Seven Sisters Dreaming

I sat with artist Joylene Presley at the Uluṟu womens ceremonial site, Pitjantjatjara Country, and watched this painting come to final form over a couple of days. It is a story about the seven sisters — which is linked to the Pleiades star cluster, a group of stars located in the constellation of Taurus, that are directly followed by Orion. 

Seven sisters dreaming is a highly coveted  story that has been expressed all over the world, but is linked to many songlines throughout Australia — many tribes stretching from east to west, north to south have this dreaming deeply interwoven into their cosmology and traditional ways. 

It is one of the most heavily depicted and drawn upon stories within indigenous art and culture. And is a story that is thick with many elements and gestures — from violent pursuit to miraculous escape, to desire, deception and wicked magic, and to very importantly, family constellations, kinship systems and right ways of union.

It was an absolute privilege to learn about this story so directly from elders on country — through dance, painting and storytelling. As it was a story that I received in dream state whilst on Yugambeh Country, only months prior — when I was camped on a very pinnacle seven sisters song line point at the top of Purling Brook Falls, Springbrook National Park.

I knew I had received the story, and knew I was on the song line, and vaguely knew the gravity of its meaning within indigenous culture. But learning so much more deeply about it from those who have it deeply embodied within their culture and ways, gave it so much more context and substance. 

It is a story that I will now, forever cherish and hold deeply in my heart, and wish to continue to journey and deepen with, as the complex and multifaceted meaning seems to slowly unfurl in my being.

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