Mountain peaks can be seen from great distances rising from the landscape below, true natural wonders of the world. We stand in awe at their base, and marvel at their size. As we ascend to their peaks, we realize just how small we are in the scheme of living things. On arrival we are rewarded with beautiful vistas of the surrounding landscape. There is an expansive view of the world around us.

From the top of a mountain, we are able to witness life from a different perspective bringing us a new awareness

Madisyn Taylor – Daily Om.

Mountains can be analogies to our lives. The journey we take, and the effort required to reach our goals and dreams. The terrain usually starts relatively comfortable as we move into a stride, warming our muscles and building our stamina. As the trail rises, we are usually met with physical challenges that stretch our bodies and minds to the full. The ground uneven and rocky, the way not easily observable. At times we are alone to face these moments and we are drawn to use our own reserves and motivation to continue. Other times we see fellow climbers on the path and can receive encouragement and assistance.

As the summit nears there are often hidden obstacles to navigate and moments of exhaustion mixed with exhilaration knowing the peak is within our grasp. Arrival is a cause for celebration and awe. Taking in the scenery and our own accomplishment. This is momentary as the journey continues either beyond or back down the mountain to where we commenced.

The downhill journey can have its own unique challenges. A different set of muscles and strategies used. We know there is a need to forge on as the mountain top is temporary. A new set of reserves of energy and motivation required until the ground is level and the journey done.

Recently I had a vivid dream climbing a snowy mountain. The cliffs were sheer and smooth. It was cold and uncomfortable. Each stretch of my arm to the next hold was a full extension. I was not alone as I had others on the journey with me. As I came close to the peak, I momentarily glimpsed the most beautiful sunrise vista beyond. There were people at the top who seemed rested and comfortable. I longed to join them.

I could hear calls from below from my group of fellow climbers. They were struggling. I was left with an anxious moment of indecision. Do I head to the peak alone to a space of ease or venture down toward those who needed my help? I was startled awake and felt an exhaustion as if the dream were true. I wondered what it was telling me.

On reflection, the dream paralleled how I have been feeling during the present Covid 19 crisis. This time has presented unique challenges, navigation changes and times of building a level of resilience to continue. Social isolation has been the independent inner journey. As a nation, we have also heard the constant words – ‘We are in this together’. Making decisions to benefit as many as possible. We have felt a sense of unity and purpose amid the chaos.

Thankfully in our own country we are continually progressing toward the peak of the mountain journey of Covid 19. It has been a relatively comfortable and cohesive journey despite the restrictions placed on each of us.

As we navigate our own journey, world media is giving another picture. Developing and overpopulated countries of the world are suffering so much more than ourselves. For the first time in a long time the inequities between the affluent and the poor are openly visible for us to see. What we see we can no longer ignore. These are the people who I heard calling from below in my dream. They need bold solutions to navigate this crisis as much as those closer to home in our families and communities. We are all humanity.

I am glad that we are seeing how even though we share this crisis, its impact is felt differently around the world. Some are sitting comfortably at the peak of this mountain journey. Others are struggling below and need our awareness and advocacy. Hopefully as the journey continues, we can continue to take all humanity in our hearts and hands believing there is a better, more just world beyond the mountain peak.

I have an album of pictures that include those taken when I was a child.  I love these photos of a little girl who is full of life and adventure.  Many of them were taken at my childhood home, just 5 km down the road from where I currently live.  This home provided ample space on a small farm while having proximity to the town and schools I attended. As I look back on these pictures it dawned on me how far I have come in my life journey and how it has taken me full circle back to my birthplace.

My birthplace is a heart space for me. During our lives we may reside in and visit various locations, but some resonate more deeply for us and hold lasting memories. There is something about this place. The changing seasons, the patchwork of farming crops and water channel lifelines visible from above. It has always been a beautiful bustling multicultural town. There is an energy of connection, productivity and abundance. There is wisdom here and acceptance. For me, there is a rich association that spans my lifetime.

This is not the first time I have returned. When our children were young, we moved here for work and schooling. It became the place they grew up, met their partners and started their own families. They continue to live here today. It often amused my children when it took longer than normal on visits to the main street.  People seemed to know their mother. These were the people from my youth or school days who stopped to have a chat. I was not anonymous as I might be in a larger city. I was connected through a variety of invisible threads.

During those years, a new round of connections, based on our working and social lives, expanded the threads. This continued until my husband and I moved away to a coastal town almost twenty years ago. New activities and friendships evolved for us, yet there was a sense of identity loss on my part. My new community could not fill my need for family connection. I began to feel I was living like a ‘ghost’ in a place I failed to connect with. It became clearer that the only way to resolve this was to return to my roots.

What you seek is seeking you – When you strive for something with all your heart, it strives back for you.

Rumi, the Great Persian Poet.

It is eighteen months since I have made the full circle back to my birthplace. The person I am now is barely recognisable to the one who first arrived. I am more independent, more assured and more certain of my next steps in life’s journey.

Returning has also given me the opportunity to reflect on my family’s history and roots in this place. My grandfather, a soldier settler, and my grandmother a war bride from England were among the first pioneering families of the area. When I go to the local cemetery, which happens to be centrally located in town, I know a whole extended family including my mother and father are buried there. Together they developed professions and successful small businesses. They provided wonderful lifestyles for their families. This rural part of Australia provided a base to allow them to do so.

The current social isolation and strict ‘Stay at Home’ measures have temporarily halted much of the physical connection I established with this community. Yet I know in my heart this is where I am meant to be right now. The present time is giving me an opportunity for more clarity and inner growth. The familiarity of my neighbourhood allows me to feel the energy and wisdom of my grandparents and parents. I know why I am here.