Dreamcatcher Folklore

The most prevelant tale of Dreamcatchers is that they originated in the Ojibwe Nation. They were created to protect small children from nightmares, the netting made by the sinews was supposed to catch all of the bad dreams in it's "web." During the 20th century other Native American tribes began to use Dreamcatchers.

In early times in the Ojibwe Nation, an old Lakota spiritual leader had a vision upon a mountain. In this vision a teacher of wisdom and trickster named Iktomi appeared in the form of a spider. Speaking only in a language that the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand, Iktomi took the elder's willow hoop which had feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web.

As he spun his web, he spoke to the elder about the cycles of life: we begin our lives as infants and move on to childhood and then adulthood. When we finally reach old age where we must be taken care of as infants, the cycle is complete. In each part of this cycle there are good forces and bad forces. Listening to the good forces will steer you in the right direction while listening to the bad forces will steer you in the wrong direction and harm you. Iktomi explained that there are many forces and directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature and with the great spirit and his teachings.

Working from the outside to the center, the spider Iktomi continued to weave his web. Once he finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and told him him that the web is a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the center. If you believe in the great spirit, the good in your dreams will be captured in the web of life and carried with you but the evil in dreams escapes through the hole in the center of the web and are no longer a part of you .

The Dreamcatcher is hung above the bed to capture the good dreams and the evil dreams escape through the hole in the center of the web. This is why Dreamcatchers are traditionally hung above the bed, and even over baby cribs to prevent bad dreams from occuring in small children.

This is not the only lore behind the Dreamcatcher, but is one of the most popular. Others may believe other stories behind this beautiful work of art. The Dreamcatcher has been adopted by many not just as a symbol of religion and tradition, but that of culture and beauty.