Dear Diary,

Last night, I had a strangely peculiar dream I want to talk about.

When I began to shut my eyes, my body felt like it was lifting itself above, into the skies, my thoughts picturing themselves into a special place far away. Then, I realised I had dived deep into the Dreamtime.

I was sitting down on a stout log, in a meeting place. I darted my eyes at every position, observing what this Country truly has to offer. Birds, reptiles, trees, soil, rocks… I was soaking it all in, imagining living in such beauty like this.

Hello! You seem to have come to the Dreamtime! an Elder exclaimed. I swiftly turned my head to that voice, to find one of the wise, local Dharug Elders.

Would you like to stand up and walk with me? I followed his orders. We ventured out of the meeting place, to where he began to chat with me. He talked to me about the ways of people connecting with each other and learning from their Country. His words weighed upon me as I soaked in the fascinating surroundings, wishing one day I could permanently live here.

I saw familiar faces, that even I knew, having conversations with the Dharug people and learning from their culture and language, like a sense of reconciliation. Even the animals here looked happy and content as well, living in such a perfect and peaceful place.

We arrived at another empty meeting place at the opposite end, as he told me to sit down on any log. He began to tell me the importance of Country, how it holds the Dharug stories, it being alive with spirits that guide us with our everyday lives, and how we can learn from it. I looked down at the deep soil and felt a subtle connection to it, reminding me of a close relative, always there for you, and always there to learn more from.

As the sky grew darker, I was invited to join a sweeping ceremony nearby, which I accepted. People from all ages surrounded a meeting place, and one by one we were cleansed from our negative energy. The children next to me were talking to me about the history of their Country, their stories and knowledge that passes on, and how we all still need to recognise and act upon the reconciliation and unity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

Before I left, the same Elder came up to me and handed me a totem, with a dolphin carved onto it. His final message was, I thank you for learning from us, and our Country, and connecting to us. Here is a gift to remind you to embrace your inner strength, and to enjoy life. Goodbye, mittigar.

I woke up, in my bed, questioning myself about what just happened. I seemed to have remembered everything, and I really began to have more of an open mind to the hard-working Dharug people, their ways of connection, language, reconciliation, and even a more open mind to Country.

My parents are definitely going to get a huge lecture from me!