Bali Greetings

When a gently smiling Balinese clasps their hands together in front of their heart, and greets you with their favourite “Om swasti astu”, they usually finish with a direct search into the soul through your eyes, a nod and even a tap to their heart.  Returning the greeting creates instant connections.

Sometimes, an even deeper connection is honoured when they clasp your fingertips between theirs and hold either in silent meditation or more smiling and nodding. Perhaps you knew each other before, either in this lifetime or another dimension of time or space.

“Om swastiastu” is the most auspicious greeting in the Balinese Hindu culture. They generally do not use the traditional Indian Hindu “Namaste” that has become so well-known because it is practiced around the world during yoga sessions. Namaste is a formal greeting meaning “the divinity within me acknowledges the divinity within you”

“Om swastiastu” is a heartfelt appeal to the gods to show you favour! 

“Om swastiastu” calls on the vast universal energy (OM), to keep you safe, happy and prosperous (swasti), hopefully (astu).

I hope all good comes from all directions

I hope the gods give to you, health, wealth and happiness

This greeting can also be used to greet a lot of people at once where it has a more general hope that we meet with good feelings to create harmonious relationships.

After such a beautiful “Om swastiastu” greeting, you feel acknowledged on a heart to heart, deep soul level. You start to embody the beauty and stillness within, and perhaps you can even feel more healthy wealthy and wise. 

An instant connection is formed, as you acknowledge that you are the same – all part of the same energy, the same universal love, the same…

The meaning of life :-)

Samothraki Mysteries 2

As I stood on the pebbled beach and watched the full moon rise over the ancient city I reflected on a day of contemplation awe and more questions than answers.
The day had started before dawn with a cleansing bath in the thermal springs in the mountains, and a rinse from the freshwater spring near the ocean. I took only waters from this spring until after the ceremonies/rituals at the Temple.

This was a day to follow the footpaths of the ancients as they became initiates - Alexander the Great ' s parents were fellow initiates who (so it is said) conceived him during this three day festival.  I made myself a band of ripe summer grasses to denote that I had already passed the first stage of initiation.

Nine days ago, I entered the Temple site from the East - from the ancient city and sat on the steps of the Propylon of Ptolemy where the introductory rites were performed; to ask myself "What is the worst thing I have ever done?" I passed many incidences through my mind, it took me hours I think, and I cried bucket loads as I looked at the things I was least proud of in my life. Since there was no confessor - no-one to absolve my deads, when I was finished I concluded that none of these things were so bad and that I could move forward into the circular waiting area across the gully/torrent. This area was the gathering place for the initiates who had moved to the second stage; where the candidates learned the requirements for the second level invitation ceremonies before they entered the inner sanctum.

There is a more ancient story than this though - this site was used for Mother Earth festivals well before, 3,000; 4,000; maybe even 7,000 or more years ago.

Samothraki Mysteries

Full moon starts tonight and it is amazing to be here where the ancient  Samothraki Mysteries were celebrated in a three day midsummer festival.
My freedom journey is really becoming everything I could wish for...
I have hit the "stop it" button - diakopes...

Friends for breakfast

Make them work for their supper

Getting ready

I am packing, clearing, checking and re checking