Today I climbed Mt Coolum for the first time. It’s been ages since I climbed anything mountain-ish and I’d been meaning to check it out for a while.
When the weather today was looking super-fine, I changed my plans and made it happen today.
Mt Coolum is the second largest rock in the world, behind Uluṟu
I didn’t expect to learn so many things on my little adventure.
There’s a few threads to bring together for this learning, so bear with me…
The area has a bit of a sordid history, connected to Indigenous massacres. But today, Mt Coolum is a popular and impressive climbing spot. But it’s something most people view as a physical challenge without paying respects to the land devas.
The Indigenous Dreamtime story about Coolum and Ninderry being romantic rivals for Maroochy is interesting. According to the story, Ninderry knocked Coolum’s head off, and it landed in the ocean (Mudjimba Island).
In Hindu mythology, losing your head has to do with ego taming.
To add to this… it wasn’t until I was climbing Mt Coolum that I began to understand the connection between amethyst, its message of humility and its totem animal, the goat.
Oh, to be a goat!
At one point on the hike, I joked that now would be a good time to be a goat. To be surefooted, no matter what the path looked like!
Climbing any sort of mountain requires humility:
- Surrender of the ego
- Embodiment so you don’t fall
- Awareness that you could fall and be injured or killed
- The nimbleness to change direction when needed
- Not clinging to one path with rigidity
- The humility of perspective… things that seem large are not in fact, insurmountable
- Having faith in your body and its capabilities
- Knowing your limits
- Finding steadiness and balance
I like climbing by myself because I am VERY slow and like lots of stops. Both because my body appreciates it and because I like talking to the land spirits.
You could call me a mosey-er. But I mosey with intent and awareness.
What I noticed here, compared to the energy of the land in other parts of the Sunshine Coast is that the devas are very quiet here.
Still alive and present, but resigned to people wandering all over without so much as a hey thanks for having us.
I made sure, as always, to ask permission to walk these lands. It’s always a good idea.
But the ego/humility story is interesting
Especially when you witness the many and varied ways that people tackle the climb.
Some treat it as a race and seem to turn around and come straight back down.
Others block out nature with music and headphones.
Some people say hello, others barely look up from the rocky path (fair enough in some sections).
Some people cheer you on as you walk to trickier parts, which is helpful!
What I saw were various displays of how ego manifests, and either aligns us more closely with nature or keeps us separate.
Humility is a fantastic remedy for the ego thinking it can run all aspects of our life.
Much love,
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Ambha Amanda Roberts is a Kinesiologist, Intuitive Healer, educator and facilitator based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. She offers Kinesiology sessions both in-person and via Skype/Zoom all over the world. Ambha Amanda is the co-creator of Adventures of Staria, which includes a series of Staria cards, and an upcoming book for children (including inner children). |
