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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Dream Catcher


Dream Catchers

Dream catchers are one of the most fascinating traditions of Native Americans. The traditional dream catcher was intended to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The positive dreams would slip through the hole in the center of the dream catcher, and glide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. The negative dreams would get caught up in the web, and expire when the first rays of the sun struck them.

The dream catcher has been a part of Native American culture for generations. One element of Native American dream catcher relates to the tradition of the hoop. Some Native Americans of North America held the hoop in the highest esteem, because it symbolized strength and unity. Many symbols started around the hoop, and one of these symbols is the dream catcher.

Dream Catcher Lore:

Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams both good and bad. The dream catcher when hung over or near your bed swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by. The good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes and slide down the soft feathers so gently that many times the sleeper does not know that he/she is dreaming. The bad dreams not knowing the way get tangled in the dream catcher and perish with the first light of the new day.

9 comments:

madretz said...

I first heard of the story behind the dream catcher over 20 years ago and immediately got one. I've had the same one since. It's small so sometimes those bad ones get through, but for the most part, it does it's job. :)

KOSTAS said...

I know ' that functions ' my dreamcatcher, has son in his room as decoration, - one small in size, - and to me explained her history. Yours is very - very beautiful, a work of art, should gave enough money.
It should you were influenced by the homonym film, - I was careful that him you have in film video VHS, - with other amazing that I like also.
New Year 2008, you it makes reality your good dreams, the bad dreams him it touches your dreamcatcher.

Rune Eide said...

Extremely interesting and totally new information for me. It shows once again that the "so-called" primitive cultures were not so primitive after all. This was down-to-earth practical and much better than much of the legends presented in the "our" Western culture.

Thank you for an interesting post.

Andrea said...

This is an interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

quintarantino said...

Quite interesting facts in these post. Loved it.

Kerri Farley said...

I've heard of dreamcatchers but never had one. Neat post!

rosemary said...

My son gave me one a long time ago...I am a vivid dreamer, but sometimes those bad ones squiggle thru. another set of beautiful pix in previous post.

Isadora said...

That is so interesting it would be worth a try. In the morning I'm aware of the fact that I've had dreams but don't remember what they were. This way maybe....

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for this wonderful and clear explanation of the dream catcher. Though I have seen them, I never knew how they worked. Such wisdom!