~ Bali ~
The Five Sacred Elements:
A Journey into Wholeness
An 8-Day / 7-Night Retreat
with Nelis Helfman
October 9–16, 2026
~ Bali Retreat ~
The Five Sacred Elements:
A Journey into Wholeness
An 8-Day / 7-Night Retreat
with Nelis Helfman
October 9–16, 2026
A place of spiritual pilgrimage …
For thousands of years, Bali has been tended as holy ground. Its people have lived in conscious relationship with the powerful forces that move through all things — honoring them in daily offerings, in temple ceremonies, in the rhythms of planting and harvest, in the careful balance of seen and unseen worlds.
From October 9 to 16, Nelis will lead an intentioned group of travelers to meet this holy place on its own terms: through the Five Sacred Elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit that Balinese traditions — and wisdom traditions the world over — regard as the foundations of our existence.
You will not simply visit Bali. You will move through it, layer by layer, from the ground beneath your feet to the sky above, guided by Nelis through group meditation, energy transformation, temple pilgrimages, and distinct Elemental Ceremonies.
In moving through the Elements, you will also move through yourself and arrive at a new place — at once eternal and ever-present — a place of clarity, wisdom, strength, and peace.
This Retreat Includes
No more than 40 attendees (we recommend that you register early to secure your place)
A week of immersive experiences with Nelis — Elemental Ceremonies, guided meditations, and group energy work, with time for Q&A and individual attention
Two temple pilgrimages — Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and Pura Kahyangan Kedatuan Raksa Sidhi — and an Agni Hotra fire ceremony at one of Bali's most extraordinary venues
Warm and relaxing group dinners across iconic Ubud properties, featuring local Balinese cuisine
All transportation to and from retreat events
Preferred rates at three accommodations partners
Plenty of private time between sessions to explore a range of optional wellness packages and abundant local activities
Mount Agung at sunrise. A central landmark in Bali, often called "true north"
Sacred Space
Sacred Work
The five elements — Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit — are not only the forces that shape the world around us. They are the forces that shape us: our bodies, our emotions, our energy, our awareness. When they move in harmony within us, life flows. When one is out of balance, we feel it — as fear, as stagnation, as disconnection, as restlessness.
By the closing ceremony, the Elements will be more than concepts. They will be lived, embodied experiences — and you will be forever changed.
Maya Ubud, one of our three accommodations partners focused on Balinese tradition and sustainability. Maya Ubud comprises 45 acres perched above the Petanu River valley and Peliantan rice fields.
Itinerary
October 9 · Arrival
Ubud will welcome you gently. Nothing will be required of you today — only that you arrive. After the long journey, you will have time to settle into your accommodations, breathe the warm Balinese air, and let the island begin its work.
As evening falls, those who wish to gather are warmly invited to an informal meetup at Maya Ubud — a relaxed, unhurried introduction to the people with whom you'll share the week. Nelis will be there. No agenda, just the beginning of something beyond words.
Tanah Gajah's lotus pond at the golden hour. The former private estate of art collector Hendra Hadiprana, now a spiritual sanctuary nestled among the thriving rice fields of the river valley, Tanah Gajah is another one of our three accommodations partners.
October 10 · Opening Session
On Saturday, the retreat begins in earnest. We will gather at Tanah Gajah — one of Ubud's most beloved and storied estates — and Nelis will open the sacred container that will hold us throughout the week.
In this three-hour session, Nelis will introduce the elemental framework that structures the week — not only as a philosophy, but as living forces — to be felt, worked with, and ultimately embodied.
This session is a threshold moment, the gateway to a new beginning.
The Tempayan at Tanah Gajah — an open-air pavilion where traditional Balinese cuisine and the living landscape arrive at the table together.
October 10 · Group Dinner
The Tempayan at Tanah Gajah offers panoramic views of the rice fields at the heart of its cuisine.
