Full Circle
In 2015 I quit my job and took off on a by now well-documented road trip in my old VW Campervan. There were many memorable moments during that journey of self-discovery. The first was driving northbound out of San Clemente on I-5 and trying to decide what to listen to on the stereo. Wolfmother cried out to me from the ether and I cranked it up. That reminded me that I had first discovered Wolfmother on a social media post when he played an impromptu show at Deus Ex Machina’s Temple of Enthusiasm in Bali. I’m not sure how I found out about Deus, but from the moment they entered my consciousness I felt drawn to them. They’re definitely a lifestyle brand, and the lifestyle they represent, centered around surfing and motorcycles, speaks of freedom.
As Wolfmother screamed out of my speakers, I remembered that Deus opened a store in Venice, California. And since I was heading up the coast, the short detour would become my first stop.
I soaked up the vibe at their store, enjoyed a coffee and poached their wifi for a while. I purchased an obligatory shirt and hat and went on my way. I haven’t given them much thought since.
So here I am in Bali and I’m driving back from a surf check (fat high tide and onshore winds) and I drive by Deus’ flagship location in Canggu. It’s 5 mins from where I’m staying. Somewhere I knew this and my subconscious drew me to this part of the island.
I’ve dreamed about coming here since I first watched one of their videos. And now that dream has become my reality. This is a recurring theme for me and I truly believe now that I’ve been able to manifest my reality. It’s taken a clear purpose, a focused intention, and the willingness to “let go.” I had no idea how I was going to get to Deus Bali. And even if I’d tried to imagine the path that would lead me here I would have been way off. But somehow deep down I knew it would happen.