There are no words that can accurately describe the spaciousness of the NPY lands in the Central Deserts. It is incredibly diverse and complex, a living, breathing expanse of Terra firma, where one can feel a palpable sense of the deeper invisible realms of existence. It is a place where the sunsets find their way into your dreams, medicine plants speak, and where the red sands leave their impression upon your socks and your soul. It is easy to understand the love of country for the people who call this home - it is a part of them, and they are a part of it. To witness such a deep sense of belonging to place fills me with awe and wonder.
It can be demanding to live in such a remote region, yet people have thrived out on these lands for thousands of years due to their direct and very personal relationship with country. The interactions with the elders teach you to listen deeply - to notice and care for the earth that provides for all our needs. You quickly discover how little meaning your knowings have amidst this vast backdrop. There is great wisdom in simplicity.
When I first came here years ago, I was struck with a sense of how little the people here had in terms of material wealth. Today, walking down the busy streets of Brisbane amidst the affluence of the modern world, I can only think of the poverty of being disconnected from the earth and not seeing the stars at night, and how abundantly rich my desert friends are, living in the moments outside of time.
If you listen deeply, you can hear the whispers of eternity...
