#gubbi gubbi country

[moodymeangirl]

my bed for the night

[whats-in-a-sentence]

But while the lie of terra nullius – unoccupied country – survived, overarching negotiation between black and white, between the colonial government and the peoples of the Colony, was impossible. Australia was fought for in an endless war of little, cruel battles.

"Killing for Country: A Family History" - David Marr

[stormbornwitch]

Communing with Spirits to Create Personal Correspondences

Buckle up witches, we're doing spirit work!

So over the last ten or so years I've been working on connecting with spirits of the land in order to create my own personal set of correspondences.

Now, I'm not going to just list my personal gnosis about the various flora and fauna of where I live because unless you also live in Gubbi Gubbi Country, it won't be of much use to you. Instead, I'm going to give you the tools to do this for yourself so you can take your witchcraft from a beginner level where you're using common correspondences written in books, to an intermediate level where you're making your own.

Let's do this thing!

So, first you need to step away from the witchcraft books, with their carefully curated lists of correspondences, and step outside. It's important to note that most of the common flora and fauna used in traditional witchcraft originates from Europe. If you live in Europe, this makes it easier for you to make your own correspondences. If you don't... well be prepared to do a bit of hard yakka yourself.

"Using what is local and connecting with one's own land is fundamental." (Horne, 2019)

Step 1: Take a Walk

I know it might seem simple but you're going to walk around your local area. Wear some sensible shoes; fill a water bottle; bring your phone and keys; a plastic bag to put rubbish in; and a small notebook with a pen/pencil. I like to put all of this in a backpack but use whatever works for you.

If this is your first time doing this, you're not going to be making any correspondences. As you walk, reach out with your magic and introduce yourself to the local spirits. It will take time for them to be open to you, so the more often you do this, the better.

Don't pick any flowers or plants on these early journeys. Just take your time and if you see any litter, pick it up. This is a great offering to local spirits and helps pave the way for your connection to the land.

You will soon begin to 'sense' local places where there are stronger / more cognisant spirits. I like to call these 'places of power' and have made a hand drawn map of my local area with little symbols showing where these spirits reside.

Step 2: Learn Your Spirits

Now, learning the 'personality' of these spirits will help you to create correspondences later on down the line. Here are some general guidelines that I've found for my local spirits. Yours may be different.

Because I live in a colonised country, many local spirits don't like colonisers and will be actively hostile towards people who are not indigenous. For example, during the 1700s and 1800s there were massacres of the local Gubbi Gubbi people on this land by colonisers. The spirits of the land remember the blood of their cousins spilt by outsiders. In the 'lifespan' of older spirits like rivers, islands and mountains, these atrocities didn't happen that long ago... so you can understand why they wouldn't like non-indigenous people.

Water Spirits

Rivers tend to have strong spirits associated with them. They are slow moving, often nourishing, revitalising and cleansing. They're also OLD, like thousands of years old. The age of the river usually dictates the wisdom of the spirit. But you also need to do research into the history of the river, what plants and animals call it home and how it's been treated by humans as this often dictates how hostile the spirit will be with you when interacting with it. Most of the time river spirits will ignore you. Don't be discouraged, but understand that you are just one of the millions of entities living on their banks. Be respectful and persistent. It takes time.

Creeks and Streams are much younger than rivers most of the time and their speed reflects this. They often have more energising, almost playful spirits but this is not always the case. For example, there is a creek in Gubbi Gubbi Country called Murdering Creek... It's called that because in 1862, approximately 25 Gubbi Gubbi men were simply fishing in canoes during bunya season only to be ambushed and massacred by the Manager of the Yandina Station, Walter Taplock Chippindall, and five other stockmen (Gibbons, 2014). The spirit of this creek understandably does not like white people and did not want to work with me. That is totally fine and I respected its wishes. Just like people, not all spirits are going to like you. That's okay.

Lakes are often more calm spirits. They nourish the land around them and are often more reflective and quiet. You often have to really listen closely to connect with the spirit of a lake. Do not expect a quick response from a lake... let them ruminate for a while and come back later.

