Their exists a legend among the Ojibwa people that has been
passed down from generation to generation’s it is the story of the dream catcher.
The Ojibwa (Chippewa) Nation believes that there are both
good and evil dreams. It is said when you hang a dream catcher above the place
you sleep that it moves freely in the night air and catches the dreams as they
float by. The good dreams are said to know their way through the opening in the
center off the web and said to slide down the soft feather to the person below.
And the bad dreams, not knowing their way are caught in the web and destroyed
at first light.
It was traditional to put a feather in the center of the
dream catcher; it means breath, or air. It is essential for life. A baby watching
the air playing with the feather on her cradle-board was entertained while also
being giving a lesson on the importance of good air .The lesson comes forward in
the way that the feather of the owl is wisdom(a woman feather) and the eagle
feather is kept for courage (a man’s
feather). This is not to say that the use of each is restricted by gender, but
that to use the feather each is aware of the gender properties she/he invoking Indian
people, in general, is very specific about gender roles and identity.
Ojibwe storytellers say how Asibikaashi (Spider Woman) helped bring Wanabozhoo bring sun back to the people. To this day, Asibikaashi will build her special lodge before dawn. And if you are awake at dawn look for her lodge and you will be able to see her miracle of how she captured the sunrise as the light sparkle on the dew that is gathered there. Asibikassi took care of her children, the people of the land.When the Ojibwe Nation disappeared to the four corners of North America, to fill a prophecy Asibikaashi had a hard time making her journey to all those cradle boards, so the mothers sisters, Nokomis (grandmothers) took up the practice of weaving the magical webs for the new babies using willow hoops and sinew or cordage made from plants. It is the shape of a circle and represents how giizis travels each day across the sky.
Another Dream Catcher Legend
A spider was quietly spinning his web in his own space. It
was beside the sleeping space of the Nokomis, the grandmother. Each day,
Nokomis watch the spider at work, quietly spinning away. One day as she watches
him, her grandson came in “Nokomis-!” He shouted glancing at the spider. He
stomped over the spider, picked up a shoe and went to hit it. “No-Keegwa” the
old lady whispered, “don’t hurt him “Nokomis, why do you protect the spider? Asked
the little boy the old lady smiled, but did not answer. When the boy left the
spider went to the old woman and thanked her for saving his life .He said to
her, “for many days you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired
my work in return for saving my life; I will give you a gift. He smiled and
moved away, spinning as he went. Soon the moon glistened on a magical silver
web moving gently in the window. “See how I spin? “ He said see and learn, for
each web will snare bad dreams .Only good dreams will go through the small hole.
This is my gift to you. Use it so that only good dreams will be remembered. The
bad dreams will become hopeless and entangled in the web.
DIY Own Dream Catcher
Super Easy Dream Catcher
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