Emu in the Night Sky: Looking for patterns in the dark spaces

Australian Indigenous Elders tell stories and Emu in the Night Sky.

Through Our Eyes – Dhinawan ‘Emu’ In The Sky with Ben Flick

https://youtu.be/LzFYFutiwoA

“Ben Flick, an Aboriginal man from the Kamilaroi language group of north-western NSW, explains a creation story passed down to him regarding ‘the emu in the sky”. Astronomy is used to identify the correct time of the year to collect emu eggs. This documentary is one of nineteen that comprises the Through Our Eyes series features Aboriginal Elders and knowledge-holders from the Ngemba, Kamilaroi and Euahlayi language groups in north-western NSW (Brewarrina, Walgett and Lightning Ridge) describing the land management practices and social, spiritual and cultural knowledge that enabled their people to care for the country for tens of thousands of years.”

Psychology professionals studying unconscious processes sometimes must way-find in the dark. Rather than looking at the many conspicuous human behaviours, ie., stars in the night sky, we sometimes need to change our way of perceiving by analyzing the voids and search for far bigger,  wider, deeper,  gaps between the what is obvious and superficially observable. Perceiving patterns in the ‘important dark spaces between the obvious stars’ can sometimes lead us to far bigger truths about the human psyche and the root causes of our behaviours.

For example, focusing on merely connecting the dots from star-to-star in the Southern Hemisphere can lead you to discover the Southern Cross. When you study the dark spaces (voids) between the stars, however you can see a far greater sight — a spectacular, massive emu flying through the Night Sky.

“Astronomy plays a big part in Aboriginal culture. Many Aboriginal groups use the movement of the planets and stars as a calendar to calculate the seasons and fix the date of certain tribal activities. They also attribute religious or mythological significance to certain celestial forms. The ‘Emu in the Sky’ is a spectacle which is visible in the Autumn sky. Dark nebulae (interstellar dust and gases) contrast with the bright stars of the Milky Way to form the shape of an emu.“

Quote above reference

_______________

Dark patches in the sky. Unlike Greek celestial tradition, which focuses almost exclusively on stars, Aboriginal astronomy focuses on the Milky Way and often incorporates the dark patches between stars.

The Emu in the Sky, a story common to many Aboriginal groups, is an example of this — its body is made up of the dark patches in the Milky Way. The Boorong people saw the same dark patches as the smoke from the fires of Nurrumbunguttias, the old spirits. The Kaurna people saw the Milky Way — called Wodliparri or hut river — as a large river where a Yura (monster) lives in the dark patches.

To the Ngarrindjeri people, the dark shape formed by the Southern Cross is the stingray Nunganari and the pointers are Ngarakani, or sharks.

Image and quote credit