Balinese ritual

by Fani Listyana (Indonesia)

Making a local connection Indonesia

I joined the trip of eternalpathways. This is my story about the Balinese ritual Bathing(melukat ). It is a wonderful ritual carried out all over the island in some of the most picturesque and serene temples. Usually hidden away at the bottom of a very steep hill in a river or natural springs flowing out of the living rock. These are special places of peace and quiet. Ancient sites used by generations of Balinese and all of them welcome people no matter where they are from or what their beliefs are. These are spiritual places, dedicated to the Gods of the Island, protectors of all people and givers of harmony. To complete this ritual gains merit with the Gods and respect by the local balinese. I was feeling hopeless about my life. stuck, hopeless with only darkness. I simply could not see the light. To try to break the circle I decided on planning a trip to Bali. Island of the Gods. A place steeped in ancient spiritual practices that heal all the ills and pain that one encounters in daily life. I am Kejawen, This is a Javanese spiritual way of life that is closely related to the ancient Javanese kingdoms and of course with the spiritual way of life in Bali. Once I had arrived in Bali I met ki Matra, a spiritual guide and a devout Hindu. HIs entire life ahs been spent in devotion to the Gods and spirits of Bali and to guiding lost souls through the rituals and ceremonies that help to return these people to the path of peace, energy and most importantly, Harmony of mind, body and spirit. He immediately saw and understood my lack of balance. My spiritual confusion and lack of harmony. he took it upon himself to resolve my inner conflicts and help me to find peace. It was a slow process. He took me around the Island to many of the hidden away places. The temples and spiritual sites that normally only the local communities of Balinese know about and use. Places of intense spiritual connections to nature and the Gods. Places so ancient that most people do not know who created them. He decided that the first and most important ceremony I need to perform was Spiritual Bathing. Or Melukat. This is a ritual that uses water from natural aquifers or rivers, or in most case both, in a series of ritual washing of the head and body. Usually to perform this there are a series of Nine spouts from the living rock and similar outlets in the river. The ritual concentrates on the devotee removing themselves from the world through bathing in the river or waterfall and connecting with themselves and the Gods or spirits or the world around them by washing the head and face in the spout while submerged to the waist in the pools, river or bathing area. Letting the water flow over and around, washing away the cares and concerns. Rinsing the body and the soul of all worries, tension, cares and confusion. A time of great peace and harmony. A ritual that eases the mind, washes away the tension in the body, leaving you refreshed and energised and feeling new and bold and ready to face the world while forgiving yourself for the many things that are causing confusion and lack of resolution. For me, because there was so much in my heart and on my mind, it would take a progression of ritual Melukat's. A progression of ever more spiritual locations that required a progressive amount of effort and sacrifice to get to. A progression of ever more difficult locations to get to that inspired the mind to greater effort and greater spiritual connection to myself and to the world.