Semar is a god whose origins are rooted in Indonesian mythology from the time of ancestral worship approximately 3500 years ago. The Javanese regard Semar as the spiritual ancestor of the indigenous population of Nusantara (i.e. the Indonesian archipelago). This ancient deity embodies the core teachings of Javanese mystical tradition (Kejawen) in regard to metaphysical […]

Indigenous Indonesian amulets come in a large variety of shapes and styles. The keris is arguably the most popular kind of all Indonesian amulets. In fact, the keris can be considered one of the hallmarks of Southeast Asian spiritual culture, for indeed, the mystic virtues of this sacred dagger are well known beyond the borders […]

The Solomonic magic talisman is made from genuine Javan deerskin. In Javanese ritual magic and other Indonesian occult practices, deerskin is considered the material of choice for mystical objects. The dukun uses a special combination of ink and mystical oils to draw magical spells upon the parchment. For this talisman, then, the dukun used a […]

Badar besi stones come in many different forms and sizes. The natural stone has a black color, though rarer varieties also feature a reddish tone. This indicates the high level of iron ore in the mystical stone, thereby giving the badar besi a distinctive red color. Red-colored iron ore also occurs in minerals such as […]

The keris is one of the key aspects of traditional Indonesian culture. With its distinctive characteristic design the keris is typically valued for its diversity in symbolism. And so, the interpretation of the keris is inseparable from local customs and ancient traditions. Thus, the keris was officially recognized as an intangible socio-cultural heritage by UNESCO […]