Rooted in Balinese tradition and shaped by the land itself, this communal meal will remind us — joyfully and deliciously — that the web of life is not simply metaphor. It is science, physical and biological, describing both the container and the mechanics of all living things.
Tomorrow we will work with the element of Earth. On its eve, we gather in its honor.
The iconic Mandala Agung at Fivelements — the soaring 250-square-meter bamboo structure where we will work.
October 11 · Earth
Earth teaches stability and presence — the capacity to be rooted deeply enough that every other element can move freely through us.
Today we gather at Fivelements — a sanctuary where the land itself is the teacher, and sustainable agriculture and indigenous healing wisdom are daily practice.
In a stunning bamboo shala, the Mandala Agung, Nelis will lead a three-hour session devoted to the element of Earth — the ground beneath us; each of our bodies and the bodies of all other things; the dense and sacred fact of physical existence.
Nestled along the Ayung River, Fivelements is our third accommodations partner. Rooted in the Balinese principle of Sekala-Niskala, the belief in both the seen and unseen dimensions of healing, Fivelements also offers healing therapies passed down through generations, conducted in riverfront suites.
October 11 · Group Dinner
Before the session, we'll gather in the Sakti Dining Room, where an award-winning plant-based menu draws from Fivelements' own Garden of Peace, founded in 2022, using permaculture principles and traditional Subak irrigation.
Embodying the element of earth, the Peace Garden is a thriving ecosystem that nourishes both plants and people under the principle of Tri Hita Karana — honoring the connection between humanity, nature, and the divine. As the jungle presses close on every side, we will taste the fruits of the earth: foods that nourish, restore, and inspire.
*To support individual dietary needs, organic eggs and sustainably sourced fish are also available as supplementary options, either as additions or as replacements for plant protein.
Water finds its way. The most powerful force on Earth, water moves around every obstacle and wears down all resistance, flowing always toward the sea.
October 12 · Water
If Earth asked you to arrive in your body, Water asks you to move through it.
Today the group travels together to the water temple of Pura Kahyangan Kedatuan Raksa Sidhi.
Nelis will lead the group through the ancient Balinese water purification ceremony — individual and collective acts of release, cleansing, and renewal rooted in one of the world's oldest living spiritual traditions.
From the earliest days, Balinese Hinduism has been called Agama Tirta — the religion of water. Today, you will understand why.
Ubud rice fields at dusk.
October 12 · Group Dinner
Every journey is mirrored in the Element of Water. Every journey flows from one place to another, one moment to another.
As evening descends, we will travel together through the Balinese highlands — winding roads, terraced fields, the flow of farming communities moving at their own organic pace — and we will gather again at Maya Ubud for dinner* at their beautiful Mayasari restaurant.
After a day of deep ceremonial work, our gathering at Maya Ubud will be relaxed and fun.
* On both Temple Days, guests arrange their own lunches through their accommodations partner and pay their own dinner checks.
Altar prepared for ceremony. Brass vessels, flowers, incense, and offering.
October 13 · Fire
We return to Fivelements tonight for dinner and the third of our five elemental workings.
Fire is the great transformer. Where Earth asked us to arrive, and Water asked us to release, Fire asks something more demanding: the willingness to change.
In a two-hour session, Nelis will guide the group through the seat of will, inner power, and courageous discernment.
Energy is neither created nor destroyed. Ancient wisdom confirmed, millennia later, by science. What enters the fire does not disappear. It is transformed.
October 13 · Agni Hotra Ceremony
Agni means fire. Hotra means healing. After your preparatory session with Nelis, specially trained local priests will conduct the ancient ritual of Agni Hotra — making offerings of ghee and grains into the flame while reciting Sanskrit mantras, invoking blessings for all present and for the entire living world.
At designated moments in the ritual, you will be invited to offer rice into the fire, a symbol of divine light — your own intention released into the flame.
The ritual energizes and purifies the environment, heals those who gather within it, and reminds us that what we surrender to fire is not lost. It is transformed.
