Visit with a Balinese Healer

During one of our dance lessons our teacher Barbara, discovered that Jubie was a nurse and suggested that we visit one of the traditional Balinese healers living outside of Ubud. In Bali healthcare is private pay, so each individual is responsible to pay for each doctor or hospital visit. Because of this, Balinese still tend to use their traditional healers for most health matters. Jubie called Jakorta Rai , who is also a high priest, and set up an appointment. We were both excited, and a bit apprehensive, as we rode the 20 minutes or so outside of Ubud to our appointment. Upon arriving at the family compound of Jakorta Rai (our healer), we were led to an outdoor pavilion where we sat and talked to a few “students” who gather and witness the daily healings. These “students” came from various countries (Switzerland, Malaysia and Germany), as well as various professions (hypnotherapy, kinesiology, etc). It seems some individuals come for weeks, some for months and they spend hours observing, witnessing and sometimes asking questions or participating in discussions with Jakorta Rye and his clients. We were there only a few minutes before a serious-looking man in a white shirt approached us from the house. He had us sit with him under the pavilion and he asked his first question “Why are you here?” This should have been a question we were easily prepared for, however we oddly seemed to stumble for an answer. Jubie began with an explanation that we were traveling on an expedition of education, experience and joy. Due to the fact that we did not have much to complain about regarding our health, he offered to do a “scan” of our being. He began by sitting behind Jubie with his fingers moving skillfully from the sutures of her skull, around her head to her ears, neck and shoulders. Reminding her of the monkeys preening one another, Jubie instantly broke into giggles. The assessment was predominantly positive, except for a strong sense of sadness that he encountered while fingering the inside of her left ear. How ironic for this diagnosis of sadness to appear on the great joy journey! He further examined her while lying flat, and drew strange designs in the air over her, as well as applying pressure to certain points on her feet. There was no question that this healer-man held special power and energy in his abilities. A wonderful sense of calm, trust and ease seemed to permeate the encounter. Mary was asked to lie flat for her assessment, and Jakorta Rai scanned her feet first detecting a spot that elicited a VERY DRAMATIC response. Mary yelled “ouch” and practically jumped off the ground. It seemed she was “out of balance” according to the healer. He again drew unusual designs over her. Mary, incredibly relieved that it was only a re-balancing that she needed, felt a calm trust in the healer as well. Upon leaving Mary asked if we could "make a picture" with him for our blog. He happily agreed, and even set up a pose for the traveling duo.