Story Summary
Discover The Legend of the Dreamcatcher, a sacred Lakota tale where the spirit Iktomi spins a web of wisdom to filter good visions from the bad for all people.
In the ancient days, a Lakota elder stood atop a high mountain, seeking wisdom for his people. There, Iktomi, the great teacher of wisdom in the form of a spider, appeared before him. Iktomi took a hoop of willow decorated with feathers and horsehair, and as he spoke of the cycles of life, he began to spin a web within it. He told the elder that life is full of forces—both good and bad—and if one listens to the good, they will be led in the right direction. As the spider finished his work, he handed the hoop to the elder. It was a perfect web with a hole in the center. 'The web will catch your good visions and ideas,' Iktomi promised, 'while the bad ones will vanish through the hole and be gone forever.' The elder returned to his tribe and shared the gift, and ever since, the people have used dreamcatchers to filter their spirits and protect their futures.
The Moral
We must learn to filter the influences in our lives, holding onto positive visions while letting go of negative thoughts that lead us astray.
“The web will catch your good ideas and visions, while the bad ones will fall through the hole.”
Fun Fact
The Ojibwe word for dreamcatcher, 'asabikeshiinh', actually means 'spider,' referring to the protective web woven for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Legend of the Dreamcatcher?
The moral is that we must discern between good and bad influences, retaining only the positive ones to guide our journey. It teaches that our focus determines the direction of our lives.
Which tribe does the dreamcatcher legend come from?
While many tribes use them today, the legend is most strongly associated with the Lakota and Ojibwe (Chippewa) people. Each culture has its own unique variation of the spider spirit story.
What does the hole in the center of a dreamcatcher mean?
In the Lakota tradition, the hole allows bad dreams and negative thoughts to pass through and disappear. In other traditions, the hole is where the good dreams pass through to reach the sleeper.
What do the feathers on a dreamcatcher represent?
The feathers act as a soft ladder or path for the good dreams to follow. They allow the positive visions to glide gently down from the web to the person sleeping below.
Who is Iktomi in Native American folklore?
Iktomi is a prominent figure in Lakota mythology, often depicted as a spider or a shapeshifter. He is known as a trickster but also a great teacher of wisdom and a bringer of culture.
How were traditional dreamcatchers originally made?
Traditional dreamcatchers were crafted using a hoop made of red willow and a web woven from nettle stalk fiber or sinew. They were often decorated with personal and sacred items like beads and feathers.
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