In the stillness of the early morning, before the sun rises over the horizon, there exists a sacred window of time that the mystics call: the Ambrosial Hour. 

A time when the veil between the physical and spiritual world is at its thinnest, offering us a remarkable gateway to attune with the Divine, and our Higher Self.

The Ambrosial Hour, often referred to in ancient texts as "Brahma Muhurta," is the window approximately one and a half hours before sunrise, a portal where the Divine whispers secrets that are revealed to those attuned to such frequencies and open to receive. 

The Golden Hour Before Dawn: A Pilgrimage to the Summit of Lempuyang Temple in Bali

To experience the power of the Ambrosial Hour, we embarked on a pilgrimage to Lempuyang, the highest temple in Bali. Waking at 2 am, I led my group of students as we ventured into the predawn darkness. 1,700 uneven steps were before us, but the promise of what awaited at the summit fueled our devotion.

In the stillness of the night, with offerings and prayers, wearing our white ceremonial clothing, we trekked with the Manku (a balinese name for priest).

As we climbed higher, the world seemed to dissolve into a mystical realm. A thick, ethereal fog enveloped the mountain, and the sky began to blush with hues of pink. It was as if nature orchestrated a transcendental space for our spiritual evolution.

Reaching the summit, we arrived at a celestial gate. 

As we crossed the threshold, I looked at my phone. The time was 5:55 a.m. 

I took a screenshot, cherishing this magic moment. 

Feeling a sense of awe and wonder, I remembered a treasured memory. In 2019, I brought a group on this pilgrimage, and we too entered this holy gate at precisely 5:55 am

Ceremony In The Inner Sanctum of Lempuyang Temple

There we were, in the pink twilight, in the inner sanctum of Lempuyang Temple, preparing to begin the ceremony together. 

Here is a glimpse (with no filters)

The air was cool and crisp. It was the dawning of a new day. With devotion, the priest prepared the incense, flowers and holy water, as we sat in meditation.

The Power of Sunrise Prayer in a Holy Land

The priest rang the Genta (ceremonial bell). Its vibration signifies the unification of the three realms — heavenly, human, and lower dimensions attuned in Divine Order. A symbol of connecting our prayers to the Almighty.

Invoking through mantra, and lifting our hands to the heavens, our prayer began, with reverence, to the Supreme God.

As the sun rose over the mountains, the sound of the mantras blended with the singing of the birds awakening to the glory of this new day. 

We completed the prayers, then began a purification ceremony.

With the rising of the sun came a revitalized sense of purpose, a reminder of the transformative power and spiritual awakening that can be found in these sacred moments.

Holy Water from the Bamboo: An Auspicious Sign

On top of this mountain there are bamboo trees infused with the energy of prayer. 

The final steps of the ceremony include the priest cutting a bamboo stalk with the intention of sourcing holy water for our final blessing. 

For some who embark on this quest, the bamboo is dry. There is no water within it, which the Balinese consider “unlucky.”

But for us, it was filled with abundant bamboo water. I am blessed to share, every time that I have brought a group on this EPIC sacred adventure of a lifetime to Bali, we have always been blessed with holy water in the bamboo, and so it was on this auspicious day.

On the way down we laughed together, as we watched the monkeys stealing the bananas from the offerings, and howling in mischievous joy. 

Carrying Holy Water Down The Mountain: A Devotional Practice

One of my beloved students, who we affectionately call “The Dragon Warrior, aka: Kung Fu Panda” devoutly carried the Holy Water on his head down the 1,700 uneven steps for the rest of our group who awaited our arrival at the base of the temple to also receive blessings.

Here is our group at the Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple on our Bali Sacred Adventure of a Lifetime in 2024.

Here’s the group I brought on this EPIC Spiritual Adventure in 2019.