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Indigenous Art and Folklore of Australia
From The Lady magazine: 2006
........"Dreaming" is the European term used to describe the belief system, religion, and law of the Australian indigenous people. Dreamtime stories include heroes, villains, animals, ancestors and spirits and may be narrated, sung, danced or painted.
At Nourlangie rock in Kakadu National Park there are dozens of Dreamtime rock paintings such as Namarrkun (Lightening Man).
It is said that Namarrkun came out of the sky riding on storm clouds. Lightening arcing across his head and with stone axes he strikes the clouds making a thunderous noise. If people disobey the law Namarrkun will hiss and crackle in annoyance. He can be seen during the pre-monsoon season blocking the sun as he looks down on his people. He comes every year to show his power and remind people to obey the law. If people fail to share food, or fight with each other he grumbles a warning and if this goes unheeded he may strike the offender down with his lightening spears. The bright orange and blue Leichardt's grasshoppers are said to be one form of Namarrkun's children and when they appear, migrating from the north, they are looking for Namarrkun. This is a sign telling people that storms are coming and its time to seek a more sheltered camp.
This deceptively simple story is one of thousands that have guided people for millennia enshrining spiritual life, community obligations, law and order and guidance on seasonal variations........
