Dr. John A. King compares biblical covenant symbols like smoke and blood to Aboriginal ceremonies that mark transitions between lands. The Warumungu use smoking to connect heaven and earth, while the Wurundjeri brush leaves to remove old spirits when entering new country, rituals King performed moving from South Australia to the Northern Territory.
So in the Old Testament, when God was making a covenant with Abraham, he used smoke and incense as a symbol of a connection between heaven and earth. In the Exodus, the Israelites were told to put blood on the thresholds of the door as a symbol for the angel to pass over. Now, did the angel need that blood there? I don't think so. I think it was more as a symbol and a type for the people that God had chosen and set them apart for a thing. In the New Testament, we're told to anoint with oil, and it's often a practice to put oil on thresholds and mantels. There's a sign now amongst some Umbrani Aboriginal people that do fire ceremonies, smokings. Smoking is a connection between heaven and earth. It's a symbol of connection. Now, for the Wurundjeri, it's different. We use leaves. We use leaves, and what we do is we brush, we brush the ground. And the brushing of the ground Is for us, it's a type or a symbol of of cleansing away old things as we move from one country. I'm coming out of South Australia, moving into the next country. I'm coming into the Northern Territory, leaving the old behind, entering the new, brushing off any of the old old spirits, old thoughts, old habits, leaving those behind and sending into the new. It's also a sign and respect to the ancestors saying I'm here. I'm coming onto Country, I'm coming home, I'm not threatening, I'm looking forward to getting back on Country. So it's another type, it's another symbol, it's a connection with the Country, connection with the ancestors. It's a simple process of praying and believing for the things that you love, being thankful for the things that have been, leaving the things that are behind And moving forward expectantly into what is new. I thank the elders. I thank the ancestors. I'm back on country. I will respect country. I respect my lore. I respect my tradition. I respect my people. I'm grateful to be here. I'm grateful to have journeyed safely from where I've been, and I'm grateful for protection moving forward. I give thanks in all things. Welcome to, uh, the Northern Territory.
