The Free Memories

Last week I was in Cairns, a place I had the fortunate opportunity to live near from 2002-2004. The place still takes my breath away and the land up there still speaks to me very strongly. I even went back up to the hills around the Hidden Valley and visited my old home. What a place it was to live in! I remembered "Missus", a Pademelon who became my close friend during the long days of not knowing what to do with myself during my long contemplation in those hills.

A photo taken of Missus (eating potato) back in the day.

We would call each other with a clicking sound. If I was sleeping in, she would stand outside and make the noise. If I was hanging around and needed some company, I'd do my version of the sound and she'd come out of the bushes that surrounded the house. We'd just hang around each other quietly. She'd nibble on grass and I'd listen to the amazing birds. This situation would happen for hours almost every day. She had a little joey in her pouch that would occasionally pop it's head out for a look around. I've never met such a human tolerant wild creature. Every now and then, the predatory Pademelon males with their big chests would intimidate Missus. She would make a growling sound and I would know that she didn't wish to be seduced by them. It would be my sign to stand up and stare at the rogues. They would puff their chests up and look back at me with angry eyes, but they'd slap their tales into the ground and jump away. Missus was one of my best mates during those strange days.

I became convinced of earth magic in this place when I lived there. There's so much nature that I couldn't help but feel its energy flowing within my form. To live so close to the wilderness, hearing the sounds of the creatures and imagining at night the laughter of the Junjdy man that was supposed to be living in the area. I'd leave him small treats (as I was told to do by one of the local Elders) just to make sure he'd cause me no trouble. The place was my very own Mythago Wood, in every possible way.

Just to remind me of this energy whilst I was calling through town, I was touched by a large Birdwing Butterfly as she flew down and sat on my arm for a few seconds as I stood looking at the Barron Falls whilst listening to it's steady roar. I watched her float away into the forest with a smile on my face and in my mind gave thanks to the World for such a beautiful moment.