iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

[larrpan]

grains of sand dance to the rhythm of twirling moon
riding the breath of the tide, they set sail

from one shore to another
they mix with distant families

sharing stories of sea currents
and the light of the sun

as the tide pulls the sheets back
grains of sand dry off by the arms of the wind

sharing the warmth of a fire,
lit on the beach by passionate spirits,
silently aware of the romance of the sand and moon

if one day comes when grains of sand
divorce the love-dance of the moon

the light of the moon will only remain
as a distant memory

as the grains that remain sit in despair
broken hearted, and stagnant

the fire of romance is put out
as east wind blows over the remaining
ashes of unnecessary articles


-------------------------------------------------------------

your writing will not help keeping alive yolngu or native world cultures.
don't write unnecessary articles of how to learn from people. no culture is pure..
ideas are borrowed just like sand
don't tell me or anyone out there how to feel when they meet other people
you obviously don't understand the meaning of family. of clan or tribe.
get out of your office and walk in your local nature.

don't write! paint.. don't write .. dance.. dont' write sing

this is not yolngu. .this is native world technology .. even in iran where i'm from

if you all are really wanting to go deeper and deeper in your learning from cultures, or
people, then do what kids do.. pretend.. you're not too old.. trust me.. because by pretending,
you are becoming.. just like when you sing about the red light of the sky before the sun waves good bye..

you are that red sun.. when you sing or dance something in nature, you become it.. you live through it..

break your esoteric academic (writing) ways of learning from yolngu or any earth loving people who have
created systems of knowledge from local nature through patterns (songs, rhythms, dances, poetry, etc)
and do what they do..

show us what you have learned from Yolngu or other
tribes through your own .. your own.. your personal.. patterns, drawings, songs, dances of your back yards,
otherwise you are misleading all other passionate, humble hearts that are taking it all the way
to pursue the love of education from people world wide.

i hope to hear your songs, see your painting, and perhaps one day dance in celebration rejoicing life
.......................................................

on the next sunny day.. take you and your family near a creek or beach..
take a sketch pad and begin to make patterns for the water.
how it is related to the bottom creek bed. as they shape each other.. how the water
journey;s along singing about the places it has been.

it's inspire a melody in your heart. then sing that with your family.. and don't forget .. that we're all family!
we all share ways of living.. it is inevitable..

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[Peter Lister]

But Omid, you are writing, no ? That is our culture - not yolngu culture in the strict sense of writing. I don't want to speak in a metaphoric manner when so much is easily misconstrued via this medium.

So, you are familiar with abu-Ali al-Husayn ibn-Sina ?? You must be, unless you've been raised in Texas......and Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi - do you read his poetry ?? Just last weekend I was looking at Kufic writing from the 7 Century - you see your culture as "native world technology" ??

The great thing about becoming older is that hopefully we become less ignorant - you assume much about us here - that we're narrowly focussed upon academia for example, when many here do practise art in many different forms. My observations and interactions with didj players reveal many to be artistic beyond wanting to make noises on a stick.

I think you misuse the word humble.

Will your writing helping Yolnu Omid (as you say ours won't) ?

Nearly 20 years ago I was seriously ill and since then I'd like to think I've not taken my days for granted. I cherish them as much as possible. I have a job that allows me to spend most of my days out of the office - which is one of the reasons I don't get to spend much time writing at the computer. We know you spend a lot of time on your computer from what you have on your website - that's your job. I'm not criticizing that but I think you should hold a mirror to your own life Omid before you start preaching.

Keep writing though - because that is your culture and clearly you enjoy it.

Peter L.

[ididjaustralia]

Omid, do you know what some Yolngu have been saying about you? I think you live so much in your own space, your "Dreamtime" reality, that you forget about other people around you and how they feel. If family are important to you, you should listen and learn from them.

Guan

[Josh Staley]

Omid, for all your writing about learning from other cultures and all your poetic sentiment you still haven't owned up to criticizing a Yolngu youth without really having any knowledge of him. He is a member of and participant in the culture you seem to revere so much, yet you saw fit to criticize him. Why? Because he plays with a style different than your experience?

You seem to imply that you are above others in your depth and understanding. Yet you are not humble enough to even admit you may have been quick to judge young Elijah.

I am glad you like to make didge rhythms based on what you see in nature. I think thats a nice sentiment, and I can appreciate it. I think your heart is in the right place, but I also think you tend to assume that the right place for your heart is the right place for everyone else's. The people on this forum are very good natured, open-minded, well traveled, and culturally astute. I think you would be well served to give serious consideration to the criticism that is given here.

