Fragile

[Dimity]

I have various happy memories of music groups @Appleblossom but my U3A experience didn't work out. I'm very rusty now.

Interesting re djembe. I have  quite a few cds of West African music, mostly Mali, pre-dating recent troubles.

Yes @Till23 I guess I started recorder while at primary school but was basically self taught after my mother cancelled piano and violin, so it was second or rather third best. My examiners always noted I was musical but somehow I never got very far. Part of my dysfunctional childhood. The boys were supported in their interests, the girls not. 

Musicking as social ritual was part of my grandmother's legacy. And she played the church harmonium for years. 

[Till23]

Oh my goodness @Appleblossom my descant recorder definitely did not cost $900. 

Although whatever it cost my parents it was good value when you consider Opera House opened in 1973 - that's 52 years ago now and I was playing it before that. I occasionally have a play on it even now. 

I got up to about third grade with piano and then my parents split up and the abusive stepfather wasn't paying for lessons so that was that. One of my wishes for retirement is to start learning piano again. I don't have a piano though.

Connection to nature is so central to my life, I would not survive without it so the work does not bother me, in fact I quite like it. When my MH is not good it's hard, but even during my cancers I still looked forward to garden and yard work. In those times I really made friends with "my" magpies and they don't worry about me if I'm in the garden and get quite close to me in case I expose a worm or something. They follow me around when I mow the lawn. I was worried when I got my rare immune disease that I might not be able to keep up the work because my lungs were inflammed and fatigue is a major symptom, but I pressed on so I could keep all of my remaining lung function and I'm glad I did, even though it was exhausting at the time. I love sitting in the night in the quiet watching the flames and listening to the crackle of my fire, so chopping firewood is worth it. It's exercise, it warms you while you're chopping and the smell of the wood and the beauty of the grain and colours is lovely. I only burn hard wood and have the highest quality filter in my flue.

I'm so glad you have music to increase your connection and to be able to enjoy it. As well as nature, there is a lot of evidence for the positive effects of music on MH.

I'm glad you've also had a good day and had interactions with these experienced musicians.

[Till23]

I actually went to a talk through U3A about drumming and MH @Dimity @Appleblossom it was absolutely brilliant. The female presenter had PTSD from working as police officer and her psychologist got her back into playing her guitar as part of her recovery. She then discovered drumming and now has a business running workshops for drumming and the mind. She brought a range of drums with her including djembe and we all had a play - it was fantatsic. So that's another thing to look into further. If only I had more funds to support all these things I'd like to explore further!

I'm glad you had your grandmother as a musical role model @Dimity 

[Appleblossom]

@Dimity having some music reading skills opens options. Your op wasn't that long ago so listen to your body and its needs. Music can help though, when the time is ready.

I only did grade 1 as a kid. I paid for my own lessons from early 20s and did exams then. So a late bloomer, always late...lol

@Till23 what was I thinking when I bought it! Lol. Silly me. I am usually so frugal and blew all that dough! It is getting an outing as church conductor asked me to use it for a descant line. It sounds good when there are layers of sound below.

I love hearing about your close to the earth life style. The look and sound of fires are beautiful. The last times I looked at one was with indigenous friends. One was a well known artist.

I started drumming 20 years ago when I took my son to a folk music camp. The thrumming beat is very primal.It can be great and is popular but I don't do it much at the moment. What we had this afternoon was subtle. 

Maybe I need to let go of all my family pain and try not to be negatively triggered when others mention an aspect of their family. I cannot change the reality of the pain and loss in my family but I know people are just being themselves when they talk about their families. Just let the hard stuff go, Apple, and keep flowing with the good stuff. 

We all weave our lives differently.

[Till23]

Oh @Appleblossom I am sorry if I triggered you, that was not intentional.

I don't talk that much about my family either and it's just me - no partner, no kids, so I understand because I feel awkward when people mention their children, but I know It's life and I just accept it and let it go. Not always easy though.

I think if you get pleasure and human connection from your recorder it's worth it, you can't put a price on some things.

You might remember from another thread I have an indigenous background which is where my love and need to care for nature almost certainly comes from.

