I have been immersed in conversations with coaches for the last two weeks and have the opportunity for two more weeks of meeting coaches 1:1.
This is my fifth year of conversations with this group of (twenty-five) coaches. Each time we meet a theme emerges that appears to resonate with them and me. On this visit it is ‘everywhen’.
We have been discussing learning journeys and career options. For some reason these discussions brought up thoughts about the anthropologist Bill Stanner.
In 1953, he wrote about Aboriginal Dreaming. Bill’s understanding was:
A central meaning of The Dreaming is that of a sacred, heroic time long ago when man and nature came to be as they are; but neither ‘time’ nor ‘history’ as we understand them is involved in this meaning.
He added:
One cannot ‘fix’ The Dreaming in time: it was, and is, everywhen.
Why I think this has been an important conversation with coaches is that is has enabled us to talk about current practices … how we are.
It has been particularly helpful for me in discussions with coaches who are having difficulty finding a new job opportunity. The temptation in their job applications is to talk about past events. I have shared this quote about Aboriginal Dreaming from Bill with them to explore their everywhen:
they do not, in aversion from present or future, look back on it with yearning and nostalgia.
Although:
… it has for them an unchallengeably sacred authority.
Everywhen has been important too in conversations with coaches who are employed and have some security of contract. It has been fascinating to explore their practice including contemplation of the coach they will become.
The Dalai Lama came to my help too:
I have left this quote from Bill’s book to another conversation about journeys with coaches:
White man got no dreaming,
Him go ’nother way.
White man, him go different.
Him got road belong himself.
Photo Credit
In May 1975, Gurindji people were successful in having an area of their own land excised from the Vestey pastoral lease at Wattie Creek in the Northern Territory. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and Gurindji leader Vincent Lingiari celebrated the handover of the land at Daguragu. The event was recorded by Mervyn Bishop and stored here.