Swamps are simultaneously teeming with both life and death; with fallen trees, rotting logs, buzzing mosquitoes and all manner of wildlife. Spirits of swamps are slow and stagnant like the water that inhabits them. Not much phases them most of the time as they are used to the quickly turning wheel of life and death that lives in or around the swamp. They don’t really care about you most of the time… almost like an indifference that tastes like death and rebirth.

Freshwater springs are usually lively spirits bursting with energy bringing forth life-giving, generous refreshment from beneath the surface of the earth. They are cool and bright with an almost ‘mineral’ taste. There aren’t really many freshwater springs where I am that don’t have bottled water companies taking the water so admittedly, my connection with these types of spirits is limited.

The Ocean… Stand in awe at the majesty of these spirits. They are both life-giving and devastating. I love the ocean and feel safe when in its waters, but I also know it doesn’t give a shit about me. It is vast, ancient and tumultuous. There is deep, deep wisdom here… be respectful and you’ll be fine.

Earth Spirits

Mountains here are often proud and headstrong. The spirits of the Mountains on Gubbi Gubbi Country often have stories associated with them. The most famous are the volcanic plugs known nowadays as the Glasshouse Mountains. They’re a family: Tibrogargan, the father, and Beerwah, the mother, had many children. One day, Tibrogargan was gazing out to sea and noticed a great rising of the waters. He ran to his children and told them to flee inland. He told his eldest son, Coonowrin, to help his mother Beerwah, who was with child. But Coonowrin fled, leaving his mother behind. Enraged, Tibrogargan pursued Coonowrin and hit him in the neck with his club, leaving it crooked and bent. When the floods had subsided the family returned to the plains. Feeling ashamed, Coonowrin begged Tibrogargan for forgiveness, but filled with shame at his son’s cowardice, Tibrogargan could do nothing but weep copious tears, which, trickling along the ground, formed a stream that flowed into the sea. Then Coonowrin went to his brothers and sisters, but they also wept at the shame of their brother’s cowardice. The lamentations of Coonowrin’s parents and of his brothers and sisters at his disgrace explain the presence of the numerous small streams of the area. Tibrogargan then called to Coonowrin, asking him why he had deserted his mother. Coonowrin replied that as Beerwah was the biggest of them all she should be able to take care of herself. He did not know that she was pregnant again, Then Tibrogargan turned his back on his son and vowed that he would never look at him again. Even today Tibrogargan gazes far out to sea and never looks around at Coonowrin, who hangs his head and cries, his tears running off to the sea. His mother Beerwah is still heavy with child, as it takes a long, long time to give birth to a mountain.

Trees here in Australia have all sorts of different spirits and personalities. For example, most paperbark trees feel revitalising, like a snake shedding its skin, they are often spirits of renewal and change. They are also protective and healing as paperbark was used to make waterproof shelters,bedding, bandages, rafts, containers and more. The leaves were also used to add flavour to cooking, and a traditional ground oven will often include layers of paperbark leaves. Tea Tree spirits are also cleansing and healing. They often live beside lakes or swamps that are traditionally called “healing lakes”. The tannins of these trees leach into the water making the water change to a tea color while infusing the water with antibacterial and medicinal qualities. Eucalyptus or Gum tree spirits are often cleansing and protective as the leaves have traditionally been used in smoking ceremonies for millenia and their wood for shields. These spirits are also closely associated with fire as the leaves and bark don't decompose and are filled with a highly flammable oil. Eucalypts are therefore destructive, protective and even regenerative as our landscape needs fire to survive with many native plants requiring heat and smoke to crack open seed pods and help them germinate in the new carbon-rich soil.

Step 3: Write your Correspondences

I’m not going to go into detail here as Bree @breelandwalker has an excellent post all about Creating Correspondences which I will direct you to look at.

So yeah ~ hope this was helpful!

~ Marci 

References

Gibbons, R, 2014, ‘Deconstructing the Myth of Murdering Creek’.