The present temple was formally built in 1633. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan has been sacred space since the megalithic period.
October 14 · Air
If you saw first image at the top of this webpage and felt something stir — today, you will be there. We’ll pack our lunches and travel to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, rising from the shores of Lake Beratan at 1,500 meters above sea level, with its tiered shrines appearing to float on the water, wreathed in mountain mist. At this altitude, water and air are barely distinguishable. The lake becomes cloud. The cloud becomes breath.
Here, Nelis and local officiants will lead the group through ceremonial Air rituals.
After Earth, Water, and Fire, the element of Air asks something at once gentler and more radical. To be released. To be free. To become light.
Mount Agung, seen from highlands.
October 14 · Group Dinner
Before we descend, the group will gather for dinner* in the highlands — cool mountain air, volcanic crater lakes catching the last of the evening light, the great peak of Mount Agung visible on the horizon.
*As on the Water Day, lunch and dinner on this Temple Day are not included in tuition — guests arrange their own lunches through their accommodations partner and settle their own dinner checks. Transportation throughout the day is provided for all.
Reflecting the traditional Candi Bentar or Balinese split gate, the majestic Elephant Gate at Tanah Gajah is more than just an architectural marvel; it represents the Balinese concept of duality, emphasizing the balance between opposing forces in life.
October 15 · Ether/Spirit
Our final evening returns us to where we began — to Tanah Gajah, to the lotus pond, to the Tempayan pavilion and the golden light over the rice fields.
Our dinner table will look the same. The people around it will not. This is the nature of the work: we cannot move through five elements in five days and remain unchanged.
Tonight, we will celebrate not only what we have experienced, but what we have become — and the extraordinary group of people with whom we have shared this transformation.
Tanah Gajah from above.
October 15 · Ether/Spirit
· Closing Session
In a closing session at Tanah Gajah, Nelis will guide the group through the completion of the arc — not as an ending, but as a recognition.
Tonight you arrive at the fifth and final element: Ether. Pure space. Pure consciousness. The boundless ground from which all other elements arise — and to which, in the end, everything returns.
What you have moved through this week was always already within you. Now you will recognize each Element, individually and in union, and work with them consciously, intentionally, guided by the spirit within you.
And their magic will stay with you long after you leave Bali — in every moment that follows, throughout the rest of your life.
The incomparable Ngurah Rai International Airport
October 16 · Departures
Bali will release you gently.
There are no formal events today — only the quiet of a morning after something momentous, the unhurried gathering of belongings, and a reflective journey home.
You will have arrived here a week earlier, tired from a long flight, not yet knowing the people you would come to know, or the places within yourself you would come to visit.
You will leave carrying something that cannot be packed — but that can be felt, lived, and brought forward into every moment that comes next.
Who is Nelis Helfman?
Nelis Bahder Helfman is an energy healer and medium whose gifts emerged in childhood, following a near-death experience, and were reawakened in adulthood through years of study, practice, and profound personal transformation.
Before devoting herself fully to healing work, Nelis founded and led a successful healthcare company in the United States — a chapter of her life that grounds her spiritual practice in the real, complex demands of human experience. Since 2014, she has worked with hundreds of clients across the globe: individuals, couples, families, and business leaders navigating challenges in health, relationships, careers, and spiritual growth.
Nelis’s abilities have been formally verified by Dr. James V. Hardt of the Biocybernaut Institute, whose decades of research into the electrophysiological basis of advanced spiritual states found Nelis's brain wave patterns — frequent waking Alpha, Delta, Gamma, and Theta activity — to be among those possessed by very few.
Nelis's work carries no religious affiliation. She has guided clients of every background and belief toward greater clarity, freedom, and aliveness.
This retreat is an extension of that work — carried now into one of the most powerful landscapes on Earth.
HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION
IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE
“I started working with Nelis about a year ago.... I was leading large teams and building a company...
