Dadirri

Dadirri from a lush forest on Vimeo.

I know a lot of people in my network who just aren't into formal meditation, many have resistance to anything 'spiritual' but resonate deeply with good ole' nature connection. There is no doubt in my mind that most modern humans suffer greatly from NDD, (nature deficit disorder) and therefore any tool we can harness to connect with nature is a gift for us all.

Whilst the 'spiritual community' is a wash in all kinds of eastern/new age influences from meditation, yoga, qi gong, etc - All of them powerful tools in their own right. We have largely remained ignorant to one of the most simple, powerful and healing practices of the indigenous people of Australia. A unique gift of the Aboriginal people is 'Dadirri'

"Dadirri means inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. It is a 'tuning in' experience with the specific aim to come to a deeper understanding of the beauty of nature.

Dadirri recognises the deep spring that is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us. This is the gift that Australia (and the world) 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; There is no need of words. A big part of dadirri is listening." - Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann

Experiencing Dadirri:

· Clear a little space as often as you can, to simply sit and look at and listen to the earth and environment that surrounds you.

· Focus on something specific, such as a bird, a blade of grass, a clump of soil, cracked earth, a flower, bush or leaf, a cloud in the sky or a body of water (sea, river, lake…) whatever you can see.

Or just let something find you be it a leaf, the sound of a bird, the feel of the breeze, the light on a tree trunk. No need to
try. Just wait a while and let something find you, let it spend time with you.

· Lie on the earth, the grass, some place. Get to know that little place and let it get to know you- your warmth, feel your pulse, hear your heart beat, know your breathing, your spirit.

· Just relax and be there, enjoying the time together. Simply
be aware of your focus, allowing yourself to be still and silent…, to listen…

Following this quiet time there may be, on occasion, value in giving expression in some way to the experience of this quiet, still listening. You may wish to talk about the
experience or journal, write poetry, draw, paint or sing… This needs to be held in balance - the key to Dadirri is in simply being, rather than in outcomes and activity.