You send the springs into the valleys; they flow between the mountains. All the animals drink from them; the wallabies quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the air make their nests and sing among the branches. You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; the earth is fully satisfied with the fruit of your works. (Psalm 104:10-12)
Around 37,000 years, or 1,500 generations ago
‘the land and trees were dancing’
as one of their ancestor creators
revealed part of himself in the landscape
as Budj Bim.
Life was given … with laws to follow …
in the Dreaming.
Barrenness … brought to life
Aspects of the ancestral being incarnated into parts of the landscape.
The domed hill forehead of Budj Bim.
The spat out scoria lava formed his teeth
as it cooled, fractured and broke into a jumble of blocks and slabs.
The ancient land is sharp and jagged.
The tongue of lava formed a blocking ridge,
damming the valley.
The ancient creek, backed up,
formed swamps, creeks and lakes.
It cut new courses as it wound over and under the land
as it found its way south to the sea,
to the final resting place of the Gunditjmara spirits,
at the foot of the cliffs of Deen Maar (Lady Julia Percy Island).
In a mighty act of creation,
the life bringing water teemed with wildlife
A food enriched landscape
A profusion of plants, both beautiful and practical.
Reeds to weave eel baskets
Rocks to build homes and
an extensive hydrological engineering system
Budj Bim birthed a new wetland,
Tae Rak (Lake Condah), a paradise
offering abundant life to all within.
This is Gunditjmara country
‘belonging to man’
The weeping She-oaks stand like sentries
and whisper softly to you. Ω
What is this? Lent is the 40 days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. Traditionally it is a time of reflection and pilgrimage. To help you on this journey, Sanctuary has put together daily stories and images from people in the congregation which are focused on God in this place. Why this theme? Read this! #Lent2023. Our Spiritual Geography © Sanctuary, 2023. Sanctuary is based on Peek Whurrong country. Full acknowledgement of country here.
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