Exploring the Six Dharug Seasons at Gabrugul Yana

Today, we met to explore the Gabrugul Yana walk in the Western Sydney Parklands.  We got to explore how the Dharug people view their connection to the land by learning about their six seasons, viewing the art trees that they have installed along the dedicated 11km trail in the parklands. The Dharug seasons reflect the cycles of local plants and wildlife, emphasising what’s happening in nature at specific times throughout the year.

During our walk, we encountered four of the six seasons, visiting four of the six art installation trees celebrating each one in the landscape. Rather than complete the entire walk, at the Yuruga Burra tree, we stopped and Julie offered to lead us in a short meditation to connect with the spirit of place. We then retraced our steps and returned to the start of the trail. Some of us are already planning a return trip to visit the last two Bunnul Marray and Dagara trees another day. Personally, I’d love to visit in different seasons, and at different times of day.

Here’s a collection of photos from our journey today:

After the walk, we decided to keep the energy going by gathering at a nearby pub for lunch. It was a great chance to unwind, and chat, and brainstorm some exciting ideas for future events. Naturally, the conversation veered back towards what’s been sparking our imagination and thoughts in the world of witchcraft and the occult, and we ended up sharing recommendations for some intriguing podcasts. Below are a few that sparked our interest. Maybe you’ll find something here that you’ll love too?

• Magic in the United States https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magic-in-the-united-states/id1708579118
• Occult Experiments in the Home https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/occult-experiments-in-the-home/id1565224207
• Glitch Bottle https://www.glitchbottle.com/
• What magic is this? https://whatmagicisthis.com/

I’m really looking forward to more opportunities for meetups where we’re doing things together, out in nature, or sharing our skills and experience in the Craft. Keep an eye on our socials for future updates.