Deep Listening

In my Sacred Marks workshops I love to share the Aboriginal concept of Dadirri

~Deep Listening.

Aboriginal writer Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann describes deep listening as follows:

“NGANGIKURUNGKURR means ‘Deep Water Sounds’. Ngangikurungkurr is the name of my tribe. The word can be broken up into three parts: Ngangi means word or sound, Kuri means water, and kurr means deep. So the name of my people means ‘the Deep Water Sounds’ or ‘Sounds of the Deep’.

Miriam-Rose speaks of: “a special quality of my people. I believe it is the most important. 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. Dadirri recognises the deep spring that is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us. This is the gift that Australia is thirsting for. It is something like what you call ‘contemplation’.

When I experience dadirri, I am made whole again. I can sit on the riverbank or walk through the trees; even if someone close to me has passed away, I can find my peace in this silent awareness. There is no need of words. A big part of dadirri is listening”.

 I find my moments of deep listening by the sea....

 in the feel of the fine white sand between my toes...

 In the expanse of the sky and the ever changing cloud formations reflected below

 in the silent, playful companions that sometimes join me in a morning walk...

In the mysterious hieroglyphic messages left by the pippies at low tide

 in the rivulets left behind where the water caresses the sand...

in ancient eroded stone

 in peeling bark

decorated with moth larvae scribbles

I find small moments of deep stillness and then

I try

to describe it

through my artmaking

experimenting with small works on paper

with colour and mark....

then working large and free, finding flow in contemplation, intention, control and surrender...

all in readiness for my upcoming exhibition

"Deep Listening"

here at our casa in Huskisson

as part of the See Change Arts Festival

Drop on in May 22nd 5-7pm for a glass of vino at the official opening if you are nearby ♥

Wishing you deep listening, calm stillness and playful exploring today

lots of love Tracy ♥♥♥

ps that little rock was gifted to me by one of the most gorgeous women I know. 

You'll find all kinds of love at Kelli May-Krenz' blog here. 

Go say hello and give her a hug from me while you're there xx