Page 19 - Port Douglas Magazine 27

HEALING

HANDS

WORDS by Roy Weavers

People of the Western world were first introduced to what George Lucas called the
‘force’ back in 1976 when he released Episode VI of his Star Wars movie series with
the Jedi battling Darth Vader and the ‘dark side’. We have subsequently grown up
with these movies over the past 40 odd years.

hat George Lucas didn’t know was to live in the bush with his grandad and uncle (mum’s
that what he called the ‘force’ had been brother) and grew up in and around Mossman, Wujal
known to the indigenous peoples of Wujal and Cooktown. These two great influences in
WAustralia for more than 50,000 years his life taught him everything about the life force he
and was far from fictional. During these millennia, the possesses, just as their forefathers had taught them from
power to harness and process the natural energy of the all the way back beyond anyone’s living memories.
world and its treasure trove of life has been granted to
I feel a little awkward mentioning the fictional and
a select few within the indigenous population who have
perhaps trivial Star Wars ‘force’ because without any
used it only for the good of their people.
doubt Mooks is the real deal. There is nothing fictional
My guest in this issue of the Port Douglas Magazine is about his powers or his position within Ku Ku Yalanji
such a man. He is a gentle, quiet man named ‘Mooks’ society
Harold Tayley. His nickname ‘Mooks’ can be literally
There is something very spiritual about Mooks. He has
translated as ‘Friend’ and his nickname is well earned. I
a positive energy around him that seems to protect both
met him up at Mossman Gorge, where he is a guide, for
he and the people around him from what he calls ‘bad
a cup of coffee during his lunch break and right from
energy’. That ‘bad energy’ can come in many forms from
our handshake he made me feel very welcome. emotions, attitude and not least genuine illness and
He is a modern day healer within his people, better diseases. Mooks has the gift to be able to cast off that
known as a Shaman, a much revered position. He was bad energy to prevent it from doing any more damage.
born into the Kuk Ku Yalanji peoples on a cattle station He channels his healing powers through his hands and
in Laura. His mother gave birth to him in water, so it when necessary various natural relics and tools he has
wasn’t a surprise to him in later life that as a ‘water baby’ gathered from his homeland rainforest.
he always had an affinity to water. Back in those dark Mooks self-assesses himself with complete honesty. He
days there was no place for a baby on the cattle stations
admits that after his grandad died, the transition from
so soon after his birth he was taken from his birthplace
life in the bush where all his skills had been honed to
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 19