Evoke

05/05/2026

04/05/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWzpxfQgHd6/?igsh=MTlnZ204emV5ZXdpdw==

26/04/2026

What does "Welcome to Country" actually mean???

I found this online (author unknown pls let me know if you do know so I can credit)

This is worth re-sharing because it's clear that many ppl still do not understand what this ceremony actually means.

I want to talk about what it actually means to be "Welcomed to Country", because this is what I think people are getting wrong.

Firstly lets be clear on the first point, you are not being welcomed to someone's "country" in the geopolitical/physical sense, in the way we normally think of welcoming someone..

It's not someone's territorial possession like we own property, it's something deeply spiritual..

Indigenous lore sees the land like some see God, it's a spiritual being... a presence. It's not just where their ancestors lived, and where they still exist... every single ancestor they have ever had. Their entire belief system is inextricably linked to the land, it's as sacred to them as a consecrated church.

While "Welcome to Country" is a relatively new ceremony in this belief system - understanding the intention, behind it might help you feel differently about pausing to listen to it.

Welcome to Country isn't welcoming you to THEIR territory, they're welcoming you to be present on SACRED territory/land. You're walking upon the land these people have cared for since the start of time.

For them this is deeply holy land, they only ask that you take a moment to respect their ancestors who continue to exist within the land. That's it... and with that they wish us well, and promise us protection, and usually express great joy that this happy gathering is happening on this land.

Now you might suggest it's all a silly superstition, but if you respect the religious beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and Buddhists... this is no more fanciful. Why does this religion not get the same respect?

Indigenous people are performing this ceremony, I can see it's a genuine attempt to involve me and the rest of Australia in their culture. They are allowing us to be a part of a new religious ceremony to celebrate an ancient civilisation, and they're doing it in a way intended to make us feel... welcome. How beautiful.

We talk a lot about reconciliation, but most people just expect Indigenous Australians to fully assimilate into our society and be happy with that. That's not true reconciliation.

The Welcome to Country is an attempt by some to introduce a tiny part of their 60,000 year culture into our broader national identity by teaching us about their deeply personal relationship with "country" and integrating it within some of our other national traditions, be they sport, politics, celebrations, or commemorations.

It's a moment where Indigenous Australians truly attempt to reconcile their ancient customs and values with ours. Lets open our hearts and minds and appreciate it for what it is, a guesture of peace and community.

24/04/2026

Simple Hack for working out if a food is a Good Protein Choice.

It's quite a simple hack...

1. Add a zero to the grams of protein per serving (x10)
2. If the protein "plus-a-zero" number is equal to or higher than the calories, it is generally an excellent, high-protein choice

Example:
18 g protein (x10) = 180 vs. 150 calories = good choice
5 g protein (x10) = 50 vs 160 = not a good choice.

Note: remember this is only to evaluate one high protein food against another's protein value. It does not take into consideration other nutritional benefits.

10/04/2026

The dragonfly has always carried an unsettling kind of beauty.
It moves like light. It vanishes and reappears. Its wings catch the sun and fracture it into illusion. But in folklore and witchcraft, the dragonfly was never just something delicate.

It was a creature of deception, transformation, and hidden truth.
Because dragonflies spend most of their lives beneath the water before emerging into the air, they became symbols of deep transformation not surface change, but something that begins unseen.

In many traditions, they were believed to reveal illusions.
In European folklore, dragonflies were sometimes called “devil’s darning needles,” said to sew shut the mouths of those who lied or spoke recklessly. This wasn’t about fear it was about truth. The dragonfly became a warning: watch your words, watch your perception.

In Japanese culture, however, dragonflies were revered as symbols of strength, courage, and victory creatures that move forward without hesitation, never flying backward.

This dual nature is where their power lies.
In witchcraft, dragonfly energy represents:
illusion breaking
truth revealing
transformation through hidden phases
clarity after confusion
light as both beauty and deception

The dragonfly teaches that not everything is as it appears.
It reflects light in fragments, shifting colors depending on how you look at it. This is perception magic the understanding that reality is often shaped by where you stand.

Dragonfly medicine asks:
Where are you being deceived by others or by yourself? What truth is trying to surface from beneath the water? Are you seeing clearly, or only what you want to see?

It also carries a deeper lesson.
Transformation does not happen where people can see it.
It happens in the dark.
In the depths. In the unseen parts of your life.
By the time the dragonfly rises into the light, the change has already happened.
And what remains is not the process but the truth it reveals.

09/04/2026

Micheal wore a $3,000 custom suit to his mother's funeral, ready to generously split the family estate 60/40 with his brother.

"Why is the yard dead, David?" Michael demanded, running a finger over peeling wallpaper in the hallway.
"I sent two grand a month. I paid for private landscaping and contractors. What did you do with the money?"

David just sat at the scratched kitchen table in a suit two sizes too big.
He looked ten years older than Michael, even though he’s three years younger.
His hands were calloused, and the dark circles under his eyes looked like actual bruises.

Michael sighed, pulling up a chair and checking his Swiss watch.
"Look, the housing market is hot right now," he said smoothly. "We can flip this place fast. I don't need the cash, so I’ll be generous. You take 60%, I'll take 40%. Fair?"

Michael patiently waited for him to say thank you. Michael considered himself the "Good Son."
He lived in a high-rise in Chicago, and believed his monthly checks were what kept this house afloat.

David slowly stood up, walked to a junk drawer, and pulled out a cheap, spiral-bound notebook. Then he threw the stained notebook at Michael's chest, it fell, hitting the table and landed with a heavy thud.
"Read it," he whispered, his voice completely hollow.

It was a care log. Michael opened it and started reading.....

