The light, airy feathers add a touch of whimsy to any dreamcatcher but they are not there merely to add a decorative touch. The feathers hanging from the lower sides of the circle serve an important purpose. They help the trapped dreams from the web glide gently down to the person sleeping below.
You can group as many as four or five feathers together to hang from your dreamcatcher. There are no hard-and-fast rules to decorating your dreamcatcher. Feathers and beads are traditional, but follow your tastes.
Dreamcatchers are handmade willow hoops woven to a web or literally, a net. They can include feathers and beads, and they're traditionally suspended on cradles as a form of armor and protection.
For the most effective results, the dream catcher should hang above the crib or bed and must be exposed to sunlight. It functions by filtering the good dreams from the bad dreams; it captures bad dreams and only allows good thoughts and dreams to enter the unconscious mind.
If feathers have been damaged they can be replaced with feathers that are significant to the person who owns the dreamcatcher – some use macaw, pheasant, goose……all sorts are used – it is what they are meant to represent that is important.
A dreamcatcher is ideally supposed to be placed above the bed.
Dream catchers are full of all kinds of dreams, and to avoid the negative and scary ones, hang the dream catcher in the East or South direction. Never face it in the North direction as it will attract terrible vibrations.
The main drawback of dreamcatchers is that they should not be sold or given as gifts because the recipient would lose their good luck charm. The legend says that if you receive a dream catcher as a gift, you must give it away willingly so the person giving it will still have good luck.
Most believe that the best color to choose for a dream catcher is white and blue symbolic of hope and pureness. The color white also represents freshness, goodness, light, simplicity and coolness which make it the best option.
Hang the dreamcatcher in the centre of the attic or its window to collect any remaining spiritual energy that may be there.
The symbol of three feathers was popular in ancient Christianity, especially among the Medici, who used them as an emblem representing the three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.
Wet Method: Fill a bowl with water and some dish liquid. Create suds and wash a small are of the dream catcher in the soapy water test. If no dyes come off in the water & the feathers do not appear damaged, wash it by dipping each section in the soapy water & rub it between your fingers, then rinse it off.
The feather, for example, is a powerful symbol that signifies honor and a connection between the owner, the Creator, and the bird from which the feather came. It symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. It is an object that is deeply revered and a sign of high honor.
The main strings of the dreamcatcher are meant to represent a spider's web which catches the bad dreams, and the centre hole in the middle is where the good dreams pass through down to you.
While the size of the Dream Catcher does not matter, it is the web that needs to retain its traditional form, for the charm not to modify into a mere showpiece”.
Giving someone a dreamcatcher (whether it is one you've made yourself or one you've purchased from a Native American craftsman) tells the giver that you care about him and his peace of mind.
The canvas is responsible for catching bad dreams and evil spirits during the night, and getting rid of them when the day comes. Feathers, on the other hand, allow beautiful dreams to reach the sleeper. Not all Native American tribes agree on the meaning of the beads on the canvas.
Yellow dream catchers guide you as well as give you joy.
A dream catcher does not prevent bad dreams, it merely protects the spirit from the long term negative effects of them. Sometimes referred to as "Sacred Hoops," dreamcatchers were traditionally used to protect sleeping people, usually children, from bad dreams and nightmares.
Dream catchers are always supposed to be gifted to a person and not taken on purpose. Sometimes, even a piece of bone or a tooth... anything that is important to the person making the dreamcatcher was put in to remind them of the aim.”
They serve a protective purpose. Those who believe in dream catchers say that they act as a filter for dreams. They send good dreams to the sleeper and the bad dreams away. Traditional dream catchers are made with eight points where the web attaches to the hoop.
Bedroom: The primary purpose of these sacred items is to shield sleeping people, especially babies and children, from bad dreams and their negative effects. So, hanging them over or near the bed is the ideal placement of dream catchers.
According to ancient beliefs, Dreamcatchers were employed to overcome nightmares. Dreamcatcher should always be placed in the southwest direction. This not only brings positive energy to the house and it also removes nightmares. It also improves the Vastu of our house.
The Opposite of a Dream Catcher - A Dream Transmitter.