Aboriginal spirituality and Dreaming Flashcards
Topic 2
What is the dreaming in Aboriginal culture?
The dreaming is a belief that underpins all beliefs and practices, defined as the past, present, and future (metatemporal).
What are the three key components of the dreaming?
The three key components are Ancestors, Tribe, and Land.
How is the origin of the universe explained in Aboriginal beliefs?
Time is viewed as a cycle with no beginning or end, explained through dreaming stories that describe the creation of the physical universe.
What role do ancestral beings play in the creation of the Earth?
Ancestral beings created the Earth and became parts of the landscape.
What is a totem in Aboriginal culture?
A totem is a particular spirit associated with each group.
What are sacred sites in Aboriginal culture?
Sacred sites are mediums where the dreaming is lived and communicated, connected to dreaming stories/events and where rituals and ceremonies take place.
What is the significance of stories of the dreaming?
These stories carry culture through generations, explain the origin of creation, address ethical issues, and teach children about the past and present.
What is the rainbow serpent in Aboriginal stories?
The rainbow serpent is a story that explains the formation of rivers and carries cultural significance.
How does symbolism and art relate to the dreaming?
Symbolism and art express the dreaming, carry it through generations, and are used in rituals and ceremonies.
What does diversity of the dreaming refer to?
Diversity refers to the differences in dialects that affect interpretation, teaching, and expression of the dreaming, with over 900 language groups.
How do boundaries affect the dreaming?
Boundaries between tribes can lead to different understandings, while common beliefs are shared by tribes that are closer to each other.
What is the importance of the dreaming in Aboriginal life?
The dreaming links natural and supernatural realms, explains origins, allows tradition to be passed on, and establishes law and order.
What is kinship in Aboriginal culture?
Kinship is a system of classes that governs relationships between members of language groups and is strictly followed.
What is totemism?
Totemism refers to an object associated with a spiritual force and serves as a symbol of belief.
How are dreaming, land, and identity connected in Aboriginal culture?
The dreaming, land, and identity are inextricably linked; without land, there is no dreaming, and both shape a person’s identity.
