About Dreamcatchers
The first dreamcatchers (or dream catchers) were made from willow branches or vines fashioned into hoops and then weaved with sinew into the likeness of a spider's web. Their purpose was to as protection from "evil" spirits or dreams Some tribal legends tell of personalized dreamcatchers decorated with symbols, feathers, bones, stones and the like, while others describe simple, unadorned variations that serve similar purposes.
The exact origins of the dreamcatcher are unclear but general consensus is that the Ojibwe' first made them to attach to a baby's cradle board to entertain, protect and soothe their little ones, much like a crib mobile does today. Deamcatchers are said 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 are even found in ancient murals across Central America.
Dreamcatcher Legends
Some Native American dreamcatcher legends tell us that bad dreams are captured in a dreamcatcher's web to be held and burned away with the dew at the first light of day allowing only good dreams to flow through the hole(s) in the webbing. Other legends have it the other way around. Various details aside, the common thread among all the stories is a belief that Dreamcatchers have the power to attract and deliver messages of wisdom and guidance while protecting the sleeping one from harmful or negative influences.
Practical Wisdom
Personal beliefs aside, there is a certain practical wisdom surrounding the use of tangible items like dreamcatchers. They can serve as a means to draw our attention to the very-real inherent ability each of us posesses to create our own realites and provide a regular visual reminder to direct the energy of our thoughts purposefully conscious that we alone hold responsibility for chosing what we do and don't focus on for good or bad. If you really think about it, that is a hugely-empowering notion!
Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change!" and I wholeheartedly agree! We may have little to no control over many circumstances and events in our lives but we are never, ever without the power or ability to decide what we will or will not focus our thoughts on. In fact, renowned author of "The Power of Positive Thinking," Norman Vincent Peale believed so strongly that he devoted his entire life to advocating such a philosophy.
If you think a dreamcatcher is merely a decorative, cultural relics, I would urge you to reconsider. Ask the parent of a frightened child how effective the power of belief can be in the warding off of bad dreams. Or imagine how much a visual reminder that their hopes and dreams are important might mean to a friend or loved one in distress. After all, many of mankind's greatest accomplishments have sprung from seed sown only in a dreamers' mind?
