REAMTIME
The expression ‘Dreamtime’ is most often used to refer to the ‘time before time’ or ‘the time of the creation of all things’ while ‘Dreaming’ is often used to refer to an individual’s or group’s set of beliefs or spirituality. However many indigenous Australians also refer to the creation time as ‘The Dreaming’.
The Dreamtime goes on as the ‘Dreaming’ in the spiritual lives of the Australian Aboriginal people today. Their spirituality mainly derives from the stories of the Dreaming. The aborigines were very spiritual people before the arrival white man.
“The Dreaming means our identity as people. The cultural teaching and everything, that’s part of our lives here, you know?…..it’s the understanding of what we have around us.” (Merv Penrith, Elder, Wallaga Lake 1996.)
Each tribe has it’s individual Dreamtime although some of the legends overlap. Most ‘Dreamtime’ originates with the Giant Dog or the Giant Snake and each is unique and colourful in its explanation.
The Dreaming sets out the structures of society, the rules for social behavior and the ceremonies performed in order to maintain the life of the land. In essence, the Dreaming comes from the land. In aboriginal society people did not own the land it was part of them and it was their duty to respect and look after mother earth.
The Dreaming did not end with the arrival of the Europeans but simply entered a new phase. It is a powerful force that must be maintained and cared for.