Life Desk :
‘Don’t let someone else catch your dream. You be the dream catcher.’
It may look like something born straight out of Bohemian fashion, but you would be surprised to know that ‘Dream catchers’ have an American origin. The cryptic design that it has, Dream catchers always leave us intimidated. But why do we call them so? Do they really catch dreams? Are they something similar to wind chimes or evil eyes? We tried to decode the legend behind this occult.
Dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe people- a group of natives of North America. Ojibwas used to hang dream catchers above the bed as a charm to protect sleeping people, usually children, from nightmares. Pushtiie Shiv Shakti who is famously known for her stint in Mahi Way telvision show says, “They were used in two ways, one to help a child keep bad dreams away and secondly for someone staring a new journey. It was used as a map to keep them on track. In India, there have been the ‘Torans’ that are hung at the entrance of the house. They also help call in abundance and positive energies.” Pushtiie is a healer and makes authentic dream catchers too.
This handmade object made with willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants and decorated with sacred items such as feathers and beads is also considered as a symbol of unity among the various Indian nations. The shape of the dream catcher is a circle because it represents how the sun and moon travel each day across the sky.
Sharing details about the elements used in a dream catcher, Pushtiie says, “A frame was usually made out of either river reed or the wood of the individual’s guardian tree. The inner material was usually again the river reed or the skin of their power animal – if it was willingly given it to them. There were different things placed within the inner web that meant something special to the person making it. Things that are suspended from the ring could be the feather of a bird that was the power animal of native Americans. Dream catchers are always supposed to be gifted to a person and not taken on purpose. Sometimes, even a piece of bone or a tooth… anything that is important to the person making the dreamcatcher was put in to remind them of the aim.”
Interesting.
This symbol of positivity has gone through various variations as the generations passed. The original design suggested a web and feathers hanging. While the web filtered bad dreams, feathers directed the good dreams to the sleeping owner of the dream catcher.
Dream catchers should be hand-crafted
As dream catchers became popular, the groups outside native Americans started designing them for mass profit. But this is not how it should be. A dream catcher should be made of products that are a part of the circle of life and not produced from metals and man-made textiles. Each dream catcher should have its own story and must have a different meaning too.
The dream catchers are gaining popularity majorly for their bohemian look and the positivity they bring to life. From headbands, earring to neck pendants, anklets, key chains and bracelets, dream catchers are also customized according to favourite cartoon or film characters. Zainab Attari of Chimerical Creativity shared, “Customers ask for a lot of customization for their dream catchers like superheroes, football clubs, personal pictures, Harry Potter’s deathly hallow, Mickey Mouse, owls, etc.” She has also developed the concept into beautiful bookmarks which are attracting a lot of attention.
So, hang it, wear it or bookmark it, dream catchers are things that ring in positivity in life and bring peace to your mind. Pushtiie sums it up all for us:
“When you hang it up at the window by the bed it becomes an address for the inspiration/ideas for your journey further to reach you. There are good ideas and bad ones. The good ones slip through the central opening and gently land on the feathers. From there they slip into the mind as ideas for us to use and act upon. The bad ones get caught in the web and evaporate with the first rays of the sun touching it. If you meditate with it and are open to the communication of the Universe, it will help. If you are closed… you may be missing out on an opportunity that comes your way anyway.”
-ToI
‘Don’t let someone else catch your dream. You be the dream catcher.’
It may look like something born straight out of Bohemian fashion, but you would be surprised to know that ‘Dream catchers’ have an American origin. The cryptic design that it has, Dream catchers always leave us intimidated. But why do we call them so? Do they really catch dreams? Are they something similar to wind chimes or evil eyes? We tried to decode the legend behind this occult.
Dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe people- a group of natives of North America. Ojibwas used to hang dream catchers above the bed as a charm to protect sleeping people, usually children, from nightmares. Pushtiie Shiv Shakti who is famously known for her stint in Mahi Way telvision show says, “They were used in two ways, one to help a child keep bad dreams away and secondly for someone staring a new journey. It was used as a map to keep them on track. In India, there have been the ‘Torans’ that are hung at the entrance of the house. They also help call in abundance and positive energies.” Pushtiie is a healer and makes authentic dream catchers too.
This handmade object made with willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants and decorated with sacred items such as feathers and beads is also considered as a symbol of unity among the various Indian nations. The shape of the dream catcher is a circle because it represents how the sun and moon travel each day across the sky.
Sharing details about the elements used in a dream catcher, Pushtiie says, “A frame was usually made out of either river reed or the wood of the individual’s guardian tree. The inner material was usually again the river reed or the skin of their power animal – if it was willingly given it to them. There were different things placed within the inner web that meant something special to the person making it. Things that are suspended from the ring could be the feather of a bird that was the power animal of native Americans. Dream catchers are always supposed to be gifted to a person and not taken on purpose. Sometimes, even a piece of bone or a tooth… anything that is important to the person making the dreamcatcher was put in to remind them of the aim.”
Interesting.
This symbol of positivity has gone through various variations as the generations passed. The original design suggested a web and feathers hanging. While the web filtered bad dreams, feathers directed the good dreams to the sleeping owner of the dream catcher.
Dream catchers should be hand-crafted
As dream catchers became popular, the groups outside native Americans started designing them for mass profit. But this is not how it should be. A dream catcher should be made of products that are a part of the circle of life and not produced from metals and man-made textiles. Each dream catcher should have its own story and must have a different meaning too.
The dream catchers are gaining popularity majorly for their bohemian look and the positivity they bring to life. From headbands, earring to neck pendants, anklets, key chains and bracelets, dream catchers are also customized according to favourite cartoon or film characters. Zainab Attari of Chimerical Creativity shared, “Customers ask for a lot of customization for their dream catchers like superheroes, football clubs, personal pictures, Harry Potter’s deathly hallow, Mickey Mouse, owls, etc.” She has also developed the concept into beautiful bookmarks which are attracting a lot of attention.
So, hang it, wear it or bookmark it, dream catchers are things that ring in positivity in life and bring peace to your mind. Pushtiie sums it up all for us:
“When you hang it up at the window by the bed it becomes an address for the inspiration/ideas for your journey further to reach you. There are good ideas and bad ones. The good ones slip through the central opening and gently land on the feathers. From there they slip into the mind as ideas for us to use and act upon. The bad ones get caught in the web and evaporate with the first rays of the sun touching it. If you meditate with it and are open to the communication of the Universe, it will help. If you are closed… you may be missing out on an opportunity that comes your way anyway.”
-ToI