Horne, R 2019, 'Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner'

[singeratlarge]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Nick Akrap, The Beatles 1963 “She Loves You” UK single, Kobe Bryant, Scott Caan, Barbara Eden (glad to have met you), Jeff Buckley’s landmark 1994 album GRACE, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes (good to have met you), Roger Greenaway, Bobby Gubby (Buck’s Fizz), Mark Hudson, Ezra Idlet, Jimi Jamison, Vaani Kapoor, Gene Kelly, Brad Mehldau, Vera Miles, Keith Moon, River Phoenix, Malvina Reynolds, Terje Rypdal, Danny Solazzi of The Characters (great to have gigged with you), Rick Springfield (great to have gigged with you), the first webpage (1991), Gretchen Whitmer, and my Pennsylvania friend, musical colleague, and visionary John Bechdel. A wizard of keyboards, synthesizers, and tech, he has worked with a remarkable list of music acts: Ascension of the Watchers, Brian Brain, False Icons, Fear Factory, Killing Joke, Ministry, Nukes, Prong, and other notables. I’ve recorded in John’s remote country studio—a mind-blowing enclave of future-primitive gear. This video is a Krafterwerkian collaboration with John, Davy Jones (Monkees), and myself: https://lnkd.in/gQnneB-9  (it also includes the artwork of fellow Pennsylvanianite Nathan Wagoner)...Meanwhile, HB JB and thank you for your incredible electronic gifts to the world.

#music #thankyou #tech #collaboration #johnbechdel #ministry #killingjoke #johnnyjblair #davyjones #monkees #kraftwerk #nathanwagoner #birthday

[pieaterpieater]

Maple Glider heading out to play solo shows, alongside a bunch of band shows. All the fun and tickets at mapleglider.com

Video by Tom Dunphy

Design by Simoen van der Meent

11 Feb - Party in the Paddock

23 Feb - Meeniyan Town Hall supporting Calexico

24 Feb - Meeniyan Town Hall supporting Calexico

7 Mar - Phoenix Central Park - Sydney / Eora

8 Mar - The Iron Yampi - Port Kembla / Dharawal Country

9 Mar - The Playhouse - Newcastle / Mulubinba

15 Mar - Up Late at GOMA - Brisbane / Meanjin

21 Mar - Newcastle Civic Centre supporting The Tesky Brothers

22 Mar - Wollongong Uni Hall supporting The Tesky Brothers

5 Apr - Sooki Lounge - Belgrave / Wurundjeri Country

6 Apr - The Bridge Hotel - Castlemaine / Dja Dja Wurrung Country

10 Apr - Mapleton Pub - Mapleton / Gubbi Gubbi Country

12 Apr - Bowraville Theatre - Bowraville / Gumbaynggirr Country

13 Apr - Coorabell Hall - Coorabell / Bundjalung Country

14 Apr - Zamia Theatre - Mt Tambourine / Wangerriburra Country

[marielle-eva-art]

Connection to Site & Collection of Water

After visiting my family in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast (Land to Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi country) this week, I paid a short visit to Lake Barumba, located West of Imbil. I sat there to soak up the last hours of the beautiful sunny weather before returning home to Brisbane.

As I gazed at the tranquil surface of the lake, I pondered the role and purpose of this water in supporting the life of all the creatures that dwell by this lake and its surroundings.

I envisioned each drop and its cyclical journey of traversing oceans, clouds, and storms to finally reach this low point of the land and offer nourishment for all the living beings and life forms that depend on water to survive. I delved deeper into the electrical charge contained in the matter of water and what information it carries and transmits. All these abstract, scientific, and philosophical thoughts occupied my mind for such a brief time.

I became so drawn to the body of water I decided perhaps I could take a portion of it with me home so I could embody its presence even longer through meditation practice and observe the subtleties of how it would make me feel based on the memories from collecting the water.

I remembered I had a spare glass bottle sitting in my car to collect 1 liter of water to take home with me.

I did not have a clear, logical explanation for why I wanted to do this, but I felt a strong intuitive sense that it was the right thing to do for my practice and my watery research.