[ididjaustralia]

This is exactly what Yolngu say too. Omid, remember what the late G. D. Dhurrkay said to you? Don't forget his words.

Guan

Josh Staley wrote:

You seem to imply that you are above others in your depth and understanding.

[YidakiMago]

Peter
Josh
Guan

They all use the word HUMBLE.......If there is one thing I learned from my brief encounters with Yulngu people, and I have not been as lucky as Guan, Peter Lister or you Omid! Is to be HUMBLE! I only had a very brief moment around the fire with Big Bill Neidjie. But it was enough to transform my way of thinking and open up my mind and let go of EGO (MIND) or in other words silenced the mind, the ego, the I,m in control off my live freak. His universal words or noledge are still deeply embedded in my heart and/or soul as you will. Because off him I came to experince I'm just stardust or in his words "same blood same bone", but entangled with every little grain out there in time and space. If you don't pretend noledge but BE, then there is noting left then pure slice and that results in being HUMBLE in being pure you without pretending to be.
But off course this is my Dreaming for she is appearing within me.

Peter

[MT-Yidaki]

Dear Omid, I remember our discussion when we where in a coffee shop in Amsterdam... I thought we understood each other when we where talkin about having or needing a ' blood relation' to traditional songs... I do use traditional building bricks wich I learned up there in Arnhemland but I would never claim that my structures have any relationship with the land or cultere where it comes from. I only play songs to show people how beautifull and complex these structures can be. I only use building bricks. Everytime I go to festivals and hear balanda play 'traditional' without stressing that thy are only beginners at this kind of music and that they will always be imetating and not really understand the deeper aspects to wards relation. I'm tempted to go to them and ask: what's this song? what's this Crow or what ever song subject to you? Is it you're uncle, your sister or maybe your poiseness cousin? I think they can't ever tell us... I to have been adopted and I cherish the name and place my 'sister'gave me but I also understand that I will never have a blood relation to these people or the Brolga or what ever... So me playing the Brolga would only be an imetation and would have nothing to do with ceremony or what so ever.
I aslwys understood by talking and learning from Yolngu that the yidaki is a dance acompanying instrument and that we, balanda, should make our people dance to the music and that's it! Nothing more! And nothing less!!!

Greets and rezzzzpect from the balanda country Holland;-)

[GGW]

Hi there

Quote:

I aslwys understood by talking and learning from Yolngu that the yidaki is a dance acompanying instrument and that we, balanda, should make our people dance to the music and that's it! Nothing more! And nothing less!

MT-YIDAKI i like it simple as that ! and Like Badikupa Gurruwiwi say PUT HAPINESS IN YOUR YIRDAKI

GGW

_________________
Beleive in yirdaki power

[YidakiMago]

He Tijgertje, goed stuk.

Yes, simple indeed

Quote:

I aslwys understood by talking and learning from Yolngu that the yidaki is a dance acompanying instrument and that we, balanda, should make our people dance to the music and that's it! Nothing more! And nothing less!!! MT-YIRDAKI

Ciao,

Peter...........die uit Eindhoven.

[YidakiMago]

Quote:

and Like Badikupa Gurruwiwi say PUT HAPINESS IN YOUR YIRDAKI GGW

OoooooooH wouw GGW Will it then become some sort off a fortune cockie-stick-Yidaki...............

Peter

[GGW]

Hi there

Quote:

Will it then become some sort off a fortune cockie-stick-Yidaki...............

Well this is a happy way to see it ,but dont brake it to see whats inside !

GGW

_________________
Beleive in yirdaki power

[YidakiMago]

Quote:

but dont brake it to see whats inside !

Even then GGW........ no worries there's always ducktape and super clue. This wil make your the stick more magical and wanted......and "viola" there's your fortune........

[MT-Yidaki]

Hey Kinderpindakaas Peter!!! I didn't know that that was you!!! Haha LOL.
Fjiew, what a discussion he? I just try to make fun and feel groovy with what ever brick I come up with or got given...
Maybe there is this clan/family called the Wanna(m)be's
Anyhow good we are all trying to find our way to rezzpect...

[YidakiMago]

Now you know brother Wanna(m)be.

Cheers,

Peter

[GGW]

Hi there

Wait the day you got enough of waiting for the glue to dry and then sand it and then repaint grrrr you will put electrical tape !and they make fantastic grip too

i think we just hijacked this thread

GGW

_________________
Beleive in yirdaki power