Uluru reflections...
Domination vs reverence
You know that feeling of full body awe that washes over you when standing at the bottom of a giant tree or cathedral and looking up?
(Your eyes go up up up...until you can feel it in your chest)
I want you to try to capture that sensation because it will help with understanding my reflections on my walk around Uluru this morning.
As you know, I spend a lot of time mulling over power dynamics. Domination and whatever the word is for the opposite to that. (I still haven't landed with the correct way of describing it)
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So Uluru means different things for different people. But in this context, I'd like you to think about two types of visitors.
đ§ââď¸ Those that want to CONQUER Uluru. They have something to prove and when it was legal, they were the ones determined to climb it, even if they knew the Traditional Owners were opposed to that.
đŁ Those who want to leave nothing but very soft footprints. They acknowledge what a privilege it is to even be allowed to be there and step gently, respecting the wishes of the Traditional Owners.
That urge of wanting to dominate something or someone is a realm that a lot of people exist in if never being taught any different. It doesn't excuse it, but it's human nature in its most basic evolvement.
And we see the destruction that it causes in nature and homes throughout all demographics in Australia.
The realm that often requires a bit of guidance or nurturing towards, the one where we step gently and acknowledge the Sovereignty of the other, is much more rare.
Dotted around Uluru are signs explaining which areas are extra sensitive and photography is forbidden.
For those in the "domination realm," this triggers a myriad of feelings. From ridicule to rage. Their self appointed "rights" have been restricted.
While for those in the "stepping gently" realm, it deepens their sense of reverence. And it creates a dynamic of listening and learning.
Australian society can be transformed if we are guided towards existing in the realm of reverence for others and the environment that we're lucky to live in.
Going back to that feeling I described at the beginning: a sense of awe for something greater than us, that lifts our eyes up as far as they can go. The more we practise to remain in that space when interacting with the "other" while acknowledging our own Sovereignty...the sooner we can heal as individuals as well as collectively.
Iâm ashamed to say this but back when I was a teenager my class at school travelled by bus all the way from Melbourne to Uluášu (Unfortunately it was still called Ayres Rock in those days). Back then, around the late 70s there was no information or infrastructure at Uluášu. Unfortunately no one told us that it was disrespectful to our First Nations people to climb Uluášu. I believe our teachers would have informed us not to do so if we were the wiser. At least that is what I hope would have happened. But thankfully our community, broadly speaking, and our education system has moved on to a better understanding of the significance of Uluášu and our First Nations people.