A few weeks ago we had our priest/friend Pak Astika and his wife Made come to the villa to perform a purification ceremony to banish the evil spirits that were hanging around. This was done with offerings which are a small square palm leaf basket filled with flowers and other goodies, a stick of incense is then lighted to allow the offerings to float up to the gods. I needed to get the five elements for the ceremony—fire (incense), water (new), flowers, fruit and rice. So off I went to see my friend Suni at "So Clean Laundry". She does 35 offerings a day so I knew she would be able to help. She went to the local market and the next day I picked up incense (everyday and special) and the lovely smelling special full moon flowers. The rest I had. That night Astika and Made presented 7 offerings at strategic (most holy and/or important) points around the villa.
Statue outside our bedroom in the garden with the canang sari (offering).
Statue outside our bedroom in the garden with the canang sari (offering).Since then I have been doing four offerings a day. I get on my bike and ride to see my new friend Ilu who makes and sells the canang sari. I enjoy the act of placing them, lighting the incense and thinking about the spiritual aspect of thanking the forces of the invisible world for their gifts to our human society. It is peaceful.
19 comments:
Not a religious person, I do enjoy some rituals, like this one.
Every morning, I light incense before I prepare breakfast/lunches.
How is the new cat?
This sounds so serene...mmmmm.
I cannot believe you are heading back stateside so soon...a big old sad face here...lip all pouty and all...:)
Hi Jen, I love the idea of your cleansing and thanksgiving rituals. Your cat stories and sketches are delightful, as are the two here. Happy new year and happy Maine landing---it's going to be quite the transition, weatherwise, this year! Brrrrr!
Too bad you are leaving soon. I had so hoped to get in touch with you when we visit Bali next month, as I have been a big admirer of your blog through EDM.
Like the painting of flowers on you blog. It looks awesome and your blog on Canang Sari looks great
Happy New Year! Seeing and enjoying your work on flickr makes me forget to stop by your wonderful blog.
Resolved- stop by here more often in 2010!
Wonderful--these images are such gorgeous colors--I love'em! Someone needs to come cleanse my place. Send 'em here when you get finished, ok?
Beautiful painting, beautiful post. Thank you.
What a great blog!! I've got to post more. Love the cats! I have 3 new ones. Afetcat rescue and 2 new kittens!
What a lovely post - thank you.
What a lovely post - thank you for sharing this.
How I love the pause the ritual creates - a ritual to appreciate, to reflect, to cleanse. All senses engaged: Sight (flowers), Smell (insense), Touch (basket), Taste (tho not you) and Sight (both there and in your journal, shared).
Stunning. Love the loose mixing of the first. And the complex drawing and colors of the second (along with that loose mixing again in the lower right. Bali Ho!
I am so impressed with the sketches as their jeweled
color songs reach out over ancient times to my mind. Makes me want to create something similar right this very minute---I wish you a safe rejourney to Maine!
Jennifer, I am LOVING your thick-and-thin, energetic line quality! What on earth are you using to get that? It's lovely...beautiful with overwashes, or just B & W...
And the cleansing ritual is something more of us could use. When I remember to take the time, I find it very beneficial. Now if I could just remember daily...
What an interesting ceremony and beautiful little watercolors to illustrate it.
Hi Cathy,
I am using any standard ink pen (micron, Rotring, Lamy) for my initial drawing and then using a brush pen to add and vary the line depth. I use whatever is handy Pitt Brush pens, Copic brush pens or pentel brush pens—all waterproof. I am also trying some wonderful Japanese brush pens (not waterproof). I can't control the bleeding with washes and I tend to get a huge muddy mess, so I use those just for B&W sketching.
Best—Jennifer
Hi Jennifer! I thought it looked like that on one of your landscapes, but the offering ritual piece looked different. Whatever it is, it is HIGHLY effective and has a great deal of energy...thank you for sharing.
Hi Jennifer, this post brings me back to my hometown in Bali. I am now writing a blog about plants the Balinese use to make offerings. Because my intention is familiarize the younger Balinese generations with various species of such plants, I write the blog in bahasa instead of in English. For the purpose of puting something Balinese the blog, I found your canang sari painting very interesting. I hope you don't mind if I put it in my blog header.
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