One mama's solo spiritual journey through Ubud.
Ok so I lied. This trip wasn't all about family time. It wasn't all going to be about relaxing by the pool and sipping cocktails while reading my sexy book either. (see below, this book was so fun and was written by a talented mama friend Vivi Vron! You can find the book here) I had another purpose, which I left open to the universe.
BALIAN HEALER
Sometimes you just have to let the universe take over right? I did some solid research before I left, on the best possible way to find a shaman in bali, but gave up the idea of booking or emailing anybody, because I wanted this to happen organically. Ok I kinda lied, it was hugely intimidating and I was worried I would do something wrong! So I gave in and allowed the old "what will be will be" adage form in my heart.
And it did. It flowed, and looking back now it was a real thing of beauty. Read on.
I urge you to read this carefully, everybody's spiritual journey is different, and for it to be as incredible and soul shifting as mine, you need to just let go, and see where the wind takes you. I promise if you want it hard enough, the universe has you back.
I needed to see a healer, or so I thought. My auto immune disease gut pain was getting worse, I was sluggish and exhausted and I felt like crying all the time. I was at a low point, and we needed this holiday desperately.
So I was postitive a healer could help me. I was right, but not in the way I thought!
I also really wanted to delve into the real spiritual Bali. And no shit, Bali is the real deal. I wanted to understand where the true Balinese spirit comes from and why do they really leave these beautiful offerings out for there many gods. All my questions were answered and more.
And it all started literally as soon as we got to the Movenpick resort. By the pool, by a random lovely lady who passed on the details of her Balinese guide. I took the name and number of Wan, who later has now become a friend, and who plays a huge part in my following journey.
Wan took us on a trip to visit the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, (see more in previously post) which was so amazing, and you can read it here. And during our conversations I mentioned that I was very interested in finding a traditional healer, and to even, if possible visit some of the healing springs I knew were in Ubud.
And then the universe began to step in. Wan emailed me later with information about a healer that sees foreigners and who actually is part of the Indonesian Royal family! I was pretty excited, and immediately jumped onto booking my appointment to see Cokorda Rai. It took a few days to organise, but again the universe had my back, and before I knew it, I was getting up at 5.00 to get myself to Ubud.
Wan had also offered to take me to his local only healing springs. I felt honoured and very nervous, but knew that this was going to be an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity!
UBUD
Cokorda Rai - Master healer and all round great guy.
This was my first time to Ubud and all the lushness and green abundance was so calming and beautiful.
I was feeling pretty nervous and excited about my day ahead, and before I new it, Wan and I had arrived at the special meeting place, where I had been instructed to wait for the Master Healer's assistant. It was about 7.15 am and the skies had opened up. It was the first time I had seen rain in Bali this time around and it was torrential!
Nyoman arrived and we headed off to meet Master Cokorda Rai. Arriving at the sacred place of Cokorda Rai was something I will never forget, it was truly beautiful and as I was shown around Nyoman would point to each little house or shrine and their purpose was explained to me in detail. Bali is rich in culture and I felt honoured to have received this knowledge.
As we settled ourselves in to wait for the Master Healer to appear (keeping in mind he is quite old, but very very strong and spritely!) I began to relax and to really look at where I was! I was sitting in an open air room, in Ubud, at 7.30 in the morning, watching Cokorda's daughters bring offerings to the shrines and family temple!
I found myself staring at the incredible chair that Cokorda Rai sits in to begin his healing, and I wondered how many times had he sat there and used his incredible power, to rebalance, heal and connect with people from all over the world. Countless times I am sure.
He has arrived! I felt like I was meeting a mystical being! He was regal, elderly and kind, and asked me gently to come forward and sit before him with my back against his knees. He asked me where I was from, and as I answered he put his fingers in my ears and pressed them in some wild and crazy ways, firmly pressing on one spot in my ear that made me shriek! Ahhh he said, hurts yes?
Ummm yeah!
He then moved to my temples, and not finding anything there that hurt, he began to press into my shoulders, again feeling some pain here.
Ouch yes?
Yes!
You need to move more, your hips need to be opened.
ok....
He then asked me lie down on an old but beautiful grass mat and he began to press my toes and into my heel with his sharp strong fingers. He pushed on the inside of one of my toes on my left foot, and I screamed in pain.
ohhhh yes that is painful yes?
He was so sympathetic and cheeky that I started to cry. Not from pain, but because at this point he was weaving his long arms and hands frantically above my body, which I later found out was him clearing my meridian pathways, and allowing my chakra to be balanced. I could feel the power in this, and I sobbed as he caressed my head. He told me at this point that my hormones were in chaos, and I needed lots of Omega 3 and that I needed to let go of all self judgments. He then grabbed my hands and began to move them around in a energy clearing ritual, which felt totally weird and wonderful at the same time. I let him guide my hands, and he began to chant and looked deeply into my eyes. You are beautiful he said, and you must breathe out the negative thoughts when you look at yourself in the mirror. He mimed putting on lipstick, while smiling. He showed me how to breathe out the negative thoughts and to smile at myself everyday.
