One of the most incredible synchronicities… many years ago, I was studying #soundmedicine at the Globe Institute in San Francisco. Toward the end of my program, I was on my way to Bali. On the plane, I was reading one of my study books on the topic of Kirtan, introducing world-famous Kevin James.
When I arrived in Ubud, one of the women staying at the same villa was this gorgeous Canadian. I hadn’t rented a motorbike yet and had a lesson scheduled before I’d get one, so she invited me to Kirtan that night and I rode on the back of her bike.
Basically, on my first night in Bali, I found myself at a Kevin James Kirtan... the same person I had just read about on the plane. I couldn’t believe that my very first Kirtan outside of the institute was with Kevin James. Isn't his voice absolutely divine?
My first week there was also during Bali Fest and another festival I'd come for, Ancient Futures. I was hanging out with my new Canadian friend and all her friends (she had lived in Bali before and had come back to celebrate her birthday). As the group moved around and I still hadn’t gotten my own bike or the confidence to ride yet, I was essentially at the whims of fate. I remember being on the back of bikes with some wild Russian chickas… literally narrating invocations and praying to Archangel Michael for protection over my whole being and body while holding on for dear life as we maneuvered through Bali traffic, Eastern-European style (or maybe James Bond or Fast and Furious comes to mind lol)… from festival, to restaurant, to dance party, etc.
Another surreal piece was that I kept feeling like I was in the tropical version of the town I’d been living in back in CA (Nevada City)… because I would literally run into half of town at various points during my stay.
Man, how I loved riding my own bike once I finally got on one… There are times when I dream of flowy dresses and Mama Bali air in my hair, riding through Ubud with the land speaking through me. I’d regularly find myself spontaneously speaking light language the moment I started riding.
