Indri Weldaningsih started Club Spiritual after thinking of the many millennial Indonesians who needed spiritual guidance but weren't able to find someone who could help them. The 43-year-old muralist/illustrator believes everyone should have access to a spiritual guide, no matter their socioeconomic background.

"The guru is ready when the seeker is ready," she said.

And many millennials are ready, she added.

Indri's own spiritual journey started when she began using her Facebook and Instagram accounts to post questions and musings about life and spirituality. It was meant as a tutorial but also a way for her to discover herself. The response was swift. Her followers began to grow, with many asking their own questions in response to her posts. Being what she calls an "empath", she wanted to actively recognize their emotions, understand their feelings and advise them spiritually.

Face to face session: Laksmi with Indri at one of the club's meetup_Ni Kadek Diah Sri Laksmi Dewi. (Courtesy of Indri Weldaningsih). (Personal collection/Courtesy of Indri WS)

It led to a now-inactive Facebook group formed in 2018 that focused on discussing things related to human spirituality, from self-motivation to mystical experiences. However, Indri felt that the group lost its way when the members became more interested in discussing spiritual “gifts”, such as having a sixth sense and the ability to see the future, ghosts and things of a supernatural nature. It was straying from Indri’s original vision for the group.

She and a few other members broke away and formed the Club Spiritual WhatsApp group. This new group consisted of people who genuinely wished to learn about spirituality and discover the meaning of life through the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.

Club Spiritual's membership has shrunk from its original 60 members down to 30, but while it is not as large as it used to be, its existing members remain steadfast in their pursuit.

The group used to run a monthly meetup prior to the pandemic, but like many others have moved on to Zoom meetings while also relying on WhatsApp-based communication. Through the messaging app, members can ask Indri questions regarding spiritual issues. Indri also sometimes shares her knowledge on what she considers spiritualism-related activities, including tarot reading and reiki.

Defining spiritualism

When asked about the difference between the kind of spirituality she offers and religious spiritualism, Indri said, "A spiritual journey is a way for someone to know themselves, finding [the spirit] of God in them."

"Finding wisdom is not only about knowing about the theory and posting it on social media to look wise," she added. "It is how we can manifest spirituality to solve life problems, understanding the cause and effect of the mind, words and actions."

Club Spiritual: A typical meeting of Club Spiritual before the pandemic. Indri WS sits fourth from left. (Courtesy of Indri Weldaningsih). (Personal collection/Courtesy of Indri WS)

People may turn to spirituality for a plethora of reasons. The feeling of being lost, depressed and suicidal, for example, can be the trigger for someone to reexamine their relationship with themselves.

Ni Kadek Diah Sri Laksmi Dewi, 24, is a member from Denpasar, Bali. A health consultant, she joined the club in 2019 and said she had learned a lot about life through the group.

"I rarely complain about life now and I am more grateful for what I have. I understand that whatever good or bad happens in life is just karma from what I had done in the previous life," she said.

Before joining the club, Laksmi said she was in a toxic relationship, where she had to put her partner first above everything else. She remained in the relationship for a long time but never married the person.

"I felt lost and depressed when he cheated, and we broke up," said Laksmi.

It was then that she met Indri, whom she calls bunda (mother) Indri and discovered that understanding spiritualism could help her get back on track.

"Bunda Indri made things easier to understand, especially for a millennial like me," she said.

Commitment made

Indri welcomes anyone to join Club Spiritual, regardless of their religion and belief. However, she requires a monthly Rp 100,000 (US$9.5) commitment fee from members. She uses most of the funds to create materials for her monthly classes. She said the fee also ensured that the group consisted only of members who wanted to learn and were not there merely to muse about magical or mystical stories.

Members are charged the same rate as Indri's non-member clients for one-on-one sessions. One tarot reading costs between Rp 200,000 and Rp 1,000,000. Sometimes, members would also chip in a voluntary donation, as is the case for Zoom-based sessions during the pandemic.

Helping others: Indri WS, a muralist, tarot reader, and self-appointed spiritual guru. (Courtesy of Indri Weldaningsih). (Personal collection/Courtesy of Indri WS)

According to Laksmi, Indri always prepares her classes well and explains her materials in detail to ensure that members understand her lessons. Through Indri's gentle yet effective approach, the members found a coach, a guide who helped them rise above their problems and be at peace with themselves.

Another member of Club Spiritual, Otniel Thamrin, 28, was on the verge of breaking down when he met Indri.

"I wanted to end my life because of financial and relationship problems. She came to help me live my days. Her advice made me see the true meaning of life and answer my questions logically.”

The private sector employee said his life improved a lot after he started his spiritual journey.

"I achieved several goals in life, my financial condition is very good and my relationship with family has improved."

Hope for the future

Indri said she did not have any major plans for the club, although she wanted more people to understand that spiritualism was for everyone, regardless of religion and belief.

"I've seen people so 'lost' that they want to kill themselves or are on the verge of going mad," said Indri.

Regardless of what they're going through, she believes they can be saved without the intervention of psychiatric care, and she has seen the results of her teaching — many of the members, even their families, have thanked her for the changes they've experienced.

This claim is backed by Winanti, a clinical psychologist at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, who said people might find healing through a spiritual guru, as there was no exact method for mental treatment.

"I think everyone has their own way of mental healing. In fact, everyone has their own ability, which is called self-healing. When a person is unable to help themselves, they seek the help of others," said Winanti.

"There are various forms of assistance depending on each person's needs. People with [mental health] complaints can be treated by professionals who really understand [mental health], not just psychologists.

"If people believe in the truth, it can be true because everything that happens within [a person's mind] depends on how they interpret it."

As a guru, Indri has had to learn about spirituality and its history, psychology and parapsychology, supernaturalism and literature — something that she particularly enjoys. The never-ending learning process and the satisfaction of helping others are what keep her going.

"I always tell my members that I am their spiritual buddy. I traveled my spiritual journey alone, finding my answers alone, but for theirs, I will be there for guidance and confirmation."

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