Ep4: Visions of a Nomad
In this interview I’m joined by musicians and artists Michael Cuming and Silvana van Dijk from the Australian musical duo Visions of a Nomad. We dive into the ancient wisdom of Australia including dreamtime stories, how to read nature signs, and dream interpretation.
We discuss how Michael and Silvana met, why Silvana left an international modelling career and Michael his own touring musical project to disappear for months into the Australian bush with a spear and a 4×4.
We discuss Michael’s death experience in a hang gliding accident that radically changed his life, his time living as the personal secretary to an Indian guru with supernatural powers, and their deep connection to the indigenous people of Australia.
Topics include:
-The beginnings of Visions of A Nomad
-Why Michael left his nationally touring band to live in the desert with just a spear and his instincts
-The story of love at first sight between Michael and Silvana
-Why Silvana gave up an international modelling career to go with Michael to live with the indigenous people of Australia
-Living together with Aboriginals
-How the indigenous spiritual blueprint pervades the land of Australia
-The unique spiritual energy and traditions of Australia
-The old Dreaming Paths of Australia
How to tune into nature and read natural signs
-The specific meanings of certain animal signs
-Personal experiences with warnings from the kuru bird
-The ancient knowledge in the Aboriginal dreamtime stories
The differences between the energetic information of Europe and Australia
-Learning to read the language of nature
-Why Michael’s left school to become a stockman in the outback
-How Michael’s connection with the indigenous people of Australia began
-What Michael learned working with mentally challenged children at a Rudolf -Steiner School
-How dying in a hang gliding accident radically changed the direction of Michael’s life
-What Michael learned from his spiritual experience when he was dead
-The extreme spiritual seeking of Michael’s early twenties that brought him to a crisis point
-How a dream brought Michael to meet his Indian guru Swami Krishna
-Living and studying Hatha yoga and Tantric meditation with the guru
-Swami Krishna’s history learning Tibetan tantra and travelling through India as a colleague of Osho
-Michael’s final profound spiritual experience with Swami Krishna
-How attachment to concepts and paradigms can block spiritual experiences
-When Michael realised he was getting hooked on blissing out
-Why Michael stopped meditation and applied his spiritual lessons towards living life of creativity and excellence
-Why living a full life is important and how the body can teach us to work with strong energies
-Where Michael’s drive for artistic excellence comes from
-How Swami Krishna taught his students and worked with his solo
-High level practice as a spiritual commando
-Why Michael would never be a spiritual teacher
-Dream interpretation
-The links between the Vedas and the Aboriginals
-Why the Aboriginals represent an unbroken line of ancient understanding stretching back through time
-The intersection of culture, art, and spirituality
-How Michael builds bridges between communities with his music and ceremony work
-Why everyone is indigenous
-What does the term Aboriginal mean
-Michael’s work with the Aboriginal people
-Music, art, and traditional ceremony
-Are Michael and Silvana shamans?
-Michael’s morning ritual
Find out more about Michael and Silvana here:
– https://www.visionsofanomad.com/
– http://www.arcdreamingaboriginaldancetheatre.com/
– https://visionsofanomad1.bandcamp.com/
Music ‘Grassy Spirit’ performed live by Visions of a Nomad