The Beginning of - The Way of Life.
Wisdom, knowledge, humility, connection.
Recently, I arrived back in my home country of Australia after spending thirteen years immersed in indigenous cultures, ancestral medicines, and ceremonial practices of the Americas. During my time living in South America, I was part of a diverse team that successfully co-founded the creation of a plant medicine centre, the first of its kind in Colombia. The centre, known as ECA, directly supported the conservation of over 90 hectares of forests and jungles in different parts of Colombia and provided monthly support to indigenous healers/elders and their communities, who sometimes struggle with the demands imposed by Western society. All this work was accomplished while simultaneously undergoing my own transformative process.
Finca Guarino - Antioquia Colombia.
I have a deep sense of gratitude for the cultures, plant medicines, and elders who have played a crucial role in supporting me throughout the past 13 years. Their contributions have been invaluable, not only in facilitating profound healing and helping me process the PTSD that was bubbling away from my tour of Afghanistan at the age of 21, but also in providing me with extensive knowledge and a profound understanding of myself and the world around me. I have had the privilege of engaging in dialogue and receiving words of wisdom from elders who have lived lives full of experience and daring adventures. It is a humbling experience to witness them sharing their wisdom while seated on the earth, enveloped by the gentle warmth of the fire's soft embers.
It is these same elders that consistently pray for and encourage us to begin to attain more of a connection with the elemental world. Understanding the necessity we have as a humans to not only reconnect, but to honour and hold in the highest reverence these elements of life; fire, water, wind, and the earth. That when we are in harmony with these elements we are in turn in harmony with ourselves, our families, and all of creation.Â
Moments of life - growth - and connection.
Fast forward to 2023, sitting on a beautiful beach in Noosa, Australia, looking out across the Pacific and breathing through the adjustments of coming out of the high Andean rainforests to the somewhat fast-paced life of Australia. I began to question my next move: How do I embody everything that I have learned over these years? Although I am still very connected to my life in South America, I was feeling the call to create something in Australia, planting something at the root level.
Whilst painting a friend's house in the Queensland summer, in-between the undercoat and lunch, my friend approached me, and we began chatting about different ideas and creating content. He then began to loosely explain to me the concept of the platform - Substack - to which I was drawn and wanted to know more about it.
Over the next few weeks, meditating over the idea of creating some content around these ways of life, the idea began to move more into a concept, from there into a passion, and from a passion to a service. I desired to be part of a platform that enables me to connect with genuine individuals and also be free to share and express the teachings that I have learned over the past thirteen years. To offer an authentic audience the opportunity to listen to the words of power from humble elders from around the globe.
So, that's what I look to offer to people: a newsletter which is full of quality content. Ancestral content, and I humbly will be the first to tell you that I do not know a lot. That's why, in conjunction with the newsletter, I have created The Way Of Life podcast. This is something that I am hugely excited about as it's going to be offerings from indigenous elders, wisdom keepers, and storytellers from around the world.
This platform serves as a mutual opportunity to connect into a place of understanding. It provides a space for these often unheard voices to reach countless minds and hearts, sharing their wisdom with those seeking guidance and comprehension during this crucial moment in human history and collective consciousness. My aim is to take subscribers on a transformative journey, allowing them to feel as if they are sitting on that dirt floor, gazing at the fire, and connecting with the profound wisdom accumulated and passed down over thousands of years. These teachings encompass myths, dreamtime stories, cultural expressions through art, song, and dance, as well as language and an understanding of our plant and animal kingdoms. They emphasise respect, reverence, and the significance of plant medicine, children, elders, and the harmonious interplay of the feminine and masculine. It is imperative to share these teachings now, giving voice to the elders and contributing to the global awakening and healing process. This goes beyond a mere Substack account or a trendy newsletter; it is an expression of my commitment to service of these cultures, traditions, songs, lines, and plants.
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin.