The Origin of the Dream Catcher from Create Dream Catchers
The following is an excerpt from Create Dream Catchers by Young-Ran Lee
The Origin of the Dream Catcher
A dream catcher is a handmade ornament designed to catch nightmares and bring pleasant dreams. It originates from Native American culture, most likely from the Ojibwa people of the Great Lakes region.
There are several origin stories related to the tradition of dream catchers. One Ojibwa legend attributes the origin of dream catchers to Asibikaashi, or Spider Woman, the spiritual guardian of the tribe’s children. According to the story, Asibikaashi could easily protect all the children and babies in the early days of the Native American people, but as the population increased and the tribes expanded to faraway lands, it became difficult for her to make the journey across such a large area. As a result, the women of the Ojibwa tribe began making dream catchers to protect their sleeping children.
The Ojibwa believe that the dream catcher’s web traps nightmares until they can be purified by the morning sunlight. Other tribes believe that nightmares pass through, while only happy dreams remain in the web and travel down the dream catcher’s feather and into the minds of those sleeping underneath.
Regardless of the tribe, all origin stories share the same belief that dream catchers bring sweet dreams.
Nearly every element of a dream catcher has meaning. The characteristic round shape symbolizes the sun and the moon, and their movement in the sky. The woven threads are patterned after a spider’s web. Feathers provide a soft ladder for pleasant dreams to float down and gently enter into the mind. A single bead may represent the spider that created the web, while multiple beads may represent good dreams that could not pass through the web and were immortalized in the form of sacred charms.
The symbolism of the dream catcher varies based on the unique beads and feathers used. For example, turquoise is believed to bring success and victory, while amethyst represents health and peace. Owl feathers, which symbolize wisdom, were often used for girls, while eagle feathers, which signify bravery, were often used for boys.
In Native American culture, dreams offer entrance into another realm, one beyond reality. It is believed that dreams provide spiritual guidance and wisdom, so making and giving dream catchers conveys a beautiful and heartfelt message of hope and comfort for the recipient.
Excerpted from Create Dream Catchers by Young-Ran Lee. Copyright © 2021 by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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