October 12th: Mom screamed for six hours straight. She doesn’t remember who I am. I had to change her soiled sheets four times. She bit me. I’m bleeding, but I can’t afford an ER co-pay, and I can't leave her alone.

November 3rd: Medicare denied the claim for her new heart meds again. Michael’s check covered the property taxes, but not the pharmacy. I sold my truck today to pay for her pills out-of-pocket.

December 25th: Mom had a total breakdown. She cried because her 'successful son' didn’t call until 8 PM. I ate a cold sandwich on the floor by her bed just to keep her calm.

January 15th: Slipped lifting her from the tub and felt my spine pop. I don't have my own health insurance anymore. I took six Advil and kept going.

Michael closed the notebook. he couldn't swallow.
David looked him dead in the eye.

"You sent $2,000 a month, Michael. And I do appreciate that."
He pointed a shaking finger at him.
"But while you were sending checks, you were sleeping eight hours a night. You had European vacations. You had a life."
He slammed his hand against his chest.
"I lost my fiancé because I couldn't leave this house. I quit my engineering career so Mom wouldn’t rot in some understaffed, state-funded nursing home!"
His voice cracked, shaking with years of suppressed rage.
"You sent money to fix problems. But a bank transfer doesn't clean up diarrhea at 3 AM."
"A check doesn't endure the insults of a mind destroyed by dementia."
"Sell the house," he whispered, turning his back to me. "Keep every single penny. I don’t want a dime. I already paid my share with my life."

He walked into their Mom’s old room and closed the door.
Michael sat alone in the silent kitchen, looking at his Italian leather shoes.
Suddenly, he didn't feel like the hero anymore. he felt sick.

Yes He'd paid for the pills, but his brother put them in her mouth.
He bought the expensive casket, but his brother held her hand until her last breath rattled out of her chest.
Michael drove straight to a local law firm that afternoon.
He drafted a quitclaim deed, transferring 100% of the house and the land to David.

He also set up a trust to cover David's living expenses, health insurance, and retirement gap for the next ten years.
It wasn't a gift. It was back pay.

In so many families, there is a "Satellite Child" and a "Cane Child."
The Satellite revolves from a distance, shining brightly and sending resources.
The Cane stays, supports the crushing weight, and gets leaned on until they snap.

Don't ever think your financial contribution weighs more than the physical and emotional sacrifice of an unpaid family caregiver.
If you are the one who left, have the decency not to judge the dust on the shelves.

And when it’s time to divide an inheritance, remember this.
The health, the sanity, and the years that a caregiver sacrificed have a price tag that no piece of real estate can ever match.
Family justice isn’t about dividing everything by two.
It’s about recognizing who gave what.

07/04/2026

Your old phone could save a life.

The mobile phone is something many of us take for granted. But did you know your old phone could save a life? DV Safe Phone collects, repurposes and gifts mobile phones to victims of domestic violence providing a lifeline to call for help when it is needed most.

The community can donate their old mobile phones and DV Safe Phone can pass them on to someone in need. A collection box is on display at Bunbury Library for those wishing to donate an old phone for this purpose.

Together as a community, we can ensure no call for help goes unheard.

To learn how to prepare your old mobile phone for donation, visit the DV Safe Phone Frequently Asked Questions and donation map here: https://dvsafephone.org/donate-phones

With so many phone brands and models out there, it's tricky to give you exact rules about which devices we can accept. But here's what we generally look for:

iPhones: We can usually repurpose iPhone 6 models and anything newer (iPhone 7, 8, X, and beyond).

Android phones: This includes Samsung and other brands. If your Android phone works on 4G networks, there's a good chance we can find it a new home.

The 3G shutdown matters: Since Australia's 3G networks have been switched off, we can't repurpose phones that only work on 3G anymore.

Not sure about your phone? Just send it our way! We'll check if it can be repurposed. If not, don't worry – we'll wipe all your data and recycle the phone and its parts through Mobile Muster. Either way, nothing goes to landfill.

https://www.facebook.com/DVSafePhone

We test and distribute your old mobile phones to domestic violence survivors Australia-wide.

31/03/2026

Showering in the Dark.

Taking a shower in low light or near darkness creates a surprisingly calming, “nervous system reset” because it reduces the constant sensory input your brain is used to processing.

Without bright lights—especially the blue-heavy LEDs that suppress melatonin—your body is better able to shift toward a rest-and-recovery state, while warm water helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing your heart rate and easing tension.

This combination, along with the steady sound of running water, lowers stress hormones like cortisol and encourages a more meditative, inward focus where awareness shifts from visual distractions to physical sensations such as breathing and the water flowing over the skin.

For people who feel overstimulated or burned out, this can offer a simple reset, though it’s important to keep some dim, warm lighting for safety and to avoid discomfort if complete darkness feels unsettling.

Benefits and Key Aspects of Dark Showering

Enhanced Sleep Quality: Low-light environments prevent the suppression of melatonin, the "darkness signal" hormone that prepares the body for rest.

Stress Reduction: The combination of warm water and dim lighting encourages a shift from a "fight or flight" state to a "rest and digest" parasympathetic nervous system state.

Sensory Mindfulness: By removing visual distractions, you can focus on the feeling and sound of the water, which helps lower stress levels.

Improved Mood: It is used as a mental health reset after a long day to calm the mind.

Practice It Safely Use Sub-lighting: Utilize candles, battery-powered tea lights, or low-wattage fairy lights instead of overhead lighting.

Ensure Safety: Use dim light rather than absolute darkness to avoid slip hazards.

Add Sensory Elements: Some use aromatherapy or gentle music to enhance the experience

25/03/2026

Follow this guy....and share!!!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWFUoabiJW6/?igsh=eDFicDkxcGQ3djMw