You’ve all heard of dreamcatchers. Most people hear of dreamcatchers from a young age where nightmares may become an issue. Many people continue to use dreamcatchers into adulthood, whether the symbolization behind a dreamcatcher is still their for them or whether it has become a piece of décor in their home or bedroom.
Dreamcatchers actually have a very strong history where alike to Sage for smudging, the history dates back to Americans. They were also named nets or dream traps though more commonly known as dreamcatchers here in Australia. They were invented and strongly used by a tribe that stretched from Canadia to Northen American called the Ojibwe Tribe. This beautiful piece of history has continued to be extremely popular all these years later due to the interesting meaning behind them. They were originally used as talismans. With their purpose to protect sleepers (especially children) from bad dreams and evil spirits. Alike to now, they would hang the dreamcatcher over their bed to collect the dreams in the ‘web’
Their belief was that the air was filled with dreams of both good and bad. Protection against these were important to them. It is said that the ‘beautiful’ dreams would pass through the thread, down through the feathers and reach the sleeper and provide them with comfort and love. Bad dreams would be trapped in the web and when the sun arose again the sunlight would burn them – therefor leaving them destroyed and unable to reach the person.
Dream interpretation has strongly influenced the culture and spiritual beliefs of Native Americans for centuries and still do. They believe that the dreams have influence over the soul of the dreamer.
In today’s times, these meanings behind the dreamcatcher are still there and have influenced people all around the world and not those just apart of the Ojibwe Tribe. The dreamcatcher has such a strong symbol with what people say as powerful duties to perform.