Dream Catchers, An Object To Protect Children’s Sleep
Did you know that there is an object specially designed to protect the sleep of children? It is the dream catcher. These mystical objects of ancient origin were invented above all to protect the nocturnal dreams of children.
Dream catchers are a spell against evil spirits. Mirko Badiale said: every child should put a sign with the words: attention, I contain dreams. Precisely for this reason today we want to talk to you about the importance of taking care of your children’s sleep, especially with this mystical object.
Today, dream catchers have become particularly famous. These beautiful traditional objects are made in an artisanal way, with colored threads, feathers, weaves, willow or cedar branches and with a circle. Precisely for its purposes, it was placed on the cradle of the little ones.
Celebrities who love bohemian style have joined the trend of placing dream catchers in their homes. Hilary Duff, the famous singer, actress and stylist, model and mother of little Luca, has joined this trend, placing a delightful dream catcher of enormous size in the child’s bedroom, right before his birth. Whether the purpose was purely decorative or a symbol of belief, the result was still a graceful gesture.
The origins of the dream catcher
For Native Americans, dream catchers have more than one meaning. For example, for the Ojibwa they symbolize the movement of the sun. For the Lakota they are circles with protective functions, because they represent the cycles of life.
Other peoples, such as the Sioux, attribute another meaning to their “magic”. They believe that all bad things and bad dreams are trapped in the core network. On the other hand, through the feathers and the textures of the lower part, the beautiful dreams branch out and stop in the minds of children.
In the 60s and 70s they became popular souvenirs. They even became an element of cultural identification behind which various indigenous peoples of North America gathered.
The legend
At the origins of the world, humans still lived in contact with the gods. One of the peoples who most often used to maintain communication with the spirit world was the Lakota tribe.
One morning, the spiritual leader of the tribe had a vision of Iktomi, the master of wisdom. In the form of a spider, he spoke in a sacred language that only the Lakota could understand.
As Iktomi spoke, she collected feathers, hair, colorful textures, and other offerings. She told him about the cycle of life and the importance of taking care of childhood.
Iktomi explained that childhood determines adult life and therefore it is necessary to weave strong alliances in this period, strengthen knowledge and solidify the roots. Look at my web and place it on your children’s crib from now on , the master added, in the form of a spider.
“Look, old man,” she said while she was weaving the sacred object. This net forms a perfect circle, but there is a hole in the center of it. Everything will go through it, yet only noble things will remain. When dawn comes, evil will burn at the first ray of sunshine. It will disappear forever.
Iktomi then handed the dream catcher to the elderly leader and ordered him to make others and have each child sleep with one of these on his head. Having done this, he asked him to spread this advice among the people and among other peoples.
Dream catchers and children
Today, we can usually find dream catchers hanging on the doorstep. But they are also placed on the windows. Many women believe that they symbolize the “border”. That point from which we pass from the world of reason to the dream scenario, where the limits between our home and the outside world extend. Others see them as symbols of protection.
There are even those who think that dream catchers are a way to motivate us to dream big, to pursue our dreams and make them come true in life. This particular approach turns out to be extremely inspiring.
In keeping with tradition, they should be placed above the headboard of our children’s crib or bed, but not directly on our children’s heads. It is always better to hang them on the wall, setting a safe distance. It is not too much to remember that they must be installed in such a way that they do not fall.
Finally we want to give you an idea: create your own do-it-yourself dream catcher in the company of your children. This handiwork has been in vogue lately for children’s parties or a home reunion.
It is always nice that our children have one of these objects made by us and, why not, get ready with their help, if age plays in their favor. The experience will be fascinating and special.
