Yesterday Darryl and I visited Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens to choose a resting place for Richard. We visited a number of areas within the 43 hectares including the rose garden. The rose garden was pretty, but crowded and very exposed. We ended up chosing a spot in the bush garden. It's a beautiful area; tranquil, private and it borders onto the national park. Very Australian. We found a spot next to a beautiful paperbark. In reality, it was more like the spot found us. The rock will be replaced by a much larger stone and this will be where Richard waits for me until my turn comes. Seems fitting somehow. Our four legged children and both of us resting under the paperbarks. I like the connections. I think Richard would as well.
There is a very strong medicinal and spiritual connection to the majestic paperbark. The Australian aborigines used the bark for funeral and for other spiritual ceremonies. Bodies would be wrapped in bark before the funeral ceremony commenced.
The bark of the tree has natural and spiritual properties and is considered an excellent medium on which to write spells or to create a wish. You write your wishes in ink on the bark and then bury the wish in the ground where it will not be disturbed. After three days have passed you dig up your wish and set it on fire, your wish will then be released to the universe and hopefully come true.
