Sense Making and Divination in Bali

12-18 June 2026, Dwa Chandra, Pejeng, Bali

Introduction

From prayer to shamanism, from tarot to astrology, people around the world have long developed ways to make sense of the world and to find ways to change it.

There is no better place to explore such practices than Bali, home to one of the world’s most sophisticated cultures of divination. Combining Austronesian animism, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Shaiva Tantra, sense-making rituals and celebration are woven into the fabric of daily life, shaping the landscape and lending meaning to all things.

This gathering is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for seekers, students and practitioners of the esoteric arts to relax and play together in stunning beauty, to share wisdom, to join traditional Balinese ceremonies, and to explore the serene and historic village of Pejeng.

After receiving a welcome massage and ritual water blessing in our private river gorge, we will luxuriate around our stunning villa beside a private river gorge, explore local sites with expert guidance, and participate in the sacred annual festival of Galungan. In the days leading up to Galungan (on 17 June), people across Balu gather to provide hospitality to all beings. We will join with our local friends and neighbors to create beautiful offerings, explore ancient pilgrimage sites just next door, and have a divine time in perhaps the most beautiful and tranquil village in Bali.

Practical Details

Prices for double-occupancy start at US$720 per person, including luxury accommodations for 6 days, breakfasts, round-trip airport transfer, a welcome massage, melukat water blessing, activities, local tours, and Galungan participation. Check in is after 3pm on 12 June and before 11am on 18 June.

Single-occupancy rooms and other services and activities are available at additional cost. Those who would like to arrive early or stay later may be accommodated for a reasonable price at an excellent sister property. This incredibly generous offer is made possible through Dwa Chandra’s commitment to cultivating and celebrating community and culture.

Click here or scroll down for stunning photos and videos of villa rooms, common spaces, dining, and surrounding areas.

About the Convenor

Ian Rowen, PhD, is Associate Professor and Inamori Frontier Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University.

First drawn to Bali at the age of 15, he performed Balinese gamelan music while earning his BA degrees in mathematics and East Asian Studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, and his PhD in Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder. A Fulbright Scholar, he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, conversant in Bahasa Indonesia, and a student of the tarot, I Ching, and non-dual Shaiva tantra. His books have been published by Cornell and Columbia University Presses. The first Asia-based representative of the Burning Man Project, he has built large-scale divination-themed interactive art including Enlightenment and Taiwan Temple Market.

He is delighted to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with new and old friends.

About Pejeng

The tranquility and warmth of Pejeng belies the village’s history as the ancient spiritual and political center of Bali. The capital of the Wermadewa dynasty (914 CE - late 12th Century), Pejeng is home to one of the world’s most compact and comfortable collection of sacred sites, all of which are short walks from our venue, including Pura Pusering Jagat (the ‘navel of the world’ and the center-point temple of Bali), Pura Samuan Tiga (where Bali's diverse religious communities were unified), and Pura Penataran Sasih, which holds the Moon of Pejeng, the largest single-cast kettle drum in the world, dating back over 2000 years. The ancient caves and sacred springs of Air Kelebutan, where will hold our water blessing, are adjacent to the villa.

Dwa Chandra offers nine unique bedroom suites, as well as two family rooms that can be converted to bedrooms. A normal rental includes up to 22 guests in 17 bedding arrangements.

Shared spaces include a grand living room with cathedral ceiling, three pools, two fire pits, glass-encased yoga shala, spa area, outdoor dining, and meditation platform at the river gorge.

A delicious breakfast is included in your stay.

Additional food and beverage service is available until 11pm every night. The menu includes Indonesian dishes as well as international classics, cocktails, desserts, and shisha.

Dwa Chandra offers on-site spa services, transportation, and laundry service. The gathering will begin with a ceremonial water blessing by a Balinese priest in the river gorge, which we include with every standard booking.

See venue details on the next page.