The Healing Path: Water as Medicine
Theme: Cleansing, Releasing, and Returning to Wholeness
The Experience
The morning began soft, mist hanging low over the fields, roosters announcing the day as if the sun needed reminding. I woke, already feeling the pull toward something sacred. Today was about water.
I have never gone to a water purification ceremony. Growing up Baptist, I can only liken it to a baptism. I am not a group bath type of person, and so instead of going to Tirta Empul Temple, a tourist favorite, I chose instead to have a flower bath at Karsa Spa instead.
I wanted to do this last week, but, ladies, if it’s your “special time",” you are not allowed in the water.
After a short drive through winding roads lined with palms, I arrived at Tirta Empul Temple, the sacred water temple of purification. The scent of frangipani and incense lingered in the air as I tied my sarong around my waist. The guide explained the ritual: move from spout to spout, letting each stream cleanse your spirit as you release what no longer serves.
The water was cold, shocking at first, then almost electrifying. At each fountain, I whispered a truth I was ready to let go of. “I forgive.” “I release control.” “I trust what’s next.”
By the last spout, I wasn’t just cleansed — I was emptied. A peace I hadn’t felt in years moved through me, quiet and clear like the spring itself.
The Lifestyle
After the temple, I stopped for lunch at a small café overlooking a river. I ordered nasi campur and fresh coconut water, the kind that still tastes like sunlight. The owner placed a small flower on the table before my meal — a simple gesture that felt like a blessing.
Back at the villa, I ran a warm bath and scattered flower petals across the surface. The ritual continued. I added a few drops of lavender and geranium oil — my blend — and slipped into the water. I imagined everything I’d released that morning washing further away.
As steam rose, I thought about how healing doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s the quiet moment you finally exhale. Sometimes it’s allowing the water to hold you when you can’t hold yourself.
“You are not broken; you are simply remembering your natural rhythm.”
The Intuitive Insight
Cleansing rituals always sound poetic, but this one felt real. The message I heard wasn’t about fixing myself — it was about trusting the flow.
I realized that I’ve spent so much time trying to “figure things out” that I’d forgotten how to feel them through. The water reminded me: emotion is movement. If it’s stuck, it’s meant to flow.
Later that evening, as rain fell outside, I journaled about the things that no longer fit. Old expectations. Guilt that wasn’t mine. The illusion that healing has an endpoint.
The intuitive message of the day came through like a whisper:
“Water doesn’t rush to be a river. It becomes one by simply continuing to move.”
The Travel Notes
Where to Go: Tirta Empul Temple, Tampaksiring — about 30 minutes from Ubud. Bring a sarong and be prepared to get fully wet.
What to Expect: Locals and tourists alike bathe in these sacred waters, each with a private intention. Expect to feel emotional — it’s normal.
Tip: If temples aren’t your path, try a flower bath at Karsa Spa or Fivelements Retreat. Healing finds you where you’re willing to be present.
Choose Your Next Adventure
The cleansing is complete. Which energy calls to you now?
