NAIDOC WEEK:

This year’s 2021 theme is “Heal Country” – a call for awareness to protect Aboriginal lands, waters, sacred sites, and cultural heritage.

Country is more than a place. For Indigenous Australians it is talked about as if it is a person. It sustains our lives in every form – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally.

Country in its physical form contributes to healing of all aspects of being human and living on this planet – the land, the native plants,  the birds and animals, the rivers, the ocean. For instance, in Australian Bush Flower Essence range the Boab Flower (native plant) is said to bring about profound change and clears negative emotional and dysfunctional family patterns that are passed on from generation to generation. Around Broome and the Kimberley’s when the Boab tree is in flower, intuitively pregnant Aboriginal women have left hospital, made their way to the Boab tree, and laid in the bed of Boab flowers to give birth  (knowing spiritually, emotionally, culturally)

Healing Country can be interpreted in many ways.  Firstly, embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage; respecting Indigenous culture and values equally to all cultures within our Australian way of life. Most importantly we need to protect Country

Embracing the knowledge and expertise in how to respect and look after country (Australia) for the betterment of all Australians.

Each any everyone us are able to contribute to ‘Healing Country’ – physically, emotionally, and spiritually by the actions we conduct ourselves daily. Some ideas are:

• Research who are the traditional custodians of where you live and at meetings, gatherings conduct “Acknowledgement of Country”. Vibrationally we are adjusting the energy where we are and raising conscious awareness.

Here is a generic Acknowledgment of Country which can be used, or you can research further on the internet.

“ I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather (tribe’s name here if you know it) , and pay respect to the Elders – past, present and emerging”

• In your local area we can engage in “Healing Country” by actively interacting and contributing to the wellbeing of each other and the land of which we live, love, and appreciate – mindful recycling, the nurturing of gardens, growing food (even in the smallest capacity), planting of trees native to your area; support and outreach to our neighbours and community; caring and saving of our wildlife. Any small gesture is one step closer to healing.
• It is upholding and maintaining the history of the traditional owners as much as accurate history tells us and from the foundation of truth, we as a nation can heal energetically collectively.

Enjoy NAIDOC week and together let us raise the healing vibration for all Australians and show our respect to our First Nation’s people – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander who for over 60,000 years have lived, loved country, and hold the inner knowing of how to ‘Heal Country’.

Carmel Schleger (pictured with Niece)

Holistic Therapist

Descendant of Moreton Family – Yuggera/ Quandamooka/ Djandewal tribe in SEQ.