Ruby Hunter dies

 

I nearly burst into tears today when I heard the very sad news that Ruby Hunter died. I first saw her singing on the beach in one of the earliest St Kilda festivals, next to her life partner Archie Roach. It was the first time I felt the deeper shared connection of living on this land together with these people who have been so displaced, marginalized and generally abused by the newer immigrants (namely Europeans). I could sense the Soul of her people, and their culture and suffereing. She was an amazing artist, and it is a devastating loss for our ongoing understanding and empathy of her people through her love and her work.

Durga-the Tiger riding Goddess

I've been thinking about Durga quite a lot lately, the difference between her and Kali, for example. I get the feeling that Kali is more 'raw' (as my friend Madhuma put it), and that Durga comes more from the 'Source' ie 'Love'. Check out the link above, to see the Awakening Women's blog, Chameli's words about her. I like the way she says: "Durga comes from Love, and is moving always towards Love...and in that stream, she is unbeatable.."