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Mythology Worlds
ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA
First peoples Down Under
Keep In Mind
There are many, many different Aboriginal people groups in Australia, each with its own set of traditions and stories. There is no "Australian Aboriginal mythology" any more than there is an "Asian mythology" or a "European mythology".
Even after 300 years of colonial oppression (including the Stolen Generations), Australian Aboriginal traditions live on.
The crux of Australian Aboriginal lore is the creation period known as the Dreamtime, wherein the Ancestors shaped the marvelous land of Oz and introduced sacred rituals...before leaving their images behind in holy natural features and traditional paintings.
The Dreamtime is not a long-ago period.
It is everywhen--the past, present, and future.
The tales of the Ancestors continue to influence the lives and rituals of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia.
Dreamtime Stories
Wandjinas are protector spirits of Indigenous Australian clans.
They left their images behind on rocks so that people could have access to their energy.
They do not have mouths. If they did, it would always be raining.
Only specially appointed Indigenous Australians are allowed to depict Wandjina.
Out of respect for their traditions, instead of a drawing of a Wandjina, I present a text wall explaining them.
In the beliefs of the Yolngu people of northern Australia, the Dreamtime ancestors known as the Djanggawul included two sisters and a brother.
They brought sacred objects, created the wilds with their walking sticks, and created the first humans out of their mats and baskets.
While the sisters were on a fishing trip, the brother stole their sacred objects.
Since then, spiritual power has been under patriarchal control.
Australian Mythical Creatures
(Real Australian critters don't count)
English Words of Indigenous Australian Origin
Kangaroo
Koala
Billabong
Budgerigar
Dingo
Kookaburra
Wombat
Wallaby
Boomerang
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