Chapter 4. An Incredible Story Guided by the Spirit
In January 2024, an extraordinary story unfolded.
We were traveling across Bali, and on our way home, we decided to stop at a remarkable place. Ilya searched online for a place to stay, checked “Booking,” and found a room with an amazing bathtub. Our daughter loves swimming in bathtubs, and this one was truly special—large and comfortable. So, we decided to stay at this hotel. She simply loves bathing in a tub.
In the morning, as we looked around, we realized where we were. Have you seen the movie based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s novel Eat, Pray, Love ? Well, next to our hotel, just behind a neighboring door, was the very house of Ketut, the healer and seer. The place was magical and beautiful. Naturally, we went inside.
There was hardly anyone there—just a couple of people tidying up. As a family, we admired the beauty of the place and were amazed that it had been a film location. We were filled with awe, chatting among ourselves.
We realized it was no coincidence that we had ended up in such a place and decided to meet Ketut himself. We asked a question to his assistant, whom we met there. She told us we could be seen in 40 minutes. She also mentioned that he would read our palm leaves and cleanse our energy if needed. This encounter gave us chills—it was anything but random.
We were received by his son, as Ketut had already passed away. His son had been helping people for a long time, even during Ketut's lifetime, and had inherited his knowledge.
At first, it was a traditional Balinese ceremony with incense, mantras, and chants. Then he took my hand and began reading it.
“You are a healer. You will be like my father. You will become very famous. People will line up to see you. You will welcome them,” he read from my palm.
We had read our palm leaves before, and Ketut’s son repeated, word for word, what we had heard previously. Out of all the possible things one person could say to another, he said the exact same phrases—about me, and about Ilya.
Before meeting Ketut’s son, I had spoken to a friend who asked, “What is your intention? How did you end up there?”
“I don’t know. The Spirit led us and showed me some light,” I replied. “I don’t know English and probably won’t even understand what I’m told. But there will be some light.”
That’s all I knew before the ceremony.
After the ceremony, something incredible happened. Ketut’s son gave us a painting created by his father—Ketut himself. He explained that my mission is to welcome people, just like his father did.
“This is your purpose. You are meant to welcome people. You will be very happy, and everything will work out for you,” he said.
The painting depicted a god with a head inside a heart. He told me the painting would help me fulfill my purpose. On the subtle plane, I saw light emanating from the painting.
It was the very light the Spirit had shown me on the subtle plane, even before the meeting with Ketut’s son and the ceremony.
The meaning of the painting is the union of the mind and heart, speaking from the heart. This is what we’ve been working on lately.
Ketut had the gift of healing through his paintings.
And so, this beautiful story came to be.
