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Aboriginal Australia Totemic Dreamtime
Background Beliefs Overview Traditions
The life of an individual Aboriginal, a person of the Dreamtime, is lived according to the
guidelines laid down for the ancestors by the creators. By adhering to the
traditions and beliefs practiced by the tribe for generations, an individual
fulfills the laws and spiritual expectations of the Ancestral Spirits.
At the end of Dreamtime, after the Ancestral Spirits gave form to the land and established community relationships, they changed from human and other forms into animals, stars, hills, and other things, enlivening the landscape with their powers. Traditionally clans and groups identified themselves with the spiritual essence of an animal, plant, or tree whose presence as a mentor, helper, protector and guide rooted them more firmly in the Earth and bonded them to the Land.
Aboriginals belong
to a place, an area of land in Australia where their totemic ancestors were
born, lived, and died. This "Belonging Place" was the territory of land created
for their kin group, their clan, and their tribe during the Dreamtime.
Aboriginal Australia Tribesman
The sacred symbols of these totemic bloodlines were implanted in the Dreaming stories used by the Elders to teach the wisdom of the ancestors to each new generation. Aboriginals sing their country; and, perform ceremonies for their country, Singing Country, using ochre depictions of the Dreaming images.
There are many different Aboriginal Australia tribes who have their own Dreamtime folklore, customs, languages, and totems; but, there are also many commonalities they share such as: strong kinship and family structures, totems; but, there are also many commonalities they share such as: strong kinship and family structures, totems.
The spirit of their particular animal totem symbolized many things to the clan or group. It was honored by them in many ways such as ceremonial offerings and carvings of its likeness.
The animal totem was sacred to them, therefore, it was taboo to injure or harm that animal in any way. An individual person, rather than a group or clan, forms close relationships with the spirit of one or more animals who instruct, protect, and guide the individual. As the unique bond between the person and the power animal continues to grow the person often takes on the spiritual attributes associated with that power animal to the point where the power animal almost becomes an alter ego.
Shamans that shapeshift will often assume the shape of their primary power animal. Each power animal has distinctive traits which it embodies, for instance, the butterfly is identified with transformation, the bear with introspection, and the mountain lion with leadership. Power animals may appear as a person performs routine daily activities or in a dream when they sleep. Each time that they enter a person's life with a sacred communication, it is a blessing from Spirit.
Stories of the Dreaming were told around campfires, where things of concern were also discussed and important information relayed. Dreaming law and lore told the tribe about their spiritual history, how to treat each other, and how to conduct their daily life. Suitable punishments for individual transgressions of these tribal and Totemic Laws were determined by knowledgeable Elders of the Aborigines... Continue on Go back
Read Aboriginal Australia Articles
Animal Totems Shamanism,
Belonging Place Taking Care,
Corroborees Ceremonies,
Cultural Heritage,
Dreaming Tracks Songlines,
Glossary Terminology,
Kinship Elders,
Musical Song Dances,
Rainbow Snake Sacred Symbols,
Spiritual Beliefs,
Storytelling Custodianship
Visit other Beliefs Faiths Religions Traditions
Aboriginal Dreamtime,
Alchemy Alchemist,
Cosmos Astronomy,
Buddhism Buddhist,
Christianity Biblical,
Daoist Confucian,
Druidry Treelore,
Heathenry Ásatrú,
Hinduism Vedas,
Islam Sunnah,
Judaism Talmud,
Native American,
Paganism Wiccan,
Shamanism Shaman,
Shintoism Kami
Aboriginal Australia Totemic Dreamtime Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
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