Connection

Many cultures and tribes peoples from around the world follow a similar rule: they are done with work, hunting and other laborious activities by lunchtime.

They spend the rest of the day teaching their children wisdom and connecting with their tribal community through ceremony, dance, talking and sport. 

I understand a noon finish isn’t realistic in 2023, but…

What would a dose of daily connection look like for you? 

A moment in the day which isn’t work-related or ‘being on’? 

A moment of nourishing one of the oldest parts of the brain?

(social brain.)

A moment of being human.

Talking

Rewind to Broome, Australia, 10 years ago. Two friends and I heard a party with drums in the distance which we were eager to explore. It ended up being in a garden between houses which was hosting an Aboriginal party.

The ‘chief’ let us join but we were welcomed with some vexatious glares. I mean, who were these three chumps from England wanting to join? I’d glare, too. 

Anyway - we were very respectful and watched them talk to each other in their native language. They sat around a huge fire and each of them talked about something.

No one interrupted, everyone listened and everyone had their say. (I’m not sure what about though.)

Whatever they were talking about - I do believe it was a social gathering of singing, talking and dancing known as a corroborree. A tradition popular amongst the Pintupi tribe.

Indigenous peoples from around the world still hold gatherings and turn to specific people in the tribe to help others through an emotion, a problem or conflict.

We don’t have to build a fire or attend a party but ask daily:

who’s the person I can talk to when things get tough?

Best caption on this picture wins a free month to purvidaPLUS. Congrats to Salma who won last week.

Listen

Aboriginal Australian women could smell miles away if their husband had made a successful hunt.

Aboriginal Australian’s could see prey a mile away to the naked eye.

Whenever negative emotions were felt (not heard) in the walytja (walytja is known as family in the Pintupi tribe) they would call a ceremony to solve it immediately.

I get this is hyperbolic to how we actually live today but it’s still fascinating to hear the intuitive cues these people listened to. And funnily enough - no iPhone…

When anxiety visits:

what are you doing here?

When stress is taking over:

Let me think; what’s truly causing this?

When life seems too much to handle:

Is it time to seek therapy?

Once you start approaching your body with curiosity and questions rather than fear and worry; we are taking back control.

Indigenous peoples can show us a pathway back to connection with land, self and simplicity.

Thought of the week:

“What you resist, persists.”

Carl Jung — Theory of Psychoanalysis

Thanks for your time today.