Once imagined, now seeing; once heard of, now felt.
This is my first time on Anangu land in the Northern Territory. Uluru lives here. Now, briefly and belatedly, I am here too. I pay my respects to the Anangu people and traditions, and to their elders past, present, and emerging.
From far away, in the distance of imagination, Uluru is unique, other-worldly, monolithic. Uluru is indeed all this, yet now I am present, there is far more to know. Here, I glean some emerging insights into encountering.
May the images below also bring you one step closer to this encounter.
Names matter.
This is Uluru – rather than Ayers Rock. Applying our own choice of name for something or someone is fraught with power. This is also why it makes sense to me now that Uluru not be climbed. This is not a place to seek ascendancy: this is a place to seek humility through respect. Besides, ascending removes us from the many discoveries waiting below.
Uluru is many things.
Uluru not ‘one thing’ even if it is a monolith. It has many angles, coves, and cracks. There is permanent water to be found. There’s many different plant and animal species in the range of climates on her many sides.
There is more story than rock to Uluru.
It still literally holds the marks and scars of creation across her form. The Anangu people know this place and themselves through these stories.
Story is powerful.
The stories centred around Uluru are Tjukurpa – the basis of all Anangu knowledge, law, religion, social structure and moral values. I think this means this place and its stories holds the combined significance of education, legal, church, government and social systems put together.
New stories can rise.
The 2017 ‘Statement from the Heart’ points the way. PLEASE take time here at Ulurustatement.org
Just beautiful.
This place is beautiful. It radiates awe. It whispers ‘walk slowly’. It echoes ‘remember’.
This moment in the centre of Australia is centering for those with ears to hear.
Please enjoy these photos from Uluru. You can also see them in the photo library here.
See below these photos from some wider thoughts about ‘encountering’.
The rest of my travels in the NT can be seen here.
Lessons on encountering.
Lessons on encountering another person, place, or even encountering myself.
Names are precious: listen, learn, and remember them. It matters far more than any name I may put on them.
One is more than one. One being has many sides, streams, climates, causes. There is more to discover. Make and take time.
Story holds our spiritual centre. It deserves to be heard and heeded. It is open to further writing, but we can only hold our own pen or brush.
This one before me– or this me – is beautiful. Awe is radiating – behold it.
May your encounters be enriching and lifegiving for you and those you meet.