DREAMTIME

Australian Aboriginal and ancestral spirits who created the world

“Leaving bitterness behind is a journey of inner healing, a path that requires both the gentleness of a caress and the determination of a warrior.” You hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing that dedication for your new travel journal, a silent companion for your rebirth. You seek inspiration to start anew on the right foot, you wish to learn to recognize the shadows of emotions without judging them, welcoming them as precious pieces of the mosaic of your story. You want to grant yourself the gift of forgiveness, not as oblivion, but as liberation from the weight that anchors you to the past. You understand that the past is immutable, but you firmly believe that the future can sprout from the fertile ground of the present. You seek beauty in everyday details, gratitude in small gestures, and you decide to give voice to your feelings, writing the first page of your diary, an act of liberation. “I want to cultivate new beginnings,” you carefully note, the pen dancing on the cream-colored paper, “dedicate time to activities that nourish my soul: art, music, nature, and new bonds of friendship. I will explore ways to lighten the burden of the past and draw a map for a more serene future. Who knows, perhaps the Australian Outback will be the first step of this adventure, a boundless horizon for my rebirth.”

The Australian Aboriginal people, guardians of an oral tradition steeped in ancestral wisdom and profound spirituality, narrate the creation of the world and celebrate the sacred bond that unites humanity with the earth and the universe. With a millennial history, rooted in over 65,000 years, they represent the original people of this remote corner of the planet, a place you yearn to rediscover. Masters of storytelling, the Aboriginal people preserve, through their oral tradition, a deep wisdom and a unique cultural identity. They nurture immense respect for nature, considering it not a separate entity, but an integral part of their very existence. To connect with the Aboriginal person, you have been conversing with for months, you select proverbs, quotes, verses, and anecdotes that can illuminate his way of thinking. You wish to deeply connect with his world, hoping to find, together with him, a more authentic connection with nature. You note down the words that inspire you: “We do not own the land; we are part of it. The Dreamtime, although past, is ever present, the foundation of our being. Walk gently on this earth, for its bones are the dust of our ancestors. If you listen with your heart, the wind will tell you ancient stories.” These phrases, like an inner compass, will guide you on your journey, helping you connect with the wisdom of the Dreamtime and with your deepest essence.

The Australian Outback, a land of boundless beauty and diversity, requires a careful choice of airport, depending on the area you wish to explore. Among the main gateways, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock, you have opted for the advice of your guide, Warra. “Alice Springs,” he suggested, “is the beating heart of Australia. From there, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Kings Canyon, and other iconic wonders are easily accessible. Moreover, Alice Springs is well connected with direct flights from various Australian cities, offering a wide range of options.” Although you are not embarking on this journey alone, you are planning every detail meticulously, aware of the vast distances and extreme weather conditions that characterize this region. You wish to make a good impression on Warra, your new friend. “My name means wind or air,” he explained during your last video call, with a smile that reveals his deep connection with nature. “We will rent a campervan in Alice Springs to explore the attractions. Let me know your flight schedule, and I will wait for you there.”

“This Highball Mighty Campers, a mobile haven for two adventurers, will accompany us on a journey that, while intense, will have an end. Eternity is not for us,” Warra seems to imply, with a mischievous smile, “but seven memorable breakfasts, grilled under the Outback sky.” Warra, the eccentric guide who welcomed you at Alice Springs airport with a ‘Dreamtime’ sign, radiates good humor. As you head towards Uluru, you perceive his passion for the stories he tells you. “Her art is celebrated worldwide,” he explains. “Her works have been exhibited in the most prestigious museums. Emily Kame Kngwarreye, an extraordinary artist, born in a remote corner of the Northern Territory, began painting late in life, but left a legacy of over 3,000 masterful works.” The landscape unfolding around Uluru is an ode to the wild beauty of the Outback: vast plains of red earth, tenacious shrubs, and acacias that defy the arid climate. “Kngwarreye’s paintings,” Warra continues, “are a dialogue with the traditions of the Anmatyerre people and with the Dreamtime. Her vibrant colors, abstract shapes, and expressive brushstrokes capture the essence of the landscape, flora, and natural cycles. The ‘Yam Dreaming’ series, for example, celebrates the yam tuber, a vital plant for her community.”

