Native Made Dream Catcher

A dream catcher is pretty self-explanatory, right? Yep, you’d be correct in thinking that dream catchers are made to snatch away bad dreams… but there’s so much more to them than that.

These beautiful Native American talismans have a rich history, steeped in tradition. They’re not just eye-catching displays in cheap gift stores!

This is a Native American medicine wheel and dream catcher crossed arrow set, which was made by a Navajo Indian artist and makes a perfect rustic wall hanging. The crossed medicine arrows also features hand beading, a decorative bone pipe, and hand.

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Anyone who has a dream catcher or wants to buy one should read this article first. You need to know the true meaning of dream catchers to respect and admire the culture behind them.

What is a Dream Catcher?

Just in case you’re really clueless, a dream catcher is a small round talisman that’s hung by your bed to capture bad dreams and/or deliver good dreams and thoughts while you sleep.

Traditional, authentic dream catchers were made from wooden hoops, with thread webbing, handmade beads, leather, and feathers. Organic, natural materials are essential. They would be a few inches wide at most, and certainly wouldn’t be the bright, colorful and over-the-top dream catchers you find in cheap holiday gift shops.

The huge, plastic dream catchers with vividly bright faux feathers are a commercialized version of the original Native American dream catcher – more on why you shouldn’t buy these below.

How the traditional dreamcatcher works varies slightly from one legend to another, but the meaning is always similar: to catch harmful thoughts or bad dreams and keep you safe with good dreams and positive thoughts while you sleep. Dream catchers were originally made for very small children and babies, so they could be hung just above their cribs.

Over the decades, dream catchers have taken on new meanings – some with respect for the traditions, others without – and become symbols for various movements, such as the non-violent Pan-Indianism Movement.

The Beautiful Legends Behind Dream Catchers

Various Native American cultures have dream catchers, or a version of them, woven into their traditions. But it is the Ojibwe culture (indigenous people originally from northern midwestern USA and Canada) that the majority of historians agree the dream catcher originated from.

The legend focuses on Asibikaashi, the spider woman. She was the spiritual protector of the Ojibwe people, protecting the children from harm.

As their people spread further across the land, Asibikaashi found it harder to protect everyone from far away. So, the dream catcher was created.

The web within the willow hoop, like a spider’s web, would catch any bad thoughts or spirits lingering around – not specifically for bad dreams.

From here, the legend branches out with different meanings and stories depending on who’s telling the history of dream catchers.

Many believe that the dreamcatcher will catch bad dreams in the web, while good dreams filter through the hole, gem or bead in the center. When the first rays of the sun touch the dreamcatcher in the morning, those trapped bad dreams are destroyed.

Lakota Legends

Similarly to Ojibwe, the Lakota legends about dreamcatchers begin with a spiritual being associated with spiders. Iktomi created the dreamcatcher to catch good ideas on the web so they won’t be lost, but let bad ideas filter through the central hole and simply pass by their people unharmed.

The dreamcatcher itself is also a symbol – the perfectly round hoop is a symbol of the circle of life, the sun, and the moon. The soft, downy feathers (often owl feathers) are the ladders that good dreams float down into your mind.

Furthermore, the number of points where the webbed thread touches the inside of the hoop is symbolic. 13 points represent the phases of the moon, 8 for the spider woman’s legs, 7 for the prophesies, 6 for the eagle, and 5 for a star.

Sacred beads and tokens can also be added amongst the feathers.

Finally, the gems or stones in the dreamcatcher can represent good dreams or, if there’s a single stone, represent the creator of the world.

Why Understanding the Symbolism and History of Dream Catchers is Important

Dreamcatchers are closely tied to heart-warming and noble legends of Native Americans – so is it right for people around the world to buy dreamcatchers on a whim or simply because they’re “pretty”?

The dreamcatcher should be a symbol of unity among Native American communities, not an over-commercialized and misused plastic decoration, made in China, and eventually forgotten in a landfill site.

