Dream Catchers

[sparklekaz]

It is believed that Dream Catchers originated from the Ojibwe Nation that was in a land known as Turtle Island. Asibikaashi also referred to and known as the spider women, is often given credit, for the reason behind, and the creation and use of the dream catcher.

The spider woman was believed to take care of the children and bring the sun back to the people of the Ojibwe Nation. However, they believed that there were too many children widespread throughout North America for the spider woman to protect. The mothers and grandmothers devised a plan for the spider woman to better visit and protect the children. They created the dream catchers also known as magical webs to place on the cradle boards of all the new babies. The circle shape of the dream catcher has significance and is designed to match the trip that the spider woman takes each day to watch over the children.

The dream catcher was said to act as a sort of filter for your dreams. All of the good dreams would be left, but the bad ones would be filtered out, so no more nightmares. Only the good and positive thoughts would have the ability to flourish within your mind if you used a dream catcher.

To begin, the web represent the spider our brother of life for ever repairing the eternal web of life. Thus weaving your life dreams and energy in the universe when you dream.

The ring represents the earth mother and the humble walk we do upon her. The ring was also covered with multi-colored wool representing in my mind and spirit aspects of your personality, moods and emotions. The beads on the web are of the 7 directions thus calling upon them to bless you.

As we believe that we are related to all things and that all things are part of us then the Dream Catcher and the Medicine Wheel is a representation of such sacred belief.

The first color is blue representing Father Sky and all that lives in the sky; grandfather sun, grandmother moon, Star nation and Creation.

The second colored beads are purple this is the color of the inner self and the introspection of where the Creator lives, within us all.

The third color is Yellow this represents the direction of the East where the Yellow Nation is and we call upon their ancestors and the wisdom they carry to come in and teach us. It is also the direction of where the sun rises every day therefore a new beginning. We put the Sacred Eagle in that direction and call upon the abilities to see far beyond what is in front of us and to focus on the task at hand.

The fourth color is Red for the Red Nation. In this direction we call upon the ancestors to come and teach us how to take care of the land and do the work necessary for our families to grow in a strong foundation. It is the direction of honesty, hard work, family, integrity and love.

The fifth color is black. This color represents two roads. The direction of the Black nation and we call upon their ancestors to come and help with healing, also how to care for the water. It is also the direction of the black road, the one of self destruction, abuse and so on. Therefore we pray for understanding of such since we say Creator of all good things. We pray for the lessons that these people bring to us.

The sixth color is of the White nation. We acknowledge the white people and their ancestors. The knowledge and the wisdom on how to use that knowledge in a good way.

The 7th direction is of the color green representing Mother Earth. The one who feeds us, clothes, and protects us from the elements. She supplies all that we need in order to live on this earth. We give thanks for her.

As you can see there is much symbolism embodied in the creating of the Dream Catcher. Many people also like to personalize them, by creating their own unique designs, incorporating different types of shell and crystal beads.

[mojomojo]

Interesting post Kaz,
You often post about the Native American Indian,
have you always been drawn to these people,
Where does you interest stem from?




Robert.

[sparklekaz]

Hi Robert,

Yes I am fascinated by them. As a little girl I always wanted the Indians to win in the old cowboy films. I was once told by a medium that I had been the daughter of a medicine man in a past life. I have no memory of it, but have always felt an affinity for them. Shamanism also interests me and animal totems, which is a important part of their spirituality. I think I've done a post on animal totems on here somewhere.

The thing I love the most about their culture, was the deep connection and respect they had for the earth, the animal/mineral kingdom. They were so wise. It is believed they knew generations before that there people would be persecuted and driven almost to extinction. They also knew or predicted that one day if we did not change, we would destroy ourselves. I wish we had what they had, that spiritual connection and ability to tap into a higher wisdom. Below is one of my favourite quotes:

Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.

Chief Seattle, 1854

[mojomojo]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean,
Even in the old movies they represented truth and honour.
Is it the healing aspects of Shamanism, or do your interests go deeper,
you are probably aware that some tribes, had medicine women/ Shaman.
My connection with them goes very deep, it's as if, the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle has been received, and now the picture is complete,
And you can see all the signs, throughout your life.
Do you involve Shamanism in your healing, from what I know, they use universal energy, pulled in through the crown/head, combined with earth energy
Whereas with reiki, I believe is pulled from universal energy.


