Wonders
I've been journeying into understanding about communication with my whole body, and the latest favorite is the deep-down bubbling up of a mix of relief and hope... from the clenched and confused gut up through the heart and released through the gentle tears. This came while sitting in front of an old TV in the outback, watching Obama's election victory speech with several Carpe Diem students. Our Greek-Aussie Conservation Volunteers Leader was sympathetic to our high interest enough to take an early bow from seed collecting to make it back around the time of voting curtains in the US. Among many things, what hit me was that when I travel, I can finally identify as a US citizen without squirming in my skin and lowering my eyes in relative shame.
And I enjoy reading the Australian papers, and feeling the ripple effect of our historic election-- the opinion pieces that reflect inspiration-- if the US can elect an African-American, maybe Australia can see an Aboriginal prime minister. I reread MLK and his faith in the long moral arc bending toward justice and feel the energy of possibility and renewal, and feel the wonder of growth vividly among our group of venturing spirits.
Our group celebrated Obama's election with a venture out around the mining town in which we spent the past five days. We visited the immense coal mine for which we were gathering seeds so that other ecogroups can revegetate. We peered into a small trailor where the 250 million year old trees were cut down for our power desires, and contemplated our willingness to sacrifice some of our comforts for the sake of our planet. We continued on to some Aboriginal ochre pits where people extract the mineral for medicinal, decorative, and various other uses, and we lingered there for one of the sweetest of sunsets. Lying on the stones with the warm breeze dancing around us, we admired as the orange lingered in the sky on the west, and blue and pink suprised us to the east. We smiled at the half moon, and wished on the first twinkling stars. Before we loaded back in the van, we played with our moon shadows... yes, the ideals are ones we can inded live and experience together. One step at a time.
Back in Adelaide, South Australia, the group takes a few days to recover from the conservation work. I sank myself into an afrocuban drumming class, ran and did yoga along the Terrence River, and took in some of the famous Adelaide Christmas parade. Our team is well, albeit feeling the impending separation before too long. I'm grateful for the beautiful relationships formed, the moving conversations had, and more to come as we make our way from south to north Australia, hopping with the kangaroos:)
And I enjoy reading the Australian papers, and feeling the ripple effect of our historic election-- the opinion pieces that reflect inspiration-- if the US can elect an African-American, maybe Australia can see an Aboriginal prime minister. I reread MLK and his faith in the long moral arc bending toward justice and feel the energy of possibility and renewal, and feel the wonder of growth vividly among our group of venturing spirits.
Our group celebrated Obama's election with a venture out around the mining town in which we spent the past five days. We visited the immense coal mine for which we were gathering seeds so that other ecogroups can revegetate. We peered into a small trailor where the 250 million year old trees were cut down for our power desires, and contemplated our willingness to sacrifice some of our comforts for the sake of our planet. We continued on to some Aboriginal ochre pits where people extract the mineral for medicinal, decorative, and various other uses, and we lingered there for one of the sweetest of sunsets. Lying on the stones with the warm breeze dancing around us, we admired as the orange lingered in the sky on the west, and blue and pink suprised us to the east. We smiled at the half moon, and wished on the first twinkling stars. Before we loaded back in the van, we played with our moon shadows... yes, the ideals are ones we can inded live and experience together. One step at a time.
Back in Adelaide, South Australia, the group takes a few days to recover from the conservation work. I sank myself into an afrocuban drumming class, ran and did yoga along the Terrence River, and took in some of the famous Adelaide Christmas parade. Our team is well, albeit feeling the impending separation before too long. I'm grateful for the beautiful relationships formed, the moving conversations had, and more to come as we make our way from south to north Australia, hopping with the kangaroos:)
posted by Amanda Joy at 2:04 PM
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