Dream Catchers - 5 Reasons to Make Your Own

There’s an incredible history to the dream catcher, but is it a good idea to create one to hang in your home? Not only are they stunning to look at, but there are a number of different symbols that you can make within yours to suit your personal needs. Let’s delve into the deep history of that artefact and the 5 reasons you need one on your bedroom wall.

You want to get straight on with it? We found the perfect kit on Amazon to get you started. Combine these shapes with your own wishes, wants and materials to create your perfect, personalised artefact!

The Origins of Dream Catchers

There are two legends attached to the origin of the dream catcher from two different Native American tribes; the Ojibwe and the Lakota. To read more, check out this incredible site from which we took these quotes!

 “Traditionally made from a willow branch hoop, nettle fibre or sinew, and decorations such as beads and feathers, the origins of the dream catcher or associated with a figure from Ojibwe mythology known as Asibikaashi,or “the Spider Woman”. This mother-figure was a protector of the people, especially children. Dreamcatchers became a proxy for Asibikaashi as the Ojibwe nation spread over a lager geographical region, a tool hung over children’s beds to capture any bad or evil before it could cause any harm.”

“The Lakota tribe have their own dream catcher legend associated with a trickster god, Iktomi, who often appeared in the form of a spider. In Lakota culture, dream catchers represent “the web of life”, with its many good and bad choices. The dream catcher is meant to filter the bad ideas of society from the good, leading the people to achieve their dreams and visions”.

Who do you associate the dream catcher with; the mother Asibikaashi or the trickster Iktomi?

The different pattern meanings of the dream catcher

Dream catchers can have different numbers of points connecting to their hoops, all carrying different meanings. In creating your own, you can pick which of these is the most important to you; from the phases of the moon to the symbol of an eagle.

A dream catcher with 13 connections to its ring represents the the 13 phases of the moon as shown here:

You can get your own 13 connection dream catcher here.

A dream catcher with 8 connections to its ring represents the 8 legs of the Asibikaashi as shown here:

A dream catcher with 7 connections to its ring represents the 7 Prophecies of the Grandfathers (Wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, truth) as shown here:

A dream catcher with 6 connections to its ring represents the Eagle, or courage, as shown here:

A dream catcher with 5 connections to its ring represents the pentacle or 5-point star, as shown here:

The reasons you should make your own Dream Catcher

So now you know the history behind these spiritual artefacts, what perks (other than how stunning they look) are there to making one for your bedroom?

1. Catch and Filter Dreams

The dream catchers original and main function is to filter your nightmares from your dreams. If hung above the bed in a place where the sun can hit the dreamcatcher in the morning, the dreamcatcher attracts and catches all sorts of dreams and thoughts into its webs. The feathers hanging from the dream catchers are said to let the good dreams fall gently down onto the person sleeping below. 

2. Protector of Children

In Native American culture, the dream catcher was used predominately to protect children, girl or boy. It was believed that dark spirits and nightmares roamed the open air and the dream catcher caught these things whilst the children were asleep. 

3. A Good Luck Charm

Many believe that keeping a dream catcher hung in your home will bring good luck. This is largely due to its association with keeping the bad out of a person’s subconscious; if the dreamcatcher can filter out nightmares, perhaps it can filter out bad luck too. We quite often see dream catchers on car rear-view mirrors like this one.

4. Bring Your Dreams To Life

As outlined in this site, dream catchers can be used as an effective manifestation tool. If you follow the visions laid out whilst creating your dream catcher, it is thought that your dreams can manifest themselves into existence.

5. Show Authenticity

When approached in a way that respects the history and culture behind the craft and recognizes the artisan, hanging dream catchers can be a beautiful way to honour the people whose rich tapestry of beliefs carpeted this land long before European settlement.

Your Unique Life

Dream catchers have a significant cultural importance and making your own is a creative and respectful way to honour it. On top of that, they look wonderful and could protect you from nightmares! Have you made your own dreamcatcher? We’d love to see some pictures below! If you’ve been inspired to make your own dreamcatcher by this post, check out these useful links for some different options.