Whenever people ask me about life in Bali, they often focus on the big ceremonies. But for those of us who live here and practice our traditions daily, these rituals aren’t always “dramatic” events. They are simply practical tools we use to stay balanced 🌤️.
In my work at www.putusuciyati.com, I meet many people seeking a reset. Maybe they’ve just finished a long project, moved to a new city, or are simply feeling a bit “stuck.” In Bali, we have a very systematic way of handling these transitions. We believe that if you want to start something new, you must first clear out the old energy so you have the physical and mental space to move.
Here are the rituals I personally use when I am starting a new chapter in my life.
1. Melukat: The Practical Side of Purification 💦
Most people see photos of Melukat (holy water cleansing) and think it’s a very intense spiritual experience. While it can be, for me, it’s often very practical. Think of it like a “system reboot” for your body and mind.
Why it works?
When we go through a stressful period, we carry that tension in our muscles and our nervous system. Melukat uses water—often from natural springs—to help the body “let go.”
I remember a time when I was transitioning my business. I was overthinking everything and felt very cluttered. I went for a Melukat ceremony not because I wanted a “miracle,” but because I needed to break my thought patterns. The cold water and the specific prayers said by the priest act as a physical interruption to your stress. It forces you back into the present moment.
How to do a simple version at home?
You don’t always need to be at a temple. If you are feeling heavy or starting a new week, you can bring this intention into your daily life:
The Temperature: Use cool water. It wakes up the senses and shifts your focus from your head to your skin.
The Intention: Instead of thinking about your “to-do” list, just focus on the feeling of the water washing away the tiredness of the day before.
The Finish: In Bali, we often press a few grains of rice to our forehead (Bija) after a ritual to symbolize the “seed” of a new idea. You can simply take a moment of silence before putting your clothes back on.
2. Canang Sari: Organizing Your Intentions 🌼
The small offerings you see everywhere in Bali are called Canang Sari. To a visitor, they are beautiful crafts. To a local, they are a way of organizing the day.
When you are starting a new beginning, life often feels messy. There are too many choices and too many directions. The process of making or even just placing an offering helps you prioritize.
The discipline of the ritual
The act of placing an offering every single morning is a discipline. It says, “No matter how busy I am, I have time to be grateful.” This is very important for new beginnings. If you start a new job or project with a mindset of “I don’t have enough time,” you will stay stressed. If you start with a 2-minute ritual of gratitude, you set a different pace for your day.
Try this:
Buy or pick some fresh flowers. Place them on your desk or by your bed. As you set them down, acknowledge one thing you are leaving behind and one thing you are welcoming in. It’s a simple “input/output” exercise for your brain.
3. Consulting the Map: The Wisdom of Palmistry and Numerology 🔍
While I don’t perform palm readings myself, I have always been a big believer in the clarity they provide. In Bali, we often visit a Balian (a traditional healer or shaman) or a priest who specializes in ancient scripts and palmistry when we are at a crossroads.
For me, this isn’t about “fortune telling” or having someone predict exactly what will happen next. Instead, it’s about understanding your own “map.”
Learning from the “Lines” of Your Life
Whenever I am starting a major new chapter, I find it incredibly helpful to sit with a healer who can see the things I might be blind to. When a shaman looks at your hands or calculates your Balinese numerology based on your birth date, they are looking at your natural tendencies.
For example, a reading might reveal that you are naturally very giving but prone to burnout, or that you have a creative streak you’ve been suppressing for years. For a new beginning to be successful, you have to be honest about these habits. If you try to start a new business or a new relationship without understanding your own nature, you might find yourself repeating the same old patterns.
Why I Encourage a Reading
I often suggest to my guests that they seek out a traditional reading because it provides a different perspective. It’s like looking at a GPS before you start a long road trip. You wouldn’t drive into the mountains without a map, so why enter a new phase of life without understanding your soul’s landscape?
It validates your intuition: Often, the healer tells you something you already felt in your heart but were too afraid to admit.
