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Aboriginal Spirituality

Feb 23, 2016

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Aboriginal Spirituality. Origins Sacred Space Rituals Beliefs. What do you know about Natives?. Origins. The first traces of human society indicate that early people everywhere worshiped consciously and deliberately Some believe they ‘came out of this ground’ (origins are beyond record) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 1: Aboriginal Spirituality
Page 2: Aboriginal Spirituality

Aboriginal Spirituality

OriginsSacred Space

RitualsBeliefs

Page 3: Aboriginal Spirituality

What do you know about Natives?

Page 4: Aboriginal Spirituality
Page 5: Aboriginal Spirituality
Page 7: Aboriginal Spirituality

OriginsThe first traces of human society indicate that early people

everywhere worshiped consciously and deliberatelySome believe they ‘came out of this ground’ (origins are

beyond record)Worship and religion seem to have emerged with the ability

to recognize forces that could not be understood or mastered.

Anthropologists recognize that religions existed in the Neanderthal nomadic tribes

Arranged stones and boulders were positioned in ways that suggest they were possibly used for worship

Inside graves and shelters for the dead are bones, tools, ornaments and evidence of food offerings

Paintings and sculptures were located deeply in caves for the purpose of rituals

Page 8: Aboriginal Spirituality

Peterborough Petroglyphs (Algonquin)

Page 9: Aboriginal Spirituality

The after life was a great concernEarly humans would smooth sand around graves

in order to detect footprintsFrequently, the dead were re-buried—just in caseRituals were held for health, offspring, good

crops, and fertility. Archaeological evidence supports theory that

aboriginal peoples migrated from Asia to North and South America by crossing a land bridge over the Bering Strait (about 35 000 years ago)

Page 10: Aboriginal Spirituality

Bering Strait Theory

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Around the WorldApproximately 300 million Aboriginal people in

the world todayAt the time of Columbus about 100 million

indigenous peoples inhabited the Americas (about 1/5 of the human race)

Currently over 800 000 Aboriginal people

What makes one Aboriginal? - one of the original or earliest known

inhabitants of a country or region.- having existed in a region from the beginning

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Sacred Time and Sacred SpaceNature is inhabited with spirit beings that can guide

humans. These spirit beings are called spirit guides.It is important to get in touch with one’s personal

spirit guide, and this is done through a vision quest. During this time, a person would stay in a remote area and fast and pray

Sweat Lodges- sauna like structures. The goal of a sweat lodge is to seek a vision of a guardian spirit

Some people also induce visions using peyote. This drug creates hallucinogenic visions that put them in touch with their spirit guide.

Page 13: Aboriginal Spirituality

Sun Dance is a ritual that induces changes in consciousness through pain. They hang from poles attached to pegs driven through skin in their chest.

To the aboriginal person, the sacred is all around; in the animals, forest, lakes, etc.

Page 14: Aboriginal Spirituality

Sweat LodgeTraditional way of healingDome shaped structure Constructed of saplings, covered with canvas,

hides, or blanketsPit in the middle of the floor where heated

rocks are placedStones sprinkled with tobacco, Eucalyptus oil

is poured over the stones and waterSteam produces sweat which purifies the bodyPhysical cleansing becomes spiritual cleansing

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Vision QuestPart of a coming of age ceremonyA boy (or a girl) on the threshold of

adulthood would spend time alone in a place where contact with the spirit world was possible

Through fasting and prayer, seekers of the vision quest hoped to make contact with the spiritual realm

They want to share its power and gain a vision by which to direct his or her life

Page 17: Aboriginal Spirituality

Sacred StoriesCreation Myth : explains the origins of earth

and individual aspects of nature.Trickster Myth: explains how suffering and

misery came to be.Hero Myth: idealizes the image of the good,

brave personDivine Myth: describes how gods came to beCultural Myth: explains how rituals and

customs came to be

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BeliefsEvery part of the earth is sacredThe air is precious; it shares it’s spirit with all

life The earth is the mother. What hurts the earth

hurts the children of the earthAll things are connected like the blood that

unites us allThe earth is precious to the gods; to harm the

earth is to hate the creatorThe Fours: directions, elements, seasons,

ages, tribes (yellow, brown, red, white)

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Beliefs continuedThe natural and supernatural are not

separatedAboriginals believe in animism- all things

(human and non-human) have spirits or soulsNatural elements, such as rocks, trees, lakes

and so on can take on mystic significance and have spiritual power

All things possess a life force and are equal, interrelated and interdependent

There is a supreme creator or Great Spirit called something different depending on the tribe

Page 20: Aboriginal Spirituality

Beliefs continuedNative hunters would often apologize or offer

thanks to the animals they needed to kill, a way of paying homage

This belief of connection to animals include the totem animal

This totem is usually an animal that is part of the tribe’s daily experience and has a special kinship with it

Ceremonies are used to identify with the animal powers and keep a strong connection to the natural world

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Community of FaithShaman (religious leader) Chief (political

leader)

Elders (make the decisions)

Tribe (followers)

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ShamansA shaman is a magic specialist or a

witch doctor/medicine manShamans could control spirits. Shaman talked to spirits, spirits talked

through the shaman to the communityShamans went into deep trances

through drum beating, dancing, self-hypnosis, chanting and drugs—spirits could travel through them in this state

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Sense of EthicsConcern for the common good of the groupCo-operation, generosity between people and

respect for the wisdom of children and the elders because they are closest to the Great Mystery

Page 24: Aboriginal Spirituality