So I'm looking to get a tattoo of a dream-catcher, I already have an artist waiting to draw it out I just need to give him a few more details about it.
I was hoping someone would know that meaning behind the different colors in dream-catchers as well as the meaning of the amount of beads in the webbing, the amount of feathers on hanging from the dream-catcher and finally the meaning behind the type of feather. If someone could help me out with that it would be amazing!
Thank you!
Dreamcatchers are Ojibwa cradle decorations invented in the 1920's. They are crib mobiles, nothing more. They have no special meaning or significance. They are designed to entertain babies as they sway in the breeze. That's ALL they are.
I know new-age people ascribe all sorts of ridiculous notions to them. We find it totally hysterical.
We are totally baffled by non-natives obsession with them. Getting a tattoo of a dream catcher is like getting a tattoo of a baby's pacifier. really. You'll never see an indian with a dreamcatcher tattoo, nor does any indian over the age of 4 own one. The one great thing about people who get dreamcatcher tattoos is that it instantly marks you as someone who has no clue about native culture.
I know that every thing on a dream catcher has some kind of meaning. The link below might help you.
The dream catchers catches them in its web. The bad dreams are tangled in the catcher. There they stay, trapped, until morning, when the sun rises and sends them away. As other tribes heard about Ojibwa dream catchers, they adopted the idea. Today, many Native American artists make beautiful dream catchers to sell, to share, and to keep. Dream Catchers: Dreamcatcher: Grandmother's Dreamcatcher: Illustrated instruction kit by a Navajo couple on how to build dreamcatchers. Beautiful picture book about an Ojibwa baby's dreamcatcher. Gentle story of a contemporary Chippewa girl learning the dream-catcher tradition. There are different versions of the dream catcher legend and how it works. Some say that good dreams pass through the hole in the center of the web while bad dreams are caught in the web.
Different Types Of Dream
All the parts of the dream catcher has meaning.
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 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 their 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.
In your Dream catcher, I have finalized the eye with purple again. This is to remind you that we are spiritual beings in all aspects of life and that without such believe then we continuously search the reason of our being and try to explain it in many different formats.
Once the ring and the web are weaved, it represents love, honesty and purity. All of the elements of the dream catcher together represent the earth, fire and water. Things we need to live. So when I make a Dream catcher the feathers are of the Eagle one of our most Sacred Animal Spirit. The Eagle to me is part of my Native ways and is in my personal medicine wheel in the East which represents the ability to fly high and close to the Creator. It also represents part of my name and the Society that was founded for the purpose of advancing the Native American Way of living.
It represents the ability to be love and to love, to take the risk and get out of the nest and fly on your own, the ability to live beyond your shadows. Once put on the dream catcher it represents the air.
If you received a dream catcher you have received an object that represents the 4 elements of life. Earth, Water, Fire and Air, all the things necessary to sustain life. May you have a happy, dreamful life with this dream catcher and good Karma.
Meegwetch
