Mitos y leyendas: The Dreamcatcher

Mitos y leyendas shares with you the legend of the dreamcatcher.

The Lakota people share the purpose of this popular artifact.

Destiny can be safeguarded with its help.

In ancient times, at the dawn of existence, a wise elder of the Lakota tribe stood atop a mountain when he received an extraordinary vision.

In this vision, the revered Iktomi, known as the bringer of wisdom, appeared to him in the form of a spider.

Iktomi shared with him knowledge in an enigmatic language, reserved only for the initiates of the Lakota tribe.

As they conversed, the spider, embodying Iktomi, took a fragment of wood from the oldest willow and began to work.

The Cycle of Life

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They spoke of the cycles of life, from childhood to old age, describing how we go through different stages before returning to the beginning, thus completing the life cycle.

Iktomi, while weaving his web, pointed out the importance of the influences we encounter on our path, some positive and others negative.

He explained that following the positive forces would lead us on the right path, while yielding to the negative forces would divert us from our destiny.

Moreover, he mentioned the existence of various forces that can affect the natural balance, but also reminded of the presence of the Great Spirit and its teachings.

The Dreamcatcher

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As the spider continued to weave, creating a web from the outer edges to the center, Iktomi concluded his discourse by handing the web to the Lakota elder.

He explained that the web, although perfectly circular, contained a hole in its center.

This tool, the dreamcatcher, was to be used to help oneself and one’s community, capturing positive ideas and visions while letting negative ones escape through the central hole.

The elder shared this vision with his people, and since then, the Lakota have used the dreamcatcher as a symbol of the web of life.

Aid

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Placed above the beds of children and in tipis, it serves to discern between beneficial and harmful dreams and visions.

Positive dreams are trapped in the fabric of life, while negative ones fade away through the central hole, thus ensuring the destiny and protection of the Lakota people.

Now you know the origin of this popular artifact and also more about its function and aid.

Mitos y leyendas bids farewell for now and hopes that the legend of the dreamcatcher has been to your liking. Until next time!