Wise Women of the Dreamtime

Extending deep into the caverns of humanity's oldest memories, beyond 60,000 years of history and into the Dreamtime, this collection of Australian Aboriginal myths has been passed down through the generations by tribal storytellers. The myths were compiled at the turn of the century by K. Langloh Parker, one of the first Europeans to realize their significance and spiritual sophistication. Saved from drowning by Aboriginal friends when she was just a child, Parker subsequently gained unique access to Aboriginal women and to stories that had previously eluded anthropologists.

In the stories, women tell of their own initiations and ceremonies, the origins and destiny of humanity, and the behavioral codes for society. Included are stories of child-rearing practices, young love in adversity, the dangers of invoking the spiritual powers, the importance of social sharing, the role of women in male conflicts, the dark feminine, and the transformational power of language. Wise Women of the Dreamtime allows us to participate in the world's oldest stories and to begin a new dream of harmony between human society and nature.

An Australian-born actress and writer, Johanna Lambert has been deeply involved in Aboriginal issues for many years. She studied with the renowned Aboriginal film and stage director Brian Syron and is also the editor of the audio edition of Wise Women of the Dreamtime.

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Tales of the Ancestral Powers

Wahwee and Nerida: The Water Monster and the Water Lily

Dinewan the Man Changes to Dinewan the Emu

Sturt's Desert Pea, the Blood Flower

Where the Frost Comes From

Tales of the Animal Powers

Murgah Muggui, the Spider

Bralgah, the Dancing Bird

Piggiebillah, the Porcupine

The Rainbird

Tales of the Magical Powers

Moodoobahngul, the Widow

The Wirreenun Woman and Her Wirreenun Son

The Redbreasts

The Wagtail and the Rainbow

Tales of Healing

Goonur, the Woman-Doctor

The Bunbundoolooeys

Bibliography