Recently I ran into a street market close to where I live. While I was walking around, browsing, I have met with an elderly First Nations lady who was selling dreamcatchers that she made. Our chat was very heartwarming and informative.

I have bought an Abalone shell to burn my sage smudge stick in and also a lovely dreamcatcher. My husband immediately hung the dreamcatcher on our bedroom ceiling. Right on top of our bed, in front of the window.

Since then, I have had vivid, colorful, and happier dreams. It feels like I have more dreams than I used to, and I remember the details of my dreams better when I wake up. That might be simply psychosomatic, but still, it’s surprising and triggered my interest in learning a little bit more about dreamcatchers.

I have found out that the Native North American dreamcatchers that are very popular among American and Canadian First Nations people come originally from the Ojibway Chippewa tribe. They were made as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares at the beginning.

According to the legend, the dreamcatcher will catch your dreams in the night. The bad dreams will get caught in the webbing of the dreamcatcher and disappear with the morning sun. Meanwhile, the good ones will find their way to the center of the dreamcatcher and float down the feather.

The dreamcatcher is therefore considered a filter allowing only good, pleasant dreams to get through. Dreamcatchers, are also believed to bless those who are sleeping with good luck and harmony.

The trick is to get an authentic dreamcatcher created by a Native artisan and not a mass-produced, commercially distributed one. I am happy to meet with that elderly lady and to have the opportunity of getting a handmade dreamcatcher from her.

There is a wealth of illuminating, healing, and helpful knowledge around us. Also, there are fascinating tools provided for us, right in front of us, if we are ready to see and take them. We simply need to keep our eyes open and our perspective as broad as possible. Sometimes we find the information, sometimes the knowledge comes and finds us.

Additionally, I want to share something that this very knowledgeable elderly First Nations lady told me during our quick chat. She said that the eagle feather that we use to move the smoke around during the smudging ceremony should not be acquired commercially. Either to be a gift or to be found in nature. A goose-feather found in nature can also be used instead of an eagle feather. Until you find your feather, or more accurately, it finds you, you can use your hand to distribute the smoke, but do not buy a feather.

So now, I am waiting for the universe to bring me an eagle or goose feather. And I do not have any doubt in my mind that during one of our walks with my husband, I will run into one soon.