Most Balinese believes that their bodies, like an electric battery, accumulates a magic energy called ‘kesaktian’ that enables them to withstand the attack of evil powers, human or supernatural, that seek constantly to undermine their health. This ‘kesaktian’ is not evenly divided; some people are born with a capacity to store higher charge of magic than others. Balinese believe that women has greater capacity then men, someone who born on a certain day and someone who born with a deformity is believed to have stronger magical power than ordinary human. Some people are believed to be born with stronger magical power inherited from their previous life.

Balinese have a firm belief that ‘kesaktian’ can be trained to produce various magical ability such as changing shape, flying spreading disease, etc, by undergoing ascetical life, meditation and systematic study of the arts of magic (kawisesan). The magic energy (kesaktian) can be used for various purposes, people whose heart are wicked use the magic science to harm their enemies, or satisfy their curiosity on magic by using their neighbors as specimens for their magical experiments.

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Balinese Hinduism nowadays is fighting a negative stigma “ritual without essence” in religious practices in Bali. Balinese do their religion, attend ritual, and hold temple anniversary or countless other ceremonies without any knowledge on the meaning of these rituals. In sort, Balinese practice their religion without sufficient understanding on what they are practiced.

There is a great gap in the understanding of religion between the young and the old. The young which have tasted the knowledge of western logic begin to ask ‘why’; “why we do this ceremony?”; “what is the meaning of that ritual?”; “what is the significant of that offering?” etc. the old which almost have no interest in doctrine, or generalized interpretation of the religion, give unsatisfactory answer “that’s just the way it is” to the persistent questions of the young. And still uncomprehending Balinese attending temple rituals and relying on priests to tell them what to do.

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Magic in Balinese life is an integrated part of daily life, there is no clear distinction between the real phenomenon and magical one. There is no word for “miracle” in Balinese language, since in everyday life; Balinese do not differentiate between miracle and common phenomenon. All phenomenons however strange it is, has an explanation and the favorite explanation from a Balinese for a weird event is “the imbalance” between the positive and negative force produces this strange event and a kind of ceremony is needed to restore the balance.

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