Sorry, Kaz , you were right, I got my energy sources upside, down.

[sparklekaz]

My interest in Shamanism barely skirt the surface. I was aware that there were female shamans. As there was quite a big section on it, in my book Women Of Wisdom. I would love to know more, but it scares me a little. Its not so much that I am fearful of it. But I'm in awe of its power. If that makes sense. I do not know if I would be mentally and spiritually strong enough. I know I would need a teacher a guide. It's really not a path to be taken lightly. A lot of training is involved. I believe if I'm mean't to walk that path I will do. Something will draw me to it. Something syncronistic

I have always had a strong sense of the earth. I can feel energy with my hands and hate going into high rise flats or under tunnels, as it's as if the pressure above me is bearing down on my head. I can dowse for water and other energy sources, as well as ley lines; And I can tell when rain is coming, I feel the cold wetness on my skin, before it happens. I've always had a reverence for the earth. But then I know many do, especially those who are drawn to a healing path. There is this empathy that is innate for all things. It's strange that you should say that you thought reiki was connected to the earth and shamanism to the universal energy. As I have always believed it to be the other way around.

I would love to hear more about your connection with Shamanism, Robert, if you'd like to share more.

Love and light
Kaz

[mojomojo]

Growing up, I always had a strong connection with animals and nature, wolf, eagle and black panther fascinated me, I spent my time in school drawing these on the covers of my school books, especially the black panther, in the mid nineties we had a dog called "Mojo" and a black tom cat called "panther."
I was also fascinated with the grim reaper and grave yards, I always found the later so peaceful, when I drove trucks for a living, I would always pull up for lunch beside a grave yard.
Late teens, early twenties, there was some experimenting with psilocybin, which gave experiences of cause and effect in the physical through the spiritual.
Meditation has always been very natural for me, in a short period of time I can astral travel, something I did a lot as a kid, or draw in universal energy, to the extent I can cause electric shock, or build up spiral vortexes of energy and throw them, why I could do these things, I never knew until now.

Meditation also draws spirits to me and I have to ask them to leave, didn't understand this until now either
When I first met my wife, twenty odd years ago, I told her I would die aged fifty two, I'am that age now, the old me has died, my life will never be the same again.
The synchronicity going on in my life the last few weeks is ridiculous, I have been told indirectly by a medium, that very few people ever go before "the Council Of Nine", she also told what my soul plan is, I brushed this aside, I just could not believe it.
A second medium confirmed the first, and added that I was active in my soul plan at night, even though I have no recollection of it, which seemingly explains why I wake up in the morning ten times more tired than when I go to bed.
Today I find out, mojo is a Native American Indian tribe, they were hunter gatherers, who occasionally trapped black panthers in pits, the chief/shaman was the only one allowed to kill the cat, who was highly revered and was seen as an animal of great power, the black panther was their power animal.

[cyberangel]

I am enjoying reading your posts and I can relate SO much to what you both are sharing here. I wish I could interwact more but I am limited due to the fact I use my mobile phone a lot and its keyboard is tiny and so often I feel frustrated because of the spelling mistakes and the poor navigation on my keyboard...so may a time I just like a post rather than frustrating myself by trying to type a reply...hooe you understand.

Beause I am on the road a lot I really do enjoy reading everyones posts both short and long posts although I must admit I lack patience and discipline when reading very very long posts (mary anne ) and tend to skip a lot...so please forgive me its not that what you say is not interesting, because it is...its me...my attention just ends up wandering sorry.

Anywat I just wanted ti try and explain why I dint teply to many but just like posts instead. Onve again please forgive the spelling...if I were to try and correct it all I would be here all day trying to navigate. Hope you all understand.

Thank you for this wonderful thread and I am throughly enjoyinf rwading it as I really can rwlate to so much of your experiences Karen and Robert.

Love and Light to you all

[mojomojo]

You need an IPad, Lorraine,
But then you probably won't get much work done.