Leyaks: Dark Spirits of Balinese Folklore

In Bali, people don’t fear the dark. They fear what comes with it.

The Leyak isn’t your average ghost story. Forget creaky floorboards and flickering lights, we’re talking floating heads with trailing entrails, midnight rituals in the jungle, and black magic that’s still practised today. Yes, in 2025.

This isn’t just folklore. Leyaks are deeply woven into Balinese daily life, religion, and politics. They blur the line between myth and social control. Some locals genuinely believe they’re real. Others are too scared to say either way. And guess what? This fear isn’t just for show — Leyak accusations can still destroy reputations or worse, in some rural villages.

But here’s the thing: very few people outside Indonesia even know what a Leyak is. And even fewer understand how much they shape local culture.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the roots, rituals, and raw terror behind these supernatural shapeshifters. No fluff. No watered-down summaries. Just the facts, the context, and the strange beauty of a legend that’s still alive.

Grab your metaphorical salt and say a quick prayer to Barong, you’re going to need both.

Key Takeaways

• Leyaks are shape-shifting witches from Balinese folklore, believed to detach their heads and fly at night with entrails trailing behind.

• They practice dark magic, serve the demon queen Rangda, and are said to feed on corpses or unborn children.

• In Bali, belief in Leyaks is still strong, especially in rural areas, and rituals and protections are part of daily life.

• Leyaks appear human by day, making them feared figures of distrust, gossip, and spiritual danger.

• More than monsters, they represent social control, fear of imbalance, and the deep cultural ties between myth and morality in Balinese society.

What Are Leyaks?

Leyaks are shape-shifting witches in Balinese folklore. That alone earns them a seat at the terrifying creature table. But they’re not your broom-riding, wart-faced Western witches. Leyaks fly, not with capes, but by detaching their heads from their bodies, entrails dangling like macabre streamers.

Sounds like nightmare fuel? That’s the point.

These beings practice dark magic, often stealing body parts, drinking blood, or devouring fetuses. Not metaphorically. Literally. In rural Balinese belief, they’re not legends. They’re threats.

Leyaks aren’t just spirits. They’re humans, people who’ve trained in leak (Balinese black magic). During the day, they’re your neighbour. At night? They transform. And that transformation isn’t metaphorical either. In local lore, it’s physical, terrifying, and real.

Etymology and Pronunciation

“Leyak” is often mispronounced by outsiders. It’s roughly said as /le-jak/, with a soft “e” and a sharp “k.” The term comes from the Balinese word “le-ak,” which roughly translates to “witch” or “sorcerer.”

Simple. Short. Sinister.

Origins of the Leyak Legend

The Leyak legend didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It grew out of Bali’s complex religious and cultural evolution, a heady mix of Hinduism, animism, and centuries of oral storytelling.

In Balinese Hinduism, balance is everything. Good versus evil. Light versus dark. Barong versus Rangda. Leyaks fall squarely into the “dark” column, followers of Rangda, the demon queen and symbol of chaos.

It’s not a coincidence. Rangda is the mother of Leyaks. Literally and spiritually. She’s the ultimate practitioner of black magic. Her followers, the Leyaks, serve her through blood rituals, soul manipulation, and all-around supernatural menace.

The belief? Leyaks train in cemeteries, absorbing power from corpses and spirits. Some stories say their magic becomes irreversible. You don’t retire from being a Leyak. You just… die. Or get burned by your village.

Leyaks and Rangda

If Barong is the lion-like symbol of order and purity, Rangda is the chaotic queen you don’t want to meet on a rainy night.

She leads the Leyaks like a malevolent general. Rituals are held for her, and against her. The epic Barong vs. Rangda dance isn’t just entertainment for tourists. It’s spiritual warfare reenacted live.

Rangda isn’t evil for fun. She represents imbalance. And Leyaks are her tools to spread it.

Appearance and Powers

Leyaks don’t look human, at least not when they’re doing Leyak things. Think floating heads with wide, bulging eyes, fiery tongues, and entrails dragging through the air like grotesque ribbons.

But here’s the twist: in daylight, they look like normal people. That’s the part that makes it terrifying. Anyone could be a Leyak: your neighbour, your aunt, your local shopkeeper.

Let’s break it down.

Shape-Shifting Abilities

A Leyak can transform into animals, pigs, birds, or even monkeys. They spy, they eavesdrop, they stalk. Often, they do this before feeding or before casting a curse.

It’s not just a myth for the fun of it. The belief in transformation is so embedded that certain animal behaviours are feared. A pig at midnight? That’s not a pig. That’s someone’s cursed aunt on a bender.

