A couple of months ago in Bali I attended a sacred water blessing, facilitated by a local balinese healer.
This Water Purification was not just a "nice experience" it was fricken intense!! Some women experienced shaking, convulsions, screaming, tears and laughter as the Medicine Women approached us singularly placing her hands on us and whispering words into our ears for just us to hear.
The water is fresh spring water that bubbles up deep from the earth, then pours forth from 7 portholes that represent the 7 chakras, "energy centres" within the human body. After a 1hr drive through lush green terrain, swerving around bends, dodging chickens and chaos we arrived at the temple. Welcomed by the priests we dressed in the correct Hindu attire, covering our bodies in sarongs. The steep set of steps, carved from stone led us women down to the water. Taking a moment of reverence before stepping into the water the Medicine Women led us to sit down facing the wall where water gushed from.
Sitting down in the water, the brightly coloured sarongs danced around us in the shallow waters, the pungent smell of incense billowed around us. The chanting began as the Medicine Women welcomed us into this holy space, receiving permission for us women to be there and acknowledging the spirit of the water.
What happened next was unique to each women.
I slowly sunk heavier into my body, relaxing my bones and surrendering to the water. Tears flowed silently as my heart crack open, like flower petals blooming. Thoughts and visions from the past flashed to mind. Truly unexpected visions. I saw myself as the sweet, innocent girl that I was. Unexpected images of my first boyfriend, my first sexual intimate experience loudly demanded my attention.
Why were these visions coming forth? It was very sudden and unexpected.
The water continued to rush with ferocious savageness, which seemed to get louder becoming more deafening. Yet the waters surrounded me, were as placid & gentle as a mothers embrace. I saw myself as the body between two forces. The compassionate waters of feminine grace and the wild untamed waters of the masculine.
With my visions became insights. Greater awareness and perception about my past. The innocence of the girl I was, that was taken from me. That I allowed to be taken. I cried. Asking this sweet girl to forgive me, feeling I had betrayed her, let her down. As the tears became heavier, the sobs sunk deeper. The Medicine Women approached me, placing her hands on my shoulders and heart and whispered "let it go"...
A tidal wave of emotions ripped through my body as anger shook my core. Moving beyond the visions grief sucked me into a vortex beyond this realm of existence
Out of no where, a primal scream burst through the shadows of sorrow. As in chorus, all women began to purge. Through tears, sound and words the cleansing took place. All the stagnant energy, stored in my mind, body, heart, stored in the cellular memory was released. The water spirit was cleansing.
This process continued for over an hour. With more visions, shaking and insights becoming clearer. Then has the purging settled and calmness renewed the Medicine Women approached us individually and blessed us, encouraging us to now drink this water and let it pass through all your chakras.
I stood beneath each of the 7 fountains of water, allowing the water to cascade with significant weight and power upon my body. It pounded me with the potency of it's power.
One by one each women moved gracefully from the waters. I was last to leave and took my time beneath each chakra water fountain. Finishing with the crown chakra where I tilted my head back slightly so the water gushed onto my 3rd eye, my pineal gland, the seat of consciousness.
Bowing deeply I stepped beyond the waters. A "zapping" feeling shot through my body! Both feet on the carved stone, my body was electrified! The "zap" disappeared as fast as it jolted me, and what was left was a feeling I had "just landed". Slowly I ascended each step, but with such deep presence, stillness and spaciousness. It was a slow walk up. Gently my feet becoming more stable and strong I saw each step as moving towards the Women I am today. Carrying within me, the sweet innocent girl I was, and still am. Carrying her in my Heart.
Reaching the final step, the sun pierced through the dark dampness and kissed my face. Closing my eyes, opening my palms to face the warmth of the sun, my body completely softened. A feeling of deep relaxation, of calmness pervaded every cell in my body. The spring water, that bubbled up deep from the earth, was now within my body, circulating around, breathing in new life. I felt "plugged in" to the land. Bali is now apart of me, as I am of apart of her.
The silence and peacefulness surrounded us all, then Ibu, the Medicine Women brought out gifts of coconut water, fresh beetroot juice and homemade traditional snacks, wrapped in banana leaf for us to enjoy and settled back into our bodies.
In our sharings, the experience was vastly different, yet all similar to another.
Before the ceremony I had no expectation, but was gifted with a rich memory I will carry with me forever.
In many cultures around the world humans have sought physical relief, emotional healing and spiritual renewal by immersing themselves in water.
I have discovered that we can by "lead" by another into a healing space. But it is us, you, who conduct the healing. It is your sub-conscious mind who makes the decision to let go, surrender and release the stagnant energy blocks. So often, we seek external "things" "healers" to help us. They can help take your blindfolds off, hold your hand lovingly and show you where the path is. But you, my dear fellow human, are the one who is required to walk the path.
All the worlds strength and power rests inside of you.
After many requests, I am compiling a Conscious Traveller guide for Bali with all my experiences & recommendations "off the beaten Bali track" and where the real gems of magic exist.. I feel compelled to share, so that others can have deeper, richer experience
My love affair with Bali continues.. a land full of contrast, contradiction, beauty and allure. The Balinese live in deep reverence for a spiritual life, steeped in tradition and ritual this culture demonstrates depth and wisdom. I am deeply grateful for the many magical transformative experiences I have had and will continue to do so, on this magical island of Bali.
