I am writing this from my villa, reflecting on my time in Lombok, Indonesia. I'm filled with so much gratitude for the insights this healing land has shared with me.
Prior to my trip, I had been practicing meditation and awareness aimed at ego detachment, which, in simple terms, is about recognising thoughts as separate entities from our true selves and disentangling our identities from external attachments. This theme and ideology kept popping up for me across Gili Air.
From the moment I walked onto the island, I was given the opportunity to join a new moon ceremony, which was a refreshing change. Instead of facilitating, I was able to immerse myself in the experience, delving inward to explore my reasons for being there and what lessons I hoped to learn. Knowing who our true self is without all our possessions, titles, and objects was a theme within the ceremony.
"Ego-identification with things creates attachment to things, obsession with things, which in turn creates our consumer society and economic structures where the only measure of progress is always more." - Eckhart Tolle
In my exploration, plant medicines have been invaluable guides, revealing the contours of ego dissolution and guiding me through the process of shedding the burdens I've carried for so long—burdens of past pains, criticisms, and self-imposed limitations. Through these experiences, I've come to understand that much of what I perceived as an integral part of myself was, in reality, a construct of my ego.
Even Ceremonial Cacao has played a significant role in my journey, serving as a conduit for deeper connection and profound insights. Beyond its ancient traditions, I've developed my own perspective on cacao—an elixir that facilitates a sense of oneness with the Earth and all living beings. Rather than seeing ourselves as standalone beings, each sip of cacao embodies the essence of our ecosystem, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all things.
While some may perceive these notions as esoteric or fanciful, I ask you to consider whether that skepticism stems from the voice of the ego, rather than genuine inquiry in embracing vulnerability.
Anyhow, throughout my time on Gili Air, I had gentle tests and reminders about the awareness of my ego. It was a beautiful confirmation that I was on the right path, seeing practices I was exploring back home in Australia arise for me across Gili Air.
It is part of why I want to share medicines like cacao with you and continue to guide you on how they serve as potent reminders of the profound energy, inviting us to explore the depths of our being and connect with the wisdom of this Earth.
Whilst this blog entry is a little different from my usual sharing here, it's more of a journal entry, per se. I thought I would leave you with a mantra that I came up with and resonates with the practice of exploring awareness and detaching from ego. Simply start by practicing it each morning or at the start of any spiritual practice:
"I release all labels and attachments. I am not defined by 'this' or 'that', but by the simple truth: I am.”
Lastly, a beautiful discovery I made in Bali just yesterday was the combination of Ceremonial Cacao and Ceremonial Matcha. While not a new concept, it was the first time I had tried it. This recipe, was a delicious treat and a beautiful way of combining two spiritual elixirs, each with its own ancient heritage. The marriage of matcha's Chinese roots and Japanese traditions with the ancient wisdom of Peruvian cacao is yet another manifestation of interconnectedness that I deeply enjoyed.
For the recipe, see here, and to learn more about tea traditions, see here. As I conclude this chapter of my journey, I set forth with intention—to continue embracing vulnerability, cultivating awareness, and honouring the interconnectedness of all life.