Yhi
In
Aboriginal mythology (specifically: Karraur),
Yhi is a goddess of light and creation, and a
solar deity. She lived in the
Dream time and
slept until a whistle awakened her. When she opened her
eyes, light fell on the
Earth. She walked the earth and
plants grew where she walked. Soon the whole world was covered with foliage. She decided that, in addition to plants, she wanted to make something that could
dance. Searching for such an
organism, Yhi found evil spirits beneath the earth who tried to sing her to death. But her warmth chased away the darkness and
insects of all kinds were created from it. She brought them to Earth and then found some
ice caves in a
mountain. She shined her light on the being resting inside and
fishes and lizards came out, along with many other kinds of
birds,
mammals and
amphibians. She then returned to her own world and blessed her creations with the change of the
seasons and promised that, when they died, they would join her in the sky. When she disappeared, darkness came back and covered the Earth. The organisms thought she was not returning and were sad, but then came the first
sunrise and Yhi returned. Much later, after many millennia of the
Dream time, the animals missed Yhi and she decided return once to ask what was wrong.
Kangaroo wanted to fly and
Wombat wanted to wiggle on the ground, while
Seal wanted to swim.
Lizard wanted legs and
Bat wanted
wings, and the
Platypus wanted something of everything. Yhi granted them what they wished. Yhi then returned to the sky and saw the Man, who had no woman and was unlike anything else she had created. While the man slept, Yhi turned all her power on a
flower and soon, the man woke up and, joined by all the other animals, watched her. The flower then turned into a woman.
