ALEGRÍA X Tounché

2026 Global Consciousness Summit, 8th Edition

Bambu Indah, Ubud, Bali

1 January 2026 at Bambu Indah

Alegria Festival | Tounché stage

8am to 5pm incl. access to the whole alegria festival

Objectives

The summit explores how joy supports resilience, how communities sustain joy in difficult circumstances, and how elders transmit emotional and spiritual strength across generations. “Suffering belongs to life, but joy belongs to the soul. Joy is not a luxury of the privileged. Joy is a spiritual strength. We cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose what grows inside us.”

It addresses the central question:

How can we be joyful in a world full of suffering?

This is examined through the lenses of elders' experiences, celebrating the wisdom they carry and showing joy as an inner strength rather than an external achievement. Joy is presented not as the absence of suffering but as a spiritual muscle cultivated through practice, perspective, inner discipline, compassion, and love.

The summit dedicates itself to elders' presence and wisdom.

In contemporary society, youth is often celebrated while elders are marginalized, their voices silenced, and their presence overlooked. Many individuals carry wounds from family and lineage, leading to distancing from predecessors and weakening collective life. In many traditions, elders are honored as bearers of wisdom derived from experience, stories, and time-earned perspective. They serve as living ancestors, embodying both struggles and treasures. Honoring them involves compassion, recognizing their humanity, accepting unresolved issues, and receiving their contributions.

The summit aims to restore elders' visibility, celebrate their lives and voices, promote listening and respect, and practice humility by honoring wisdom alongside imperfection. This facilitates healing of past and present relationships. Elders convey key lessons: laughter and community as medicine, forgiveness as heart liberation, aging as a harvest rather than loss, and joy as a practice rather than something awaited. In a fractured world, joy acts as spiritual defiance to protect humanity.

The summit restores generational balance, recognizes elders as essential to community health, and highlights joy, arising from presence, gratitude, and connection, as their gift.

Beginning the year with elders' voices provides grounding, as their words carry memory, perspective, and enduring values, sowing seeds of gratitude, courage, patience, and joy. This act of reverence opens the year with reflection, grace, and belonging, anchoring beginnings in humanity's memory and endurance.

Schedule

The summit runs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.| festival venue: Tounché stage

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM (15 min): Opening and Orientation

* Welcome by Swaady Martin, founder of the Tounché Global Consciousness Summit and Events

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM (15 min): Opening Blessing

* Prayer Lead: Chokae’ Kalekoa

Chokae’ Kalekoa, aka Papawitch, is a traditional healer, yoga coach, and spiritual guide blending ancient craft with modern life. With decades of practice since age 11, he has led rituals, space clearings, and global gatherings that restore balance through presence and ceremony. His seasonal circles, lunar rituals, and “Fortnight Alchemy” transforms burnout into renewal by reconnecting people with nature’s rhythm, sacred action, and the medicine of stillness, teaching that endurance grows where spirit, body, and purpose move as one.

8:30 AM - 8:40 AM (10 min): Ode to the Elders in Our Community

* Spoken Word by Chris Walker

Chris Walker, a former corporate leader turned yoga teacher, speaker, and mentor based in Bali, delivers a poem or spoken word piece honoring elders’ presence at the festival and in the community. With a journey from West Coast California to London and Ubud, Walker embodies resilience through yogic philosophy and personal storytelling, inspiring humility and courage in the face of life’s uncertainties.

8:40am - 9:00AM - Break/buffer time in case there are some delays in the schedule

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (60 min): Joy as Resistance, Joy as Liberation (30 min talk, 30 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Master Ketut Arsana, Teetee Weisel, Angel Be

* Panel Moderator: Kismet Krystle

• Master Ketut Arsana is a locally and internationally recognized Mahatma Therapist and Kundalini Tantra Yoga Master from Ubud, Bali. Born into an ancestral lineage of traditional Balinese shaman healers (Balian), Master Arsana is a pioneer of holistic wellness in the region, establishing the Ubud Bodyworks Centre, Om Ham Retreat & Resort, and the Ashram Munivara. His unique practice, Kundalini Tantra Yoga, blends ancient wisdom and dynamic breathing techniques, focusing on the belief that “All Life is Yoga.” This approach aims to: Heal the body from within by activating glands and balancing energy, Release emotional blockages and foster happiness, Guide individuals to find their true self and live in a happy, harmonious world. Master Arsana is a revered spiritual teacher, recognized for his natural healing abilities and his tireless commitment to sharing Balinese traditions for the well-being of humanity.

• Teetee Weisel, author of Manna from the Motherland (2004), was born and raised in Liberia, West Africa, where her early education was shaped by the American academic system. After completing high school, she was awarded a scholarship from the Government of Liberia to pursue university studies in the United States. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration and returned home to contribute to her country’s development. Back in Liberia, Teetee served with distinction at the Ministry of Finance and later with the Small Business Program at the National Investment Commission, supporting economic growth and enterprise development. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, she eventually transitioned from government service to establish her own company, Habari, Incorporated, a magazine and textbook distribution business that became a recognized local enterprise. Teetee has been retired since 2005, carrying forward the wisdom of a life devoted to education, entrepreneurship, and public service.

