The wind is blowing. The air is soft and warm. The water is a translucent turquoise green. The rhythm of the waves reminds me to let go, let be. I see the rugged terrain of volcano formed Lombok Island from where I sit on Gili Air Island. I see rain falling over there on the horizon but I can also see the pinks of the setting sun and the silhouette of a twin masted sailboat. The power of nature once again soothing my over used nerves. Island life. Hot, sweet, slow. It takes time to unwind. How do I get so wound up?
I am in Indonesia near Bali, halfway around the world! I am travelling with Dan and Anthony. Twenty five hours in a plane. We are on an adventure. And really, it is very different here. Travelling opens your mind to new ideas, new people, unexpected experiences. Adjust, relax, observe. Surrender to the difference. Let yourself be moved, feel uncomfortable even, and embrace the unknown.
Dan is playing the guitar which he bought in Amlapura for $22. A 30 minute scooter ride away through steep, narrow and winding mountain road -YEEHAH – with a view of rice terraces straight out of National Geographic. Awe inspiring. He is playing with Julien the violin player from France, who studied music in India. Sometimes I sing. What can I say? Life is good and magic happens in an instant, if you allow …
The snorkeling is absolutely fantastic. Thousands of fish every size, shape and colour from the striped Lion fish to the Pencil fish to the camouflaging Cuttlefish. Spotted turtles too. Big blue starfish in a colourful coral reef teeming with life. Endless expressions and variations on a theme, some so graceful others awkward and quirky looking. Creation was in a most experimental and adventurous phase when designing fish and coral! A whole silent, underwater universe that I can watch like TV, floating effortlessly in the buoyancy of salt water, to the calming sound of my breath … breathing in and breathing out.
What exactly drew me to Bali I am not sure, but what has struck me, besides the glorious nature, is the culture. Here they practice gratitude for life everyday through the ritual of making offerings. The offerings are both meditation and prayer, prepared by making little baskets from banana leaves and reeds which are filled with flower petals, rice, fruit and other sundries as well as a stick of burning incense and then lovingly placed with a blessing. These offerings can be found everywhere on tables, in front of your door, on the sidewalk, in shrines and at alters. The offerings are made by young and old, male or female and always in a state of deep reverence for the spirit of life. When trees or rocks are wrapped in cloth (and they are even in the remotest of areas) this signifies, and reminds, that these spirits are sacred and must not be harmed in any way.
Making offerings is very serious business but done with such simplicity and sincerity of heart. When you make an offering, you are paying respect, you are honouring, you are caring for, feeling gratitude … quieting the mind, freeing the heart. As such the Balinese are a peaceful and joyful people, giving rather than taking, never aggressive but very persistent if they want to sell you something. They have a day where they pray for the whole world and a day of stillness were all stops including airplanes. I am humbled by the depth and authenticity of their feeling for the sacredness and magic of life.
They have a lot to learn about garbage though! Plastic, the scourge of all developing nations. It is everywhere littering the country side, filling the gullies, floating in the oceans, scarring the beaches. For some reason they just don’t see it. They don’t seem to realize that the plastic will not decompose and return to the earth like organic matter does. The irony doesn’t escape me. They are also suffering the uglification brought on by tourism and the almighty dollar … but who am I to judge their desire for the comfort money can buy?
What is it that I want to share with you with regards to the new year? I don’t know … try something different? Open your heart and let life live in you. Don’t neglect what is sacred. Take care of yourself. Do the smiling meditation often. If it is truly the beginning of an evolution in conscious as is prophesied, than so be it. What could be better than that in 2013? Do your part and grow in consciousness, in spirit, in love. I am. Let yourself dream my friends. Don’t wait to act. Act now!
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