Bali is an amazing, exquisite place to visit.  Being able to glimpse into the spiritual practices of another culture is fascinating.  On the eve of Nyepi (a day of silence and self reflection) a unique ritual is on display during the Ngrupuk parade where statues called Ogoh-Ogoh are made to represent mythical beings and demons.  The goal of these acts is to purify both the self and the surroundings. Having grown up in the Catholic church one of the most important gifts I received is the experience of ritual. I continue to use spiritual ritual as part of my daily life. From a candle lit and a prayer whispered, to a bow in the morning to the mystery of life,  I find an intentional act to be a way of staying connected to myself, others, our earth, and to a greater source.

"Balinese Ogoh Ogoh" by Susan Waterman

“For me starting the day without a pot of tea would be a day forever out of kilter.” ― Bill Drummond

More photos from my trip to Bali, Indonesia are available here.

Ka'uhoneokaikaikapomaikaimulani

Fertility God near Paia on Maui

A few years ago while in Hawaii I noticed a bumper sticker on a truck while walking through a parking lot on Maui.  Struck by the length of the word
Ka'uhoneokaikaikapomaikaimulani, I stood there trying to pronounce it. The owner of the vehicle arrived and I asked her its meaning which she shared with me;  "protection of the Heavens."  I am moved by the Hawaiian language and the beauty of this word. Unable to find it as one word in my Hawaiian dictionary, it appears to be made up of a variety of words and meanings.

"Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow."  

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

A Place of Refuge

The City of Refuge or Puuhonua o Honaunau on the Big Island of Hawaii is an ancient place.  It provided safety and forgiveness if one had broken any law.  Carved wooden Hawaiian Gods or Ki'i watch over the bones of chiefs buried here. I have heard that any rock taken off the islands could bring bad luck and a special address exists to return rocks if one finds themselves affected. Such superstitions abound on Hawaii and it is best not to challenge the Gods of any culture you may not fully understand. The nature spirits are felt strongly on the islands, especially in places off the beaten track.

City of Refuge by Susan Waterman



 See more images from Hawaii here.

Reflecting on Peonies

Peony Still Life by Susan Waterman

Capturing a moment in time has long been a driving force for painters and photographers.  In my dining room we have a large framed photograph, Peony Still Life.  Each time I see it I take a moment and reflect on how life moves quickly and to keep perspective and gratitude in mind.  Nature always bring me into a more relaxed and understanding perspective.  Taking a short walk I am reminded of how large the world is, and in relation, how small my problems really are.

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well." 

Mahatma Gandhi

Through the Threshold

Ashland Threshold by Susan Waterman

Life is a fascinating series of events.  When I reflect on times that I have struggled, it seemed confusing as to why I had to go through certain conditions. In hindsight I can now see that life changed me, altered my reality in some expansive way. These life lessons allowed me to move on to a new next phase.  At times living is joyous, at times a struggle, but it is always expansive, urging us on to be stronger, wiser, more of who we really want to be.  We may not know where steps may lead, we only know that we must keep moving forward.  Hopefully we listen, following our heart which guides us.



"When the soul remembers, what will it say? Go in the wind...like someone who knows their way. Though in my heart I'm only obeying a voice that pulls me forward...only forward."  -film "Illuminata"

Happiness is a Butterfly

Monarchs Upon Flowers by Susan Waterman

We look for fulfillment each day, but often end up filling ourselves up with things we don't need in an attempt to quiet the emptiness we feel. Some people use food to obtain a feeling of fullness, some choose to zone out by watching an endless stream of television, and a lot of us, true to the American way, attempt to buy something that will fix us, making ourselves the person we long to be. Owning an exercise bike will not make you fit. Life requires effort and being able to honestly listen to yourself without distraction.

 

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you” Nathaniel Hawthorn