Susan told the story of John Gallard “downloading” traditional knowledge in her June 28 teisho “Coming From the Side”This story is elaborated in “The Sydney that has no Postcode” a search into the deepest layers of the feel of place,an audio feature, written and produced by Susan in 2003 for Radio National.
The program explores spirits of place and how they might talk to us : sensing the secret agreement that runs through land (still perceptible beneath development) : old roads of Sydney following ancient walking tracks : freeing the old spirits in the land to speak : the song in the land : conversations with with country without words : feeling the land and spirit places with your body : sacred sites as body : reconciliation with the spirit of the land : belonging in this country with no postcodes : inviting the spirits to make themselves felt : stories of spirit places/sacred sites with Uncle Max Harrison Dulumunmun, Aunty Joan Cooper, Aunty Edna Watson, and sisters Pat and Fay, John Gallard and Red Cloud the kelpie.
1 reply on “‘The Sydney which has no postcode’”
Thank you Susan for your captivating, compelling stories that connect and help guide us into this deep exploration. I feel moved beyond measure.
“The desire to make contact will make contact”…many years ago I spent a day with my dear friend and Wangerriburra Woman, Aunty Ruby Rose. I asked her how I might live more respectfully on Country and towards the Old Ones here at Beechmont. She suggested that when I went home I could build a circle of stones somewhere on this property to let the Ancient Ones know I respectfully welcomed their presence. So I did build that circle of stones as soon as I got home.
The next day, just on sunset as I finished a run with my dog, I was bitten on my right hip by a carpet snake as I stepped into our chook pen. It left a circle of teeth marks that broke my skin and gave me quite a fright!
When I told Aunty about what had happened and asked what it meant, she said that Kabul, the Old One related to the Rainbow Serpent, had taken up my welcome and claimed me.
It makes a good story to tell people now and then, but deeper, much much deeper than that, I know I am claimed by this land and these Old Ones. I am entirely at their service. There are practices I do daily here – walking, sitting, Qigong, yoga; looking, hearing, noticing, learning – that maintain and nourish connection and all the while, I seek to go deeper…()