Encompassed by the obsidian-black expanse, I relax into the space around me. The elevating sounds of the wooden flute drift in harmony with the earthly scent of burning incense. The frequency of the Himalayan sound bowls hum in unison with the beating drums. The vibration emanating from the gong dispels a warmth throughout my being. I’m bathing in the sea of soothing sounds that surround me. The electric energy swirling inside feels innately attuned to the natural rhythm of Papatūānuku*. As the intensity increases, I feel myself becoming in-tune with the instruments and in turn, in-tune with the universe. Diamond-bright specks begin to emerge. Sprinklings of stardust amongst the now-indigo backdrop blanket the expanse. I am immersed in the luminescent surroundings of the midnight sky. Shimmering dots grow brighter, then softer, in-sync with the flow of my breath. I can feel my heart pumping, or is that the pounding of the drum? For a moment, time stands still. It’s almost as if I’m in a dream state. Am I even breathing? Are my eyes open, or closed? Where am I? I begin to lose my sense of self. The unsettling feeling of uncertainty commences my descent back towards reality. The twinkling lights slowly fade along with the meandering melodies, returning me to darkness. Birds flutter overhead, barely audible over the noise of the rotating fan. Is that someone snoring? My body feels tingly, lighter than a grain of rice. It’s time to wake up. Wiggling my toes, stretching my fingers and feeling the soft surface against my back, my mind shifts my body’s awareness to the mattress beneath me. The eye mask, filled with volcanic sand from Mount Batur, still weighs heavily upon my eyelids. Indistinct chatter begins to fill the room. I smile to myself, comforted by the loudening sounds of laughter and conversation of the people around me. Peeling off the eye-mask, my eyes flutter to refocus. I sit up, slowly. Still slightly disorientated, I begin to re-familiarise myself with my environment. My eyes are greeted with the golden tones of giant gongs, glistening against the glowing lamps just beyond them. I look around the room. Did anyone else journey inwards? My gentle gaze is welcomed by the person across from me, our smiles silently acknowledging our shared experience. My attention shifts upwards, following the 51.5 degree angle to arrive at the point where the four inward-leaning walls intersect; the pyramidion. This intersection represents the connection between diverse cultures, ancient history, spirituality and timeless music. A sacred space is created with the sole purpose of revitalising the soul. The sun filters through the cracks, seeking permission to be let inside. Sunlight gushes in as the main doors are opened, flooding the space with an overflowing sense of warmth. The laughter and chatter continues as people begin to get up and leave. Each and every one of them can be seen showing their gratitude by giving thanks on their way out. Their appreciation can be felt by their vibrant energy, radiating happiness and healing. I speak to one of the sound healers afterwards, attempting to explain my extraordinary experience. Does this even make sense? Her eyes glisten. With a warm smile she says, “Oh, so you travelled to the cosmos”. And so it seems I did. My mattress was a seat in the pyramid-shaped spaceship, with the launch site surrounded by rice fields. I took a trip to outer space, via Bali. Through the understanding of my story, I feel a sense of acceptance. In this moment I am reminded that even though I am travelling only with my shadow, I am never truly alone. I give thanks to the sound healers once again. Palms together with my head bowed ever so slightly, I respectfully say, Terima kasih. As I step outside, I am encapsulated in a warm embrace. The natural brown hues of the wooden boardwalk against the bright green grass and lush forest sit snugly beneath the cloudless blue sky. I look up to see the sun, which is now shining down on me directly. A renewed sense of belonging washes over me as I think to myself, welcome home. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Papatūānuku represents Mother Earth in Māori mythology.