Another lovely, cool day, sky a fine blue with a thin haze. The irises are blooming!
This is Reconciliation Week in Australia. In honor of this, I offer these exceptional posts as a sharing. These three stories highlighting the challenges and gifts of Aboriginal Australia. They are simultaneously unique, and common to many Indigenous communities around the world. I hope you will be moved and blessed by these posts, as I was.
The first is from AustraliaisIncognita via TreeGirl, and is entitled, “Two Words: Just Listen”.
Dadirri’: Deep Listening
I recently learned a new word. It’s a lovely word actually. Both in form and meaning. “Dadirri”, a term described by Aboriginal Elder, writer, artist, and educator, Aunty Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, from Nauiyu country, the Daly River in the Northern Territory. Her language is the Ngan’gikurunggurr language. She says “I believe it is the most important gift. It is our most unique gift. It is perhaps the greatest gift we can give to our fellow Australians. In our language this quality is called Dadirri. It is inner, deep listening, and quiet still awareness.” She goes on to say “it’s in everyone. It’s not just an Aboriginal thing.”
The post also contains a fine video about the practice of Dadirri. I am grateful to those bloggers, and Aunty Mariam, for sharing with me.
The second post is actually a video and comes to us from Be Part Of the Healing. The video by the same title, addresses Aboriginal youth suicide in Australia, but could have been easily produced in the U.S. or Canada.
The third is a post from First People Worldwide and was reposted from Cultural Survival. The piece was written by Natalie Kelly who wrote:
Much has been written about the Shuar, an Indigenous group from the Ecuadorian Amazon; many words have been used to describe them. Warriors, head-shrinkers, and shamans are some of the most common associations. But one word that is not typically seen in reference to the Shuar? Poet. Until now, that is—especially if María Clara Sharupi Jua has anything to say about it.
Traditional teachings remind us to listen to one another, the spirits, and the land. When we do so, much healing can take place.
Blessings.
Dreaming the World 
Thank you for sharing this and taking an interest in my people. We are still to have our chat about dreaming. We must make this time soon 🙂
Yes, Leroy, let’s chat soon!
Hi Michael…what a great informative post! There are no language barriers when our souls talk to each other 🙂 Thanks! Blessitude
Hi Laurie, Yes, the problems seem to begin when we don’t deeply, truly listen.
Agreed. You can tell when someone is really listening…it is a rare gift the person who can make you feel really heard. Hope the rest of your week is great! 🙂