— in Balinese belief, becoming a Leak is not something that happens by accident. It’s the result of deliberate spiritual training, typically involving black magic (pangiwa) and esoteric knowledge passed down through generations or taught in secrecy.
Here’s a deeper look:
How Does Someone Become a Leak?
- Learning from a Master (Guru Leak)
- A person who wants to become a Leak must study under a guru leak, a master of black magic.
- The knowledge is considered forbidden (pangiwa) and is usually kept hidden from the public.
- Students must prove their commitment, often by fasting, meditating, and performing ritualistic tasks.
- Lontar Manuscripts
- They study ancient palm-leaf texts (lontar) such as Lontar Leak, Lontar Rangda, or Usadha Taru Pramana.
- These texts contain mantras, rituals, and formulas to harness supernatural forces, shapeshift, and communicate with spirits.
- Ritual Initiation
- Initiation involves complex rituals, often done at night and in specific sacred or liminal spaces (e.g., graveyards or crossroads).
- The practitioner calls upon spirits or ancestors, offers blood or symbolic items, and chants powerful mantras.
- Mastering Transformation
- A true Leak is said to gain the ability to transform their astral body, often taking forms like:
- A flying head with organs
- Animals like pigs, monkeys, or birds
- Mythical creatures
- This transformation usually happens at night when the physical body is meditating or asleep.
- A true Leak is said to gain the ability to transform their astral body, often taking forms like:
Important Note
- Not all Leak are inherently evil — some are guardians, and some practice leak knowledge for protection(penengen) rather than harm (pangiwa).
- However, the stigma around Leak is real, and people suspected of being Leak are often feared or ostracized.
Is Leak Real?
In Balinese culture, Leak is real in a spiritual and cultural sense. Whether or not one believes it literally, the power of Leak lies in:
- The shared belief across the community
- The impact it has on ritual practices, night-time behavior, and healing traditions
- The way it functions as a cautionary tale about power, intention, and balance
In Balinese mysticism, Leak (Leyak) is not just one entity — there are various types of Leak, each with unique characteristics, roles, and spiritual abilities. These types often appear in stories, rituals, and traditional performances like Calonarang. Here’s a breakdown of the main types:
1. Leak Pemager
- Role: The most feared type, associated with dark intentions, curses, and harming others.
- Abilities:
- Can suck the life force from humans.
- Shape-shifts into terrifying forms (e.g. flying heads with entrails).
- Purpose: Usually to carry out revenge, black magic, or create illness.
2. Leak Penengen
- Role: The “white magic” Leak, using knowledge for protection and healing.
- Abilities:
- Counters negative Leak.
- Performs spiritual protection for temples or villages.
- Purpose: Maintains balance between dark and light forces.
3. Leak Tua (Old Leak)
- Role: Elder, wise leak; usually a senior practitioner or spiritual guardian.
- Abilities:
- Deep knowledge of ancient mantras and astral travel.
- Acts as a spiritual teacher.
- Purpose: To teach, guard sacred sites, or act as intermediaries between humans and spirits.
4. Leak Animal Forms
- Role: Leak who transform into specific animals.
- Common Forms:
- Boar (celeng): Symbolizes rage and chaos.
- Owl or bird: Seen flying silently at night, associated with soul-stealing.
- Snake: Represents transformation and danger.
- Purpose: To spy, disturb rituals, or scare.
5. Leak Rangda
- Role: The Queen of Leak, often personified as Rangda, the demon queen in Balinese mythology.
- Abilities:
- Supreme mastery of black magic.
- Leads other Leak in cosmic battles against goodness.
- Purpose: Represents Adharma (chaos/evil) in mythic duality with Barong (Dharma/good).
Fun Fact:
Balinese believe not all people practicing leak are evil. Some inherit the ability, others learn by choice, and many perform leak rituals not to harm, but to protect, balance, or heal.
