Kartika Alexandra

Tell us your story – how did you get here?

It started by wanting to comprehend why there is so much conflict in the world, and wanting to experience inner peace and joy. Growing up, my unique family dynamics affected me in such a profound way. As I was the youngest, I would stay quiet and observe interactions between all my other family members. I couldn’t of course comprehend why conflicts started, why one did not understand the other, or why one acted a certain way to another’s response. I couldn’t comprehend why things were difficult or challenging. I just could recognise how painful it was when they were.

Over time, with the (unconscious) desire to bring more peace and harmony to my family, I started to focus this energy on understanding why we are each who we are, why we may have certain blocks/issues, what we could do about them, and ultimately, how I could support a person on their journey to reduce their suffering and increase their capacity for joy.

At the same time, I was growing up immersed in a wide range of cultures, beliefs and religions. This is relevant because it helped me to be very flexible in shifting between different perspectives, and in understanding the nuances in perceptions depending on the language, culture and traditions. Born in Washington D.C. to an Indonesian mother and Canadian father, my family and I then moved to Kenya, followed by 10 years in Tokyo, four years in Jakarta and five years in Vancouver. In these cities, I attended three different school systems (French, American and International), I learnt the languages (English, French, Indonesian, Swahili, and Japanese), and was exposed to the different spiritual and religious practices (Shintoism, Islam, Catholic and Buddhism).

At the time, I didn’t know a different life than this, so it was a matter of showing up respectfully and integrating properly into the cultures/traditions/religions and ways things were done. It was actually quite hard to transition between the extremely different cultures, languages and ways of thinking. This came with a lot of challenges, a lot of questions about what is actually right and wrong, a lot of internal pressure to not make mistakes and ultimately, well, where is the “I” between all the cultures, languages and traditions. Now as an adult, I am of course deeply grateful for these experiences. This has been a gift for me in the work I carry out today as it is about understanding the client’s experience.

Finally, doing a lot of inner work got me where I am now. Inevitably, if you want to really help another, you learn that you need to first do the work yourself. I thankfully was always exposed to the healing world from a young age because my mother and father prioritised health and healing. It was when I was 17 years-old that I embarked more consciously on my inner work journey. Since then, I haven’t stopped exploring and experiencing different healing and wellness modalities across the world, meeting countless healers, alternative and mainstream therapists, and being a student to the teachers whose work I deeply respected.

I was very hungry for knowledge to understand why things were the way they were, to understand why I was the way I was, and to get some answers. After I completed my formal education at the University of British Columbia, I took a hypnotherapy course just to add to my own knowledge base and to do some more inner work. I never at this time thought for one moment that years later, I would be a full-time practising hypnotherapist, hypnotherapy teacher and running a healing office. But the process I was taught by my teacher Mrs. Wilson was incredibly effective and my clients were experiencing benefits and change so quickly. I found (and still do) find this work so fulfilling and rewarding, and so here we are, eight years later.

Today, in my sessions, I still tailor each session to the needs of the client, taking in their particular background and details. I merge together the knowledge from my eastern and western upbringing and education with both conscious and unconscious tools and processes. I never wish to be too clinical or alternative in my work – I am interested in integrating it all so that it is useful for the necessary healing to take place for the individual. While my door is open to working with all clients, I primarily focus my work on topics around trauma healing and work with clients who are struggling with unusual or more challenging topics.

It turns out, there are several people out there like me who wish to help others reduce their suffering in an effective way. What this means is, we do not want to keep clients coming back to us for months and years. In fact, the faster we can help them overcome their issue, the happier we are – regardless of background, wealth, issue, or age. It is from this that Maja Healing was born – a holistic healing centre in Bali where mind, body and energy work is available to clients who wish to facilitate their healing and increase their quality of life. And our mission is to continue doing exactly this. It is such a joy to be in such a community!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

That I have found a way to positively and effectively impact the lives I come across and that this is a way that aligns with who I am as an individual. This is especially true for those who feel they have lost hope and feel life is not worth living anymore, to provide them the support they need to get back on their feet – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally – so that they may then support themselves and go on to live a more fulfilling life. I do not mean to sound as though it is about rescuing people; rather it is quite the opposite as it is about giving them the power to rescue themselves; to be able to do what others have done for me during my darkest days.

What impact have you made in Bali?

What a question. I’ve been told that the work I and all of us at Maja do has impacted Bali in the following ways:

1. We have helped a lot of individuals in Bali to overcome their struggles, pains, addictions, fears, phobias and to process their traumas. These include locals, expats, and tourists from all walks of life. When an individual is healthier and happier, this will ripple out to their family, friends, and surroundings.

2. We have helped to change the image of healing and what it means to receive mental/physical/energetic/emotional support. We have Indonesian and expat healers and therapists at Maja who work together and approach healing in the same way – in a relatable, clear, professional manner – to help their client reach their goal. And we aim to reach this goal as quickly as possible.

3. We have also contributed to increasing Bali’s international reputation as a healing island. When I hear clients from around the world flying in for sessions or for our Maja Programs, I do feel quite happy. They end up discovering the magic of Bali at the same time, which is key for me as what has flourished at Maja has happened because of the elements that Bali possesses. I have a lot of appreciation for this island.

What does 2022 look like for you?

Even more group workshops, talks and participation in local and international projects focused on mental and emotional health, the untapped power of our unconscious mind, and the effectiveness of holistic hypnotherapy – but with much more joy and laughter!

I had consciously put what feels good second to what needs to be done. I am happy to have done this as it was required at that time and worth it too. Now it’s time to experience what also feels good, not only what needs to be done. That for me is doing things that bring joy and laughter to me; more being and less doing.

What do you love most about Bali?

How powerful and nourishing the energy of this island is. You can feel this in its many ways throughout the different communities, different environments, and different activities one may engage in. This is the case because of the people of Bali who continue to stay connected to the spiritual realm through their daily, monthly and yearly rituals, so my deep appreciation extends to them as well.

What’s the one daily ritual you can’t live without?

My allotted “me-time” in the early morning! During this time, I get to do whatever I want based on how I am feeling and what I am needing: Yin yoga, meditation, reading, choosing to sleep in, have a coffee in bed, cuddle my dogs, catch up with friends and family overseas, dance, go workout. Literally whatever I feel like doing before I go into my day’s schedule.

Who is your Local Legend and why?

I have several. They are all friends and teachers of mine who are masters of their craft in the healing, spiritual or world of energetics. From Ibu Dewi Teratai Mas, Pak Heru, Joko Senior, Pak Merta Ada, and more. They are my Local Legends because while they are masters and professionals in their field or have their own powers, they possess a vast amount of knowledge, they are humble, they maintain strong ethics, and a deep sense of purpose drives their lives.