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.