This is where cultural appropriation comes in. It is controversial, and frankly offensive in our opinion, to adopt a piece of tradition from one culture without even trying to understand and respect the origins and meaning behind it.

Cultural appreciation, on the other hand, should be commended. Owning a dreamcatcher, understanding and respecting the meaning behind it, and supporting the Native American people is to be commended.

That’s why we recommend you buy dreamcatchers from traditional Native American craftspeople – you’ll find them for sale in Indian territory across the US and Canada, just look for tribal giftshops or attend Native Indian events to learn more about the culture as well.

For online resources to buy authentic dreamcatchers from, check out this list from Native Languages.

Gifting dreamcatchers to newly born babies and young children is a beautiful way to honor the original dream catcher meaning and respect the legends behind them by passing down the story from one generation to the next.

Summary – Dream Catcher Meaning

Dream Catchers Made By Native American

If you’ve been looking for a scientific explanation of how dreamcatchers work, you’re going to be disappointed. Dream catchers are stunning talismans with a beautiful history and meaning behind them.

The simple act of respecting and honoring the tradition of your dreamcatcher as you hang it above your bed is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and good dreams in your mind!

If you want to buy a dream catcher, you can check the best seller from Amazon, Walmart and even Aliexpress (very cheap)

Just remember to:

• Learn about the dreamcatcher you’re buying, and the symbolism behind it.
• Respect and appreciate the culture that brought you the dream catcher.
• Buy traditional, hand-crafted dreamcatchers from Native American craftspeople.

Hello, I am Jasmine B. Battle, RDH, BSEd. A graduate of Clayton State College in Morrow, Georgia with an AA degree in Dental Hygiene. I graduated from The University of Georgia In Athens, Georgia with a BSED in Education. Go Bulldogs!

I am an enrolled member of the The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee.

Also, I am a USAF Veteran - served my country with honor.

I design and make Authentic Cherokee Hand Made dream catchers, artifacts and other products here in the USA.

All of my products are designed with color, durability, quality and fashion in mind.

I have chosen BEST quality supplies from USA suppliers for my products so I can provide the BEST items for your enjoyment!

I wanted to design 'different' dream catchers along with 'traditional' designs so I could express my love for color and color combinations.

When I am designing and making my dream catchers, I take into consideration: Color, Symmetry, Detail, Emotion, Thought, Motivation, Alignments, Feeling.....

I Play COOL - SMOOTH JAZZ - ACOUSTIC - SOFT ROCK music when I design and sew them so that GOOD vibrations and energy is incorporated into each dream catcher. Dream Catchers are feng shui instruments that require tuning while making them so music is important in the process.

I have been asked why I use 'plastic' beads (made in the USA). I love the color. Although I do have lots of Glass beads. So, if you want glass beads, you can custom order and I will use glass beads for you.

I also offer 'custom' designs (weddings, baby showers, gender reveal, funerals) so if you need something special for a special ocassion or area of your home, simply give a convo and I will try my best to acommodate your request.

Each dream catcher comes with a Certificate of Authenticity attached along with The Dream Catcher Legend. On the Certificate of Authenticity is the name of the dream catcher along with the Signature of the Artist.

Dream Catcher Meaning

Due to COVID 19, we are very busy with online orders, we ask you to be patient at this time as your order may take a bit longer to make. Thank you for your understanding, Jasmine.

Disclaimer: All designs, photos and likeness are the sole property of Jasmine Battle, BSEd, Cherokee Artist and cannot be copied or reproduced without explicit written permission from Jasmine Battle, BSEd, Cherokee Artist

Hand Made in the USA Cherokee Products

I choose the best USA supplies to construct my artistic designs. When I choose a supplier , I think about making the best purchase for the projects I am anticipating or continuing to design. Price, Quality and ability to continue to provide the supplies to me is important.

Dream Catchers Native American Made

I think about the pricing of the supplies along with the quality because I want to offer a quality product to my customers along with an affordable offering.