For thousands of years, Aboriginal people from many Nations have bathed in the pools of natural springs and caves.

These visits usually mean long journeys from homelands. Some walks took many days. In the summer months, the climate at the pools is cool. Whereas many lands, especially those higher up in the mountains, would be much hotter. The quiet serenity of this area aids recovery.

The old natives knew the caves. They penetrated the caves as far as the subterranean water, carrying their sick to be bathed in this water, which they believed to have great curative powers. Sick people were carried there from considerable distances.

These pure waters contain dissolved minerals that were thought to have healing properties. Aboriginal people drank the healing waters for stomach ailments. After bathing, skin complaints would disappear. But, introduced diseases like small pox and the common cold couldn’t be cured by the waters. Many Aboriginal people died from such diseases, because they had no natural resistance to them.

Traditionally, Aboriginal people thought that not only did the cave water have healing properties, but that the crystals themselves possessed healing powers, especially for spiritual well being – much the same as is believed today by many non Aboriginal people. Individual crystal formations, able to be easily carried, were used as sacred objects in men-only ceremonies – ‘men’s business’.

3 pieces. Acrylic on canvas sheet.