In Native American cultures, a dreamcatcher or dream catcher is a
handmade (usually willow) hoop with a woven web or nets inside. Some
have decorative beads, charms, or feathers. It is believed that
placing dream catchers above the place where you sleep will catch
your nightmares and will bring good dreams to you.
An Objibwe legend speaks of the origin of the dreamcatcher that is
associated with the Spider Woman, known as Asibikaashi:
Asibikaashi took care of the children and the people, as the Ojibwe
Nation spread to North America it became difficult for her to reach
all of the children. So the mothers and grandmothers began to weave
magical webs for the children and the infants. These were originally
made from willow hoops and sinew, or cordage from plants. Eventually
the “spider webs” were made of fine yarns and nettle fiber. These
dream catchers were said to “catch any harm that might be in the
air as a spider web catches and holds whatever comes in contact with
it.”
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