September 15 2016

To the Heart of Bali

Trish Broersma Bali 2016

Day 5 CLEANSING

Two hours of driving into the mountains — up and up to Batur mountain range — to take us to Beji Songam temple, and Ulun Danu Songam nearby, the mother temple of the water of Bali, preparing for the once every ten years celebration for cleansing the water. It’s inside the rim of a volcano in the Batur mountain and supplies clean water to this whole region of north Bali. An auspicious place to be sprinkled with holy water mixed with yellow coconut water and flowers. Until recently one could expect to have a bucketful of water to accomplish this, thoroughly drenching the frequent pilgrims, but to replenish the purity of the water they have discontinued that practice for the next few years. The volcanoes last erupted in 1917 and 1926, engulfing the entire area which has been rebuilt since.

Our teacher Etu tells us that they understand that:
The body is cleansed with water
Mind with honesty
Soul with leaning of the heart
Intellect, sins and penance with knowledge.

When we pray, our hands together for first just above the forehead for the gods, then at the forehead for our minds, and then at the chest for the human dynamic.

Preparing for our cleansing ceremony

Overlooking the volcano caldera water from the temple

Entering the temple for the cleansing ceremony

Following prayers we are sprinkled with holy water

What Others Are Saying

Peggy Rubin is a master of theater and the art of becoming. Her book – a masterpiece in every way – will hold you spellbound as you discover the drama of your soul and the purpose of your life. The unique expression of your essence – the Divine theophany that you are – emerges almost magically as you read this clear, penetrating, and insightful book and work with the exceptional exercises. Brava, Peggy!"

Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. Author of Your Soul's Compass and A Woman's Journey to God.

"From Sacred Theatre to sacralizing your life's story, Peggy Rubin takes you through an engaging and wonderful process that will expand your perspective in a myriad of ways and enrich your journey forever. We love this book."

Donna Eden and David Feinstein, Authors, Energy Medicine

"I have always been able to employ in real life what I’ve learned in my theatrical training. Peggy Rubin has now made that process available to anybody who reads this book. It’s very readable and I highly recommend it."

Ellen Burstyn, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning actress

"Each of the arts offers models for the composing of lives, but, as Peggy Rubin demonstrates, theater perhaps most of all. This effervescent description of sacred theater should inspire us all as composers of our lives and caring actors in the world."

Mary Catherine Bateson, author of Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom.

"Peggy Rubin’s brilliant elucidation of the nine powers of sacred theatre propels us away from any impoverished tunnel vision about our lives that we may have slipped into in the face of changing times. We find ourselves in a place where we recognize our lives for their full power and wonder, as a lifelong performance of sacred theatre. Peggy gives us tools from the best in theater tradition translated into effective life skills for sustaining and guiding us."

Trish Broersma, author of Riding into Your Mythic Life, Transformational Adventures with the Horse.

“It gives me perspective on what I am in this time in the world, and feeds my sense of vitality; it enables me to go through really tough stuff knowing that sooner or later the scene will change. There’s a different sense of everything when you begin to look from this point of view.”

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TO BE AND HOW TO BE presents an entirely fresh pathway to self-understanding. The book delights the ear, heart, mind, and soul, offering the riches of a deep love for the theatre and the harvest of a long and wide-ranging study of literature, spiritual traditions, and brain and energy research."

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“It makes me want to walk on chairs, take delight in playing different roles, and gives me the courage just to step out there. I find it's possible to do things I would never have dreamed of doing.”

EG