Clearly I am still crying at this point.
He then told me that the pain in my gut ( yes he had indeed picked up on that when he poked my toe) was not as bad as it was, and that I was healing as we spoke. I also needed to take B12 to help with this. Later when I looked up both of these vitamins, they both are necessary in assisting me healing my gut and also balancing my hormones. I had not given him any information about my intestinal disease, even in the booking process.
Now that I am home, and I am taking these vitamins, and I have done a huge overhaul of what I am eating, and the exercise to open my hips the differences are massive.
Now don't get me wrong. I didn't walk out of there completely healed. I walked out lighter than air though, and so inspired to continue my healing journey, and committed to the advancement of my spiritual journey. It was an amazing experience, and he was kind and full of other world power that I will never understand.
I was guided to him, by forces unknown and he has made an impression on me that is beyond normal. I feel so blessed and grateful to have been in his presence.
hashtag blessed. hashtag loved. hashtag fuckinggrateful.
THE HEALING WATERS.
Ok so the next part of my story comes with some stern advice.
Are you culturally respectful enough to listen to what I have to say? I hope so, because I say this with love and feel that I have been given this knowledge to pass onto other foreign visitors in the hopes that they will respect the sacred places of Bali.
Next up Wan took me to his local healing waters, where he would frequent regularly and it is part of his religious and spiritual practise. For the Balinese these two practises go hand in hand.
This place, was absolutely exquisite and none of my photos do it justice. And if I had come here without Wan, then I would have been doing this sacred space, the locals, and myself a huge disservice. Without the knowledge of a proper guide, especially a local, then essentially we are causing harm to the purity of such a divine place.
Let me explain.
As we unpacked the car, Wan had brought me a Sarong and sash, to cover my waist and legs, which is a sign of respect to the gods. He had also brought along some beautiful offerings the we would leave at certain key points on our way down to the waters, which left me in tears again at its joyful ritual and pure supplication of spirit.
Wan showed me how to bless each point, and myself and allow my positive affirmations and blessing fill my mind and spirit. This was a simple thing to do in such a beautiful place.
Climbing down the many stairs to the beautiful water, I was filled with such calmness and clarity. I was in such a powerful place, and the energy was buzzing around me. The waterfalls beside me where ancient and the ground beneath me was covered with eons of moss and scattered flower offerings. So much beauty!
We reached the sacred spot after about 20 mins of walking, and I insisted that Wan go before me! Only so I could see how it was done! I watched him slowing wade through the cold clear water and plunge his face and body into the incredibly forceful waterfall, he did this many time, repeating the lunges, and then slightly moving over until he reached another equally forceful rivet of water. Later Wan would tell me he felt lighter and cleansed, and that he could see that the water had looked darker in colour when he first entered the fierce deluge. But ran clear when he left the pools.
Sadly I did not notice the colour of the water, as I had my eyes squeezed shut for most of the experience, as the water was so wonderful cold and shocking to the system. As I had been watching Wan cleanse himself in the waters, a group of 20 or so Australian women and their male leader of sorts had made there way down to the waters and snuck in before me! So twenty minutes later it was my turn. Wan handed me the beautiful offering that I would intuitively lay within the cracks of rock surrounding the waterfall and pools.
As I stepped gingerly through the cold water, avoiding any uncomfortable rocks I placed my offering, (with some added offerings of my own included) where I felt it belonged and let the incense smoke fill my lungs.
Plunging my face and shoulders, then back and legs into the gushing waters was like nothing I have ever done before, it felt ancient and ritualistic and I felt nurtured and should nourished.
I have no photos of this time, as I felt this experience was very personal, but let me just say that the the memories of this day will stay vivid in my mind forever.
The stern advice I have to give you however dear reader, is this. Seek the guidance of a local guide before entering any of the sacred places in Bali. The lovely leaders of the Australian group that came while Wan and I were deep in meditation, had visited the sacred healing waters many times before (we had a little chat while I waited for my turn) and although they meant no harm or no disrespect, as it was obvious they had had SOME guidance at what to do while using the waters, it became apparent they did not have a full understanding of the ever so important and correct way to give thanks to the gods and where and when to place the offerings. Luckily Wan was advanced in this area and took the time to carefully and lovingly explain the correct way.
Now imagine if this beautiful group of fellow Aussies had carefully selected their own guide for this amazing experience, they not only would have been following the correct spiritual protocols, but they would also have been giving this guide an amazing days work and income.
Later as I staggered back up the 300 odd steps to the top, we passed more foreign travellers making there way to the waters, with no guide, and no offerings. I have learned that this is worrying to many of the Balinese, and I mention this only to urge you to seek guidance in these important areas's .You will get so much more out of this incredible experience!
Ubud and Bali, I cannot thank you enough for showing me all your beauty, and I cannot wait to be back in you next year! Bring on 2019 and more travel writing!
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