Dream Catchers

Dream catchers, first created by Native Americans specifically the Ojibwe tribe, are protective talismans used to protect people from bad dreams. A dream catcher consists of feathers and beads tied to a small wooden ring. Native Americans believe that the air was filled with both good and bad dreams, and dzream catchers were said to filter out the bad dreams and allow the good dreams to slide down the feathers and reach the sleeping person below.

In order to use one effectively, hang the dream catcher above or near your bed. Make sure sunlight is able to touch it, this allows bad dreams trapped in the web to be destroyed as the sun rises. Many people believe dream catchers work so well because people believe that they do. Ultimately, they are your dreams, so if you believe that the dream catcher will protect you from bad dreams, that is exactly what it will do.

There is a lot of debate on cultural appropriation lately and whether having a dream catcher appropriates native culture. Many Native Americans have spoken out about how they do not feel comfortable with people of other races making and selling dream catchers. However, if a Native American decides to make and sell a dream catcher, it is not cultural appropriation to purchase it. Make sure you do research and buy your dream catcher from a reputed Native source.