It highlights your strengths: Sometimes we are so focused on our “flaws” that we forget the natural gifts we were born with.
It offers a “Check-In”: A reading is a moment to stop and ask: “Am I taking on too much? Am I trying to be someone I’m not?”
A new beginning shouldn’t be about trying to change your DNA; it should be about aligning your actions with who you truly are. If you are coming to Bali, I highly recommend making time to sit with a local healer. It is a grounded, quiet experience that can give you the “permission” you need to finally move forward.
4. The Power of “Mepurwa Daksina” (Moving with the Sun) 🚶🏻♀️
In many of our Balinese ceremonies, you will see a procession of people walking around the temple shrine three times in a clockwise direction. This is called Mepurwa Daksina. The word Daksina refers to the south or the right side, and the movement follows the path of the sun as it travels across the sky.
To the observer, it looks like a simple walk. But for us, it symbolizes the cycle of life—birth, life, and transition. When we walk these three circles, we are physically aligning ourselves with the rhythm of the universe. We are saying, “I am moving in harmony with the natural order, not against it.”
Connecting Movement to Meditation
When I am at a crossroads and feel my mind spinning with “what-ifs,” I find that sitting still in traditional meditation can sometimes be difficult. If your mind is racing, forcing yourself to sit on a cushion can feel like trying to cage a bird. This is where the wisdom of Mepurwa Daksina becomes a practical tool for daily life: Walking Meditation.
Walking meditation is simply the act of bringing the intention of a ritual into your stride. You don’t need a temple or a ceremony to do this. You just need a path and your own two feet.
How to Practice Mindful Walking for a New Beginning
If you are starting a new project or moving through a life change, try this “Three-Circle” approach to walking:
The First Circle (Releasing the Past): As you start walking, focus on your heels hitting the ground. With every step, imagine you are leaving behind the weight of the previous chapter. You aren’t running away; you are simply stepping out of old shoes that no longer fit.
The Second Circle (The Present Moment): Now, shift your focus to your breath and the sounds around you—the wind, the birds, or the distant hum of the city. This is the “middle space.” You aren’t where you used to be, and you aren’t where you’re going yet. You are just here, alive and moving.
The Third Circle (The New Intention): On the final circle, walk with a sense of purpose. Lift your gaze a little higher. Instead of looking at the ground, look at the horizon. Feel the energy of the “New” starting to take root in your steps.
By the time you finish, your body has physically experienced a beginning, a middle, and an end. This sends a powerful signal to your brain that you have moved through the transition and are ready for what comes next.
5. Daily Maintenance: Incense and Silence 🧹
New beginnings aren’t just one-day events. They require daily maintenance. In my home, the smell of sandalwood incense is a signal. When I light it, it means “the workday is over” or “the morning meditation has begun.”
Creating “Zones”
If you are working from home or starting a new lifestyle, your environment matters. Use scent or sound to mark the start and end of your activities. This prevents your “old life” habits from bleeding into your “new life” goals.
Why Rituals Matter for You ?✨
I share these stories and practices not because there is a “perfect” way to do things, but because I see that we can do these rituals without being in Bali. While the island provides a beautiful backdrop and a powerful energy, the essence of these rituals lives within your own intention. You do not need to fly across the ocean to find a fresh start. You can create a “sacred space” in your own living room, a “purification” in your own shower, and a “mindful walk” on your local city streets. A new beginning is just a series of small, intentional choices. You don’t need to change your whole life in one day. You just need to clear the path so you can take the first step.
If you are standing at the edge of a new chapter, remember that the most important part of any ritual is simply showing up for yourself. You don’t need a grand ceremony or a perfect setting to begin again; you only need the willingness to pause and listen to what your life is trying to tell you. Often, we search for big signs or massive shifts, but a “new beginning” is usually just a collection of small, quiet choices made with a bit more awareness. Whether you find yourself walking through a temple in Bali or simply taking a mindful breath in your own home, know that you are already on the right track. The sprout is already growing—you just have to give it the space to reach the light.
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