Greetings from Bali

Hope you had a wonderful Easter, now onwards into the spring..
Last week I was telling you about selecting the auspicious date for a ceremony  to launch our start-up in Bali..The date was carefully selected as the 10th of April. If you missed the reasons why you can catch up here.
I'm delighted with our new office, the objective to create the best possible work place, a dream location, swimming pool, air-conditioned,surf view.. who wouldn't want to work here?
Well it seems like no-one wants to work here.. Debbie our HR has been interviewing six or seven people a day, we have hundreds of applications, the best ones are invited to a second interview.. we then offer people jobs to find they have already found another job, or changed their mind or just don't answer.. we thought this would be easy but it seems lots of companies are recruiting for digital marketing professionals right now.

Meanwhile I have been doing what I love to do, and that's buzzing around the villages of Bali visiting artisan suppliers and developing new and beautiful products. While driving I asked Ringo about the ceremony.. 
We had the ceremony for our new business on the 10th of April as planned.
It was amazing.. the ladies that work in our warehouse and the wife of our security man, came dressed beautifully in traditional Balinese clothes. They constructed an offering table that was stacked high with allsorts of things.. then the local holy man came, sat crossed legged and started to ding a bell in front of the offerings.. At one point the ladies taking a bowl of specially blessed water joyfully with much laughter and energy swooped and whooped to every room and corner of the office, splashing water all over the place... 


Ringo came with a big bag of traditional clothes, and Tomas, me and Peter (from Slovakia) changed into Balinese mode.  After we were all called to sit crossed legged on the floor behind the holy man, he started chanting some mantras and we all made the namaste pose with our palms together. In front of us a colourful basket of flower petals.The temple bell was hypnotically dinging away.. then we paused and Ringo said now take some yellow petals inside your fingers and the process was repeated..  then again we did it again green leafs, then again with blue petals, then with a handful mixed petals and finally nothing between our palms. I felt that spiritual power flowing, when somehow you touch the divine. Then it was all over, we had pictures with the priest, lots of laughter and then special food came.. Nasi Champor which was delicious. 


Don't worry I have not converted to being a Balanese Hindu.. but the whole mystical  experience was undeniably uplifting. Even if I had no idea of the symbolism of the various elements..
So whilst driving around the villages and rice terraces of Bali I quizzed Ringo about what it all means..
I took notes..
Doing Namaste with empty hands to start - means unconditionally asking for blessings but not expecting.
With yellow flowers - means asking the sun god to warm us with energy and to watch over us.
With green leaves - means asking the god of the land. Ask for our building to be safe and secure. (important in a land of earthquakes and volcanoes)
With blue flowers - to the goddess of the sea. To all to be safe, positive and happy..and to secure a prosperous catch of fish... ie to be successful.
With mixed flowers - is to all gods - for protection from evil and to smooth the paths before us.
Empty again - thankfully to everyone, to the earth, to the gods, to nature. 

The chanting.. was this..
Om santi santi santi om .. Good inside and all outside. 
Damai di Hati damai di dunia ... Peace in the heart, peace in the world

Nice no? 
Ok you might be sceptical, but all the Balinese people we connect with are super happy, the whole thing cost including the food, penjars, offerings and donation to the priest was very small money. So I'm happy.
Bondhan made a video for Youtube.. 


Meanwhile back in the UK.. lots of stock arrived from India.. including some tie-dye cotton bags that I'm excited about..
During that ceremony the priest asked for blessings for our customers - that's YOU.. so I hope they are flowing nicely to you..
Next week I'll be in China!! so News from there..
Wishing you a beautiful and peaceful weekend.
The day after the ceremony.. Something strange happened... people started enthusiastically accepting our job offers.. six people so far..so it's all happening..

David
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  1. What a beautiful story! This brings me back to college, when I played in a Balinese Gamelan Orchestra in Illinois. When we performed, we went into total Balinese mode too, wearing the traditional clothes, flower petals, water splashing, and so much joy! Thanks for sharing :)

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