living and non-living thing vibrates at a unique frequency. Even images and words evoke specific vibrations, resonating with us in ways we may not fully understand.
This is why symbols have held such profound importance throughout history. They don’t just represent ideas; they carry an energetic charge, vibrating at a frequency that can trigger specific causes or effects in our reality. These sacred symbols, lines, and patterns influence not just our minds but our very energy fields.
When we apply these images through tattooing, we are invoking more than art—we’re channeling a vibrational shift. Whether it’s drawn from the universe or brought to the surface from within, I believe that tattooing has a profound impact on the wearer—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s a powerful form of energetic expression that aligns us with something greater.
The Ways of Old: Reviving the Ancient Spirit of Tattooing
Let’s bring back to tattooing the knowledge and wisdom that the ancients lived by—an understanding deeply rooted in spiritual connection, ceremony, healing, and the balancing of energies that shape who we are on this journey through life. It’s time to honour the Old Ways, practices that have been forgotten in much of the modern world but are now slowly reawakening.
Book Your Session Now to experience this reconnection.
