The Dreaming (Australian Aboriginal concept)

The Dreaming is a fundamental concept in Australian Aboriginal culture, referring to the creative era when ancestral spirits shaped the land, people, and laws. It encompasses the spiritual, cultural, and mythological stories that connect communities to their land and identity. These stories encode knowledge about nature, morality, and social order, passed down through generations via oral traditions, ceremonies, and art. The Dreaming is not a past event but an ongoing spiritual presence that sustains the world and guides living relationships with the environment, ensuring the continuity of cultural heritage and community harmony.