LAKE BARUMBA

[cathyrossphoto]

Beerburrum East State Forest, Gubbi Gubbi country

[blueberrymayrose]

Yay! I love that Australia post are adding a line on their parcels to add the traditional place name.

This will be a great way to learn the names of other areas, I know my own and am excited to use it, but it will be great to identify others on parcels I receive.

[gubbymcyt]

draw scar!!

TWO SMAL SCARS . VERWY MINUSCULE .

[milisont]

Solwata Baby on Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi Country🤎

[ransomhughes]

Swimmers and shoreline, Little Cove, Gubbi Gubbi country

[at-the-exd-of-everythixg]

U know what I wAS going to merely just write about Dae and Sal's new doggos but. I have instead decided to do...all of my kids. Ur welcome.

Ava: Still working as a PI, but now she takes more into helping ex Dragonflys out as well as bringing new members to where they belong. Much happier and better at controlling her powers and often keeps her biker sense of style but it practically never seen without her leather jacket that shows a mint green dragonfly surrounded by flames on the back.

Mimi: Has moved out of the pro wreslting life as she finally got to study and become a life guard. She's often happy to spend most of her time out there and teaching swim classes to kids in the winter time as well, not to mention relaxing at home with her pet fish, Gubby and Bubby.

Finn: Owner of Cotten Tail Bakery and is not only big handsome tall man, but sports a beard full time now and is no longer ashamed of his mutation. 6'3 and a doting rabbit man 👀. Peter is somehow still alive and Finn is now the proud father of a new Netherland Dwarf called Cookie. Peter os not amused at his new sister.

Pascal: Bigger Dog Dad Dilf than ever. Works full time in the dog shelter but now has accepted the good he can do at his own pace and this leads to Pascal often helping the animals get homes faster and at weekends, visiting hospitals to aid his visions. Cassandra now lives with Pascal as well as the fact that Pascal wears moonstone glasses to keep his eyes at bay, like a "Cooler and Hotter Scott Summers" Pascal quotes.

Mahogany: Now the Alpha of their Own Town, Mahogany happily takes those with powers in and has formed their own well known coup of super humans that have powers far beyond anyone else. Not to mention the fact that Mahogany has now begun to dabble in magic that could allow them to break through into other realms. Got hotter in the fact that they often have long braids to join the many scars decorating their body...and the fur from their beloved baby: Baby Daisy Dukes the big poofy white cat.

Edith: Proud second in command of the Valkyries. Loving life as she gets to visit other realms and ensures to always bring a souvenir back for Wulf and to hopefully not get herself and Ragnarok scarred up too much. Hair goes to the FLOOR baby we're repunzeling this shit along with the fact that she's covered in tattoos and flowers now. Has a lovely fellow warrior named Talitha that Edith has begun to court recently.

Wulf: Finest warhorse trainer in all of Asgard by now and has shifted along to guarding cattle to, which explains the long scars up his back and arms from barbed horns. Wulf occasionally visits other realms but has decided to lay back now and enjoys the connection he gained from the tempest of Earth and is more assured in what he wants for himself and his choices. Has taken to showing Asgard the songs of Earth and is the reason why "Bad Romace" by Lady Gaga has been sung at parties for four months now.

Adonai: Starting to thread themselves back together after years of damage. Merajo lives with them and Ava and the three live together, trying to reconcile over time. They have started a unique job of filling in for celebrities or politicians when needed and Doe actually quite enjoys a job that gets them admired and that means they don't have to kill as often as they used to. They stick with their own form more now, although Doe will take on other people's eyes and skin markings if they like them. If not with anyone for either of them (or maybe an ot3 hm???) Then Doe has begun to slowly date Mordecai again.

Lace: Finally getting off his medication after SHIELD and Xavier's and many court cases were filed against the people who made Lace's family for decades of human experimentation. On the positive side? He's finally getting good therapy and being trained with his powers. The bad side? Suddenly Lace is open about his feelings and it stings. Not to mention the fact that he can barely go around places without catching some paparazzi's eye. At least he still has Ferret and has been allowed to get a lot closer to his family, who also struggle with their broadened world.

