By Parker McKenzie
The opportunity to experience an ancient Indigenous meditation practice called Dadirri — or deep listening — while surrounded by the sound of the didgeridoo and reclaimed bushland isn’t one that presents itself often.
On Sunday 26 March, the Hills Walking Together project and Glenfern Valley Bushland will host a Deep Listening event with Ash Dargan, a Larrakia man.
Mr Dargan said Dadirri is the ancient Aboriginal practice of mindfulness and in simple terms, a form of meditation.
“It consists of connecting to country or to the bush. That could be the sky, that could be the mountains, that could be the animals, or it could be a water feature: anything that’s immediately around you when you’re in nature,” he said.
“Dadirri is the practice of being mindful when we’re in nature, it’s about connectedness to nature.”
The hour-and-a-half session starts at 2pm and also features a yarning circle with music and movement.
Mr Dargan said he believes that connectedness is something missing in modern life for many people.
“We’re all so busy in the nine-to-five grind, and most people are working longer hours than that in these enclosed environments, we’re separated from the natural cycles of just the sun moving across the sky, we don’t notice that anymore,” he said.
“We step very briefly out into the world, but then we’re back in our car on the way home to cook dinner and so there’s very, very little time that the average person spends in a natural environment or just outside. “
The event is being held at the Glenfern Valley Bushlands in Upwey, which was previously a quarry and later used as a dumping ground and area for four-wheel driving and trail biking. In 2000, a group of local volunteers took an interest to rehabilitate and preserve the land, reclaiming it as a nature reserve with the help of Yarra Ranges Council.
Mr Dargan said he hopes those in attendance are reminded of the importance of “finding where the pause button is in our busyness and taking a moment to reconnect with nature.”
“This practice restores that connection, but they’re also learning about Aboriginal culture and the cultural knowledge that helps people find their way back to appreciating and having a relationship with nature once again,” he said.
“People will also experience the didgeridoo when I’m doing some meditations, I actually play the cultural music as well and people just absolutely love that.”
The event costs $20 and bookings are essential at trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=1026937&fbclid.
For more information on Hills Walking Together, you can visit the Facebook page or email hillswalkingtogether@gmail.com.
