About Dreamcatchers
Early dreamcatchers (or dream catchers) were made of willow branches or vines fashioned into hoops and weaved with sinew into the likeness of a spider's web.
The exact origins of the Dreamcatcher are unclear. General consensus is that they were first used by the Ojibwe' Indians for attaching to a baby's cradle board to protect, entertain and soothe the little ones, much like a crib mobile is used today. Deamcatchers are known to have been used by the Crow, Cochiti, Cree, Laguna and Zuni as well as the Huichol Indians of Mexico, just to name a few. Depictions of similar webbed creations have also been found in ancient murals across Central America.
Dreamcatcher Legends
Native American dreamcatcher legends say that when a dreamcatcher is hung above a place of sleep it ensnares bad dreams to be held and burned away by the first light of day while good dreams are allowed to flow through the holes in the web to drift down upon the dreamer below. Legends vary from tribe to tribe. Some speak of personalized dreamcatchers decorated with symbols, feathers, bones, stones and the like, while others describe simple, unadorned variations. Some have masculine and feminine versions, others have them for marking a new phase of life. Details aside, the common thread among all Dream Catcher stories is the belief that these amulets were a sacred gift that held the power to protect one while attracting to him good dreams, wisdom and guidance.
Practical Wisdom
I think a certain practical wisdom exists in the using of tangible items such as dreamcatchers as a means of drawing attention to the inherent ability we posess to create our own reality. A visible, daily reminder that we, alone, are responsible for what we choose to focus the energy of our thoughts on, for better or worse --it's all about perception!
Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change." While we have little to no control over many circumstances and events in our lives, we are never, ever without the power or the ability to decide what we hold in the forefront of our minds. Renowned author ef "The Power of Positive Thinking," Norman Vincent Peale believed strongly enough that he devoted his entire life to advocating this philosophy.
So, if you still think of dreamcatchers as simply decorative, cultural relics, I would urge you to ask any parent how effective the power of belief can be in warding off the bad dreams of a frightened child. This holds true for grownups as well if we will only suspend our disbelief. After all, many of mankind's greatest achievements were sprung from seeds sown in the mind of a dreamer.