• Angel Be walks as an elder with a young heart and a seasoned soul. A compassionate  RelationSHIFT counselor and guide to the treasures of emotional truth. He carries JOY as a devotional practice and our #1 J.O.B. - “The Joy Of Being -You!!” Shaped not by ease, but by meeting life fully, with open hands and an open heart. From the fires of love, loss, forgiveness, and renewal, Angel speaks of joy as a soul-strength and celebration as “cell-liberation”!!  —an inner light refined through presence, compassion, laughter, and the courage to feel. He stands as a living example of “agelessness”, a bridge between generations, reminding us that “aging is optional” and wisdom its sacred harvest! To Angel, Eldership is not claimed but acknowledged. It’s recognized by its joyful flavor of Authenticity, and a  spiritual defiance that keeps our humanity harmonious and innocence intact. 

• Kismet Krystle is a spoken word poet, author of "The Infinite Bloom: Evolving by Perspective," and moderator exploring the intersections of consciousness, transformation, and collective wisdom. With 20 years of experience facilitating meaningful dialogue, she has moderated panels at major international conferences and creates space for diverse voices to be heard. Her poetry examines spiritual awakening, personal evolution, and the timeless questions of human existence. Based in Bali, she co-hosts an artistic platform, All Soul Everything, and is the 2025 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Slam poetry champion. Her work bridges perspectives through the universal language of poetic storytelling.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (60 min): Joy After Loss: How the Heart Learns to Smile Again (30min talk, 30 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Kerry Clancey, Scott Bauer

* Panel Moderator: Carole Favre

• As a Spiritualist & Bali Ambassador for 1 Million Meditators, Kerry Clancey inspires global harmony through mindfulness, meditation and consciousness. Following a profound Near-Death Experience in 2011 that awakened her to the infinite power of love, inner peace  and compassion, Kerry's journey has been dedicated to sharing this transformative energy. A compassionate peace activist, Kerry advocates for unity and understanding. A certified Reiki and Craniosacral Healer, Yoga, and spiritual counsellor,Meditation Teacher, Kerry offers healing practices rooted in her deep understanding of the human experience. An author of six books and creator of Oracle cards, Kerry shares wisdom through various mediums. Based in Bali, Kerry weaves spirituality into everyday life, guiding others toward inner peace, love, and enlightenment.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (90 min): Community as Medicine: We Heal Together or Not at All (1 hour talk, 30 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Kadek Gunarta, Ida Rsi Wisesanatha, Scott Bauer

* Panel Moderator: Yoi Tanabe

• Kadek Gunarta, co-founder of The Yoga Barn and BaliSpirit Festival, a painter and architect from a lineage of socially minded Balinese, emphasizes community as joy’s source.

• Ida Rsi Wisesanatha, a high priest guided by Bali’s Great Spirit since 2000 and leader of Forum Studi Majapahit, highlights indigenous models of resilience.

• Scott Bauer, a 13-year Ubud resident and founder of Usada Bali café and cultural center, practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga and Tibetan Buddhism, addresses loneliness as modern suffering through 12-step recovery principles. Scott is a recovery specialist at Prana Bali offering luxury wellness retreats for addiction and trauma, discusses losses from addictions, integrating yoga, meditation, and empathetic support to rediscover joy. They explore the alchemy of turning pain into meaning, forgiveness, and letting go.

12:30 PM - 13:15 PM (45 min): The Wisdom of Laughter: Humor as a Spiritual Technology

* Practice Teacher: Kadek Siwa Ambara

* Moderator/introduction of the teacher: Candice Halliday-Bryant

Kadek Siwa Ambara, a seventh-generation Balinese priest, founder of Ambar Ashram since 1995, and the youngest person ever elected spiritual leader of his village at age 26, leads a laughter yoga (hasyayoga) embodiment session. Developed by Indian physician Dr. Madan Kataria in 1995, laughter yoga combines voluntary laughter exercises with yogic deep breathing (pranayama) and playful movement, triggering genuine laughter through group contagion. Now practiced in over 100 countries, it is grounded in the scientific principle that the body cannot distinguish between simulated and spontaneous laughter. Its philosophy positions laughter as a primal, non-cognitive pathway to presence, humility, and emotional release.

13:15 PM - 14:45 PM (90 min): The Art of Aging Joyfully: From Fear of Death to Celebration of Life (30min talk, 30 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Dr. Bobbi Aqua, Soma Temple, Tamara Paterson

* Panel Moderator: Candice Hallyday-Bryant

• Dr. Bobbi Aqua, an elder with 45 years in Chinese and Functional Medicine, addresses what elders know about mortality that youth cannot yet see, why acceptance brings peace, how embracing impermanence increases joy, traditional rites of passage, ancestral wisdom, and the soulful dignity of aging. Based in Bali for 17 years, she founded a holistic acupuncture clinic at Bumi Sehat to serve underserved communities, emphasizing spiritual health as true medicine amid global crises.

