Lessons from Akurra Adnya: Listening to the Rocks, Dancing with the Ancestors
Lessons from Akurra Adnya: Listening to the Rocks, Dancing with the Ancestors
Recently, I had the privilege of visitingAkurra Adnya (Arkaroo Rock)- a sacred rock shelter in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The ochre and charcoal images etched into its walls tell stories of theYura Muda- creation stories that are thousands of years old, passed from generation to generation through art, land, and song.
After sitting quietly inside, I decided to meditate for a while - just ten minutes of deep listening. Then, almost instinctively, I was drawn to walk around to the back of the rock shelter. I placed my hands and ear to the stone, asking the rock spirits to share a song with me.
To my surprise, the song that came through was one I hadn’t thought of in years:
“Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He…”
It repeated, clear and insistent.
Curious, I switched ears - right this time - and asked for a message from the ancestors. The same song began again, just as strong.
I had expected perhaps an ancient melody or message from the land. Instead, this familiar hymn arose - one whose meaning I later discovered speaks tolife, death, and rebirth… the eternal dance of creation.
So, in that moment, I did what the song asked.
I danced - quietly, freely - among the trees and stones.
And as I did, it struck me:leadership, too, is a kind of dance.
From Rock to Boardroom: The Dance of Steward Eldership
In my work with leaders and teams, I often speak ofSteward Eldership- a way of leading that’s less about control and more about connection. It’s the dance between:
Listening and leading
Holding and releasing
Knowing when to move, and when to still
The message from Akurra Adnya reminded me thattrue leadership is not a static posture. It’s an ongoing rhythm - between self, others, and the living systems we’re part of.
The ancient Yura Muda stories carved into those rock walls are not relics - they’re reminders. They teach us that everything in life moves in cycles: creation, destruction, renewal. When leaders learn to listen deeply, move with awareness, and act with reverence, they participate in this same eternal rhythm.
Dance Wherever You May Be
The hymn that came through the rock speaks across cultures and time:
“I am the Lord of the Dance, said He,
and I lead you all, wherever you may be.”
It’s a song of universality - reminding us thatsacredness isn’t confined to one faith or story. It’s the same song, sung in different tongues, across millennia.
At its heart, it’s an invitation:
To stay in rhythm with life.
To move with grace.
To remember that leadership, like dance, begins with listening.
If you’re seeking to bring this kind of consciousness, rhythm, and reverence into your organisation, this is what our Steward Eldership Certification helps cultivate - leaders who can listen, hold, and move in time with their people and the wider world.
“Leadership is not about being the loudest in the room; it’s about hearing the quietest song.”
References:
🔗 Learn about the origins and meaning of Lord of The Dance:Wikipedia
🌄 Discover more about the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and the Yura Muda stories from Adnyamathanha Country.
