Purification

 

 

Water purification is the ultimate act of renewal. It transforms the chaotic and the clouded into the clear and the life-giving, reminding us that with time and intention, purity can always be restored.

 

 

I’ve just recently returned from Bali where I attended the Radiant Priestess Retreat held by Aradia Sunseri, founder of Ritual Movement Arts.  The Balinese are such beautiful people, they have many sacred rituals and ceremonies and I felt honoured to be on their land and to learn many new things. The retreat was held away from the hustle and bustle, amongst the rice fields and each morning I was woken to the sound of chanting echoing throughout the hills.

 

 

 

 

 

During the retreat I attended two water purification sessions which had a profound effect on me. The first was at the Tirta Empul Temple (Holy Springs temple) located in Tempaksiring. The day before we made offerings, weaving baskets to hold flowers and setting our intentions. We then took them with us to place on a shrine where we prayed and set our intentions again.

 

 

 

 

 

The cleansing ceremony (Rule of Three) then began - we entered the first of three sacred pools and stood before a water fountain, splashed the sacred water onto our face and over our head three times before placing our crown under the fountain allowing the water to flow over us with hands pressed onto the ancient rock in front of us. At each water fountain we repeated the process, all the while setting our intentions.

 

 

 

 

 

We were so lucky to have the place to ourselves, it was just myself and two sisters from the retreat. We could take our time and really think about the ceremony and the intention of cleansing and purifying ourselves. Each fountain I passed under left me feeling renewed and peaceful and so connected to myself. It truly was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget and I was so grateful that it was just the three of us.

 

 

 

 

 

The second purification was at a waterfall, which was even more powerful than the first.  The water was cold but cleansing and the sensation of the water hitting my crown put me into a trance and I unloaded a lot of things. I felt very different after that experience - very alive and connected to source. It took me a while to ground and come back to earth!

 

 

 

 

 

Water is such a powerful force. I have always loved swimming and being in water but this experience in Bali has given me a new perspective. I want to go back and immerse myself in the culture and learn more about their traditions and ceremonies. The western world is lacking in these types of things and I became even more aware of this whilst I was over there.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m lucky I live on the ocean so I can continue my daily ritual and adapt what I learnt into my life here. The earth really is such a sacred place and needs to be taken care of and I do believe more people are acknowledging this. She can heal us and we can heal her.

 

 

"So let the mind flow like water. Face life with a calm and quiet mind and everything in life will be calm and quiet."    - Thich Thein-An

 

 

Until next time stay true to yourself… 

 

Susi