Looking for connection? Go back 80,000 years

I grew up cut off from my Gunnai culture. I’m here as a result of a brief love affair between my Australian mother and Aboriginal father. I didn’t even meet my father until I was 17 – another brief encounter – and I didn’t see him again until before his funeral. He died at just 52.

When you consider my upbringing, you could say I’m lucky to be alive. But luck has nothing to do with it.

My childhood was marked by severe trauma. Seeking protection and solace, Mother Nature was my safe place.

At twelve, I went to live with my Uncles in rural Australia. They were the role models I needed; wonderful men whose nurturing and love helped me flourish at school as well as deal with the small-town racism. Around this time, I took up boxing, which helped me channel my anger and pain and I went on to win two Australian Amateur National Boxing titles by the age of 18.

While I learned to channel my energy, I was still searching for answers.  Wanting to discover more about Aboriginal culture, I headed up to Alice Springs. I worked as a Youth Worker, while immersing myself in Central Australian culture.

Just days before I had planned to undergo Men’s Business, an Elder told me something that would change the course of my life.

I’ll never forget his words, wise and true:

“You need to re-connect to your own culture. It’s only lost if you don’t try to find it.”

Knowing the Elder was right, I travelled back to my Grandmother’s Gunditjmara Country in South West Victoria and began a 15-year journey of discovering my own culture. In the process, I re-established and revitalized many of the old practices through working with the Elders and Community.  On Gunditjmara Country I started culturally mentoring boys, work that I love and continue to this day through my Foundation.

For more than twenty years I’d always done the work that my Elders and Community asked of me, gaining vast professional experience in Men’s Health; Drug & Alcohol Support; Health & Nutrition; Family Violence Prevention; Indigenous Youth Mentoring; Cultural Heritage; Taking Care of Country; Indigenous Tourism; and Ancestral Remains Repatriation.

I was working passionately to help young men stay connected to culture and help families break free of domestic violence. But I continued to fight my own demons in private, often failing to respect myself, despite maintaining a professional life based on respect.

When I realised that the only time I felt whole – perfectly aligned and happy within – was while performing Ceremony on Country, I deeply understood what most people don’t: Aboriginal Dance and Ceremony isn’t about performance, its true gift is wellness.

As I progressed teaching the boys traditional dance, I started to develop a powerful sequence of movements which I used to calm and centre the boys (and myself) before we started dancing. I created a connection practice, tapping into ancient knowledge, for the modern world. As much as I wanted to turn back the clocks and live on Country, this wasn’t my reality.

When I met my partner Sara, I found a kindred spirit, who needed the practice as much as I did. In her, I found not just a life partner, but someone who believed that this practice needed to be named and shared with the world.

Together, we created Wayapa Wuurrk®, the first formalised wellness and connection practice based on 80,000 years of Indigenous Australian knowledge.

What if you could feel connected to yourself, the Earth, and Spirit, whoever and wherever you are?

Wayapa is the only known indigenous-based wellness discipline that is certified by the International Institute for Complementary Therapists. 48 licensed practitioners now deliver Wayapa workshops and training sessions across Australia and an online course is also available which can be accessed worldwide.

So many people, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, feel disconnected, which manifests itself into binge watching TV shows, drinking and eating too much and other addictions.

Indigenous people refer to the planet as Mother Earth for the very important reason that she sustains us, providing us with every possible thing that we need to live.

When we stop having a relationship with the planet, we cut ourselves off from the Connection that sustains us.

Connecting with the environment is the key to this practice. Each movement, visualisation or meditation is based on 14 elements which include sun and moon, tree and wind.

The origin of Wayapa can be traced as far back to the many hours I spent playing in the bush as a small child, becoming one with nature and now I’m honoured to offer individuals and communities an insight into the beautiful culture we have in Australia while reaping the mind, body and health benefits that this practice has to offer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KY6ncET7zg

Biography

Jamie Marloo Thomas is a respected senior cultural knowledge-holder for his Peek Whurrung Gunditjmara and GunnaiKurnai communities. Together with his partner Sara Jones, he founded Wayapa Wuurrk, which translates into “Connect Country”; providing an Indigenous alternative in the emerging Wellness Industry.

Combining 23 years of vast professional experience in men’s health, wellbeing, Drug and Alcohol Support, Family Violence Prevention and Indigenous Youth Mentoring with his personal connection practice rooted in Aboriginal Dance and Ceremony, Jamie created Wayapa® in consultation with Elders and community.

Jamie’s work is about helping people reconnect to Earth, Spirit and their true selves, so they can experience the wellness secrets that Indigenous people have known for 80,000 years that are embedded in taking care of Country.

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