Full Moon in Bali

Kupu Kupu Butterflies

Taking some time to enjoy the uniqueness of nature at the Bali Butterfly Park.  These butterflies emerged from their cocoon this morning.  Maybe that is why they were so cooperative to be place upon me.  The park is filled with plants to support the different phases of their life.   A two week like span is all these butterflies have.  

This is the famous Kupa Kupa.  It is the largest butterfly in Bali.  Look at that wing span.  Awesome.

Family Temple Anniversary Ceremony

This it the family that adopted David in 1991 when he moved to Bali to recover from his illnesses.

The anniversary of the temple is celebrated every three years. This year it was a high celebration, thus many high offerings and rituals were performed.

Rice Fields

The Temple at the Top — Pura Panataran Agung

Leaving our home home around 4 pm we took a series of winding roads east till we connected to the first road going due north.  We drove due north nearly straight up the mountain for about one and a half hours till we reached the top — elevation app 5,000 ft. There we visited a small village, which was about two blocks long. It was locate directly on the crest of the mountain.

Entering the temple there was a strange feeling.  it was as if there was no energy in the temple. As we sat in front of the main alter as the priest performed the ritual of the Balinese prayers our awareness shifted. The temple was not void of energy. Rather in the feeling of the emptiness of the temple we became aware that it was filled with all the energy of life.

The feeling was that that this was a temple which was located as a sacred vortex on the point of the line between heaven and earth. Thus it was a temple of total balance of the masculine energy of the sky and the feminine energy of the earth.  The energy was the energy of pure creation direct form God the Creator.

What a blessing to have been inducted with this beautiful energy of the Divine Oneness of life.

This appeared to be one of the earlier alters around which the temple was built.

Returning to our car we returned  back down the mountain to our home.

One of the nice things about visiting temples is we go home to sleep, dream that always deepening the experience of the arrive of the power of the energy that is now collecting and building within us.

Water Blessing — High Priestess Ida Resi Alit

We were invited to join Karja and son Made for a Holy Water Blessing from a new young Balinese woman, 28 years old who had just been made a High Priestess. We were told to bring a change of clothes.  We were a bit skeptical and our fear was that it was a tourist show.  We quickly realized it is not so. The High Priestess was very genuine and began with about 30 minutes of chanting and her preparation to do the Holy Water Blessing. We did not photograph the prayer for it felt too sacred and personal.

This is her alter.  As she chanted we went into meditation and preparing ourselves for  receiving this blessing.

As the holy water was dumped over us to the point of total saturation there was the rush of energy that threw open our hearts and our hearts began to sing. As the same time we automatically began to hit our feet onto the earth as a natural response to ground the energy within our bodies.

When the water ceremony was complete she directed us to stand in the sun and simply bask in the feeling of the new peace that was vibrating within us. We were in a state of total surrender.

As we watched others receiving the blessing, we understood why the Balinese High priests have gifted her with this title of a High Priestess at such a young age. It was clear her wisdom and the power of the ceremony is filling a new need for Balinese people.

For as the the Balinese move away from the induction of the energy of the heart through their daily family and culture activities and become caught in the western model they need this ceremony to help them remember on a deeper level who they are. Thus it is also of great benefit to us westerners to give us the opportunity to touch into the peace of the Balinese Divine Heart.

Each person both balinese and non Balinese who were there that day, responded differently.  A few cried and release a deep torment from their soul.  My heart went out to them.  The High Priestess helped them move the energy through them so they did not stay stuck in their torment.  There were purification for each of us and the blessings to unfold in the Divine time.  We felt clear and joyful.

The symbol at the top peak of the High Priestess's house.

A special alter at the entrance to the temple at her compound.

Pura Dalem Pingit— Tampaksiring

Arriving and entering the temple at sunset there was the feeling of entering a sacred forest.  

Each time we visit a new temple we are always amazed at the totally different feeling of the energy that is present. The feel here was a being wrapped in the energy of nature combined with the energy of peace. This feeling quickly filled our hearts causing them to let go the stress of the day and the drive in the sometimes congested roads of Bali.

As our hearts opened during the prayers it was as if we became one with nature and thus once again One with God.  

It is as if all the different temples always have the same end result no matter the vibration of the energy . . . to reconnect you with the source of all creation and the sate of being of oneness with God the Creator.

Once again our prayers were lifted up in deep appreciation of the gift of walking the path of life on earth, as we continue to explore the magic of life and the path of peace . . .  be we in Bali or elsewhere on this beautiful space ship called earth.

After our prayers we just didn't want to leave.  As we lingered we each felt into the energy in our own way.  We sat for awhile in the outer Temple and continued to enjoy this peace, this stillness whatever it was.  Giggling, laughing and sharing a special moment with each other.

Sunset Sunrise — Mt Agung from Amed Beach

SUNSET

SUNRISE

Off the Beaten Path

David and I decided on a road trip today.  We have been to the Forrest Temple many times for prayers and I’ve always wondered what is down the road.  Also, we had heard about a holy spring nearby so let’s see if we can find it.  It’s time to explore.

We parked our car and began to journey to find the spring. We took a small path off the side of the road.   The land quickly began to slope downward then further down the path we saw many “steps” and some switchbacks.

Finally, we reached level ground until the path took us to the spring.  A bamboo piece of wood had water dripping into a depression in the earth.  It was very quiet and peaceful.

Offerings of flowers and incense were placed around the spring.  Now it was our private time to communicate with the Creator.   As soon as we started the breezed picked up and the rustling of the bamboo swayed in the wind.  I knew that I was being acknowledged.  Listening, reflecting and allowing all happening at the same time.  I am All and No-thing at the same time.  I am here and I am there.  There is no separation.

With the sound of the barking dog we returned to the earthly plane.  We blessed ourselves with the holy water and began the journey back.

We took a different route back at some steps that we found close to the spring.  The steps were deeper and more even than the other path and there were no switchbacks this time.

Kind of like life, we often choose the most difficult path and have to struggle and some times stumble and fall.  Returning to our center – Creator – the return path was traveled with greater ease. 

The Forest Temple —Pura Sanyang Tegal

The Forest Temple

As you look at these pictures imagine that 25 years ago when David first visited this temple very few people knew of it's existence. The road to get here was dirt and filled with ruts. They had to climb up the dirt slope to enter the temple. Entering the temple was like passing through the vale between the physical world and the spiritual world of nature. 

The walls that define the inner temple are simply three yellow bamboo rails of a fence. No perminate structures can be created within the temple. The giant trees and several large stones are sacred markers of the temple connection to nature and God.

The belief is that this site dates back to the stone age. Some of the stone age sites in Bali date back to 2600 b. c.  

In the past ten years this has become a major temple for the Balinese.  To preserve the site they have built steps up the steep slope and installed a metal gate. Everything in the inner temple is still the same as it was from the beginning.

As we ascended these steps we felt the energy forcing us to exert ourselves to continue the journey up the steps. We paused and remembered that you have to ask permission to enter these sacred sites. Permission was granted by the spirits of the land and it was like the door was opened.

We had some private prayers in this special Temple before the rest of the people arrived.  The energy was a balanced male/female energy.

Now that the door was open the youth - the next generation began to arrive. They honored the elders that were praying and awaited their time to pray.

Now we observed the next generation and the feeling was that everything was going to work out.  There was no grieving for what had been - only the beauty of what is.

Each time we visit this temple there is the knowing that the energy is real and so is our connection to the energy of life, nature, which is our connection to God the Creator. When we are in harmony with this energy miracles happen in our life each day. If we truly look around we see that miracles are also still happening in the world today.  

Pause - look around - open to and enjoy the magic of life.