During my travels around the world, I found inspiration from unexpected encounters that I'd like to share with you. Sometimes you have to go (far) away to get closer. This time: ‘The Famous Healer from Ubud'.
Sometimes we're simply looking for direction, confirmation, or support. Me too. Then we might turn to an astrologer, psychic, reader, or healer. Or to a spiritual guide from your religion. Sometimes we're simply looking for direction, confirmation, or support. Me too. Then we might turn to an astrologer, psychic, reader, or healer. Or to a spiritual guide from your religion.
Do you remember that book and that movie: ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ by Elisabeth Gilbert, adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts? In it, the main character visits a "Balean," a spiritual healer in Ubud, Indonesia, named Cokorda Rai. So I thought, "I want to go there too." No sooner said than done.
I surrendered to what he called a Kitra Healing. He screened my head several times, pulled painfully on my ears a few times, and hit them incredibly hard, then said, "You have nothing. What can I do for you?"
A dialogue ensued where he asked me what kind of job I did, and I replied: "(spiritual) empowerment." He responded with a warm smile and said, "Oh, so you're also a healer. Mmm, you are a gentle man. You've come to bring peace to the world. There's a wall between you, but you move through it. You embrace the world and bring Light and peace to the world, which is good."
‘What are you supposed to do with these words?’ I immediately wondered. ‘How seriously should I take this? Maybe none of it is true.’ But strangely enough, it supported me to continue with my life's dream: to make my own contribution to a better world, however small or large. Years later, I managed to materialize my contribution in, among other things, my second book: ‘Spirited Personal Leadership, for more effective work, a meaningful life, and a better world." With thanks to Cokorda Rai 🙏.
Over the past decades, I've made several trips to healers, shamans, chiefs, gurus, and mediums who shared their perspectives on my life and work. And quite a lot of it was bullshit. Therefore, never outsource your own authority and individuality to others or blindly follow their advice. Remain critical and walk away if it no longer feels right.
But in every area, including here, you have qualitatively sharp and valuable guides. For me, an important criterion is whether it touches on the truth and as long as it supports me in realizing my life's dream. In that case, there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it's extremely stimulating.
So why not, with a critical eye, occasionally open yourself up to good guides who inspire you?
I hope it leads to positive, original and talented choices in your life and work.
Here’s a short impression of some of my journeys of discovery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca58VpEoy_Y
Martin
© 2025: Martin Thoolen
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