the dark moon

There was a procession of worshippers passing by the shoulder high stone wall of the resort yesterday. They were on their way to the temple to give their offerings…the women with baskets filled to 40 centimeters high with fruits and rice and baked goods and flowers, and coconut leaf cut decorations symbolizing the dark moon. It is an opportunity for them to combine another ceremony that they want to do, since it is an auspicious time.

All day there was taped music and singing of praise and blessings coming from the nearby temple. My usual banana cup leaf offerings were substituted with star or flower shaped coconut leaf cups with only white and yellow flowers for the dark moon. Made' had suggested that "white and yellow are appropriate". She would never tell me I should or have to…just giving a bit of guidance.

Since I had woken up at 5 in the morning yesterday, I thought I would already go out and sit by the sea, where I watch the sunrise, and I can see the thin crescent shaped moon before the dark moon that would follow today. It was very special seeing the moon out over the sea, at 5 in the morning with the sky full of so many stars, since there aren't any lights to affect the view. There was a festive feeling in the air because of the dark moon ceremonies. Jochan complained at breakfast that the he doesn't understand why they need microphones amplifying it all at 5 in the morning and for the rest of the day. I thought about it and realized that it invites everyone to "feel" the celebration, even if they themselves are at home cleaning or cooking…and that everyones intentions are being united and the air is different! Just like in Israel before Shabbat, or on Shabbat how you can feel the magic in the air.

Since I was already tossing and turning at 5 again this morning I decided it was an invitation to go see what a dark moon rise looks like over the sea. What a treat….a huge sky filled with tons of stars, and I could barely make out the horizon at sea, and then the slightest little line of light appeared there, which soon became the last sliver of the moon before it begins its new moon phase. It slowly rose while silhouettes of women with tall offerings on their heads, holding babies in their arms followed by a man with a flashlight, or two men carrying the roasted pig for the ceremony walked along the shore as the waves gently broke.

Suddenly I realized that there is a whole other network going on here in bali, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, of devotion that kind of envelopes everyone and everything and gives a very interesting feeling of security, of being part of something greater than just day to day living and work. A constant connection with nature, in nature. And looking out at the arrangements of the stars gave a sensation that we are all in a very exact juxtaposition, like the steady beating of a heart.