Cutting yourself Quote by Pauline Gordon Aboriginal Bunjalung tribe Australia
““One day I asked my mother, "Mom, where's my dreaming place?" And she took me up in the hills and showed me a waterfall. "That's your dreaming place," she told me. "When you die you'll go back in there. And you'll be there forever. You'll be in that waterfall, watching the seasons come and go like your spiritual ancestors. In that spot, you will be part of the land." That is why we teach you not to harm or even mark the land. That would be like getting a knife and cutting yourself.””
About This Quote
The mother shows the child a sacred waterfall as a place of eternal spiritual connection, teaching reverence for land and warning against harming it.
In simple terms: Waterfall is a sacred, eternal place.
Key Takeaway
Honor and protect sacred places.
Themes
spirituality
nature
heritage
land stewardship
family
Mood
reverent
educational
spiritual
Type
Cutting yourself:0
Dreaming:0
Dreams:0
Parenting:0
Religion:0
Spiritual Ancestors:0
Mom Dreaming:0
Place Told:0
Waterfall Dreaming:0
Dreaming Place:0
When to use this quote
- education
- environmental activism
- cultural rituals
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cultural transmission
spiritual ancestors
environmental ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the waterfall symbolize for you?
- How can we protect sacred natural sites?
A Different Perspective
Modern life may distance us from such teachings.
