Dreamtime in the outback - Yoga philosophy and the road trip of a lifetime

So welcome to part 2 of my Oz yoga journey as promised. After a wonderful  time reviewing yoga studios, dealing with jet lag through yoga and visiting family in Melbourne, we started our 4000km drive across the red centre to Darwin. From Sydney up the coast to Brisbane via Byron Bay (which is always a pleasure), and then a sharp left turn into central Queensland through cowboy towns, cattle stations, mining towns and then eventually into the Northern Territory; from Frying Pan Creek to Tennant Creek, and up past the lush tropical hot springs in Mataranka before arriving in Darwin. A glorious 4000km journey.

The road trip started as any outback road trip should; with a 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert' soundtrack on at full blast and arms waving jubilantly in the air.......but it rapidly developed into something different and quite unexpected. As we pushed into the 'empty' outback and left 'civilisation' behind - as the 'noise' and landscape paired back, the gargantuan azure skies, 365 degree horizon and hauntingly beautiful vistas put a big fat spell on me. It was as if I had been hypnotised into a lovely magical silence.

As the journey developed I was literally lulled into reflection and observation. In yogic terms this can be explained through 'Niyama' (personal observance) as per limb one of the 'Eight Limbs of Yoga' as set out by Patanjali's scriptures. With particular reference to 'Svadhyaya' (Self study), and 'Isvarapranidhan' (Celebration of the Spiritual) To find out more about Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga see the links at the end of the article. I was bearing witness to this strange bleak wilderness -  fully humbled. I noticed the beauty in small simple things like interesting quirky cloud formations, soft pastel colour-glows in the sky, the flight of massive lone eagles across the open sky, virescent spinifex, the odd wonky telegraph pole, huge families of termite mounds on the horizon like glowing Gaudi spires or Giacometti statues between soft prairie-like grasses.

Termite Mounds NT, Australia

Litchfield National Park NT, Australia

I do voluntarily retreat into meditation twice a day normally, but this was a hugely different process; I felt like I had been spontaneously transported into a special place that exists between heaven and earth and it was a very physical feeling linked with the landscape; being so, so far away from 'civilisation' gives one such a strong sense of nature and the cosmos; everything familiar started to fall away a little and I was suspended for a while.....

I started to mentally reference Sara Maitland's amazing book, 'A Book of Silence', and Robyn Davidson's book 'Tracks'; both women had a fierce determination to exist alone in the wilderness and in silence. They both had a fascination, as I do, with pairing back, simple living and what it evokes within us. This experience is synonymous with so many spiritual practices and experiences since the beginning of time. Yoga being one of them, and of course Aboriginal Dreamtime being the very first and the most important in this context. It is totally awe inspiring that the aboriginals have survived and flourished in this unforgiving landscape for thousands of years,

"The Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding of the world, of its creation, and it's great stories. The Dreamtime is the beginning of knowledge, from which came the laws of existence."

Dreamtime describes the connection to the land, to nature and to the spirit. It is described as a never ending entity where sacred sites link the past and the present, the people and the land. The Dreaming, or 'Tjukurrpa', also means to 'see and understand the law' as it is translated from the Arrernte language. Dreaming stories pass on important knowledge, cultural values and belief systems to later generations through song, dance, painting and storytelling. 

Aboriginals have the longest continuous cultural history of any group of people on earth, and before European settlement of Australia, there were around 600 different Aboriginal nations. I spent some time on my journey saluting the people of this land, and felt so honoured to have had a tiny glimpse of what Dreamtime means. I have never been in a place where the landscape and it's energy has had such a profound effect on me.

Aboriginal nations NT, Australia 

I returned feeling humbled, ever so spacious in mind, body and soul, and very, very grateful for everything. A small, deep subtle change had occurred within me - the kind that make your hairs stand on end when people talk about the power of road trips and travelling.It's a place on earth like no other.....I seriously recommend that you go.

Full moon NT, Australia

The journey ended with a refreshing dip in the Mataranka hot springs; a gift from heaven after the dry hot outback.....and then some more beautiful family time in Darwin.

Mataranka Hot Springs NT, Australia

Look out for part 3 of my Australian Yoga Journey where I'll discuss the art of self love and yin yoga in Bali.

Peace out - sending love from the outback,

Mounira xxx

For further information about yoga philosophy, classes, events and workshops please see  & Mounira Almenoar - Yoga Health Wellness here & Margate Yoga Collective on Facebook here.

Learn more about dreamtime  here

Learn more about 8 limbs of yoga here 

Sara Maitland 'A Book of Silence' here

Robyn Davidson's book 'Tracks' here

Blue Mountains, NSW Australia

*Photo credits Greg Anderson