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. The general consensus is that they were first used by the Ojibwe' Indians as ornaments, tied to a baby's cradle board to entertain and soothe, much as modern-day crib mobiles are used today.
Deamcatchers have known associations with a variety of North American tribes including the Crow, Cochiti, Cree, Laguna and Zuni as well as the Huichol Indians of Mexico. Depictions of similar webbed creations have also been discovered in ancient murals throughout 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 use of tangible things like dreamcatchers as a means of drawing attention to an innate power within each of us that allows us to create our own reality. These can serve as a visible, daily reminder that we alone ultimately choose what to focus the energy of our thoughts on, for better or worse. Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change." Although we have little or no control over many of the circumstances and events that touch our lives, we always have the ability to decide what we hold in the forefront of our minds. Renowned author, Norman Vincent Peale, believed so strongly in "The Power of Positive Thinking" that he devoted his life to advocating and teaching the philosophy.
If you think of dreamcatchers as simply decorative cultural relics, ask any parent how effective the power of belief can be for preventing bad dreams in a frightened child. This can hold true for grownups as well, if we only suspend skepticism and disbelief.
"Many of mankind's greatest achievements sprung from seeds sown in the mind of a dreamer."
