The Nature of The Dreaming Flashcards
Outline
The Nature of the Dreaming
- The Dreaming is the centre of Aboriginal spirituality and life
- It is a metatemporal concept
- Visually represents the unseen spirit world, based on the immanence of Ancestral beings who dwell within sacred sites
Define
Metatemporal
A concept that incorporates the past, present, and future
Define
Inextricable
Impossible to break or seperate
Outline
Aboriginal peoples’ connection to the Land
- The entirety of the environment is inextricably linked to and by The Dreaming
- Aboriginal peoples are indivisibly united with the land
Outline
The Dreaming
The Dreaming is a complex network of knowledge, faith and practices, which dominates all spiritual and physical aspects of Aboriginal life.
What are aspects of The Dreaming?
- It is the central and deepest reality, it has existed from the beginning and is present in all aspects of life
- Establishes the rules, links the relationship between Aboriginal people and the land.
- Experienced through songs, stories, rituals and symbols
Outline
Origins of the universe
The Dreaming stories of creation are the foundations of Aboriginal religion.
* The first beings (spirit ancestors) arose out of sleep from the earth, then created the natural world and fixed the design of nature and order of life.
Aspects of origin
- Every land feature has a story from The Dreaming attached to it
- The original spirits brought all living creatures and established their descendents, as well as their corresponding human group (totems)
- All ancestral beings left trails of their lives, Dreaming Tracks, which are marked in geographical monuments and tribal lands
How is The Dreaming passed down?
Through oral history, The Dreaming is passed onto new generations by an interwoven netwrok of stories and ceremonies
What aspects to Dreamtime stories involve?
- Linking Aboriginal peoples and their spirituality with the Australian environment
- These stories cover all aspects of life; roles in society, sacred and public activity found in traditional society
- Stories teach of the natural world and a detailed map and knowledge of country
What are aspects of Sacred Sites?
- The medium through which The Dreaming is communicated
- The way the abstract concept of the Dreaming becomes physical
- Sacred sites are linked to specific Dreamtime stories, and can be used for ceremonial practice, initiation rituals, and teaching laws and traditions
Why are Sacred Sites central to Aboriginal spirituality and culture?
- Because they are believed to hold the spiritual presence of ancestral beings
- Aboriginal peopls are responsible for taking care of sacred sites, to maintain their spiritual power and connection to the land
Sacred Sites examples:
- Uluru
- Karlu Karlu/Devil’s marble
Uluru:
- Famous, located in the NT
- Multiple ancestral beings are believes to have contributed to the formation of Uluru
- A site if deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Arranga people, continuing to pass down stories and perform rituals to honour the spirits
Karlu Karlu/Devil’s Marbles:
- located in the NT
- A cluster of large boulders
- The dreaming story is associated with the Devil Man, Arrange
- Cultural significance to the Alyware people
Outline
Dreamtime Stories
Dreamtime stories serve as oral histories that explain the origins of kand, people, and animals and natural laws.
What do Dreamtime stories teach?
- Moral lessons
- Proper behaviour
- Relationship between people and their environment
Dreamtime stories are passed down through generations and remain a key part of Aboriginal identity and cultural heritage
Dreamtime stories examples:
- The Rainbow Serpent
- Tiddalik the Frog
The Rainbow Serpent:
- Awoke from beneath the earth, and slithered over the land which carved out rivers, mountains and valleys
- It brought life by filling waterholes and creating sources of food
- Can bring floods and storms if tehe laws of The Dreaming are disrespected
-Different groups have avrying versions of the story, but the theme of balance and respect is always present
Associated with water, fertility and creation
Define
Dreamtime Stories
- Living truths that are a source of guidance
- Reinforce spiritual connection to the land and ancestral beings
Teachings of
Tiddalik the Frog:
- The important of the environment and water conservation
- The value of elders and the importance of using life experiences as lessons
- To share, not displaying greed or selfishness
- The importance of teamwork
Define
Aboriginal Art and Symbols
- A vital way of preserving and communicating cultural knowledge, history and spirituality
- Symbols representing landscapes, animals, and Dreamtime stories
- Dot and bark paintings tell ancestral stories and laws
What is the purpose of Aboriginal Art and Symbols?
- Serve as a connection to the land, ancestors, and the spiritual world
- Ensure the continuation of Indigenous traditions
Can be used for:
1. Body painting
2. Sand drawings
3. Surface paintings
4. Rituals
5. To identify ownership and strengthen kinship ties
Quote: “The thing that sets Aboriginal art apart is the story.”
