Thanks very much for sharing that story, Steven. Here's something you might like:
“Tribal Aborigines live in a world where their belief system has been handed down generation through generation, without change, for thousands of years. From father to son, mother to daughter, tribal laws have remained intact and precise, governing all areas of their lives. True Aboriginal life is an unending quest for knowledge about culture, land, and spirituality. Mythical legends and ancestral spirits can continuously appear to the conscious mind through symbolic occurrences, which emanate from all aspects of daily life. Eventually, perhaps during a tribal corroboree (a ceremony), these symbols can fit together with others, as in a metaphorical puzzle, leading to a better understanding of one’s role within the tribe. The Dreamtime was a creation era long ago, when flourishing ancestral spirits developed all laws and patterns of life to come for everything. The laws created and events from that ancient time are integral to the tribal Aborigine, as they dictate how to live while keeping spiritual union with the land and animals. Often these events are re-enacted in ceremonies, guided by didgeridoo and song, which help call forth magic from the supernatural powers in the cosmos. Spiritual Aborigines believe in two distinct forms of what we call time; two parallel currents of activity. The first is somewhat basic and easily tangible; it is the everyday series of events which guides our lives and keeps us ‘busy’. For example: an 11:00 appointment, stopping at a red light, eating a meal, making a phone call, etc. Much of our modern society stays somewhat confined in this singular mode and ventures no further, which can be routine and rather barren, yet comfortable and reassuring. However, for the Aborigine, there is another form of activity which rides parallel to the daily objective. It is an endless spiritual cycle which constantly renews itself. It is called the Dreaming: the continuum of the Dreamtime. Paradoxically, it is more real than reality itself. It is what evokes all that is seen, heard, felt, and experienced into being. For the Aborigine, whatever happens in the Dreaming cycle establishes all laws, customs and values, goals, totemic symbology, and provides wisdom for daily life. Just as our bodies require food as fuel to propel us through our lives, the Dreamtime is the fuel which propels all of what is seen and experienced by a tribal Aborigine living a traditional way of life. It is the nucleus of everything, the driving force of the wind, fire, water, land, trees, animals, and ultimately…the Universe. (The philosophy of Socrates spoke of another world, an invisible realm, which propels our sphere and worldly events into being. He stated that all facets of our lives are merely the products of events coming into manifestation from that unseen world. This idea is very similar in nature to the Aboriginal Dreamtime belief. His concept of an ‘unseen force’ was not shared by the general consensus in his place and time; he was considered obscure and radical. Inflamed with his other outspoken and ‘bizarre’ antics, the constables forced him to drink the hemlock. Little did he know an entire continent elsewhere shared his opinion.)” – Patrick Walsh, Dreamtime Journal (a CD featuring the band Dreamtime and aboriginal accompaniment and stories; www.dreamtimedidgeridoos.com) -- Robert Farr (540) 668-7160 Check out http://www.thechileman.com for Hot Sauces, Salsas, Mustards & More!
