#returningtonaturesrhythm

[pathsoftransformation]

It’s Galungan in Bali, thirteen days of thanksgiving that happens twice a year where the gods are honored for the abundance that they provide and their victory over adharma (disharmony). During this time the gods and ancestors are believe to visit the earth. Families gather, cook a bunch of food, put up posts in front of the house representing the mountains (home of the gods) and the abundance which flows from there. For nearly two weeks they make special offerings to the gods and ancestors who visit. It’s always interesting to see the parallels amongst traditions while at the same time noticing the difference in focus. In Bali thanksgiving is intimately wrapped up with the gods, ceremony, and spending time with the family. Not to mention the ancestors who have made this all possible. It’s a way of giving back to the forces of life that sustain us. What is a practice you can invoke in thanksgiving that honors those forces of abundance that sustain us? #abundance #ancestors #thanksgiving #balihinduism #pathsoftransformation #honoringthegods #ameaningfullife #returningtonaturesrhythm #lifeunfiltered #Bali #BaliAdventure #Wanderlust #dharma_travel #lifeinbali #expat #tradition (at Ubud) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QMMl8hF9Y/?igshid=q11odx7fhc85

[pathsoftransformation]

One of my favorite things about living at my family’s homestay is that here, as with most of Bali and much of the world, family units are multigenerational. On the poles of the generations are Ebu and Bella. Ebu (grandma, it’s the only name she ever gives for herself) goes to every ceremony in town (and many out of town) and holds the traditions of the family with a smile on her face. She’s constantly creating new offerings for the next ceremony and always starts the songs amongst the women during rituals. She knows how to perform every ceremony but it’s not a rigid following of tradition that accompanies her but rather a love for her community and spirituality. Bella is the resident four year old. Bright in intelligence and spirit and ranging from fierce to shy depending on the hour and day. In the video she’s teaching me how to count as she counts up how many ice creams she wants. It’s why she’s locked us into the kitchen, to demand payment. Her mother Mina only laughed and told me “we’ve been locked in.” I have never seen a parent in Bali yell at their child and I’ve never seen a kid spanked. For the most part parents seem patient and amused. Occasionally, in ceremony, they’ll give a special look or tone but usually they let children be children. People here know that their families and villages will be with them for the rest of their lives. There is a lot of attention paid to harmony and while people will occasionally clash they tend to come back together again in respect of that harmony. Personally I feel there’s a lot to be learned here about the wisdom that comes from sharing space and the times of youth, adulthood and wisdom. #pathsoftransformation #ameaningfullife #liveyourstory #livingalchemy #livingstory #beyondsurviving #lifemagic #returningtonaturesrhythm #lifeunfiltered #Bali #lifeinbali #expat #balihinduism #offerings #spiritualcommunity #mybalifamily #balifamily #family (at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzpjDZFBAMH/?igshid=bbzcp9cer6ro

[pathsoftransformation]

Once a Bali year every family temple celebrates the anniversary of its consecration. This happens twice a Gregorian year. Essentially it’s a family get together with praise and thanks for (the) God(s). As God in Bali is the Many as One. Since every house has a family temple that’s a lot of smiling faces at various get togethers, with prayers, offerings, and gratefulness. The priest who led the prayers today had four other temple anniversaries to bless. I found myself basking in the glow of a life lived in community, with supportive extended families, village support, and a grateful relationship with the Mystery. People will spend weeks preparing for a ceremony, friends, family and neighbors all doing what they can to help. Bali really is a tropical paradise but that is due to a lot more than the beauty of the island. It’s a culture that nurtures and nourishes community support and relationship to the Mystery. Which leads me to wonder, how can we do more of this in our own lives? #pathsoftransformation #ameaningfullife #liveyourstory #livingstory #beyondsurviving #lifemagic #returningtonaturesrhythm #lifeunfiltered #Bali #BaliAdventure #Wanderlust #dharma_travel #lifeinbali #expat #spiritualadventure #balihinduism #offerings #spiritualcommunity #mybalifamily #livingwiththemystery (at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/pathsoftransformation/p/ByjFpsRBXSn/?igshid=lrbnu5z1kre8

[pathsoftransformation]

It’s the holiday season. Many are grieving lost ones. Many are grieving those still here but no longer around. Some are grieving themselves, lost from the familiar; from the traditions, people, and dreams they had before. Whether we think about it, sob for it or try to ignore it, the body knows what’s happening. There’s a reason there are so many holidays in the darkest part of the year. It’s in the experience of wholeness; grief and closeness that we touch what is essential. Let yourself grieve. Let yourself laugh. If you know someone who could use connection bring them in. Celebrate the true meaning of the season, the brightening of the night as we gather together and share our warmth. The fullness of it all, these specks in amber. #poem: stilled moments caught. the sun-kissed me this morning as flowers fell from the trees. a week ago she was skin laced bone & breath, now she is dirt-stained, lungs emptied. my sister said "i don't cry when they die anymore" i knew what she meant. i sob for life. flecks in amber #poetry #instapoetry #poems #poet #poetryisnotdead #poetsofig #spilledink #poetrycommunity #embodiedmindfulness #mindfulmoments #sacredmoment #enchantinglife #lifeissacred #pathsoftransformation #pathsoflife #windsofchange #ameaningfullife #liveyourstory #livingalchemy #livingstory #beyondsurviving #lifemagic #innertruth #innerworld #innerworldsouterworlds #personalmythology #herosjourney #returningtonaturesrhythm #lifeunfiltered https://www.instagram.com/p/B6LAnwbBbaE/?igshid=ymjhk9ofi8c1

[pathsoftransformation]

I helped Meme make offerings today. I love this culture with its traditions that have parallels to the old ways across world. To mindfully arrange flowers, make offerings at altars, sweep out temples creates a whole new state of life and being. It’s a means to embody our gratitude for life’s beauty. To show our devotion to the wonders of life whether the day has been pleasant or upsetting. This aspect of devotion has truly enriched my life and yet as I write this I have @alanclementsworlddharma ‘s voice in my head. “Say no to spiritual apartheid.” The separation of our spiritual experience from our every moment because we think it’s best reserved for a temple or a church, for the yoga studio, our full moon celebration or a moment lighting some incense. These pictures were taken in the kitchen as I mindfully placed flowers and a cracker with each offering saying “thank you for the ups and downs. For being here with me. For this family.” How can we incorporate that spirit with us everywhere we go? So that every step is a thank you? Every breath is transcendent? Every act is a moment of artistry expressing and praising life in all its wonder and terror? Alan calls this the state of beautifying our minds and life. I’ll call it the state of making these moments sacred. What has worked for you to bring this about in your own life? To imbue the seemingly mundane with the full presence of you touching reality? #mindfulmoments #sacredmoment #enchantinglife #lifeissacred #culture #newvisions #ageofaquarius #ageofaquarius♒ #fullmoonritual #personalgrowth #prayerispowerful #shadesofawakening #pathsoftransformation #windsofchange #ameaningfullife #liveyourstory #livingalchemy #livingstory #beyondsurviving #lifemagic #innerworldsouterworlds #personalmythology #returningtonaturesrhythm #lifeunfiltered #Bali #Wanderlust #dharma_travel #lifeinbali #expat https://www.instagram.com/p/B5p7YxGBEvw/?igshid=1rbu75kmrrsod