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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Water Purification Ceremony with High Priestess Ida Resi Alit


19 January, 9 February, 19 February

The first visit was a quest. Several contacts who might lead me there fell through, yet I was determined to find this high priestess who was dedicated to water so I decided to set out with a driver and a friend to find her small village Demulih, which the Balinese tell me means "not welcome"—well, here we come!  

Found at last! Demulih slightly NW of Bangli
When we finally arrived, not only were we welcome, our timing was auspicious, though unplanned. The high priestess was about to begin her mid-day prayers, and graciously invited us to meditate while we waited. Afterward she would do the water purification ceremony for us. We sat where she indicated, slightly behind her, and meditated with eyes open so we could see her Hindu-Buddhist rituals holding a vajra, ringing a bell, flicking water and flowers into the air, chanting for 20-30-40 minutes. We were entranced.
 
Ida Resi Alit, Balinese High Priestess
 
 She turned toward us with a radiant smile, motioned us over and explained: we would be completely wet with water and afterward we would change into dry clothes. Of course, we didn't know, so brought none. When my turn came, I stepped up to the high platform she sat on. Her young niece filled many water bowls. She asked me to pray. I put my hands in front of my heart in the customary western way, and bowed my head. 


The water began to pour over me in cascades. I needed to tilt my head down avoid breathing water. Down it came in gushes. 

 
Next, she told me to wipe my head. I brushed the water through my wet hair many times, felt tension release, yield to water, and raised my hands high above my head, receptive, receiving.


After several minutes she told me to pray. This time I placed my hands near my forehead Balinese style and felt an expansive wholeness words cannot describe. 

 
Drink, she said, and I cupped my hands right over left and drank the sacred water she offered many times.



The next visit, two young European women who were also drawn to the water ceremony came along with my friend Yolanda from Mexico and I. This time, many Balinese families were there also.






Encouragement to raise the energy up into the heart and lungs

Many people responded strongly, with motion, cries, and laughter releasing as the water cascaded. Ida Resi sometimes gave instructions to help move the energy: stamp your feet, breathe deeply, pull the energy up into your heart.



There we were—Mexican, Belgian, Hungarian, Romanian, American, British and Balinese all reveling in these moist moments, drinking in ineffable healing transmitted in Ida Resi Alit’s own star language, the mother tongue we all shared.


Of all my journeys in Bali, all the ceremonies that raised my spirit and awareness, these water purification ceremonies are the ones that led me here because they affirm the sacredness of water.


Through all our water woes and water wars, this is the reason we struggle and fight—because water IS sacred. Most of us have forgotten, but some still remember and offer water blessings to whoever appears at her door.





 
After these three ceremonies,
I am moved to make a vow:
To learn more about healing water
to balance all I’ve learned about water ills.
Mara 
Asmara (my Indonesian name)

From "A Little Book on Ida Resi Alit:" Ida Panditha Mpu Budha Mahaseri Alit Parama Daksa, also known as Ida Resi Alit, was born I Komang Widiantri on March 14, 1986, in a small farming village in the central highlands of Bali. She lived as an ordinary girl for the first twenty years of her life. At the age of 20, due to external events, she fell into a deep depression. Ida Resi Alit’s uncle, a village Mangku, concerned for her well being, introduced her to meditation and yoga to soothe her. As she started practicing, the girl who had no previous spiritual training or deep desire, began to have out of body experiences and download information during her practice. She was instructed to perform a special ceremony, the meaning of which she did not understand. At the ceremony she fell into deep unconsciousness. She stopped breathing and her pulse was gone. Her family wailed, crying and reacting hysterically, scared that she had died. Ida Resi Alit has no memory of this time. At 2am she started to regain consciousness, to be able to blink but not to talk. Then she saw a laser, like a bolt of lightning in the sky, and found herself able to fully return to her body. She slept until the afternoon and when she had awakened spiritually. She was able to recite mantras she had never been taught. High priests were called in to confirm this. Not only were the mantras valid, she knew many more that the priests had not yet learned. Soon after she was ordained by the highest authority, the Hindu Dharma Council, and she became Bali’s youngest and only female High Priestess.

Another article about her: http://www.i-mag-online.com/2012/09/bali%E2%80%99s-high-priestess/



7 comments:

  1. Hey,such great journey with your quality writing.Vital for all life to exist,water is available all through numerous Buddhist traditions,stories,beliefs, and meditations.The Earth's surface comprises of about 75% water; the human body,or any living creature besides,is contained or almost as much.Each cell inside the body obliges water to survive and capacity.Our bodies oblige sustenance and water to survive and the sustenances we expend obliged water to become,such as fresh produce.Thank you.~Linda Smith.

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  2. Thank you Mara - such an exquisite ceremony. Thanks to the work we have done together I look outside and see the world here covered in a trillion diamonds of sparkling water and consider it a blessing. I've heard it said that ice is simply water sleeping, taking its well earned rest. Contemplating that, the winter feels like its own prolonged water ceremony, which blesses the earth beneath. Gratitude and love your way for sharing your adventures.

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  3. Greetings, thank you for posting this important information! If you have time, please kindly consult a water program we are currently launching as Bali is entering in a critical phase with water depletion. You can find all information at http://idepfoundation.org/bwp/summary. All help would be most welcomed, no matter how modestly ... Thank you so much!

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  4. Hello!

    I hope this email finds you well. I came across your website when doing research for a show we’re currently producing.

    My name is Devon and I’m with the Luxe Asia TV series (on behalf of Channel NewsAsia in Singapore) that recently filmed with High Priestess Ida in Bali about a month ago. At the moment, we’re editing a short segment on Ida’s water purification ceremony, and as an intro to her story we’d like to establish that people from allover the world have come to meet her.

    I’m writing to ask whether you would be able to provide photos and the permission to use them in our program to help build Ida’s profile. Naturally, you would be given full credit for your materials at the end of the programme.

    As a bit of a background, the series profiles luxury trends across Southeast Asia, and Ida’s story comes in under ‘wellness travel’ in Bali.

    Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions regarding the program or the use of your materials, we look forward to hearing from you.

    Please connect with me at devon@beachhousepictures.com

    Many thanks,

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  5. Hello Mara !
    We are a married couple visiting Bali in quest for spiritual and physical healing.
    We are almost at the dawn of our trip and just now we found out about Isa desi Atul and her God-given gift of healing. We are more than determined to meet her and participate in her water purification ceremony and even get a personal energy healing from her. We would like to know if could find info on meeting her in demuliah, such a phone number or adress of her exact location as well as an appropriate time to meet her?? How do we go about setting up an appointment and how the payment goes and such. We would be forever greatful for any assistance you can provide in meeting her.

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    Replies
    1. Bali is a fine place for spiritual healing. To find High Priestess Ida Resi Alit, hire a driver from Ubud (or other places on Bali) and ask them to take you toward Bangli. Demulih is a small village to the west of Bangli. The driver can ask people as he gets near Bangli and they can direct him. There are few street addresses in Bali. A good time to go is in the morning about 10 or so. It is about 30-40 min. from Ubud. Donations are welcome and accepted. Allow several hours as many people are often waiting for her. Bring dry clothes and a towel as you will be thoroughly wet in the sacred waters. It is worth the effort to experience this. Where are you visiting from?

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