A Reiki session or a Bali purification ceremony: which one suits you?
By Vanessa Chugani · Updated October 2026
If you want quiet, one-to-one rest for a nervous system that has been running hot, book a Reiki session. If you are drawn to Bali's own spiritual tradition, a water ritual at a temple or spring marking a new chapter, go with a purification ceremony. Many people in Bali try both, for different reasons.
A Reiki session and a Bali purification ceremony, often called melukat, can look similar from the outside: both involve stillness, water or touch, and a sense of being looked after. The real difference is what each one is for. Reiki is private, one-to-one support, usually in a treatment room, aimed at a stressed or exhausted nervous system, and it can be repeated as often as you need. A purification ceremony is rooted in Balinese Hindu tradition, usually a single visit to a temple or natural spring, led by a priest, and aimed at a spiritual reset rather than ongoing care. Knowing which one you actually want makes the choice easy.
| a private Reiki session | a Bali waterfall or purification ceremony | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | You lie down, clothed, while I rest my hands lightly on or just above your body. | You stand in cold spring water or at a temple while a priest leads prayers and a water blessing. |
| Who leads it | A trained Reiki Master Teacher, working with you one to one. | A Balinese priest or ceremony guide, usually at a temple or spring. |
| Where it happens | A private treatment room in Canggu, or live online for a distance session. | An outdoor temple or waterfall site, often shared with other visitors that day. |
| What it's for | Rest for a nervous system that is stressed, exhausted, grieving or wired, with support you can return to. | A spiritual reset inside Balinese tradition, often tied to a new chapter, a visit to Bali or letting go of the old year. |
| How often people go | Often repeated: many people book a three or five session package. | Usually a single visit, though some return for significant dates or occasions. |
| Cost | EUR 188 in person, EUR 138 by distance, or a package at EUR 388 or EUR 588. | Varies by site and guide. I don't know what others charge, so ask locally. |
Which one suits you
A purification ceremony suits you if what you want is Bali itself: the water, the priest's prayers, the offerings, a ritual that marks something, a holiday, a move, a hard year behind you. It suits someone curious about Balinese tradition on its own terms, not looking for ongoing care. If you are planning a one-off visit to mark a new start while you are on the island, that is exactly where a purification ceremony is the right call. Reiki suits someone carrying something quieter and more ongoing: a jaw that will not unclench, sleep that will not come, grief that is still loud, weeks that will not slow down. It is private, repeatable support for a nervous system that needs somewhere to put all of that down. That is what Reiki is for.
Related questions
Can I do a purification ceremony and book a Reiki session during the same trip?
Yes. Some people do a purification ceremony for the ritual itself, then book a private Reiki session separately for ongoing rest and support. There's no conflict between them. If you want to combine both, leaving some space between them works better than booking them back to back.
Is a Bali purification ceremony religious?
Yes, melukat sits inside Balinese Hindu tradition, usually led by a priest with prayers and offerings. It isn't something I teach or lead myself. If it interests you, a local guide or your accommodation can point you towards a temple or guide who practises it properly.
Does a Reiki session involve any water or ritual?
No. A Reiki session is quiet: you stay clothed and lie down, while I rest my hands lightly on or just above you. There is no water, no ceremony, no priest and no religious element to it, just rest for your nervous system.