Sahmain 2001 Newsletter Editorial

Welcome again to another edition of your state newsletter. You will notice that the Mabon newsletter is included in this mailout, late, but at least it got finished! This year I am increasingly under pressure to finish uni assignments for my Masters degree, and from time to time find priorities being shifted (don't we all, just like the changing priorities of nature at different times on the wheel - some people, plants and other animals will now be entering their winter rest period). If you're looking to extend your newsletter production experience, I'd love for you to get in touch with me. I'm looking for someone who would be prepared to polish the content of the newsletter so we can print it on time to get it out to members (so you'd need to have at the minimum a computer with email access). Drop me an email if you're interested.

"Tootawah created the Yilarm, Murrawaddi, Dulamar and Gurragama winds. In our western culture these represent the points of the compass (north, east, south and west). For the traditional owners, they are the winds of changing moods. Now at Booderee we are all riding the wind of change as we enter the time of joint management."
(Booderee National Park 1999).

This autumn I had the privilege of camping on the southern coast of NSW, during the Easter break, a very different experience for someone who grew up on the north coast of NSW. I spent some time in Booderee National Park, which is located in Jervis Bay Territory and is owned and managed by the people of the Wreck Bay Community. The camping ground was not far from Illuka Beach and the beauty of Jervis Bay (you can even see Bowen Island from the beach). During my stay I had the pleasure pf being seeing possums, kangaroos, a bandicoot, currawongs, kookaburras, rosellas, lorikeets, king parrots, bower birds, and a red belly black snake (curled up asleep in the Booderee Botanical Gardens). Booderee is truly a magickal place, and one that is still used by the aboriginal community as a "natural classroom for younger people. The bush is also for collecting foods and medicines, making magic, learning stories and interpreting indicators of seasonal and climatic change" (Booderee National Park 1999). Booderee means 'bay of plenty' or 'plenty of fish' and it certainly held a rich variety of marine life including seals, bream, flathead, cuttlefish and shovel nosed sharks. Just being in the bush, surrounded by trees (ancient and mighty) is enough to rejuvenate the spirit. For an urban Pagan, like myself, breaks like this are important in remaining connected to the spirit of the land and the spirit of place.

I received the following observations from one of our members:

I thought you might like a few lines that came to me, after seeing the egrets back again on our stretch of the murky creek that becomes the Georges River.

The Wheel has turned again,
and once again the white egrets
are walking, with long-toed, elegant steps,
amidst the litter of this suburban riverbank.
Soon there will be hidden nests again
along the river,
eggs slowly warming
to bring forth a new generation of egrets.
The Lady watches over Her own.
(B.B. - Kate)

Thanks Kate, what's happening in your backyard, or on your balcony this season? How are you marking the seasons in your life?

Blessed Be,
Adrianne Harris, NSW co-ordinator