Ritualistic Cannibalism

Yes. Cannibalism.

Leyaks are believed to feast on corpses, attack pregnant women, and consume unborn babies. This belief isn’t metaphorical. People believe this happens. This is why, after a death or during pregnancy, rituals are conducted to guard the body or womb.

Night-time Activities

Leyaks roam during the peteng, the dark hours. That’s when they detach from their bodies and fly around. People protect themselves with salt, iron, or mantras taught by priests or balian (healers).

It’s not about paranoia. It’s about protection.

Rituals and Ceremonies Involving Leyaks

You’d think something this terrifying would be swept under the rug. Nope. Leyak rituals are baked into Balinese religious life, especially in the more traditional, rural areas.

There are leak practitioners who openly admit their path. Some are feared. Others are respected. A few even serve as spiritual protectors when used “ethically” (yes, that’s a thing).

Ceremonies are held to cleanse villages, repel black magic, or exorcise Leyaks from afflicted individuals. These can last days. Involve pig’s blood. Include offerings of fruit, rice, and incense. And sometimes, they work. Or at least, the afflicted stops vomiting black fluid.

The Role of Balian (Balinese Healers)

Balinese healers, also called balian, often act as Leyak detectors. Think priest meets detective.

Villagers visit them to confirm suspicions: “Is my cousin a Leyak?” or “Why did my crops rot overnight?” The balian goes into trance, consults spirits, and then makes the call.

Sometimes they accuse. Sometimes they warn. Occasionally, they heal. But once the Leyak label sticks? It rarely comes off.

Modern Encounters and Beliefs

Leyaks aren’t dusty folklore figures. They’re still alive in modern Balinese consciousness. Literally and metaphorically.

Locals still report sightings, floating lights, mysterious animal behaviour, and sudden deaths with no explanation. Some urban Balinese might scoff. Others lock their windows tight on sacred nights.

You’ll still find:

• Pregnant women avoiding cemeteries

• Rituals before cremations

• Warnings about certain neighbours

For outsiders, it may sound like fiction. For locals? It’s folklore that breathes.

Leyaks in Popular Culture

Leyaks have slithered their way into video games, horror films, and creepypasta corners of the internet.

In the game Abiotic Factor, they make an appearance, creepy, chaotic, and still oddly accurate.

Indonesian horror films (like Leak or Mystics in Bali) lean into their grotesque forms. Often with way too much blood and some questionable CGI, but hey, it’s visibility!

What’s missing from pop culture? The depth. Leyaks aren’t just monsters. They’re metaphors for fear, power, and the fragility of trust in a tight-knit community.

Leyaks vs Other Mythical Creatures

So how do Leyaks stack up globally?

Think of them as Southeast Asia’s terrifying answer to vampires. Or better yet, cousins of the Penanggalan in Malaysia, the Manananggal in the Philippines, and the Krasue in Thailand.

Each has:

• A floating head or body part

• A taste for blood or organs

• A double life as a regular human

It’s not a coincidence. These legends likely share pre-colonial cultural roots. Trade, war, and migration helped blur and spread them.

Regional Similarities Across Southeast Asia

Why are so many creatures in Southeast Asia obsessed with floating heads and internal organs?

Scholars believe these myths emerged as metaphors, warnings for women about childbirth, community safety, or social deviance. Or maybe just an excuse to explain weird things before forensics came along.

Whatever the case, Leyaks have staying power. They’re not going away. Not in folklore. Not in fear.

Conclusion

The Leyak isn’t just a nightmarish figure with dangling guts and a thirst for blood. It’s a symbol. A warning. A mirror.

To outsiders, it might look like a myth. To Balinese people, especially in rural areas, it’s layered with meaning: power, politics, social order, ancestral fear. Understanding Leyaks gives you a window into Bali’s soul, far beyond the beach clubs and wellness retreats.

And if you’re ever in a Balinese village during a full moon, and someone warns you not to go out after dark… maybe just listen. Even if you don’t believe, they do. That belief shapes their world. Sometimes it even protects it.

So next time someone brings up vampires or werewolves, ask them if they’ve heard of Leyaks. Chances are, they haven’t, but now you have. And now you know it’s not just another ghost story. It’s a living legend with real-world consequences.

Stay curious. Stay respectful. And maybe keep your head firmly attached to your body.

Curious about Bali beyond the legends? Our Bali Travel E-Guide dives into authentic culture, hidden spots, and local insights that most visitors never discover.