Emerging from the Mud

Life on the island has definitely not been tropical paradise for me! I have been chewed up, spit out, and left to pick up the pieces that remained of my life. I have also begun the most magnificent journey back to myself. Here in Bali is where I found what I thought I had lost forever. 

Just like the lotus flower, emerging out of the mud below, my inner Light has finally been given room to come out and shine. This process hasn't been easy. There have been painful moments of deep despair as the layers have lifted, one by one. As difficult as it might be, I am so grateful for every bit of it.

As the "liver of the world," Bali has this way of inviting us to filter out what is no longer serving us and allow what is authentic and true to remain. I believe this is why so many of us are pulled here. Deep healing takes place on this land. I have seen many life transformations occur, my own included!

I often ponder just what it is about this place that encourages all of this healing and transformation. What I keep coming back to is this: everything is acknowledged here - the dark as well as the light. There is no running from the things that we most fear. The rituals of the Balinese people respect even the shadow sides of life. The rhythms of spirit and nature intertwine with the rhythms of daily life. There is a flow that is embraced. 

We can actually sink deep into our souls here. 

I didn't always view it this way. For quite some time, I wondered why the heck I was still supposed to be here. All I wanted to do was run far from this place, in search of what was familiar. Something kept stopping me. Now I know why.

I couldn't have done the deep inner work anywhere else. It would have been too easy to fall into old patterns of denial and habit. I would have been way too comfortable with the foundation I had created, not realizing that I needed the existing foundation to crumble away so that a new one could be constructed. It is here where I am able to nurture these newly planted seeds and allow them to grow and blossom.

Bali has given me the greatest gift. She has shown me who I really am.