Peach: She's starting to move past her truama and the first step of that was slicing her hair short into fluffy curls. Peach had decided that while she loved her other halves more than life itself, she needs to see the world for herself. Basically? Peach is on one long self discovery journey that involves her travelling around with water while sending home the occasional message when Morde and Dae worry too much. Peach dreams of being able to start a bar fight and come at her loser, her little brother and big brother will kick your ass when she yanks them though a pool. Very into the pirate outfits.

Mordecai: Has given into the curly life more now and suffers Fluffy Man syndrome only on weekends along with rocking his scars and prosthetics after Dae ripped his arm and leg off. He still sticks to the slitted skirts though and skips the sunglasses that would normally hide his eyes from people. Morde is more than thrilled to have Doe trying to reconnect and Morde has even begun to work at the pet shelter with Pascal since his powers come in handy with dealing with rowdy dogs...and because Morde still can barely stand most humans.

Dae: Still the curliest boy with the shyest smile, Dae has started to let his skin peel in order to show his diamonds out more and no longer worrying about human skin and blood. He killed Iris guys. Still likes to cook and helps Finn out at the bakery and now had a service St Bernard called Onyx, who is a very gentle giant and yet has the loudest bark ever as he waddles around and gently carries Honkers in his mouth often.

Sal: His sight has declined far enough that Sal eventually decided to shift to a smaller town where he could get better and...never really left? He's shifted to doing camera porn work to keep money going in while trying to figure out what he could do for himself more. Not only has he shifted into his country form, but Sal's lost enough eyesight over time that he ended up getting a guide dog, a rottweiler and golden retriever mix who he named Artemis...and who Sal nicknames Doodlebug. Sal's...happy, but mortified if he finds someone from a previous life.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

A squatter on the Mary remembered, years later, a mighty pullen pullen when the Gubbi Gubbi of Mount Bauple faced the Butchulla of K'gari, which the whites called Fraser or the Big Sandy Island:

The Boppleites had close on five hundred men, and what they lacked in numbers they certainly made up in manly physique and martial bearing. Hostilities commenced about 3 p.m., and did not cease till near sundown, when the King of Fraser Island was laid low by a spear right through the abdomen. About a dozen other warriors were killed on both sides, but the allies were completely routed. They appeared to be quite crestfallen, and did not offer the least resistence when a Bopple chief, attended by a crowd of fighting men, rushed on to claim the young princess, daughter of the fallen monarch, or whilst, as afterwards happened they carried her away in triumph.

"Killing for Country: A Family History" - David Marr

[stormbornwitch]

Connecting with the Land ~ Australia

Most of the folklore about witches and the practice of witchcraft originates from Europe.

The idea of 'witchcraft' wasn't a thing here in Australia until Europeans brought it with them. However, Indigenous Australians (as far as my research and interviews with elders have gone) follow what Western society would describe as 'animist beliefs' and 'magic rituals' were common practices.

Modern perceptions of animism, particularly in the Western World, are quite negative and viewed as "something hippies believe in." This perception is primarily caused by ingrained racist ideologies stemming from a colonial past (i.e., in order to justify subjugating people, you have to believe you're better than them) which perpetuated beliefs in colonised countries of the "primitive savage" and the "enlightened colonist." That's also not even mentioning the demonising of indigenous beliefs by missionaries of Christianity...

I find it ironic that in Eastern countries like Japan, where Christianity was not historically allowed to spread (banned in 1580s and hundreds of Christians were cruicified), animist beliefs like Shinto are now seen (in the Western world) as cool and mystical, and all the tourists want to visit the shrines of local spirits when they visit...

I'm getting off track, but hopefully you see my point: it is really hard to connect with a land on a spiritual level that is not yours, and was stolen from its traditional custodians on both a physical and spiritual level. I was born here in Australia, and so were my parents, but my ancestry is Scottish and British. I feel torn between two worlds that are so dichotomous from one another...

So, how do I connect with the spirits of the land?

