Dreaming
The Aboriginal Australian understanding of creation and the law that still holds.
Also: dreamtime, the dreaming
The Dreaming, often called the Dreamtime, is the English term for the Aboriginal Australian way of understanding the creation of the world by ancestral beings, who shaped the land, animals and plants, and set down the laws that people live by. It is not a past age but a present reality, connecting people with their country, and told through stories, art, song and dance. Each group has its own Dreaming stories, and sites such as Uluru hold deep meaning. Passing on the knowledge is a duty, and parts of it are sacred and restricted. Dot paintings and bark art are among the ways it is shared with a wider audience.
Region: Oceania