But seriously…. So much truth in this. I will have to check out those books. Interesting as I’ve been in Australia 25 years and with people I don’t feel at home. Culturally I feel still a bit on the outside. But the land … the LAND… is my home. I have a connection to the earth here that I never felt growing up in the American south. When I am camping I can just sit for ages on a rock and just feel. Just BE. It feeds my soul!
So interesting Michelle, thank you for sharing. The cafe is “The Gathering” in Bungendore - you could just make it a long day-trip from Sydney if you are keen :)
So interesting. I’ve often wondered if I went to Ireland if I would automatically feel at home - some deep ancestral connection? I have never been so I don’t know!
As it happens I lived in Ireland for 3 years and actually the land too different. I didn’t connect and I found that fascinating. Another piece in the place connection thinking.
I love what you write here and share from Aunty Nola via. Claire’s book, particularly about balancing knowledge and connection. So much cultural conditioning in me placing knowledge over connection, doing over being. Much to learn ! I too have made conscious commitment to spending more time in community. Just come in from doing working bees in local Food Forest and then the Community Garden. Many heartwarming connections with human beings and other than human beings, especially a friendly pied butcher bird who decided to garden with us.
Sally, it is the cultural conditioning isn’t it? So much automatic programming we first have to recognise and then deliberately make different choices around. Your community gardening sounds wonderful. xo
I love that! More human be-ing and less human doing. It required a serious burnout for me to learn that lesson.
Love that you had nothing screaming at you that needs doing and you got some whole body warming. xo
P.S. I connect to the land by lying on the rocks at the beach, swimming in the ocean, hugging trees and being kissed by the sun. My latest favourite pastime is striking up a conversation with people I don't know.
I'm curious.... what would it be like to abandon the confining label of "a descendent of colonialists" and just ask yourself, "what does it mean to be human in this land"?
In my opinion, white guilt is secular original sin and just like Catholicism, it is as toxic as that form of the Patriarchy. Just because you were born white doesn't mean you were born guilty. Original sin is a human narrative designed to keep us small and less-than. Guilt is not a mandatory emotion needed for humans to be good people any more than the Pope is necessary to teach humans how to be good people.
Oh my blasphemous friend :), what a brave and good question. That would allow me to come at that connection and relationship without a lot of baggage and probably get much clearer answers. I think your concept of original sin is valid - in that I was not born guilty. However, I do feel guilt and when I feel an emotion, I am learning to listen and ask what it is telling me. As an aware adult, I am complicit in an unjust system and continue to benefit from the actions of my ancestors. I’m going to have to sit with this and muse a bit. I can see that guilt is probably counter-productive, and I can also see I have never really sat with or wondered about the role and function of it in my life. I’m going to need to take a pause and reflect on it. Thank you for planting the seed. xo
I hope you enjoy Landcare! Our property was previously owned by a very active member of Landcare and we are blessed with the fruits of his labours with a glorious spread of tree corridors along every fence line (and even have spotted a koala or two!!).
Glimmers for me today include a silent house with a roaring fire, a new project started, and a warm fire on a cool evening.
Your property sounds wonderful! Right now, if I could quit everything and just plant trees for the rest of my life I think I would be quite happy! Thank you for sharing your glimmers - warmth is a consistent thread at the moment!
Another great thought Gillian. I’m very much on the same path of learning the impact of my colonial ancestors and how I still benefit from this and how I can make change. Understanding land / place connection feels like an important part of that too.
An open fire in a cafe??!! Where, I’m coming!
But seriously…. So much truth in this. I will have to check out those books. Interesting as I’ve been in Australia 25 years and with people I don’t feel at home. Culturally I feel still a bit on the outside. But the land … the LAND… is my home. I have a connection to the earth here that I never felt growing up in the American south. When I am camping I can just sit for ages on a rock and just feel. Just BE. It feeds my soul!
