Hello, my name is Darren Wandin, I am Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung man who lives and works within the Yarra Ranges, the traditional lands of my people. I would like to share with you a story and a grounding technique that I use in my personal life to help me feel better connected to Country, slow those voices down, forget about the daily grind and bring a sense of calm with me as I set foot on Country. 

All who inhabit this place, this Country you step onto now, all of us have Ancestors, be it ones from eons ago, ones recently passed, or those from stories in holy books. All of these Ancestors are welcome to journey with you and through you. Please call upon those you feel most comfortable and connected with. 

Face East and call upon our Ancestors, our singers, our dancers, entertainers, the jokers, the ones who don’t take life too seriously. Remember their cheekiness, the joy, happiness and smiles that they bring. Bring forth that energy as you face East. 

Call upon the morning sun for its warmth, its light, find hope in a new day, a fresh start. This day is for you to share with all. 

Face South and call upon our Ancestors, the warriors, the protectors, the guardians. Call upon their protection when we remember how fragile life is. Call upon their strength when you must protect others. Use the South as a reminder to protect your home and those who live in it from the cool winds. Keep up your guard when its needed most. 

Remain resilient, in your identity, your persona and your beliefs. 

Face West and call upon our Ancestors, the great storytellers, singers of songlines, those who guide us home. As the sun goes down, so too does our energy, but let your mind wander into creativity. The day is complete, and night is upon us – it’s time for togetherness with family, reflection, quiet minds, relaxation and contemplation. 

You are not just a body; you are a spirit and a mind. 

Face North and call upon our Ancestors of guidance, our Ngurungaetas and our Creator Spirit, Bunjil. You can call upon whichever creator spirit makes you feel most safe. Call upon their wisdom, respect and understanding to enhance your own qualities of leadership. Look to the mountains and know there is always something further, but your place is here, now, in this moment. This is where you need to be. 

When you feel the warm air from the North, let it remind you of this feeling. 

When we are on Country we must always conduct ourselves with respect. Country is a living breathing ecosystem. Imagine it as if you are stepping foot onto a whole body – waterways instead of veins, billabongs as kidneys, trees our lungs, and grass the hairs on our arms – this network all connected by water, soil, and fungus, passing messages and nutrients and speaking a language that is not spoken verbally, but is felt through the amazing receptor that is the human body. 

Take time to be aware of, the temperature on your skin, the smell of the air. Look down near your feet. What do you notice? When you tune into the sounds around you, what birds can you hear? Frogs? Insects? 

How far can you see across Country? 

Everything that Country has to offer is right here. She wants you to be here. She is happy to see you. Like an old friend, she uses all of this to communicate her happiness, to know you.  

Country loves you. 

When we are on Country, we must ask what can we do for her. There are many ways we can show our service, but today we express it by paying attention, being aware of all that is present upon her. That is all that is required of you – to be here, with her, in gratitude and in awe.  

Just you. 

And her.