Aboriginal Spirituality
Aboriginal Spirituality, in general, is the Aboriginals connection to their land, in which provides them their spiritual and physical needs. Religion plays the essential role in the Aboriginal Spirituality. Like any other religion, Aboriginal people have their own stories, art, poetry and traditions as representative of their culture.
Stories were one of the influential aspects in the Aboriginal culture. The stories have been handed down for many generations, giving them the laws that they abide by. These laws were strict and covered all parts of life: totem, marriage, ceremonies, and animals that they can be hunted or killed for food and where and when they can be hunted. An example of a story would be “Thukeri”. This story was based on two men’s greed, resulting of their whole tribe being punished by their leader. This indicates that oral storytelling was significant to the Aboriginal people as it helped them learn from other people’s mistakes and become better people. Similar stories were all told from the dreamtime. “Dreamtime” was a reference to the Creation Period, a time when Ancestral Beings created landforms, such as certain animals digging, or animals and plants being created for the first time.
Poetry also took an interest in the Aboriginal culture. The poetry “Sacred Sites”, by Denis Kevansis, expresses his view regarding the Aboriginals and the connection to their land. When he visits their land, in search of finding what the Aboriginals most value, he came across many sacred places filled with melancholy. As realization struck him, Denis was awe that the Aboriginal people cherished their sacred spots more than anything else in the world. This demonstrates that this was an unusual approach; as most people would have been more worried for the happiness of others, rather than some sacred spots that was here before they were even born. Some of the sacred places to the Aboriginal people are Uluru, Kata Juta (The Olgas) and Kings Canon. Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock is sacred to the Aboriginal, because it is known to have many myths and legends of Aboriginal Ancestral Beings by outsiders.
Art was another form of element that reflected Aboriginal Spirituality. Each piece of artwork describes Aboriginal Spirituality by the way artists continue to make their connection to their land and dreaming. For instance, curved lines showed rain or water travelling underground, concentric circles was either campsites, waterholes or places of significance, straight lines meant travelling, but when these lines join concentric circles, it creates pathway that was travelled by ancestors. All symbols used in art have a profound importance in the Aboriginal culture.
The final section of the Aboriginal Spirituality was the traditions. Surprisingly yet, there’s not much difference between the traditions of the Christians and Aborigines, as they both have similar opinions that are associated with the initiation of boys and girls into adulthood. In the Aboriginal culture, these ceremonies occasionally last for weeks, with nightly singing and dancing, storytelling, displays of body decorations, ceremonial objects, songs and stories connected to each of the ancestral beings. As an alternative, the Christian religion celebrates the initiation of boys and girls with sacraments and confirmation given at different stages of maturation. However, these events only last for a day, with family and friends gathering at a mass, receiving the sacrament or confirmation by the priest’s blessing. A death of a person is another momentous ceremony for the Aborigines. People often paint themselves white, cut their own bodies to extend their remorse for the loss of their loved ones, and complete a series of rituals, songs and dances to ensure the person’s spirit leaves the area and return to its birthplace where it can later be reborn. This displays the sacrifice Aborigines would make for their loved ones, even if it would put themselves at risk.
Seriously, how many people would be seen painted in white or cut their bodies for that matter, to show their sadness for someone?
Therefore, it is evident that Aboriginal Spirituality is a religion as it reveals a logical understanding of how religion has adapted to the Aboriginal culture through many forms and practices. It also demonstrates the Aboriginal devotion and pride of their culture. Although we are unable to grasp their meaning of life, we are able to benefit a sense of understanding that they truly appreciate their culture.
Step 1 – Define Aboriginal SpiritualityIn your own words define “Aboriginal Spirituality” / Step 2 – Explore Sacred beliefs
In your own words define the term, “Dreamtime”. / Step 3 – Listen to Sacred stories
Summarise the story.
What does the story reveal about Aboriginal religion and the spiritual connection to the land?
Why do you think that oral storytelling is important to the Aboriginal people?
Aboriginal Spirituality is the connection to land. It provides the physical and spiritual needs for the Aboriginal people. Spirituality for the Aboriginal people take on many forms that are deeply influenced by the impact of other countries taking over their land, from both the past and present. / Dreamtime doesn’t necessarily mean a person having a dream, but more of a reference to the Creation Period. Aboriginal people often interpret dreams as being the things that happened during the Ancestral time. The “Creation Period: was the time when Ancestral Beings created landforms, such as certain animals digging or pushing up mountain ranges, or the first animals and plants being created for the first time. / The story was called Thukeri. Thukeri was about two men who went fishing for their families. They had caught more than enough fish. When a stranger approaches them and asks for some food, the men were so greedy that they refused by simply saying ‘they had none’. The stranger punished them by ruining their fish without them knowing. It wasn’t until they arrived home that they realized their fish was ruin. The villagers were not happy; they told them it was their leader and that because of them they all would be cursed forever.
The story reveals that the Aboriginal have very harsh consequences for one bad deed.
I think that oral storytelling is important to Aboriginal people because they can learn from others’ mistakes and become better people.
Data Collection- Aboriginal Spirituality
Step 4 – Experience Sacred symbolsHow does each piece of artwork express Aboriginal spirituality?
What are some of the symbols used in artwork and what do they represent? / Step 5 – Explore Sacred sites
View this slide show of sacred sites. Note down the sacred sites.
Explain in your own words his thoughts and feelings regarding Aboriginals and their connection to their land.
Explain why you think Uluru is sacred to Australian Aboriginals. / Step 6 – Appreciate Sacred Ceremonies
Compare and contrast the ceremonies for initiations and funerals to those of the Christian religion? Explain the similarities and differences.
Each piece of artwork expresses Aboriginal Spirituality by the way artists continue their connection to their country and dreaming. It shows how much they value their culture.
Some of the symbols used in artwork are:
-Concentric Circles: campsites, waterholes or places of significance
-Curved Lines: rain or water traveling underground
-Straight Lines: travelling, and when these lines join concentric circles: show the pathway travelled by the ancestors
-small “U’ shaped figure: person, and depending on the iconography next to the person determines whether its male or female. / The sacred sites in the slide show is Uluru, Kata Juta (The Olgas) and KingsCanyon.
Denis Kevansis has discovered that the Aboriginal value their sacred places more than anything, even their own family and possibly their own lives. He is confused that they don’t seem to care about the feelings around them, but care more about protecting their precious places.
I think Uluru is sacred to Australian Aboriginals because there have been many myths and legends, by outsiders of Aboriginal Ancestral Stories for the origin of Uluru and its many cracks. / The most important ceremony are connected with the initiation of boys and girls into adulthood. These ceremonies occasionally lasts for weeks, with nightly singing and dancing, storytelling and the display of body decoration and ceremonial objects, songs and stories connected to each of the Ancestral Beings as being told and retold for many generations.
In the Christian religion, they celebrate the initiation of boys and girls with sacraments and confirmation, each is given at a certain age. The event is a one day event, with family and friends gathering at a mass and the priest’s blessing.
Another important ceremony for the Aborigines is on a death of a person. People often paint themselves white, cut their own bodies to show their remorse for the loss of their loved ones, and conduct a series of rituals, songs and dances to ensure the person’s spirit leaves the area and return to its birthplace, from where it can be later be reborn.