Ideas Relay (17)

“I was overwhelmed by a trip to Uluru with my mother last year, also known as Ayers Rock in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It is the spiritual land of Australia’s Indigenous people. We absorbed with all our senses the rich red ochre of the soil, sand and rocks. My mother and I ran our hands across the magnificent large sandstone rock formation called Uluru as we bravely walked the complete circumference on an extremely hot day (the 10km walk took just over 4 hours), we respected the wishes of the Aboriginal people and chose not to climb the rock. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. The many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings we viewed gave us tranquilly and peace that lead to moments of solemness and prayer. The painted dark figures on the red rock face of Uluru reminded me of ancient Greek vases (Athenian black-figure painting).  These images further enhanced the connection of the fire of the Olympic spirit with the red centre of Australia and Pentecost. The stars at night seemed almost reachable as they kissed the horizon, never have I seen the earth’s complete 360 degrees circumference. Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semiarid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-grey colour, with streaks of black algae forming on the areas that serve as channels for water flow. The glowing red of Uluru is my messenger of my country and all it symbolizes. The red glow of the burning torch that so many people carry with them as they walk around the rock, from every part of the world they witness the red glow and walk speaking different tongues as the wind howls through the rocks crevices and the ancestors respond and speak to us. We witnessed the spiritual gift the land gives to all, that listen to “its dreams of cross cultural harmony”. In keeping with the passing of the flame, the fire of Uluru reflects the spiritual journey of Pentecost and of the running messenger.”

Miriam Cabello