Aside from that similarity, the Aboriginal pre-conception paradigm contrasts with science's understanding of pregnancy. Even more puzzling, Aborigines held their belief after learning about biological conception as an accidental collision of sperm and egg. The spiritual origin of children is the fundamental belief, and among the most important stays of the social fabric. The new life which has chosen to enter the woman is a complete entity who has originated at some time in the long distant past, and is immeasurably more ancient and completely independent of any living person. Perception of spirit-children depends upon intuitive ability.
Aborigines generally agree that the spirit-children are tiny, fully developed babies.
They sit under shady trees, waiting for a compatible mother to pass by. Meanwhile they eat the gum of acacia trees, and drink morning dew. If the man has several wives, he chooses the most appropriate mother and describes her whereabouts to the spirit-child. One young man's dream occurred six years prior to his son's birth. In the dream, Bos saw a pilot involved in an air battle.