Renee our intern from Montana, USA, in our kitchen with our volunteer Lucy, from Canada, trying out some new recepes. Peeling lots of garlic to go into the mixed veggies from our gardens
Jiwa Damai.
You can find out more about our internship on our website!
We are happy to introduce you to Rene, our intern at Jiwa Damai - Lagu Damai. Please, find out more about our internship program on our website http://www.jiwadamai.net/internships/
Discover the uniqueness of the Internship Through the Heart Program at Jiwa Damai through this exclusive interview with our intern, Renee!
Find out more about the internship program at Jiwa Damai. --> Internships
"Duringmysixweeks of internship with LaguDamai Foundation while staying at Jiwa Damai permaculture center, I was working on a psychological self- exploration focusing on personal growth and self-development.
IMG_7045
My personal growth project included five main dimensions: the mental, the emotional, the physical, spiritual and nutrition. Through tools such as the daily HeartSelf-Intelligence meditation, yoga and garden work I was able to explore and experience myself in a very new way. I received excellent guidance and supervision throughout the whole time of myinternship. I am deeply satisfied with myinternship. I didn't expect such an in-depth personal growth process. I feel that this internship has been a wonderful opportunity to expand my horizon on many levels and will be a huge benefit for my future.", Natalie our intern.
Find out more about our internship program here.
IMG_6694
IMG_7040 (1)
unnamed
unnamed-1
In the banjar(village) of Wira, our Foundation president, many ceremonies unfolded these last few weeks. Here is our intern Natalie with the village ladies carrying the Barong, a type of a lion-dragon monster, through the whole village. In the next picture you'll see our Volunteer from New York dressed in traditional festival garb with Wira in the front of a beautifully carved door at Wira's home. Kevin being very tall, the sarong is a bit short on him.
Natalie, our intern in psychology at Jiwa Damai is an officer in the German army and a great athletic woman. She ran the famous 21 km Marathon in Bali with over 5000 participants. Next week she will also go to Java to participate in the Mount Bromo Nationale park marathon. Congratulations Natalie!
IMG_6098
IMG_6053
IMG_5902
yoga at jiwa damai
Here is our Karma yoga team from Sadhana Yoga teacher training group getting actively involved in the garden and with garbage clean up. We truly appreciate this very much… Thanks!
Find out more about our activities at Jiwa Damai here! Have also a look at our internship programhere!
Internships at Jiwa Damaiare a special experience. Our interns are invited to really live the difference. The focus is a personal growth process offering people an in-depth learning on several levels: personal inner growth, conceiving, designing and implementing their own project, cross cultural interaction with a very different Hindu culture, as well as with our international interns form all around the world. In addition to the personalized support, we offer daily morning yoga classes and evening Heart meditation.
Each intern designs his/her individual project with supervision and based on the aforementioned in-depth learning. The internship can cover a wide range of topics. See more about topics, application procedure and more details here.
We talked to Marie Thimm our intern from Germany about her experience. It was not really an interview but more of a discussion about her project and about how she lived the difference at Jiwa Damai.
Why Jiwa Damai?
I wanted to make a change; I wanted a shift in my work path. Jiwa Damai attracted me because of its variety: a place to do an internship, a permaculture farm, a retreat, the Lagu Damai Foundation and also the work of Dr. Margret Rueffler– the peace psychology. I wanted to experience it and see how they were all working together, how they are inter-connected.
I was also very much interested in foundations because I didn’t want to work in money making oriented companies but in places that take care of the surrounding: be it the nature, the community or the planet, in general.
The location had no impact in my choice, but it was a nice side effect
It was already dark when I arrived at Jiwa Damai but from the very first moment it felt like being in an oasis. When one comes from Denpasar, with all that terrible traffic Jiwa Damai unfolds like a peaceful and beautiful oasis.
A process of connecting with the inner most self
My internship consisted of a personal project. What we developed was a process through which I could really differentiate all the skills I have into the ones relevant for my future work by applying the Heart-Self Intelligence method. At the same time, I defined my values and I put them into an application letter so that gained a different power and energy.
It was really interesting for me because I discovered that some skills that I thought were important were not really relevant for my future path. However, new ones came up. It was a process of connecting with the inner most self and from there working towards finding a new path in life.
