Aboriginal Beliefs and Spiritualities Flashcards
What is the Dreaming?
is the belief system of the Aboriginal Australian culture; it underpins all the beliefs and practices. It connects them with their ancestors, tribe and land through stories of the creation
What does the Dreaming do?
Sets out structures, the rules for social behaviours and the ceremonies performed in order to maintain the aspects in the Aboriginal religion
What does it mean by a metatemporal concept?
it encompasses all aspects of Aboriginal life including the past, present and future
Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to: Origins of the universe
Aboriginals think of time in a very different way; it is a cycle with no distinct ending or beginning.
One complete reality that has always existed and always will.
The origins of the universe are normally addressed through specific Dreamtime stories, which explain how the universe was created.
Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to: Stories of the Dreaming
The Dreaming is communicated through Dreamtime stories which carry on the Aboriginal culture through generations.
Different across different tribes but all are focused on how the world came to be
How do the Aboriginals communicate their beliefs?
Life long process and is passed down through word of mouth
What do the Dreamtime stories explain? PLAAP
Physical Universe Landmarks Animals Plants Ancestor Spirits
Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to: Sacred Sites
incredibly important as its the medium through which the Dreaming is communicated
a way the abstract concept becomes practical
sacred sites are places where they are connected to specific dreamtime stories and events or place where ancestral beings live
What happens at Sacred Sites?
Balance Rites and Ceremonies
What are Balance Rituals?
are rituals which aims to bring balance to the land by promoting harmony and growth in nature
What are ceremonies?
Often focused on totems, which are specific objects in nature which are considered to house an Ancestor Spirit (animism: the divine is within a living thing)
Special responsibilities to care for the land expressed through ceremonies
Outline the nature of the Dreaming in relation to: Symbolism and Art
Symbolism and Art are ways that the Dreaming became a part of a person’s life, and carries on through generations
Discuss the diversity of the Dreaming for Aboriginal people
In every nation/tribe they have different practices to one another which is based on their ancestral being.
What is a totem?
Particular animal/plant which contains the spirit of a ancestor
The spirit of the ancestor is heavily associated with the totem. Because of this people have kinship with that spirit and are the spiritual owners of that area of land.
The people are responsible for that area of land, along with their kinship with the ancestral spirit.
What does it mean by particular dreaming?
The dreaming is brought into the present through totemic descendants, their songs, sacred sites and traditional painting
1 way it is manifested is through special rituals and ceremonies which differ from nation to nation.
The dreaming is recreated in the present time and space for as long as the ceremony lasts.
Recognise the importance of the Dreaming for the life of Aboriginal peoples
The dreaming is a paramount of importance for the life of the Aboriginal people because the dreaming:
- Is the essence of their being and permeates every aspect of Aboriginal life
- Provides spirituality to be lived in their day to day lives, a spirituality whereby their ancestor spirits are active in their activities
- Outlines the responsibilities
