I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in immersing myself in my surroundings. I felt frozen in time. the warm sun rays bream onto my face and the wind blew through each thread of hair on my head. I listened, I listened to my deep breathing and I silently counted until the sounds of the roaring car engines had faded in the back of my mind and I could fully emerge myself in the serenity I was standing in. Whether it was the rustling of the leaves under my feet, the branches clashing together as the wind swept through, the birds chirping in the trees or the ducks splashing as they flew in the water, it created a deep connection of nature, inner piece and sense of emotional calm.

I started to imagine myself being in an enchanted forest with magical creatures, fairies flying over, bunnies hopping through the lushes Green fields and birds singing in tune with one another. This inspired me to step outside my comfort zone and create and story through dramatic play and imagination.

I reflected back on the video Dadirri, Inner Deep Listening & Quiet Still Awareness where Ungunmerr (2017) states “ To listen deeply, is to connect” at first I really struggles to listen deeply because I am so used to hearing so many noises at a time to the point it’s a trigger and I feel so overwhelmed and struggle to switch off. Previously I felt like the more I tried the harder it got to deep listen. When I was out in a different environment, in nature and focusing on the sounds I didn’t once think about and it came so easy. This surprise me as I don’t think I have ever actually done deep listening before and after it not only did I feel a sense of pride in myself I felt a sense of freedom and calmness that I haven’t felt before. I smile to myself and said I get it now, to listen deeply is to connect, it makes sense to me now.

On my own country visit I came across many spaces for imaginative play. 

My game id like to share is enchanted portal play! 

We are on a mission, to save the forest, as gusts of howling wind sweeps through the trees we have to fight our way through the hanging vines, while looking for enchanted portals to different dimension where we’ll find the magical white butterfly’s that will use their powers to stop the forest from dying! As we dash through the forest we found a hole in an old tree, is a portal? We need to squeeze our bodies through to see what will happen. As we squeeze our way through the tree portal, we were taken to a Y shaped tree, could this be another one? It looks tricky to get to, we might have to jump high and climb! With a run up, we might be able to make it. As we get to the top we see a flash of light behind us, we are in another dimension. As we tiptoe closer to what seems like a door in a tree, the suspense is exciting! Knock knock, I can see the flying fairy, ping and just like that we are in another world. SPLASH, we land in a small yet flowing stream of water, a tunnel to what seems to be another portal. As we crawl through the tunnel, On the other side we see a fallen tree, we have to carefully balance our arms and across a thin fallen tree that lays over a once filled creek. We get to the end and all of a sudden We find ourselves crawling on the harsh ground where the sounds of the crackling dried up leaves echo from underneath us. We find a narrow burrow that we have to crawl through, duck your head down low so you don’t get scratched from the branches. As we are teleported through the burrow, we see a bright light, the warm breeze is making the willow tree vines dancing and sway. We have to be close. As we step through the sways of the willow tree, bright white butterfly surround us and we are zapped to beautiful fields of greenery, chirping birds and the sounds of bunny’s hopping through the bright green fields. 

Reflecting on my videos and considering how sound, movement and drama work in unison. I feel that having a combination of all languages builds on the dramatic element of play, it builds on suspense, wonder and creativity. Whether it’s the harsh howling of the wind, the trees swaying back-and-forth crashing into each other, the soft crunching noises of the leaves as you tiptoe across them or the chirping of birds, as they harmonise together it creates a story and sets the scene of how the world around us comes together. During my own country visit I reflected on inner deep listening and how no matter the sound it can be portrayed how I want it. Harsh howling sounds might not necessarily mean “scary” it can be excitement or it can build on suspense. The quiet and peaceful sounds could be calming but could also be scary, why’s is so quiet, what’s about to happen, Our imagination takes over and we can narrate what sounds mean to us depending on our thoughts and our environment. 

During my visit to country, I looked around expecting to feel a sense of warmth, calmness and the fresh air. I didn’t feel this at the start, I saw the dead trees, dull brown bushes, rubbish stuck in between rocks and floating along the water side. It gave me a sense of sadness, what is meant to be filled with greenery, flowing clean water, was just polluted. I continued my walk, I opened myself up to all the elements of nature, I started to noticed a softer side, the green patches of grass, the birds flying in unison and the beautiful green vines that draped off tree that’s have been growing for years. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in, the air seemed fresher, my mind was clearer and it felt and smelt less polluted. All of a sudden, there was the sense of simplicity. My experience reminded me of when Miriam-rose (1998) stated our culture has taught us to be still and to wait. We do not try to hurry things up. For myself reflection I want to try and slow down, take in what nature has to offer, be patient, live in the moment  

This experience made me think about how I haven’t opened myself up and allowed myself to really connect with nature and inner deep listening. There was always a negative mind block when it came to the sound around me. After really engaging in the task I feel like I’ve allowed myself to open up and have a different perspective in a positive way in the sound/noise around me. 

I really struggled when it came to the musical side of this task and realise that even behind a computer screen my confidence was low. it’s something I reflect on and although i enjoyed it id like to build that confidence in future assignments.

in the past year, I have been caught up in day-to-day life. Reflecting back on when I was on my country visit I realised how much I’ve missed exploring, climbing over tree logs, adventuring off the path, walking under bridge, crawling through spiderweb infested tunnels and jumping over rocks to avoid getting wet.

As a child, I remember doing this with my mum, I also continued to do this with my own children. It brought back so many memories from my past as a child and the recent past doing it with my children. I’m going to try and stop being caught up in day to day life and start getting out and exploring nature again.

It’s through play that they develop a sense of competence and make invaluable discoveries about their social, cultural, and physical environments. Most of what children need to learn during their early childhood years cannot be taught. It’s discovered through play (Wilson, 2007).

Miriam- rose (1988). https://www.miriamrosefoundation.org.au/dadirri/

Ungunmerr (2017).  Dadirri, Inner Deep Listening & Quiet Still Awareness [VIDEO 3:42] 

YouTube. https://youtu.be/tow2tR_ezL8

Wilson, R, 2007, Children, creative play, and the natural environment, in R. Wilson (edn) Nature and Young Children : Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments, Routledge.