I also learned about self-awareness. I learned what it is needed for my self/ for my project in the moment and thus to enjoy the things that I am doing instead of just finishing them. I learned to transform the “I have” into “I want to” or “I would love to”.
The perfect environment for the process to take place
I really appreciated the structure of the day and what opportunities the intern has besides the personal project: yoga classes in the morning, meditation in the evening and three delicious Balinese meals with vegetables from the garden in between.
During a normal internship you are not working on your own project or on your personal growth. The special thing about Jiwa Damai internship is that you can choose on what you would like to work. Could be permaculture projects in the garden or a personal life shift/career shift. And you still have the daily supervision and support.
Moreover, I could chose where to do my work, for instance next to a pool or in a hammock. I had the opportunity to take a break whenever I needed and go in the garden and feel the earth under my hands. I didn’t have to stick to office ours.All these aspects set the perfect environment for the process to take place.
A genuine exchange of knowledge with people from all over the world
I studied international business communication and I am very interested in cross-cultural issues and would love to work with people from all over the world in the future.
Here you have the opportunity to meet people with different cultural backgrounds who are like-minded, who want to make a difference. The daily discussions with Margret and the volunteers create a genuine exchange of knowledge. One can also get in touch with local people and learn about the local challenges and how to deal with them.
The little light spots
At JiwaDamai I learned that it is important to create places in the world as Margret says “little light spots” everywhere, just living the difference or living a life connected to nature again. I also discover the beauty of welcoming people who are working in their own way for a sustainable and healthy future.
The little light spots are an inspiring example for people because they reveal that we can live in harmony with nature again by building and creating eco friendly homes and communities, not relying on governmental systems.
Bali:the place for adventures
Bali is such a beautiful spot on Earth. The people are always friendly. They are happy if you talk to them, even if it is only a few words in English. The nature is amazing: rice fields, mountains and beaches. And there is also place for little adventures such as riding the motorbike or climbing a volcano to see the sunrise from the top of the mountain or snorkeling to see an underwater temple. It is hard to believe that it is only one island of the thousands that exist in Indonesia.
Future: we make a difference already
I will definitely use the Heart Self Intelligence for future steps along my path.
Before I already used to rely on my feelings rather than my mind but really to trust in the wisdom of the heart brings a new perspective. The entire process gave me self-confidence that there are other people who are out there having the same goal or the same interest.
Jiwa Damai was a nice booster to following the dreams that really fit me. It would be difficult to change entire systems such as the governments, food supply, the world economy, but we can create spots of light. We can focus on a positive approach towards a sustainable and healthy world. We make a difference already by finding new ways of living in harmony with nature, by focusing on the true needs of people, by listening more to the wisdom of our heart.
Find out more about the internship at Jiwa Damai in Bali here.
We are all searching. We travel around the world, we talk to people, we experience new situations, we learn and we do all these things in order to make peace with ourselves, with our heart, in order to align with our potential.
AtJiwa Damaiwe received a different gift this Christmas: knowledge. Dr. Margret Rueffler invited the interns, volunteers, staff and friends for a one-day seminar on Heart-Self Intelligence.
Hearth Self Intelligence Seminar 1
We could describe it in carefully crafted words on a blog post but it is something one can only experience it if one allows its heart to do so. Come visit us, you’ll understand why! Or find out more about our internship programthat individually guides our participants on their path to self-development while completing their project.
Hearth Self Intelligence Seminar 2
More photos on Jiwa Damai Facebook Page.
Hearth Self Intelligence Seminar 3
Permaculture through the heart Jiwa Damai Agro permaculture and retreat center is located on a four hectare property next to Banjar Bindu, Mambal in the district of Badung, Bali, in a small tropical valley.
The Flora and Fauna are diverse, including Coconut-, and Banana trees, ponds, a small river, plants and a jungle which is home to numerous traditional Balinese healing plants.
JD main picture
We offer a four week intensive internship training
This innovative program blends introductory with advanced learning and application of the core principles of tropical Permaculture/gardening with Self exploration from a transpersonal psychological perspective.
Experiencing Permaculture through the heart presents a unique opportunity to combine class room Permaculture learning with “hands-on” experience, complementing the active physical engagement with the soil with an inner attitude of loving alignment with the earth.