With Kings Canyon as your destination, you take turns driving the camper, enjoying an overnight stay under the starry Outback sky. You observe Warra, intent on grilling a mysterious delicacy, and feel the weight of your eight-hour drive. “That should be the Finke River,” you comment, about a river without water. Warra, without taking his eyes off the grill, shakes his head. “Yet, it has a history dating back 400 million years!” You dine under a blanket of sparkling stars, illuminated by the lantern hanging from the tent. A folding table and two chairs add a touch of comfort to your dinner. You savor the meat, an exotic flavor reminiscent of chicken with hints of fish, unaware that it’s crocodile. “The Finke River, or Larapinta in the Arrernte language, flows only for a few days a year,” Warra explains, “and its water quickly disappears into the sands of the Simpson Desert.” Within minutes, you are surrounded by kangaroos hopping curiously around the camper. The Aurora Australis paints the night sky with four shades of color, a natural spectacle that inspires your first poem: “Heart of the Outback, ocean of silent darkness, where only the echo of the wind tells ancient stories. Above me, a silver river, the Milky Way in eternal flow, a cosmic prelude among dancing constellations. May the Southern Cross, celestial beacon, guide my wandering, through the immensity of this enchanted sky, where every moment is a gift of wonder.”

During the second leg of your journey, sixteen hours of road leading you into the beating heart of Australia, Warra reveals the secrets of the ‘Red Centre’ of the Northern Territory. “We are in the heart of a land declared a World Heritage Site,” he explains, “a place where, in the past, traditions imposed absolute submission on women, relegating them to the role of mothers.” The setting sun paints the sky with golden hues. The camper moves slowly along the dirt road, raising a cloud of red dust. In the distance, Uluru stands out against the orange sky, its rock glowing under the sunset light, creating a magical contrast with the green vegetation. The silence is broken only by the engine’s hum and the birds’ singing. Warra, choosing a quiet corner of the campsite, prepares a mysterious grilled dinner. As the sun disappears below the horizon, you surrender to the contemplation of the starry sky, lulled by the notes of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, whose music accompanies your journey. “A blind Aboriginal from birth, a left-handed person who played a right-handed guitar upside down,” Warra recounts. “The song you’re listening to, ‘Wiyathul,’ tells of two wild birds calling, like women in mourning, evoking the calls of the Mutlwutjna jungle.”

The kangaroo meat, an unexpected culinary discovery, is now a memory. This morning, heading towards the Kata Tjuṯa Dune Viewing Area, our camper will tackle the last leg of this extraordinary journey. You find yourself repeating Oodgeroo Noonuccal‘s poem, an Aboriginal artist deeply admired by Warra, eager to transcribe ‘Not My Style’ into your travel journal: “Not my style? Man! The world will end and you complain. I want to do the things never done, not just taste the nectar of the Gods, but immerse myself in it. I want to shed my skin of protest, emerge as woman, poet, writer, musician. I want to savor spices, chew grass, brush with death, embrace life. I want to swallow the bitter and the sweet, before that thing arrives, that impending thing.” Another campsite, another night, and the feeling of being at the antipodes of your world. You’ve learned a lot about Oodgeroo Noonuccal. “Born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska, later Kath Walker, on November 3, 1920, she was an Australian Aboriginal political activist, artist, and educator, a pioneer in the fight for Aboriginal rights. She was the first Australian Aboriginal woman to publish a collection of poems,” you note in your journal. You are aware that your journey through the Australian Outback has been a transformative experience, a mix of wonder, humility, and deep connection with the land. “The feelings I have are unique and transformative,” you confide to Warra. “Vastness and freedom, wonder, silence and peace, connection with the land, but also humility and a sweet nostalgia. Thank you, Warra, you have helped me change my perspective on life, leaving an indelible mark on my heart.”

Emily Kame Kngwarreye was a leading Australian Aboriginal artist whose work is deeply connected to the concept of Dreamtime, a central concept in Aboriginal spirituality, which includes creation stories and the ancestral beings who shaped the land and all living things. To convey the spiritual and cultural connection between Aboriginal people and their land, referring to her, digital artist Dastilige Nevante has created a gallery of images that, together with the soundtrack “Age of Challenges” by FiftySounds, contribute to the multimedia expression of Dreamtime.