Australian Aboriginal beliefs and Spiritualities- The Dreaming

Question 1

What is the dreaming?

Answer 1

• The dreaming underpins all beliefs and practices. It outlines all relationships and responsibilities for aboriginal peoples.
• It is metatemporal (past,present,future)
• It is the aboriginal spirituality

Question 2

Outline the nature of the dreaming in relation to: origins of the universe, sacred sites, stories of the dreaming, symbolism and art

Answer 2

Origins of the universe: How the ancestral spirit beings created the earth. A complete reality/ not a myth E.g. the rainbow serpent

Sacred sites: The ancestral spirit beings rest here and therefore must be cared for properly E.g. Uluru

Stores: Elders pass on info to the young,knowledge is acquired as they age E.g. Emu and the Jaburu

Symbolism and Art: male circumcision: mark transition from childhood to adulthood. Art is sacred and has symbols, it reflects the beliefs systems e.g. provides map of country

Question 3

-Discuss the diversity of the dreaming for aboriginal peoples

Answer 3

-900 aboriginal nation, each skin has its own dialect and they have different variations of/and stories
-they have different languages
-overall, all believe in dreaming
E.g. the laws may vary between each kinship group

Question 4

Why is the dreaming so important to indigenous peoples of Australia?

Answer 4

• land is inextricably linked to the dreaming as it is lived and communicated through it
• the land is where the stories take place and is a resting place for their ancestral spirit beings
• Land called mother
• Totemism: the belief that an animal or natural feature is an embodiment of an ASB (snake)
• loss in land results in loss of spirituality
• E.g. Ceremonial responsibilities such as the smoking ceremony

Question 5

How does the dreaming connect to land and identity?

Answer 5

-Physical link to the spiritual world
-it sets moral and social unbreakable links between humans and ASB
-land is sacred
-People: land contains spirit ancestors
Identity: “My country”
-Kinship between land and people
-telling of the dreamtime stories is lifelong
-all physical action takes into consideration the spiritual effects