The internship is a combination of personal growth processes, allowing our heart energy to flow into our work with the earth, environment, water, soil, plants and people.
This program is the first of its kind, working with the psychological framework of the mind, theoretical Permaculture principles, design and planning, planting, harvesting and food preparation - all in alignment with the heart energy.
The fundamental understanding of the Permaculture principals, the interconnectedness and interaction of nature and environment will be aligned with our own personality landscape and deep inner nature which directly impacts the quality and nutritional value of the food.
Program and Activities
The theoretical and hands on learning is complimented by a daily early morning yoga session and heart meditation.
Two field trips to other Permaculture centers on the island are planned during the 4 week course.
Two cooking classes will be also be offered featuring Balinese vegetarian and raw foods.
An excursion and exploration of the local spices and medicinal herbs grown in the area will also be included.
Yoga session
Week One: Classes in theoretical Permaculture will take place for 2-3 hours every day, including discussion and evaluation application of the principles via hands-on practice.
Week Two: 2-3 hours daily, unfolding the HeartSelf-intelligence, and an experiential transpersonal psychological approach to Self exploration will be offered.
Week Three: Designing an environmental group project to be executed in Jiwa Damai.
Week Four: Focusing on your personal project design, presenting it to the group as well as receiving input and feedback.
Interns are encouraged to research and investigate areas or potential project sites which may welcome and benefit from your support and feedback following the internship.
Permaculture topics
Ethics and principles in Permaculture design
Understanding environment, weather patterns and location, seeing the large scale
Planting patterns and design
Water infrastructures
Composting with IMO or EM
Ecological Insect control
Indigenous building materials, bamboo
Edible Aqua Plant Permaculture
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Organic food topics
Virgin coconut oil production
Balinese ceremonial and medicinal herbs
Organic raw food preparation
Balinese vegetarian cooking, local spices
Topics of the heart
Unfolding the qualities of the heart
Aligning the brain with the heart
Respect and appreciation for Self and the Earth
Translating transpersonal inner values to the soil and earth
Connecting to the heart of the Earth
Our international faculty brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program.
Ketut Badung is Balinese and has received his Permaculture training from IDEP Bali, Indonesia. He is our head gardener with an in-depth knowledge of local Balinese Flora and Fauna as well as Western plants which feed an nourish our team and guests. Under his care, the Jiwa Damai gardens have flourished since their inception twelve years ago.
Shelby graduated from Florida State University with a degree in International Affairs and a concentration in Sustainable Agriculture. While in school, Shelby managed an educational community garden and began her own Permaculture based urban farm after finishing her degree. She continues learning new techniques daily through a partnership with Edible Landscapes, a Permaculture design install team and through her own constantly evolving farm.
Uwe Scholz studied Permaculture with Rico Zook (USA) in Darjeeling, India. He is developing his Permaculture node in the mountains in Bali and likes to built earth houses. He is a graduate Dipl.-Ing. in informatics and computer sciences from University of applied sciences in Frankfurt, Germany.
Terry Trushel loves to transform plants with thrive in extreme conditions, such as desert and tropical environs. He established a landscape gardening business in Ashland, Oregon, USA before moving to Bali. He graduated form the Logan College of chiropractic and holds a diplomate in orthopedics.
Miquela de Ris is a certified Tri-Yoga Teacher, specializing in Yoga Flow, meditation and Kriya Yoga.She received her Yoga training at the Datta Peetham Ashram in Mysore, India and apprenticed in raw foods with Jeremy Saffron in Maui. Hawaii. She majored at the Berkshire, Massachusets community college in Peace and world order.
Margret Rueffler is the founder and caretaker of Jiwa Damai Agro-Permaculture and Retreat Center. She holds a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology and is an acupuncturist and teaches internationally. Her books have been translated in several languages.
Course tuition: 18 735.000 IDR $US 1 950.00
Times: Class and working times are from 09.00 am to 5.00 pm excluding weekends. The course is limited to 15 people.
To enroll in the course or if you want to receive more information , please contact us via email: info@jiwadamai.net
Jiwa Damai is a hands-on, socially responsible organic garden and retreat center.
We are located amidst lush tropical vegetation in the heart of Bali (20 mins from Ubud).
