Noosletter 6

09/01/2000

Mountain Trip - Visiting the Mother

Those present: Brett, Tristan, Denise & Graeme, Joanne & Gary, Ron & Mandy, Peter & Alison, Elaine, Mick. (What a Crew!)

We arrived in dribs & drabs, eventually settling for a coffee in the carpark. Conversations were a little subdued as this was the merging of different groups, and it took a while for us all to get to know each other. We made our way to a pool in the creek, and after a short ceremony, to ask for permission and protection, proceeded on our way. As this trip was the result of Brett's dream, where he was beckoned by an aboriginal woman, we made our way up the left fork in the creek. (Left signifying the female pathway, healing, spiritual)
The going was tough and the tough got going. (reminds me of a song...) Large and small boulders filled the creek bed. Here and there were dotted serene pools of crystal clear water and small, bubbling drops. There was also signs of violent storm damage with both small and huge trees tossed down across our path. Along the way were open, rocky areas where other small side streams filtered in, usually shaded by tall palms. We enjoyed a few "breathers" at these places, soaking up the atmosphere and marvelling at the surrounds, until we reached a very "special" place. Here Brett performed a simple ceremony and proceeded to paint symbols on our foreheads, one for the women, and a different one for the men. Mick and Ron shared the painting of Brett before a humorous photo session (separate shots for the women and the men.... a bit sexist I think!....).
Once again we tackled the never ending boulders and slippery, moss covered rocks, climbing ever higher, slipping here, sliding there, almost overbalancing, grasping for overhanging branches, climbing over fallen logs, always accompanied by the gurgling of the water and the occasional breeze in the treetops high overhead. The group spread out until those at the rear could no longer see those at the front. Every now and then a squeal filtering down the valley gave an indication that someone "up front" had tripped or slipped and wound up with a wet bum or a boot full of water... From above we must have looked like a little trail of ants, gallantly attacking a mountain...

Again, along the way we found many magical places with clear pools, shady banks, magnificent stands of tall palms and many, many baby palms, sprouting in the gravel, grasping for life in the harshest of places. Wonderful insects were seen such as an "electric blue" dragon fly, and many butterflies. There was, however, a distinct lack of other animals and birds, apart from the odd bush pidgeon. Onward and higher we climbed (here read stumbled, slid, slipped, fell ) the climb only broken by the occasional rest at an SSS (coined phrase: Secret Smoking Site) where weary bodies sat on rocks, smoked the odd cigarette, (or in my case, two) sipped some water, and gathered some strength to continue, always peering up ahead, wondering what lay around the next bend or beyond the next boulder.....

Eventually we were there. A large rock pool almost filled the narrowing valley and above it was an awesome sight. A highway to heaven! In actual fact this was a dark black lava flow about six feet in width bordered on both sides by a lighter conglomerate, and split down the middle by a narrow band of light rock. It looked just like a roadway with the white line down the middle. The water flowed down this road, making the dark, smooth lava look jet black. The effect was stunning !

This area was the junction of two watercourses, one, to the left had more black lava and was steeper, while the one from the right cascaded down through a series of small pools. At the top on the right sat a huge boulder with a single palm tree behind, and those that sat there in the lotus position, created a kind of surreal picture.....

We had lunch here, and divested ourselves of our footwear to paddle our tortured feet in the icy water. The effect was magical, cool water on hot feet,( in Brett's case, hot head) eased the pain and soothed the mind. Soon, however, we all became restless, wandering around, poking here, photographing there, following one or other of the forks, or just meandering about..... Mandy survived an attempted rape by a butterfly whose colouring almost perfectly matched that of her shirt... Peter and Alison disappeared to a waterfall up the right hand fork.... Denise fell into the pool.... And we discovered an amazing flower! White with five petals on the rear of what looked like a miniature snap dragon, with a "second flower" in it's mouth. The second flower had four petals, making a total of nine petals.....
Brett showed us some crystal artifacts, and Joanne brought out the artifact from a previous find. These were passed around and ogled and caressed...
Eventually it was time to leave this magical place and retrace our footsteps back down this tortuous creek line. Again there were slips and spills, thankfully no bad injuries. (mainly ego I think) We seemed to make a better pace on the way down, perhaps due to the higher perspective enabling one to choose an easy path among the boulders and logs. Along the way Denise mentioned that she had the strongest message that her "dunking" in the rock pool had been an "initiation".... Those nearby all agreed... Again we stretched out along the trail, coming together at a few SSS.
This time however we did spot some other creatures. A lazy carpet snake had it's afternoon snooze disturbed by a group of ogling trekkers, and a frightened goanna scurried up a tree to peer with distain at the mottly bunch passing below........

Back in the valley, we enjoyed an urgent coffee before returning to the first pool and offering thanks to the local aboriginal spirits for a wondrous visit to their area.

With hugs all round, we wearily departed, footsore, damp, tired and thoroughly elated!

Mick's Musings

Wonderful dream, had by Brett, to cause this gathering... Why number nine?

Mother Earth Spirit beckoning him? Need to get "grounded"?

Great place ! Mystical feelings, even at the carpark....

Had a feeling we were being watched, at first ceremony and along the way... particularly strong at the top.....

Was there a need for some (or all) of the males in this group to "get in touch" with their "feminine side"?

Was it truly an "initiation" for the women? (all got somewhat WET ! )

Highway to heaven ! What a sight!

Strange unrest at the top...... lots of shuffling about..

Toss up for the "wet bum award" Joanne had most, Denise's was bigger!

Great to see the Butterflies !

Straaaange flower ! Giving birth? NINE petals !

Loved the "drumbeat" by the water at a couple of places..... revitalising!

Not a good trek to "break in" a new set of runners!

Quote of the day by Denise re "crutch".... I won't repeat it here!

For all the "strenuousness" it was still a "laid back" day....

Thanks Brett !!!

Footnote.

My sister in Melbourne, had promised to be with us in spirit.... Her totem is the iguana, or goanna. When she awoke on the morning, there was a huge rainbow in the west.... She sensed that this would be a reptile day.... ( her goanna, and the rainbow serpent...) What two creatures did we see on the way down?..............