Traditional Balinese Healing: Meeting a Local Healer (Balian)

Traditional Balinese Healing: Meeting a Local Healer (Balian)

Wellness retreats and yoga studios may have yet to take root in Ubud, Bali, but the practice of restoring balance in the body, mind, and spirit was in existence long before they were. In the middle is a Balinese healer, a Balian, a traditional healer who continues to be consulted by Balinese Hindus today, frequently in conjunction with modern medicine, not in opposition to it. If you're interested in Bali's spiritual side, spending time with a Balian can be one of the most authentic experiences you can have on the island, beyond the beaches and rice terraces.

This guide details who a Balian is, what they're doing during a session, and how to be respectful to them.

What Is a Balian?

But what exactly is a Balian? It is the name given to a traditional Balinese healer, who may also be known as a shaman, spiritual medium, or herbalist depending on their specialism. Balians are not regarded as "mystical entertainers" in Balinese communities, but rather as a doctor who is consulted on physical illness, emotional upset, or issues that are thought to have spiritual causes. A large number of families in Bali use both a hospital and a Balian for the same purpose, and do not see them as alternatives but as complementary services.

There are several means by which a Balian typically secures his or her position as a healer: by receiving the knowledge from his or her family through generations of practice; by studying the lontar usada (ancient palm-leaf medical texts); or through a personal experience, sometimes illness, sometimes a dream, sometimes some unexplained event, that is interpreted as a call of the spirit to healing work.

Balian is a local name for the Balinese, and in Bali, the people of the island have various types of healing.

Traditional healing in Bali is not a single technique but a variety of techniques, and each of the Balians has a specific expertise to which he or she is called:

• Balian Usada - Herbalists trained from lontar usada texts, treating with herbal medicine, compresses, and massage.
• Balian Taksu - Mediums of the spiritual sphere that are able to enter a trance to deliver messages for their clients from their ancestors or spirits.
•  Balian Manak Traditional midwives, consulted around childbirth.
• Balian Tulang - Specialists in bone-setting and physical injuries.

Most communities know which local healer to consult about which aspect of a problem; several Balinese healers, Balian, may be able to combine more than one of these specialties.

Balinese Energy Healing and Spiritual Diagnosis

Most healing sessions in Bali are not concerned with a client's medical history but rather start with a brief informal consultation; many Balinese feel it is not necessary to be told what the problem is; they read the client's name, birth date and/or the client's energy and sense where the imbalance is. From there, this might be followed by prayer, chanting mantras, applying scented oils or herbal compresses, or - in particular with a Balian Taksu - inducing a trance state to receive guidance from ancestors or spirits.

People often experience sensations in the body or intense emotional responses during a session – shaking, crying, warmth, or detailed mental images. For the Balinese healers, this is a common occurrence and nothing to worry about or interrupt.

Meet a Balian in Bali – what to expect.

Finally, it is a different kind of experience to meet a Balian in Bali than to get a spa treatment, and the worst thing that you can do is to come with expectations. Traditional healing sessions will be conducted, at times at a family compound or a modest outdoor pavilion, and sometimes, in the presence of other clients waiting, which is not always considered to be a private space in the Western world. Sessions are generally 60-90 minutes in length, although the length of time may feel longer or shorter depending on the emotionality of the session.

There are a few points of etiquette that are important:

• Wear modest clothing - as per temple wear - covering shoulders and knees.
•  Give a small gift (and sometimes a donation) to an assistant, not the healer;
•  Giving and receiving should be done with the right hand, and do not point your feet towards the healer.
•  Do not touch the healer's head and do not take snapshots without permission.
•  Go with a translator if you don't speak Indonesian or Balinese - many healers speak little or no English.

Always check in with a trustworthy local person for reservations, as Balinese people have a tradition of serving their local people first, and it will be polite if they are not booked in by a local, but then they also don't keep their local people waiting if they are ill.

This presentation is an introduction to the spiritual healing traditions of Bali and their role in Balinese life.

The spiritual healing practice in Bali is closely linked to the island's Hindu way of thinking, including the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which embodies harmony among people, the Divine, and the natural world. This is supported by academic research on health-seeking behavior in Bali published by Atlantis Press's Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research series, which revealed that the Balian is often seen by Balinese people for both physical and psychological ailments, and that these people often seek both traditional and biomedical treatment simultaneously, not sequentially.

This multi-level perspective on health is also reflected in reports by third parties. A story in the Yale Globalist about healthcare in Bali highlighted how the Balinese still exist on the island today, and many Balinese people (even those who have medical insurance) visit local healers for some ailments rather than visiting modern clinics.

Balinese Healing Practices: A Complement, Not a Replacement

Let's get straight to the point: Balinese healing is about a spiritual, emotional, and energetic matter, as seen in Balinese belief systems, and not medical emergencies. It is not a replacement for a doctor in the case of injury, infection, or serious illness, and reputable healers know that, and will often work in parallel with local medical services rather than in opposition.

When a visitor meets a Balinese healer, a Balian, it is not for him to hope for one cure or another, but to experience a tradition that has been passed down through generations and represents a way of life for the Balinese - one in which health and wellbeing are closely connected to their relationships, environment, and beliefs.

A Respectful Way to Prepare

Part of preparing for the experience of a Balian healing process is to understand this moment as an opportunity for you to be part of someone else's spiritual ceremony as opposed to a commercial event:

• Seek guidance from your hotel or a reliable local connection who would recommend someone authentic and not some tourist trap.
•  Dress in proper clothes suitable for visiting a temple.
• Bring an offering, which someone will be able to hand over to the Balian on your behalf.
•  Maintain an open mind about the whole process, but don't expect a healing treatment to be effective as a medical treatment.
•  If you don't speak the language, it is recommended to bring a translator with you.

Experience Bali's Living Traditions With Guidance

Visiting a Balinese Healer, also known as Balian, is one of the best ways to experience Bali on a deeper level, but it must be done through a proper introduction instead of as a quick tourist stop. If you are interested in learning more about the spiritual culture of Bali, which includes yoga and meditation in Ubud, signing up for an organized retreat or teaching training with local guides would be far more advantageous than just visiting once, which many guests include in their wellness and cultural immersion programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it safe for tourists to go see a Balian?
   In general, yes, as long as you have made your appointment through someone who can vouch for the Balian's credentials. Balians deal with emotional, spiritual, and energy-related issues, but any injury or illness should be treated by a licensed medical practitioner.
2. Can Balians speak English?
   Most of them do not have a good command of English, especially those in rural areas where there are fewer tourists, which means that you will have to bring a tour guide or translator if you don't know either Indonesian or Balinese.
3. What do I need to take to the Balian?
   A small gift (where you can also put your consultation fee), loose-fitting clothing, and more importantly, a translator.
4. Is a Balian a witch doctor?
   Not exactly, although it might be possible to find Balians who have learned both good and bad magic practices. They mainly do healing work, which is why they are regarded as respected members of their communities.
5. Does the Balian treat not only physical sickness but also emotional or spiritual problems?
   There are some Balinese who specialize in using herbs, massage, or bone-setting to cure physical ailments, while others, particularly spiritual healers, deal with emotional or ancestral matters. However, many Balinese people also visit a doctor when they have health problems.