What You See and What You Don’t

Today, take a minute (or more) and think about what we see and what we don’t. When I first arrived in Bali in the late 80s, a book was floating around called “Sekala and Niskala.” This meant — “what you see and what you don’t.” In Bali, this was particularly important as there was much mystery, magic, and ritual below the surface. It would be impossible to truly understand Balinese culture without understanding the hidden. I’ve come to realize that the same is true with just about everything. What sits on the surface is not the true story. The true stories lie deep within — often purposefully hidden for years, if not a lifetime. Fear, shame, and guilt all contribute to the camouflage many of us wear so that we can fit in — blend with the masses. It reminds me of the lotus which sits on the surface in all its beauty — yet beneath it lies murky muddy water. Ask yourself today, “When someone looks at you, what do they see and what do they not.”