Once the sun sets, dreams begin to drift through the air. Both good and bad dreams circulate like moths. The Native American dream catcher is meant to help assure that only good dreams will reach the sleeper. Hung near the head of the bed, the dream catcher will be ready, throughout the night to intercept nightmares. According to belief, bad dreams will become entangled in the dream catcher, while good dreams will drift through.

Native American dream catchers are usually made of a circle or hoop of willow enclosing woven sinew strands. Good dreams filter down to the sleeper through the means of feathers and beads which hang from the base of the willow hoop. Sometimes household items are also hung from the bottom of the dream catcher, anything that might prove to be beneficial. Many people believe that the webbing will trap bad dreams and nightmares. The light of the rising sun would cause these bad dreams to disappear.

The woven netting in the center of the dream catcher hoop mirrors a spider’s web. Many dream catchers are made in such a way that the interior looks just like the web of a spider. Where the netting is attached, traditional Native American dream catchers often have eight points. This demonstrates the eight legs of the spider spinner. Sometimes, a feather is placed in the center of this webbing to signify air.

The art of the Indian dream catcher began with the Ojibwa, or Chippewa, tribes. This is a very old practice and was originally meant to protect infants and very young children. The night can be a frightening time for any child, and bad dreams can easily disturb a youngster’s sleep. Just knowing that a dream catcher was hanging overhead would offer comfort to the drowsy child.

Native American dream catchers soon spread far beyond the Ojibwa, and were adopted by the other nations. For generations, Indian children, as well as adults, have been protected from bad dreams by dream catchers. This interesting item and the growth and interest in Native American culture has made the dream catcher popular. You can now buy Native American dream catchers for your home or bedroom. Authentically made dream catchers will add a touch of Native American life to your home.

Dream catchers made by Native Americans will use traditional materials and be created with the proper spirit. Sometimes, they are even used in windows to add beauty to the home. A dream catcher above every bed in the house can add a measure of comfort and security to the entire family.

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If you love Native American Rattles, you will definitely benefit from adding them to your drumming circles and powwows. Rattles are excellent Native American icons representing Indigenous tribes and their unique culture. They are also among the most popular musical instruments for playing in ceremonial rituals throughout various Indian tribes. Rattles, for many years and for the majority of American Indians, have always had a great part in the spiritual connection with the creator as well as for use in public gatherings.

As you read about the intriguing history of American Indians and their use of Native American rattles, you will find that they are symbolic among the Indigenous tribes and are essential to the tribal ceremony in which they are used. It is said that they symbolize the animal, plant, and mineral kingdoms. The animal kingdom is exemplified in the form of the container or decorative feather of the rattle. The mineral kingdom is represented by the rocks that create the sound or also by the paint used for the artwork depicted on the rattle. And, the plant kingdom is symbolized by the handle.

When studying the uses of Native American rattles and how they are played, you will learn that virtually every tribe and Indian culture including the Navajo culture, play rattles in their ceremonies. Among the many types of Indian rattles, together with the popular gourd rattles and turtle shell rattles, the simple rawhide rattle is the most used in Native American tribes. The images, such as the Navajo bear or Navajo eagle, used in the artwork placed on the rattles, differ with each tribe. You will find it interesting that the different tribes including the Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, Zuni and Hopi, can all be identified by the variations of the beautiful art on their hand crafts. One thing these tribes do have in common is that they all play rattles in the many ceremonial events and as part of music, dance, medicine and spirituality.

The Native rattles are really very appealing and are made with a number of natural materials such as turtle shell, leather, rawhide, bead work and Native American feathers. Fur, fringe, seeds, rocks, antlers, horns, bones and shells are used to create that unique Indian style. Clay beads, blue corn, manzanita seeds or small smooth stones such as those found at the opening of an ant hill, are also sometimes put in the rattles to give it the desired sound.

Native people have always used music, songs, stories and legends to express their cultural beliefs and customs to each other and to the outside world. It is in harmony with these forms of learning that rattles have come to be an important part in the ceremonies and rituals of the Indigenous people.

That is the reason there is nothing more thrilling than owning genuine Indian musical instruments and hand crafts. You can easily buy Indian rattles online and also in stores that sell rustic decor. If you are fascinated by authentic Indian musical instruments, or are searching for the right instrument to use in your drumming ceremonies, you will definitely be drawn to the unique sound of Native American rattles.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to choose Native American Rattles for Indian ceremonies and other playing purposes. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

God Is Red: A Native View of Religion, 30th Anniversary Edition
by Vine Deloria Jr., Leslie Marmon Silko, George E. Tinker
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