Yes I agree the drumming we did in the workshop/presentation was meditative and I thought it was a great tool. I absolutely love silence as well though, or probably silence from man-made things because I love the sound of crashing waves, the wind in the trees and birds, esp magpies - people don't realise that they are fabulous mimics, not as phenomenal as lyrebirds, but very good.

Speaking of weaving - I must do more of that. I actually have pandanus on my block and I have weaved some things with it. 

I hope you have a good rest tonight

[Appleblossom]

@Till23 

I vaguely wondered if I remembered you were indigenous when I wrote about watching the fire. I knew a fella back in the 1970-80s: Trevor Nicholls. He was the first indigenous artist to attend Victorian College of the Arts and then have his work hung in the national gallery. Later when we were rich enough I sat in his house as he tended his fire. Sadly he died young and I knew his wife, as art curator out here where I live now. His art integrated and portrayed old ways with modern so called progress, with edge and with humour. A person I feel privileged to have known. Was proud to show his art to my nephew a months ago when we were in a regional gallery.

I also went out to Djab Warrung mob on the Western highway trying to protect the birthing tree after the Directions tree had been cut down. Yep they had the fire Burning. My father and I lived close with indigenous culture in the orphanages so I have walked with First Nations people for a long time.

I also taught catechism as a young teen and developed a love for Creation, then in my 20s I studied some of the science. It was before they even had an Environmentalism course in the universities, so it was hard core Geology. It doesn't matter, the angle, Mother Nature has always been important to me. I live near Boon and Djab Warrung country. I also did lots of field trips there. 

Please don't think you triggered me. It was me talking to myself, encouraging myself not to get triggered in general social conversation. Definitely not you.

In the beautiful sharing during the break on Thursday with my u3a singing group, a lady shared a photo of her new grandson. I reflected momentarily on my circumstances, but it wouldn't have served me or her, or the group to bring up my circumstances. That would trigger me. 

Sometimes I have been angry, if I always have to listen to people being boastful and not having any sensitivity to those in difficult situations, but this group was being genuine. So learning to let go and go with the flow. The group has been affirmative to me and they know I have cared for them.

I am sorry, you are alone but glad you have found some connections on the forum. Please feel welcome to share small or big moments of your journey. 

Cooee apple

Dad taught me to Cooee and to crouch and took me through many bushwalks before he died when I was 11. Sadly the welfare didn't approve or have sensitivity that he was going walkabout trying to find his spirit. I was happy camping in haystacks when I was 6, but it wasn't right for my younger siblings. It is what it is. We try to find the bridges where we have Common Ground.

@Shaz51 @Dimity @Abner 

[Appleblossom]

Even in my Geology course, they spoke of indigenous knowledge, passed down through oral transmission of the last volcanic eruptions in the Western Volcanic plains. @Till23 Respect.

[Appleblossom]

Love silence among manmade things too.

@Till23 @Abner @rav3n @Dimity 

Really enjoyed walk along beach this week with my son. Especially him noticing how loud the wind and the waves can be.

[Abner]

Hi @Appleblossom , it's great to hear about your experiences with country and culture.  I haven't got much experience with country and culture here in Australia, but have much experience with my European culture.  I also am interested in geology and environmental science. 

If you don't mind I have lots to find out, and many questions to ask you.

[Till23]

You are a true ally @Appleblossom 

@Abner @Appleblossom Indigenous people’s role on country is as custodians and to continue their culture, much of which is to celebrate the land and the inhabitants as in flora and fauna so, caring for country.

I think it’s everyone’s responsibility to do that. Unfortunately much of society seems to be driven by greed and “things” now which has, and is continuing to have, a detrimental effect on the environment. I think people are starting to realise that this pursuit of money as a way to happiness is leading them to actually be worse off. Look at the current climate disasters around the world.

 I am surprised at how quickly this is happening, how much temperatures have gone up in my lifetime, how much wildlife has become/is becoming extinct.

We will all be effected. When the temperature goes up people will put on their air conditioners and the temperature will go up further.

Indigenous peoples understand natural cycles. I think many of the current human earth inhabitants have so little connection with nature that they just don’t see how their lives impact the environment.

Anyhow, that’s my environmental rant.

It’s lovely that you were able to know the indigenous artist and that you have a wide range of interests. I suppose these have come through circumstance and education, but you are obviously open to learning.