So interesting Michelle, thank you for sharing. The cafe is “The Gathering” in Bungendore - you could just make it a long day-trip from Sydney if you are keen :)
Tempting to drive 3 hours!
The train to Canberra also stops at Bungedore - I love that train trip!
Let me know if you do, we could meet for coffee!
It’s intriguing I am the same. I wasn’t born here but the land is infused in my being.
So interesting. I’ve often wondered if I went to Ireland if I would automatically feel at home - some deep ancestral connection? I have never been so I don’t know!
As it happens I lived in Ireland for 3 years and actually the land too different. I didn’t connect and I found that fascinating. Another piece in the place connection thinking.
Oh brilliant! You just saved me three years and lots of dollars :) Thank you.
You may need to go check it out anyway!
When we connect we glimmer 🌹
Absolutely, thank you for being a glimmer here :)
I love what you write here and share from Aunty Nola via. Claire’s book, particularly about balancing knowledge and connection. So much cultural conditioning in me placing knowledge over connection, doing over being. Much to learn ! I too have made conscious commitment to spending more time in community. Just come in from doing working bees in local Food Forest and then the Community Garden. Many heartwarming connections with human beings and other than human beings, especially a friendly pied butcher bird who decided to garden with us.
Sally, it is the cultural conditioning isn’t it? So much automatic programming we first have to recognise and then deliberately make different choices around. Your community gardening sounds wonderful. xo
I love that! More human be-ing and less human doing. It required a serious burnout for me to learn that lesson.
Love that you had nothing screaming at you that needs doing and you got some whole body warming. xo
P.S. I connect to the land by lying on the rocks at the beach, swimming in the ocean, hugging trees and being kissed by the sun. My latest favourite pastime is striking up a conversation with people I don't know.
Yes, you are meeting me post-burnout, too. Lying on the rocks at the beach sounds delicious—warmth on both sides!
I'm curious.... what would it be like to abandon the confining label of "a descendent of colonialists" and just ask yourself, "what does it mean to be human in this land"?
In my opinion, white guilt is secular original sin and just like Catholicism, it is as toxic as that form of the Patriarchy. Just because you were born white doesn't mean you were born guilty. Original sin is a human narrative designed to keep us small and less-than. Guilt is not a mandatory emotion needed for humans to be good people any more than the Pope is necessary to teach humans how to be good people.
Oh my blasphemous friend :), what a brave and good question. That would allow me to come at that connection and relationship without a lot of baggage and probably get much clearer answers. I think your concept of original sin is valid - in that I was not born guilty. However, I do feel guilt and when I feel an emotion, I am learning to listen and ask what it is telling me. As an aware adult, I am complicit in an unjust system and continue to benefit from the actions of my ancestors. I’m going to have to sit with this and muse a bit. I can see that guilt is probably counter-productive, and I can also see I have never really sat with or wondered about the role and function of it in my life. I’m going to need to take a pause and reflect on it. Thank you for planting the seed. xo
Any time, my dear!
I hope you enjoy Landcare! Our property was previously owned by a very active member of Landcare and we are blessed with the fruits of his labours with a glorious spread of tree corridors along every fence line (and even have spotted a koala or two!!).
Glimmers for me today include a silent house with a roaring fire, a new project started, and a warm fire on a cool evening.
Your property sounds wonderful! Right now, if I could quit everything and just plant trees for the rest of my life I think I would be quite happy! Thank you for sharing your glimmers - warmth is a consistent thread at the moment!
We lost a lot in the drought and are still battling to find time to remove and replace - it tree planting could indeed be a full time job!
Another great thought Gillian. I’m very much on the same path of learning the impact of my colonial ancestors and how I still benefit from this and how I can make change. Understanding land / place connection feels like an important part of that too.
Thanks Paula, it makes me hopeful that there are many of us wondering the same things.
Being and doing, live in the balance of both
Beautiful summation!
something i've been pondering for a long while
comes back to living in an economy rather than a society
Yes, so many restrictions and expectations come directly from our expected productivity eh?
So true!