In comparison to psychologists, teachers, and coaches I have worked with, I found Nelis's work to be a much more direct -- or embodied -- approach to this type of healing.
I could directly feel the energy, and really feel the emotional and energetic release happen, as Nelis did her work, and as she brought my stored trauma and challenges into my consciousness awareness.
And she does so with an incredibly open, unconditionally loving heart, which makes it feel really safe.”
— Dan,
Founder and CEO
- Retreat Registration -
Tuition
$2,995 tuition includes:
A week of immersive experiences with Nelis — group and individual elemental ceremonies, guided meditation, and energy transformation
Two temple pilgrimages — Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and Pura Kahyangan Kedatuan Raksa Sidhi — and an Agni Hotra fire ceremony
Warm and relaxing group dinners across iconic Ubud properties, featuring local Balinese cuisine
All transportation to and from retreat events
Preferred rates at three accommodations partners
Accommodations
Tuition does not include your accommodations.
When registering for the retreat, you can choose from any one of our three accommodations partners, who offer a range of suites and villas from $150 - $900 USD per night.
After registration, our partners will work with you personally to book your perfect villa or suite — and any optional meal or wellness packages — at our special group rates.
Retreat attendees are also welcome to arrange their own accommodations, outside of our partner properties, but will be responsible for all arrangements and all transportation to and from retreat events.
Tuition
Payment
Options
Retreat capacity is limited to 40 guests. We recommend registering early to secure your place.
2-payment and 3-payment plans are available but non-refundable, as they allow us to hold your place and commit to retreat expenses on your behalf.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email our team!
Full Tuition Payment
Per guest:
$2,995 USD due at registration.
50% refundable before August 1.
2-Payment Plan
Per guest:
First payment of $1,500 USD at registration.
Second payment of $1,495 USD on August 1.
All payments non-refundable.
3-Payment Plan
Per guest:
First payment of $1,000 USD at registration.
Second payment of $1,000 USD on July 1.
Third payment of $995 USD on August 1.
All payments non-refundable.
Accommodations Partners
Our three partner properties span a range of styles, settings, and price points — from intimate riverfront villas to sweeping highland estates — united by their exceptional quality and their proximity to every retreat event.
After you register with your tuition payment, we’ll introduce you to the reservations team of the partner property of your choice, who will work with you to create your perfect stay, at our special rates. Please note: retreat transportation and preferred rates are provided exclusively for guests at our partner properties. You are welcome to arrange other accommodations but will be responsible for your own booking, arrangements, and transportation.
You can browse our partner properties at the links below.
Tanah Gajah
Classic Balinese estate elegance. Retreat venue for two nights. Lotus ponds, sweeping rice field views, stunning traditional architecture and art collections.
Five Elements
Spiritual sanctuary in the jungle. Retreat venue for two nights. Gorgeous bamboo villas sit steps from the river. A full range of authentic wellness and healing therapies.
Maya Ubud
Largest and most affordable. 45 acres, high above the Petanu River. Host to our informal meetup on our arrival evening. Three restaurants. Full range of suites and villas.
FAQ
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Nelis does not offer individual sessions during the retreat, but she provides individual attention to attendees during group sessions.
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Four group dinners are included in your tuition — on October 10th, 11th, 13th, and 15th.
On temple excursion days (October 12th and 14th), the group will dine together at local restaurants near the day's location, but guests will pay their own bills on those evenings.
Breakfast, lunch, and other meals are not included in tuition — your accommodations partner offers a range of board options to suit your needs.
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Our host venues and partner properties can accommodate dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and specific allergies. We’ll discuss your requirements before the retreat and ensure that your group dinners with us are both nourishing and delicious.
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Bali in October is warm and humid, with occasional tropical rain showers. We recommend light, breathable clothing, a light rain jacket or poncho, comfortable walking shoes, and sandals.
