What is a Balian?
In Bali, health is traditionally understood through both sekala, the visible and physical dimension of life, and niskala, the unseen dimension connected to energy, spirit and ancestral influence.
A Balian is a traditional Balinese healer who works across these two dimensions. Depending on their path, a Balian may receive knowledge through spiritual calling, sacred objects, family lineage, teachers or the traditional healing texts known as lontar usada. Others are known for a particular practice, such as physical treatment or spiritual diagnosis.
Most Balians follow one principal path. JRO’s foundation is Balian Taksu, but his healing process brings together five Balian traditions.
Balian Taksu
What is a Balian Taksu?
Taksu is a spiritual force or capacity received through a connection with the unseen world. A Balian Taksu does not become a healer primarily by studying medicine or sacred texts. The calling and knowledge are received through experiences such as dreams, visions, spiritual guidance or an unexplained healing ability. In traditional classifications, this path is also described as Balian Katakson. Academic source: Universitas Gadjah Mada
How Taksu appears in JRO’s practice?
This is the foundation of JRO’s work.
His calling began in childhood. From around the age of ten, he received teachings through dreams. By fourteen, his body would begin moving instinctively when he was close to someone who was unwell, and he could feel what was happening inside their body without understanding how.
In 2008, JRO met an elderly man who guided him to seek three spiritual teachers. They helped him understand his mission and develop different parts of his practice, including energy work, herbal preparations and the use of tirta, spiritually energised water. His initiation later continued through prayer, cleansing and meditation at three temples.
JRO therefore did not formally study to become a Balian. His knowledge was first received through Taksu, then understood and developed with the guidance of his teachers.
Balian Tenung
What is a Balian Tenung?
Tenung is a traditional form of divination or diagnosis used to perceive what cannot be immediately seen. It may be used to understand influences connected to the past or present and what may develop in the future if the existing situation continues.
The Bali Provincial Government’s cultural resource describes tenung as one of the traditional ways a Balian may investigate and understand a person’s condition. Official cultural source: Bali Provincial Government
How JRO uses Tenung?
JRO begins each assessment by reading the person’s aura and energy before touching the body.
This first reading helps him perceive influences connected to the person’s past and present, understand what may need attention and see what could develop if nothing changes. It also guides where and how he begins the treatment.
Balian Apun / Balian Urat
What is a Balian Apun or Balian Urat?
A Balian Apun or Balian Urat specialises in working directly with the physical body. The practice traditionally involves massage, pressure and manual treatment, sometimes combined with prayer, mantras or spiritual energy.
Urat can refer to the physical structures running through the body, including nerves, tendons and vessels. This tradition focuses on finding and releasing areas where the body’s natural movement or circulation has become restricted.
How JRO uses Apun and Urat?
This is the principal physical dimension of JRO’s work.
Using muscle and nerve acupressure, he follows patterns of tension through the body. He works on blockages affecting the muscles, nerves and areas connected to the internal organs, helping circulation and energy move more freely.
What JRO perceives during the aura reading guides the physical examination. What he then feels through touch helps him confirm, deepen or adjust the initial reading.
Balian Paica
What is a Balian Paica?
A Balian Paica, also called Balian Kapican or Kapaica, works with sacred objects received, inherited or discovered as part of the healer’s spiritual path.
These may include a keris, stones or other sacred objects. They are not considered ordinary possessions or treatment instruments. Within Balinese tradition, each object may carry a particular spiritual purpose, knowledge or power connected to the healer’s work.
How Paica appears in JRO’s practice?
JRO has received sacred objects at different moments throughout his life. Each came to him with specific knowledge, energy or a particular role in his healing path.
The objects are kept in his holy room. JRO works with them as part of the spiritual foundation of his practice and his connection with the unseen world.
Balian Usada
What is a Balian Usada?
Usada is Bali’s traditional system of health and healing knowledge. It includes diagnosis, medicinal plants, herbal preparations, physical treatments, rituals and the relationship between physical and unseen causes of illness.
A Balian Usada formally develops this knowledge by learning from a teacher or studying the ancient palm-leaf manuscripts known as lontar usada. The tradition includes preparations made from leaves, roots, bark, fruit and other natural ingredients.
How JRO integrates Usada?
JRO did not study lontar usada or formally train to become a Balian Usada.
One of his three teachers taught him how to recognise plants and prepare herbal medicine. However, the formulas for the two herbal preparations he makes today did not come from books. JRO received them through energy and spiritual guidance as part of his Taksu.
He now prepares both medicines himself using locally sourced plant ingredients. They are usually included alongside treatment when it is appropriate for the person.
Five traditions within one healing process
JRO does not offer these as five separate treatments. They work together and inform each stage of the same personalised process.
He first uses Tenung to read the person’s aura and energy. His Taksu guides what he perceives and how he directs energy during the session. Through Apun and Urat, he then listens to and works directly with the physical body. His Paica and sacred objects support the spiritual dimension of his work. When appropriate, he integrates Usada through the two herbal preparations he makes himself.
A registered traditional practitioner
JRO is registered with the Indonesian authorities as a Penyehat Tradisional, a traditional health practitioner, under an STPT (Surat Terdaftar Penyehat Tradisional). This framework recognises approaches using manual techniques, energy techniques and traditional preparations.
This is how JRO works. See what a visit is like.
See what happens during a visit