It was my first week at Santhika Retereat Center and it was already so full of transformation. Today was the day we would adventure to Santhipala Falls for a Water Purification Ceremony. Santhipala means peace, and that is exactly what this day was.  It was a small group of us that have been staying at the retreat center together, on our own individual journeys, yet sharing the journey together. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel connected to people you just met in the right circumstances. My friends Julie, Sophia, Julia, Yachii and I were ready for whatever the day had in store for us!

Arriving at Santhipala Falls

The journey to Santhipala Falls began with an hour long van ride through the northern part of Bali. The roads in Bali aren’t quite as smooth, or as wide or as straight as the roads in the US, so every ride is full of adventure! As we arrived to the trailhead of Santhipala Falls we stepped into a beautiful jungle trail meandering down to the waterfalls.  The hike itself was a testament to Bali’s natural beauty, surrounded by trees and foliage including coffee and cacao trees, the sounds of birds and insects, and the sound of rushing water. The hike down was invigorating, but the hike back up was much more challenging!

As we approached Santhipala Falls, the sound of cascading water grew louder, creating greater anticipation and excitement for what was ahead. I didn’t know what to expect. Others who had attended in weeks prior just told us how sacred it was. I needed this… I needed healing. The sight and sounds of the towering falls signaled the beginning of the sacred space. I felt peaceful already. The falls themselves were breathtaking, with water flowing down hugging the rocks in a terrific display of nature’s power and grace. The air in Bali is hot, humid and stifling, but as we got closer to the falls the air took on a cooler and refreshing feeling.

The Ceremony: A Sacred Experience

As we got to the the temple, the priest, Guru Marde, was there to greet us. He was dressed in his white  Balinese attire and welcomed us with his smile. You need to know that Guru Marde is always smiling and also insists that we smile from the inside out. We changed into our sarongs for the ceremony and he invited us to mats adorned with traditional Balinese offerings. As we sat in a semi circle in front to the temple facing the calming falls, he explained that the water purification ceremony, was an ancient ritual aimed at cleansing the body and soul, washing away negative energies and bringing about a sense of renewal.

I am ready… I am feeling more spiritual in the short few days I have been in Bali. I felt a profound sense of connection to the earth and the spiritual energy surrounding us. I felt more connected to myself, to the earth, to the spiritual blessings of many different religions of the world, the spirituality of our earth, and of the people I’m blessed to share this day with. 

We were each given a small offering basket filled with flowers, rice, and incense. Guru Marde led us through a series of meditations and prayers before we knelt by the basins of holy sacred water ready to cleans our chakras. 

As Guru Marde chanted he poured, one by one, cold sacred water adored with colorful flowers on our heads, allowing it to cascade over our heads and shoulders. The sensation was both invigorating and calming, as if the water was washing away not only the physical dirt but also the emotional and spiritual burdens I was holding onto. 

He repeated this for each chakra, having us claim our intentions with each basin. As the water poured over me, I closed my eyes and focused on my intentions. I felt a deep sense of peace and clarity, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. 

We then cleansed ourselves with clay from the earth, covering our bodies and faces with the red earthen clay before we headed to the spring to continue the purification ceremony.  We crossed the bridge to the sacred springs with healing waters and stood under the cold, cool water. Guru Marde told us to release everything and scream. Scream with intention, with power, with emotion. We were to leave our burdens in this healing space and be ready to embrace the healing power of these sacred waters and this sacred space. The ravine echoed with the pain and sorrow we were leaving behind. The water pouring over us washed away the hurt and we emerged with laughter and smiles and a reclaimation of self than none of us imagined possible at the beginning of that day. 

Reflection and Gratitude: A Journey of the Soul

We had just experienced a powerful and spiritual moment together. Julie (from Australia), Sophia (from England), Julia (from Austria), Yachii (from India) and I (from the US) all left a piece of ourselves there in that canyon in a pool of water that would wash away, but together we emerged stronger and forever connected. 

I sat among my fellow participants after we finished and I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the experience. The deep sense of gratitude for this experience will forever live in my heart and my soul. All I can do is retell my experience to my friends and family who read this, but for those I shared this with – we shared a moment of transformation that will forever bond us –  representing different parts of the globe, yet a sense of rebirth here in Bali. The water purification ceremony at Santhipala was not just a ritual; it was a transformative journey that reminded me of the importance of mindfulness, gratitude, and connection.

Leaving Santhipala Falls, I carried with me a renewed sense of purpose and a lighter heart. The hike and ceremony had not only provided a physical challenge but also a spiritual awakening. As I reflect on my journey, I am reminded of the profound wisdom that can be found in ancient rituals and the healing power of nature. The water purification ceremony at Santhipala was a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the path to inner peace and clarity can be found in the simplest of traditions and the most breathtaking of landscapes.