Star Dreaming (Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa)by Ruth Nungarrayi Spencer

This amazing and brightly coloured painting depicts an important warlpiri Dreaming, the Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa (Star Dreaming). Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa tells of the journey of Japaljarri and Jungurrayi men who travelled from Kurlurngalinypa (near Lajamanu) to Yanjirlypirri (west of Yuendumu) and then on to Lake Mackay on the Westrern Australian border. Along the way they performed "kurdiji" (Initiation ceremonies) for young men. Women also danced for the "kurdiji". The site depicted in this canvas is Yanjirlpirri (star) where there is a low hill and a water soakage. The importance of this sacred place cannot be overemphasised as young boys are brought here to be initiated from as far as the Pitjantjatjara Lands to the south and Lajamanu to the north. Another important story of the night sky is that of Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming). The Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa (Seven Sisters Dreaming) depicts the story of the seven ancestral Napaljarri sisters who are found in the night sky today in the cluster of seven stars in their constellation, Taurus, more commonly known as the Pleiades. The Pleiades are seven women of the Napaljarri skin group and are often depicted in paintings of this Jukurrpa carrying the Jampijimpa man "Wardilyka" (The Bush Turkey) who is in love with them and who represents the Orion's Belt cluster of stars. Jukurra-Jukurra, or the morning star, is the Jakamarra man who is also in love with the seven Napaljarri sisters and is often shown chasing them across the night sky. In a final attempt to escape from the Jakamarra man the Napaljarri-Warnu turned themselves into fire and ascended to the heavens to become stars. The custodians of the Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa are Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men and Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women. Some parts of the Napaljarri-Warnu Jukurrpa are closely associated with men's sacred ceremonies of a very secretive nature. It is within this that the link of the Yanjirlpirri Jukurrpa is found.