Bali
CHAPTER PREFACE:
A CHARACTER’S ACCOUNT OF BALI
“Bali is one of Indonesia’s thousands of islands.
Bali is the only Hindu island (the rest of Indonesia is Muslim). There are beautiful temples (puras), over 1000, they say. I saw them pretty much decorated in front of almost every house, at least an altar.
The puras are really beautiful. There are also many gates, designed in intricate shapes.
The locals believe in water cleansing - they really believe in the healing power of it. It is a tradition to do a water purification ceremony at a temple. Tourists will often do it at Tirta Empul, but some will do it with specialized healers. I did mine at a Hindu temple, and I also saw an energy healer on a separate occasion.
Bali is also known for its rice paddies, nature, and the friendliness and warmth of the people. Everyone is always smiling. Much of the island is lush with some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen anywhere.
My favorite experiences in Bali were visiting the waterfalls around Ubud, the rice fields of Sidemen, and seeing the volanoes in Kintamani.”
ON THE WALL:
(ACTUAL BOOK TEXT)
Ascending
You begin this journey
And ascend with purpose
Let your feet be light
Let your being flow
As your heart drums
To the rhythm of the heavens
Radiant energy flourishes
Up the spine
Through the mind
Bursting with bliss
From the crown,
Union,
Geometrical sound
A joy,
An awareness,
A consciousness
Climbs and
Elevates
To the genius
Of the cosmos
And wanders
Like a cloud,
But never so lonely,
With a beautiful crowd
Of fragrant jepun
Blossoming and free
Like a red and white kite
That waves, proud
And rises humbly
With the strength of
Soaring bamboo
A power, vitality
Sprung from the roots
Of sacred earth,
Sacred sea
And one thousand puras
Liberate all doubts
From illusory hours
Before beaming dawn,
Enter real dreams,
Awake worldly greatness
All choices are right,
All paths will be true,
Now is the new later,
The future is due
Come near,
All things that are far
Nothing can hold you
You belong to the stars
Grounding
With each step,
Your feet move closer to
Mother Earth,
Sweet gravity
Lulls you home
To your roots,
Bring all you’ve collected
Connect galaxy corners
In gracious web,
Weave it twice
And firmly plant it
Deep into soil,
Nourish the planet
With each grain
Of rice strung like jewels
A labyrinth that runs
Beneath the Indian Ocean
Below the origins
Of volcanic eruption
Deep to the core
Of things you forgot to feel
Do it completely
With courage that’s real
Back to the beginning
Of life prehistoric,
That twists and turns
Like the shell
Creation, inception,
Time can’t even tell
Blue moon pulls the tides,
Blanket of blessings
Sink back, relax
Bathe without dressing
Deeply forgive
Deeply accept
This roll of the dice
Soak in the splendor of
Sunlight on ice
Wind slowly carries
Thundering branches
Of light recharging
Burning metal,
Revive your
Magnetic soul,
Feel this force of
Unifying earth
You’re here
You’re grounding
Paradise rebirth
BEHIND THE TEXT
The architecture of the stairs are designed to mirror the double helix of DNA, as well as the double coiling snakes used as a symbol in the US Medical Corps and in various hospitals.
The numbers represent each step of the staircase. Each page was written as a meditation and a tribute to Bali.
Ascending (read going up) leads to a yoga studio, and encourages the reader to be empowered with each step up.
Grounding (read going down) starts from the top floor and encourages readers to connect back to earth as they descend.
The top of the mural says “om swastiastu” ᬒᬁ ᬲ᭄ᬯᬲ᭄ᬢ᭄ᬬᬲ᭄ᬢᬸ (may God bless you), a common greeting in Bali.