This Fact Sheet may be printed for private use including for teaching or researching purposes. The word spirit has many different meanings.
Spirits can also refer to the supernatural world of ghosts.
Before the arrival of the 'whiteman' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians believed in a number of spirits. This was something to be taken notice of and the Aborigines were very superstitious people. Every rock formation, river and other geographical feature was the result of the creative actions of the spirits. Supernatural beings such as the Rainbow Serpent and heroes and heroines who took different forms, but were 'men and women' just like us. The Rainbow Serpent was credited with forming valleys as he dragged his tail moving across the once formless land, but also was identified with new life which is hardly surprising.