Why is Bali so spiritual and healing?
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Bali is an island where devotion isn’t reserved for special occasions. It’s woven into the everyday. From the scent of incense drifting through quiet streets to the steady rhythm of temple bells in the distance, Bali offers belonging. For the mindful traveller, it can feel like arriving in a state of remembrance. A soft return to the sacred.
The spiritual essence of Bali
Balinese Hinduism is uniquely devotional
Unlike mainstream Indian Hinduism, Balinese Hinduism (Agama Hindu Dharma) integrates animist, Buddhist, and local traditions. It emphasises ritual, balance, and gratitude. Offerings of flowers, incense, and food to deities and spirits (called canang sari) are prepared daily, adorning streets, temples, and homes. These acts turn ordinary routines into sacred gestures.
Life is structured around spiritual cycles
From birth to death, Balinese people follow rituals marking every life stage. There’s a rich calendar of ceremonies, such as temple festivals, full moon celebrations, and personal purification rituals. Temples (pura) are everywhere, and each village typically has at least three major ones.
The landscape is sacred
Volcanoes like Mount Agung are seen as the dwelling places of the gods. Rivers, lakes, and trees are inhabited by spirits. Balinese people live in harmony with nature not just practically but spiritually. This reverence turns the environment into a living, breathing temple.
Balance is a core spiritual value
The concept of Tri Hita Karana (the three causes of well-being) guides life: harmony with God, harmony among people, and harmony with nature. It’s practiced through architecture, agriculture (like the cooperative subak irrigation system), and relationships.
Art is an offering
Balinese music, dance, painting, and crafts are deeply spiritual. Traditional performances like kecak or barong aren't staged for entertainment alone. They’re offerings to the gods or reenactments of sacred stories. Even the act of creating is often meditative and devotional.
Sacred geometry shapes everyday life
Homes and temples are built using Asta Kosala Kosali, a spiritual architecture system similar to Indian Vastu Shastra or Chinese Feng Shui. Spaces are designed to honour natural forces and deities, creating harmony between the built environment and the cosmos.
Healing traditions are spiritually rooted
Balinese healers (balian) integrate plant medicine, energy work, prayer, and ancestral wisdom. Illness is often understood as a spiritual imbalance, and healing involves rituals, purification, and connecting with unseen forces; not just physical remedies.
Ancestral connection is active
Balinese people honour ancestors through regular offerings and ceremonies, believing their spirits guide and protect the family. Shrines within homes are not symbolic. They're portals of ongoing spiritual communication. This unbroken thread between generations creates a profound sense of rootedness and reverence.
A place that heals quietly
Bali’s spirituality is intimate, immersive, and deeply felt. Its traditions remind you that healing doesn’t always come from change, but from remembrance: of harmony, connection, and presence. The island has a way of realigning your inner world with something much older, much wiser.
Have you ever felt spiritually held by a place? If Bali calls to you, let it be more than a trip. Let it be a conversation with the sacred.
To give you some ideas of activities you can do in Bali to support your spiritual journey, we wrote “Spiritual things to do in Bali that transform you”. Make sure to check that.
About the author: Thaíz Lara is the creator behind New Hermits, a New Zealand-based storyteller who believes in the power of story and soul-filled travel. After living in 5 countries and exploring 60, she has come to understand that the most meaningful journeys often begin within. Learn more about Lara.
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