The Mother Speaks: A Visit to Gulaga

"Place your hands on the energy rock, close your eyes and be still. The Mother has a different message for each one of us."

I touch the rock, registering instant shock as the icy chill welds my fingers to its surface. Waves of energy pulsate through my hands and up my arms, emanating through my body. I have a vision of a rainbow followed by a rising sun. Then I see an eagle flying high in a cloudless sky.

I am at Mt Dromedary on the south coast of NSW, near Tilba Tilba, with eight others who have answered the call of the mountain. Dulamunmun, or Uncle Max as he is affectionately known, is our guide on this sacred journey. He is an Elder of the local Yuin people, the custodians of this sacred site that the Aborigines call 'Gulaga,' meaning 'Mother'.

Physically the mountain has two summits, joined by a saddle. White settlers named it Mt Dromedary, meaning the humps of a camel. To the Aborigines, these summits are the breasts of the Mother, while the awe-inspiring rock formations found here symbolize the Dreamtime stories of creation and the various totems of the Aboriginal nations.

Max has been bringing people to Gulaga for many years. His passion is to tell anyone who has ears to hear of the deep respect traditional Aboriginal culture has for Mother Earth. This site is one of the places on the planet that is said to hold sacred secrets of compassion and has been visited by many luminaries and spiritual leaders.

Each time I come here it is an act of surrender and this visit is no different. First I hear the call in my heart and immediately my mind begins to protest, "You can't go, you've got too much to do" and, "It's so far to drive." It's true that the drive takes six hours from Sydney but it's an easy one, through our magnificent south coast and as I get closer, my excitement builds to fever point. A trip to the mountain is like returning to a volatile lover, passionate and unpredictable yet exhilarating and life affirming.

Now as I sit on the mountain listening to Max, I can feel the power of Gulaga. Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful, she is more humbling than any cathedral. Like other sacred sites on this planet, including the active volcano of Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii that I have been privileged to visit several times, Gulaga radiates electromagnetic energy that aligns with the acupuncture points on the human body. For those who are sensitive, the mountain truly does speak and I have learnt that it is wise to listen.

It is late afternoon before we climb, tired yet happy, into the four-wheel drive that takes us back to Umbarra Cultural Centre. A few minutes later, as I drive over the bridge that crosses Lake Wallaga, the setting sun streaks the sky with vibrant pink. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an eagle swoops low across the bonnet of my car. The Mother has spoken and I feel blessed.