The Universe Speaks in Ubud

It is not easy for Ezgi to act that way. Although she has been practicing yoga for 10 years, the ability to surrender is not simply developed. At least six years ago, she could not properly organize her thoughts. The awareness of surrender gradually grew when she started living in Bali. The warmth and way of life of the local residents made her understand the true meaning of yoga.

Many people use yoga as a means to connect with their body, mind, and soul. At the same time, spirituality also grows and blossoms. This spirituality connects yoga practitioners with the universe or divine power. They use their hearts and minds to communicate with the universe.

Yogis (and the rest of the world) believe in the power of the mind. What is in the mind, or what the heart desires, will come true if we believe in it. Divine power is believed to intervene to make it happen. At least, the same principle was stated in the book The Secret

You could say that meeting Ezgi Lu was a "gift" from the universe. The large number of people at the BaliSpirit Festival 2024, plus the hot sun, drained the energy. The mission to find sources to chat with becomes like mission impossible aka really tired….

The words of yoga and meditation instructors in several sessions at the BaliSpirit Festival suddenly emerged into consciousness. They say that the best way to clarify the mind is by controlling the breath. Be aware of every inhale and exhale. I added a prayer to be guided to the right sources after controlling my breath.

All of this was done while sitting in the pujasera area, where festival participants, mostly Caucasian foreigners, eat and drink. Although they were all eating, sitting, and drinking together, each person's body language seemed different. Some looked like they wanted to eat without being spoken to, while others seemed like they wanted to chat but didn't have a friend.

My body feels like getting up from the chair and searching for sources guerrilla-style. However, the intuition within me tells me to sit longer in the chair. The requirement is that my eyes and thumbs should not focus on my smartphone.

They say the best way to clear your mind is to practice breathing. Be aware of each inhale and exhale.

Not long after, our eyes caught the wag of Joey's long yellow tail, a friendly golden retriever who was an "artist" at this festival. The dog apparently was hoping that Ezgi Lu, who was eating ice cream, would share it with him.

Joey's presence not only made me aware of Ezgi's existence, who was apparently sitting right next to me, but also made our introduction flow smoothly. The conversation flowed easily thereafter, including an impromptu interview session.

”Oh, please, ask me anything. Please make me famous," he said, laughing.

The creed that journalists must always be active in the field doesn't always apply. Sitting, being quiet, and taking a step back are also a part of managing oneself during coverage. Sitting is also an acknowledgement of fatigue, as well as an awareness to allow the body to rest for a moment. Of course, this understanding doesn't come immediately, but is realized after a full stomach and enough rest.

Sitting quietly does not mean doing nothing. It may be a way to achieve peace. At least that is what yoga instructors teach.

Luck

This yoga nidra session is led by Emily Kuser, a yoga instructor from the United States who has been living in Bali for quite some time. This yoga teaches people to consciously rest through breathing exercises and meditation while lying down.

Some people think that resting is easy to do. Just lie down and the body will rest. However, some people forget that even when lying down, our minds often wander. The body often forgets to release its stiffness and stored tension. As a result, the energy in the body cannot flow smoothly. Yet, a good flow of energy is key to a complete rest.

Goga followed this yoga session solemnly. He followed every instruction delivered by Kuser with a melodious and soul-stirring voice. His body was carried to a deep point of relaxation.

At that moment, Goga's consciousness and sensitivity increased. While closing his eyes and breathing, he became aware of the sound of leaves rubbing against each other due to the wind outside the large window. He also heard faint sounds of music outside, as well as the sound of curtain strings hitting the window frame when blown by the wind.

"My eyes closed and I feel very relaxed. My senses are very aware of what is happening around me, including the sound of the person's breath next to me," he explained.

Also read: BaliSpirit Festival 2024 Brings Thousands of Tourists

Awareness

The topic of awareness or awareness is widely discussed in modern times. Busyness, the demands of life, and addiction to technology are often used as scapegoats that break the connection between mind, body and soul. This makes humans move and act like robots. No awareness. Meaningless.

According to a spiritual healing instructor through sound, Aga Salim, unconsciousness makes a person reactive. It means that they do not analyze their thoughts and actions carefully. They just follow the flow of the world. This makes a person forget to act according to their abilities and act for their own good.

”Awareness is important because that is where we actually live. If we are not aware of what we are doing, we are like autopilot. "We do things because we are just reactive," said the man whose healing practice is based in Jakarta.

Awareness is important because that's where we actually live. If we are not awareof what we are doing, we are like autopilot.

Awareness can actually arise through practice. In psychology, people who are anxious or panicking will be guided to become aware of their surroundings through their senses. What object is near you? Try to take it and observe it. What color is it? What shape is it? What about its texture? What is its aroma like?

It is grounding or a stress management technique. While being answered one by one, a person seems to be invited to "return" to himself and stop wandering through negative thoughts that are not necessarily real.

Also read: Ubud Spiritualism

The topic of awareness is what made me "withdraw" from the crowded festival schedule that turns into a mini Coachella at night. In between the coverage, I only realized that Ubud has a bright blue sky with colorful plant decorations. The breeze that blows after the rain feels fresh with the scent of incense. All of this brings a sense of calm.

The streets of Ubud are often congested with tourists. However, people still consider Ubud as a sanctuary to seek inner peace through mindfulness. Without realizing it, I also became aware of this.