For temple visits, modest dress is required — shoulders and knees should be covered, and sarongs are typically provided at temple entrances.
For retreat sessions, dress comfortably — layers are useful as air-conditioned spaces can be cool.
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Bali is part of Indonesia, so all travelers must follow Indonesia's national immigration rules.
Many nationalities — including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union member states, Canada, and Australia — are eligible for Indonesia's Visa on Arrival (VoA) or electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA). The current fee is IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 35), valid for 30 days and typically extendable once, subject to immigration rules and visa class. Travelers should confirm eligibility for their specific nationality via Indonesia's official immigration website before departure.
We strongly recommend applying for the e-VoA online before travel through Indonesia's official immigration portal, as this can significantly speed arrival processing and may allow eligible travelers to use automated e-gates at Ngurah Rai International Airport.
In addition, international visitors should be prepared to:
Complete any required official digital pre-arrival forms within the specified timeframe before arrival, following current Indonesian government instructions
Pay the Bali Tourism Levy of IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 10) per person via Bali's official Love Bali portal or approved payment channels
Hold a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date
Hold a confirmed return or onward ticket
Keep digital confirmations and backup offline copies easily accessible during arrival processing.
Official sources: Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id / evisa.imigrasi.go.id) and Bali's official tourism levy portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id)
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We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and travel disruption. International travel — particularly long-haul travel to Southeast Asia — can be subject to unexpected circumstances.
We specifically recommend looking into Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. Unlike standard travel insurance — which covers cancellation only for specific covered reasons such as illness or family emergency — CFAR reimburses typically 50–75% of non-refundable costs regardless of the reason for cancellation. This provides the broadest possible protection for your investment. CFAR coverage must generally be purchased within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit, so we encourage you to explore this option promptly after registering.
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Full-payment guests: 50% of the tuition payment is refundable before August 1, 2026.
Payment-plan guests: No tuition payment refunds are available, but we will cancel any future payments upon request.
All guests: Nelis Helfman and NDH Global Healing Centers LLC reserve the right to cancel or reschedule the Retreat, if circumstances require, in which case a full refund of all tuition paid will be issued.
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Yes, the retreat is designed to accommodate both individual participants and those attending with a partner, family member, or friend. A shared experience provides ongoing support for integration.
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The retreat is limited to a maximum of 40 guests, ensuring an intimate experience with personalized attention from Nelis throughout the week.
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The primary international airport serving Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code DPS), located in Denpasar. It is well served by major international carriers with direct or one-stop connections from most major cities in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia. From the airport, Ubud is approximately a 1.5 to 2-hour drive depending on traffic. We recommend arranging your airport transfer in advance — your accommodations partner can assist with this upon booking.
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Please plan to arrive on Friday, October 9th. There are no formal retreat events that day, but Nelis will be joining an informal evening gathering at Maya Ubud for those who wish to meet the group before the retreat begins. The first formal retreat session takes place on Saturday, October 10th at Tanah Gajah — transportation will be arranged from all three partner properties.
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Closing Session and farewell dinner are the evening of Thursday, October 15th. The following day, Friday, October 16th is departure day — there are no formal events, and you are welcome to depart at any time that suits your travel plans. If you wish to extend your stay in Bali, we encourage you to do so — Ubud and the surrounding region offer much to explore.
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Each session combines guided meditation and Nelis's intuitive energy healing within the group setting. Participants typically sit or lie comfortably on provided mats while Nelis facilitates both collective and individualized healing work. Sessions flow organically and include natural breaks for integration.
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Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows you to sit or lie down comfortably during sessions. Please do not wear jewelry during the energy work sessions, as Nelis may need you to remove it. Wear removable layers of clothing to adjust for temperature variations.
All mats, cushions, and session materials and meals will be provided.
Do you have a question
that is not answered here?
We're happy to help!
Please email our team at
assistance@nelishelfman.com
and we'll get back to you
as soon as possible.