This time round I walk the paths with purpose, I'm here to disconnect from my fast-paced life and connect to land, sky, nature, and river. 

As I sit down underneath the tree, I think to myself with the existence of this river many animals thrive such as; fish, birds, frogs, and various mammals. This river is crucial and if we stop seeing rivers as only an object that benefit us and begin seeing them as living entities, this view will reinforce our relationship with them. (O'Donnell et al., 2021). The sound of the river, the flow in one direction, and the large rocks in the river I believe tell a story about the past of this river. 

The Maribyrnong River, the true owners of this sensational land was home to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people. "The 

land is entangled in stories, ceremonies, and traditions; they are not gone from here, it is just a matter of paying attention in particular ways." (Hamm, 2015, p. 5) Now I wonder about the stories that have been told and the ceremonies that have been celebrated near this mesmerizing river by the true owners of this land, the Wurundjeri people. "Colonization has disrupted our ability to communicate with place and has endangered agency amongst Indigenous peoples." (Watts, 2013, p. 4) As the world around us gets 'modernised' we human beings, lose our sense of belonging, and communication with place and no longer ground with the earth and all the living things around us. We disconnect from whats beneficial for our soul and get caught up in busy life. 

When was the last time I grounded with the earth? When was the last time I communicated with place? I question myself. This is the time, this is the opportunity. I Immediately take my shoes off and rub my feet on the grass, I take deep breaths in and out and realised that everything I was feeling, hearing, and seeing was how I was communicating and connecting to place, this place was Maribyrnong River for me. The place that was enriched with my childhood memories.