What is a Dreamcatcher?
Physically, a dreamcatcher is a handmade hoop that usually has a woven net or web. It is often also decorated and enhanced with special and sacred items such as beads and feathers.
Traditionally, the dreamcatcher is hung over beds and cradle...
What is a Dreamcatcher?
Physically, a dreamcatcher is a handmade hoop that usually has a woven net or web. It is often also d...
What is a Dreamcatcher?
Physically, a dreamcatcher is a handmade hoop that usually has a woven net or web. It is often also decorated and enhanced with special and sacred items such as beads and feathers.
Traditionally, the dreamcatcher is hung over beds and cradles of little ones for the purpose of protection.
It originated from Native America and is referred to as “the spider web charm” since it is supposed to replicate a spider’s web that is understood to be a protective charm.
What is the history behind it?
In the Ojibwe tribe, the spiders are a symbol of protection and safety. Thus, even though for the entire world the spider is a stereotyped dangerous insect, this tribe gave birth to the protection charm that brought forth their believes. They gave birth to the dreamcatchers.
A running legend in this tribe tells us exactly how the dream catcher was invented. It states that there once was a mystical woman who was called the “spider woman”. She was known to provide spiritual protection to the people of the tribe and especially the babies and young children. But as the tribe grew and the people scattered around it became increasingly difficult for her to protect everyone. This was when she came up with the vision and idea of the dreamcatcher. Soon, the mothers and grandmothers of the tribe followed suit and learnt how to make these and provide protection to their kids and families.
In Native American history, dreamcatchers are always used and identified as talisman.
The purpose of these dreamcatcher was to protect the sleeping person, especially children from nightmares and negative dreams. It was believed that the dark night sky was filled with dreams of all nature and what the dream catcher did was catch all of them. The good dreams were believed to pass through the feathers and drop to the sleeping person and the bad dreams were trapped in the web and killed by the sun. Thus, the placement of the dreamcatcher was important. It has to be on top of the bed that the person sleeps in and it had to be placed in such a way that the sun reached it.
Dreams have thus always had an important influence on the native Americans. They believed that dreams could affect a person in their waking life by impacting their character, thus the protection from bad dreams was very important.
What are the original symbolisms of the different parts of the dreamcatcher?
The dreamcatcher is usually shaped in a circle. This circle represents the circle of life as well as the journey of both sun and moon, everyday, from day to night and vice versa.
The feathers symbolise the easy delivery of the good dreams by the dreamcatcher.The beads have two opinions on what they symbolise. Some say they are the spiders who have woven the web and some believe they are immortalised good dreams.