women's past, present, future

Maria Josette Orsto, Kulama, 2010. Japanese-style woodcut. Museum of Contemporary Art, purchased with provided by the MCA Foundation, 2015. Image courtesy and © the artist

Kitty Kantilla (Kutuwalumi Purawarrumpatu), Kulama (Yam) Ceremony in Rain, 1999

Grouper - Heavy Water / I’d Rather be Sleeping

Teenminnie, a Ngarrindjeri mother in possum or kangaroo skin cloak carrying her child on her back, c. 1860s.

Warrumbungle National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Yolngu Woman and Child Arnhem Land

St. Ivaritji, elder, artist, & terminal speaker of Kaurna

— Kaurna Stories, The Abraham Institute

In a culture where everyone is so well practiced at listening that it becomes a spiritual art, it makes sense that when trauma occurred the people would come together and deeply listen to each other. For this reason, Dadirri also refers to a form of group trauma healing that brings the deep presence found in the solo practice of Dadirri to a group setting. According to Prof. Stan Grof, trauma healing comes from finally completing an experience emotionally that may have been physically completed long ago. The initial moment of pain may have become so overwhelming that we make a subconscious decision to ‘check out’; in other words, we emotionally dissociate. Every part of us screams “Stop, I don’t want to feel this!” The problem is that we don’t stop the emotional experience, we just press pause.When we don’t have the courage or skills (because we are too young, or were never taught) to actually feel all of the emotions of a traumatic experience, we inadvertently trap the part of it we couldn’t handle, and store it away for later. Dadirri is a practice that allows us to open up this trapped pain and trauma in a sacred and held space and with the support of those around us, we can finally feel it in order for it to be released. The importance of a practice like Dadirri is that it is completely based on non-judgment. Over time, the story is shared on multiple occasions, and by doing so the telling begins to change. The emotional charge is released a little at a time as the circle around them offers an unwavering reflection of loving acceptance. Very often, the person who has suffered trauma starts to adopt this attitude of loving acceptance toward themselves. “Healing country heals ourselves, and healing ourselves heals country.” – Prof. Judy Atkinson – Jiman / Bunjalung woman It is said of those Indigenous Australians who possess a strong connection to country, that they are so grounded it is as though the land is talking to you through them.

Painting of Truganini, c. 1833