• Born in Michigan to deeply spiritual Christian parents, Soma Temple’s spiritual journey began early, marked by visions and an innate curiosity for life’s deeper mysteries. Guided by questions about faith and a unique resonance with Hinduism since childhood, Soma embraced yoga and sustainable living as a teenager, prioritizing peace, simplicity, and authenticity. Her travels led her to Bali in 1984 where she found a spiritual home amid the island’s enchanting culture and vibrant Hindu practices. A profound awakening in India with her teacher, Papaji, deepened Soma’s understanding of true freedom and her life’s purpose. She began crafting rudraksha malas, inspired to share their spiritual power globally and support those in need. Soma's Dharma has also included guiding Balinese Pedanda’s  on sacred pilgrimages to India, and Tibet,  strengthening spiritual and cultural bridges. For more than 30 years, Soma has dedicated herself to authentic living, spiritual service, and honoring traditions of harmony with nature, self, and the divine. Devotion to self-realization, guiding others in recognizing their divine essence, and supporting cross-cultural spiritual exchange define Soma’s mission. She continues to deepen her spiritual practice and share her insights, believing that awakening and authenticity are the highest offerings to humanity.

• Tamara Paterson is a women’s wellness guide, facilitator, and space-holder devoted to helping women remember their innate wisdom and reclaim a deeper connection to themselves. With a background in sacred rituals, feminine embodiment practices, and spiritual mentorship, Tamara weaves together ancient traditions and modern guidance to create transformative experiences for women at every stage of life. Her work spans intimate sacred circles, workshops, and retreats—both in-person and online—where she invites women to explore self-love, womb wisdom, personal and spiritual growth and inner healing. Known for her compassionate and intuitive presence, Tamara creates safe, nurturing spaces that allow participants to release old patterns, awaken their feminine power, and cultivate authentic joy. Through her work, Tamara is committed to supporting women on the path of self-discovery, guiding them to live with awareness wholeness, authenticity and love.

14:45 PM - 16:15 PM (90 min): The Sacred Duty of Elders: Keeping Hope Alive (35 min talk, 25 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Anak Agung Gde Rai, Richard Quinn, Renee Ariel, Chokae Kalekoa

* Moderator: Carole Favre

• Anak Agung Gde Rai, born in 1955 in Ubud’s Peliatan, a cultural practitioner and founder of ARMA Museum in 1996 to preserve Balinese art, shares what elders want youth to remember. They discuss why hope is courageous action rather than passive optimism, storytelling as courage transmission, and a blessing for the next generation.

• Richard Quinn is the Senior Research Manager of TMIC Global, overseeing the building of resources and foundations to support the ongoing initiatives of the TMIC consulting group. Richard worked with thought-leaders, authors, musicians and spiritual teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years, and is an active participant in both the Science and Non-Duality Conferences and a member of CEO Space, the leading business conference and networking facilitator in the US. As a member of the Baha’i Faith for 50 years, he holds a belief in the deep unity of the world’s religions, he has been an active student of the effectiveness of many spiritual paths, as well as developments in psychology that are pioneering, in thought and action, the aligning of human capacity with the deep, spiritual purposes of the Cosmic, Universal Intelligence. 

• Renée Ariel, MFA, is a Visionary and Creatrix based in Bali for the last 25 years. She is the founder and designer of Goddess Silks, established in 1999, at the time of Indonesia’s cultural and financial crisis. After acquiring her Masters degree from Claremont University she worked as a mixed media sculptor, a teacher of many forms of Creativity and exhibited her artworks. She also traveled to many holy sites and loved exploring South and Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia. Upon arriving in Bali in 1999, she discovered Silk Batik and fell in love with the beauty and vibrancy of colored dyes on this living fabric ~ Silk, she then began her journey of designing exquisite images of the Divine Feminine, including sacred geometry and nature.

16:15 PM - 17:15 PM (60 min): From Ego to Service: Why We Find Joy When We Stop Centering Ourselves (35 min talk, 25 min Q&A)

* Speakers: Ibu Robin Lim, Janet deNeefe

* Moderator: Simon Kingma

• Ibu Robin Lim, a Filipina-American midwife, 2011 CNN Hero of the Year, and founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat since 1995 providing free prenatal care and birthing to combat maternal mortality, converses on being joyful in a collapsing world. The Bumi Sehat Foundation maintains six clinics in Indonesia and Philippines. Ibu Robin believes that we can build Peace on Earth by receiving newborn babies without trauma, so they may have an intact capacity to love and trust. From this peaceful beginning the babies grow up to become stewards of our World and protect Mother Earth and all species. 

• Janet deNeefe, Melbourne-born founder of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (2004) and Ubud Food Festival, restaurateur (Casa Luna, Indus), and author. She co-founded Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati to nurture creativity and resilience through emerging writers programs, literary awards, school outreach and the Ubud Artisan Market which supports local artisans, preserves traditional crafts, and fosters economic independence.

17:15 PM - 17:30 PM (15 min): Closing Blessing

• Closing THANK YOU by Swaady Martin