What are dreamcatchers?

Dreamcatchers are sacred protection tools. In a way we can say they are a type of talisman. 

Although often dreamcatchers are sold as mere decorations, they can be much more than that. The dreamcatcher originated among the Ojibwe people, but over the ages and particularly last century this great tool spread though many other nations, including some Native nations in Mexico.

However, many times they have become commercial items and have been separated from their meaning, and the spiritual process to make them.

 

The origin myth:

This is the story of the dream catcher as bequeathed to us in the Totonaca Toltec tradition of central Mexico:  

 

The elders say that long time ago, the Ojibwe people of the far lands in the Mictlampa—northern lands— lived in a place called Turtle Island, and Great Spirit came to take care of them in the form of Asibikaashi—Spider Woman—. She was among them as protector and helper. With her webs, she would protect the people, specially the children from evil things and evils spirits. 

 

As the population grew, they left the island and spread all over the land. This made it difficult for Asibikaashi to protect all of them at all times. So she talked to the beings in nature, asking them for their help to make a protection tool so that women could take her webs with them to protect their children and their homes.

 

When Asibikaashi talked to the people of the forest. From among the tree people, Willow said she would sacrifice her branches to help the humans. From among the animal people, Deer said he would sacrifice his leather and sinew to help the humans. The bird people said they would sacrifice their feathers to help the humans. And  finally, The rock people said they would  sacrifice their gems to help the human people.

Then Asibikaashi gathered the mothers and sisters and grandmothers, and told them how the other peoples in the land had sacrificed so that their children, their families, and their homes could be protected from evil things and spirits. So, she taught the women how make hoops with the branches of willow, and to weave the web with the sinew of deer and the gems, and to attach the leather and feathers. And the people once again were able to feel the peace and safety of Asibikaashi, even when she was not physically there with them. 

 

If we step away from modern commercial imagery, we can see that at the heart of this story we are taught that :

A mother or grandmother cannot remove every danger from a child's world. 

Asibikaashi—Spider Woman—can't physically be everywhere.  So she teaches people to continue the protection themselves, protecting one another. Asibikaashi teaches us the lesson through her web, for example:

• Something delicate can be remarkably strong.
• And the web of healthy relationships that be build, is our safety and protection.
• The sacred stories and sacred tools, are to be handed one generation to the next.

 

As this sacred story and tradition was handed on to us in the Totonaca Toltec tradition, some elements of our own tradition were also incorporated. For example, for the  Toltecayotl (Toltec philosophy/art of life), thirteen is a sacred number representing all the peoples of the world and the Divine Spirit, thus the web is attached in 13 points of the hoop.  Likewise in our tradition, materials must be harvested in the time after the full moon, but before the new moon, while the construction of sacred tools is to be done between the new moon, and the full moon. 

 

So, a dreamcatcher is not an artifact to keep nightmares away. A dreamcatcher is a sacred tool that is build as an act of prayer and protection, made by someone, thus embodying the love of Asibikaashi for humanity.

 

How is a dreamcatcher made?

First, asking for the kindness and mercy of our siblings, the tree people, the animal people, the bird people, and the  mineral people to allow us to use their resources. As much as possible the materials are collected directly from nature.

As one shapes the hoop, prayers are said for the people who will be protected by this sacred tool. Likewise, at each knot of the web, another prayer is said, and that continues until the dreamcatcher is completed. 

 

Do you sell dreamcatchers?

Since dreamcatchers are a sacred protection tool, according to the Toltec ways, they cannot be sold; for Toltecayotl, it would be highly unethical to sell prayer, and we believe the Creator would not be pleased if we were to do so. 

However, we would gladly accept a voluntary donation to compensate for materials and the time dedicated to the elaboration of a dreamcatcher.  If you need one, please contact us.

 

Coming up soon: Line of skin care producs made with natural high quality esential oils, to experience the magic that nature can offer us to care for our skin.