Tales from the Enchanted Forest

Dreamtime or “the Dreaming” is a term to explain the Indigenous Australian concept of “Everywhen” which was when their ancestral figures inhabited the land. It is also used by some groups to describe the world outside of our own.

The Rainbow Serpent comes from the Dreamtime or Everywhen- the time of creation. Sometimes the Serpent has a distinguished sex and a name, but in other stories, it does not. What is agreed upon, however, is that the Rainbow Serpent played a hand in creating the lakes and rivers, and its fury lead to storms and cyclones.

This story comes from various sources but one of our inspirations was the work of Dick Roughsey, an Australian Aboriginal artist from Mornington Island. His name, Goobalathaldin, meant “Rough Sea.” Scroll down to the end of the post to hear the story as written by Roughsey. It differs from the one in our episode so be sure to give it listen!

Listen below or on any podcast player!

Then there were Frogs

Long ago, in the Dreamtime, when the Earth was new and nothing grew, there lived a sleeping Rainbow Serpent. One day, she awoke and slithered out of the Earth onto the surface. There she travelled far and wide, leaving deep crevices in her wake. When she had travelled far, she finally returned to where she started and took stock of the world around her.

First, she called to the frogs, and the sleeping frogs awoke. They had bellies full of water, and when they woke up, the Serpent tickled them until they laughed and filled the crevices the Rainbow Serpent had left behind. They laughed until they had formed the first rivers and lakes on Earth.

Managing Discord

The Earth soaked up the water, and soon trees and flowers began to grow. The new lush landscape tempted the other animals to wake up and join the Rainbow Serpent. Under the rule of the Rainbow Serpent, the animals lived happily- until they didn’t.

“The Rainbow Serpent” by Percy Trezise and Dick Roughsey

As is often the case, the animals soon grew weary of one another. Discord broke out, and the Rainbow Serpent made a declaration. Any animals who behaved well would be rewarded and turned into humans, but those that did not would be turned into stones.

The ones who listened to the Rainbow Serpent were indeed rewarded, and their tribes were given totems bearing the mark of their former selves. The Kangaroos, Emu’s, Carpet Snakes, and Geckos all became totems, among others. To ensure there was enough food for these new beings, the Rainbow Serpent decreed that they could not eat their totem creature but only those of others.

The tribes lived together on the land, and the Rainbow Serpent dwelled deep in the permanent waterholes. Even in the droughts, her residence always had water and ensured the survival of the creatures she brought up to Earth.

The Forgotten Stories

However, as is the case with stories, some of the humans began to forget about the Rainbow Serpent. One day, a group of kangaroo hunters were resting when it began to rain. The older hunters told stories and sang songs while the younger ones played games.

Suddenly, the rain turned to a drizzle, and a rainbow appeared in the sky. The older hunters immediately gathered their belongings and moved away. They knew it was the Rainbow Serpent making its way from one watering hole to the next. A young hunter, who was with them, was confused by this, and when they arrived back home, he asked them why they were so scared. If the creature was so frightening, then he could just spear it.

The elders were horrified at his brazen boldness and told him the story of the Dreamtime being. After creating the rivers and the mountains, the Rainbow Serpent had settled in the cool depths of the water holes to rest and must not be disturbed.

The young hunter understood at last, and the story was passed on from generation to generation. To this day, the Rainbow Serpent can be seen arching across the sky as she travels between the waters.

Percy Trezise and Dick Roughsey discuss a painting of the Rainbow Serpent with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, 19 March 1975 / Collection: National Library of Australia / Photograph: Don Edwards/Australian Information Service

Wawalag Sisters

This version of the Rainbow Serpent story is family-friendly, with the tummy tickling and easy-going terraforming. However, not all Rainbow Serpent stories are quite so simple. In one story, the Wawalag sisters were travelling when the eldest gave birth near the Rainbow Serpent’s waterhole. The Snake was enraged and followed them to their hut where they were sleeping. He ate them but later regurgitated them after being bitten by an ant.

Stories of the Rainbow Serpent

The stories range depending on who is telling them as is the case with many stories based on oral traditions. Sometimes the Rainbow Serpent accompanies the Great Mother and in other stories, the Serpent falls from the sky before beginning Creation. In other still, humans existed before the creation fully began.

Below is a reading of the book “Rainbow Serpent” by Dick Roughsey.