Slowly, and with permission and guidance from local elders because there is a disconnect. I don't speak the language of the land and The Dreaming or 'spirit world' that accompanies our physical one. It doesn't help that much of the local language of the Gubbi Gubbi was lost due to the Stolen Generations, but there are general rules of thumb to follow when working with the Land:

We are a part of the land, and the land is a part of us. We are born from it, and so like our mother, we must care for and protect it. If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.

Everything is about balance - never take more than you need and always give back what you can to ensure that the land is cared for for the next generation.

Ask first. Everything has a spirit, and you must ask before you take anything (I.e. like a branch from a tree). Thank the spirit for its gift / sacrifice (especially important if you have killed something).

Our ancestors watch over us our whole lives both from The Dreaming and in the physical world in the form of a totem (normally a whole family is represented by one animal). They are our guide, and your family must never hunt/eat your family's totem animal. It is your job to protect that species.

Many of the local landmasses and animals are represented by powerful ancestor spirits or creator spirits. Mooroo-kutchi (meaning red-bill, the name of the spirit of the black swan and an aboriginal girl from The Dreaming who transformed into a black swan searching for the spirit of her beloved Coolum who was killed by Ninderry.)

Smoking ceremonies are usually conducted as part of a 'Welcome to Country'. Each mob has their own traditional plant they use for cleansing the area of bad spirits and promoting healing and protection of visitors, but most use a species of eucalyptus or gum. The ceremony invites you onto the physical land as a guest and asks the ancestor spirits of that mob to watch over and protect you while you're there.

Corroboree (storytelling gathering) ~ knowledge of the land and its spirits are told through song lines and dances, and using the traditional language helps to connect better with these spirits.

Thank you to the local Aunties and Uncles for teaching me these and so much more over the years!

*'Uncle' or 'Aunty' does not mean we're related. Here, it is used as a sign of respect that recognises the age, wisdom, and knowledge of aboriginal elders. Though it's recommended that non-Aboriginal people ask the elder how they would like to be referred to as normally, it's not considered appropriate to refer to them as such unless a strong relationship has been established.

[singeratlarge]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Nick Akrap, The Beatles 1963 “She Loves You” UK single, Kobe Bryant, Scott Caan, Barbara Eden (glad to have met you), Jeff Buckley’s landmark 1994 album GRACE, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes (good to have met you), Roger Greenaway, Bobby Gubby (Buck’s Fizz), Mark Hudson, Ezra Idlet, Jimi Jamison, Vaani Kapoor, Gene Kelly, Brad Mehldau, Vera Miles, Keith Moon, River Phoenix, Malvina Reynolds, Terje Rypdal, Danny Solazzi of The Characters (great to have gigged with you), Rick Springfield (great to have gigged with you), the first webpage (1991), Gretchen Whitmer, and my Pennsylvania friend, musical colleague, and visionary John Bechdel. A wizard of keyboards, synthesizers, and tech, he has worked with a remarkable list of music acts: Ascension of the Watchers, Brian Brain, False Icons, Fear Factory, Killing Joke, Ministry, Nukes, Prong, and other notables. I’ve recorded in John’s remote country studio—a mind-blowing enclave of future-primitive gear. This video is a Krafterwerkian collaboration with John, Davy Jones (Monkees), and myself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2kRJSe7fuc (it also includes the artwork of fellow Pennsylvanianite Nathan Wagoner)...Meanwhile, HB JB and thank you for your incredible electronic gifts to the world.

#music #thankyou #tech #collaboration #johnbechdel #ministry #killingjoke#johnnyjblair #davyjones #monkees #kraftwerk #nathanwagoner

[yugaamgan]

333witch -> wunya333

I used to be connected to the word witch but I am no longer connected to that word, it has nothing to do with my aboriginal culture. I am still learning my country language so I don’t know the word for healer/‘witch’. Maybe because we are ALL connected to the energy of the land. Anyway Wunya means ‘hello/greetings’ in Gubbi Gubbi so :+)

And 333 is my spirit number