Dream-Catchers Gallery gathers a vast tradition of wisdom teachings of the Seventh Fire

Dream-Catchers Gallery gathers a vast tradition of wisdom teachings and spiritual truths

Dream-Catchers of twigs, sinew, and feathers have been woven since ancient times by Ojibwe people, a Native American tribe of Turtle Island. Dream-Catchers were woven by the grandfathers and grandmothers for newborn children and hung above the cradleboard to give the infants peaceful, beautiful dreams.  The night air is filled with dreams.  Good dreams are clear and know the way to the dreamer, descending through the feathers.  The slightest movement of the dream-catcher feathers indicated the passage of yet another beautiful dream.  Bad dreams, however, are confused and confusing.  They cannot find their way through the dream-catcher web and are trapped in the dream-catcher web until the sun rises and evaporates the bad dreams like the morning dew. 

This is the familiar story of the real Dream-Catchers, true of all Dream-Catchers.  However, there is more.  Much more.  Below are thumbnail photos of the twenty-eight dream-catchers of the Seventh Fire Heritage Collection.  Most of these Dream-Catcher designs were given to me, manidoog', which means "directly from the Great Spirit."  Each of the Dream-Catchers tells part of the wisdom the Seven Prophets of the Anishinabe wished to be preserved.  To this end, the Anishinabe (later called Ojibwe, Ojibway, or Chippewa and their close relatives, the Ottawa and Potawatomi) undertook to leave their ancestral homes to travel toward the setting sun looking for "the food that grows on water" and the "island shaped like a turtle."  For hundreds of years, the people migrated to find safety in the heart of the continent, long before there was any contact with light-skinned people.  Six of the seven prophecies lit six fires. These stories were preserved for this time.  Now is the time of the Seventh Fire.

Originally the Native American Dream-Catchers were woven on twigs of the red willow using thread from several plants, most commonly the stalk of the stinging nettle.  Retted like flax in the making of linen, the rotted remains of the plant stem were separated from the fibers that give the stem strength.  This was most probably done by slapping against a stone or a log.  My Dream-Catchers are made of red willow and twigs from other trees of the willow family, as well as red twig dogwood, manzanita, or even cherry or tamarisk.  These can be found in many parts of the USA and counterparts can be found around the world. These twigs are gathered fresh and dried in a circle or pulled into a spiral shape depending upon their intended use.  In my Dream-Catchers I use natural feathers and semi-precious gems, one gem to each web because this honors the spider who taught us to weave.  And there is only one Creator in the Web of Life.

When you click on an image below, you will go to a page with a larger image and the story of  that dream catcher. The stories are natural wisdom teachings I was also given manidoog, or "directly from the Great Spirit."  'Larger dream catchers for offices and large spaces are also available--Five to seven foot long spirals and double spirals, butterflies and dolphins 3' or more.  In December 2002, I created a ten foot diameter All Nations Dream-Catcher, the first of a projected series for an art park in south central Illinois, called the Children's Dream-Catcher Garden.  We also have Dream-Catcher Weaving kits  each with a fully illustrated instruction booklet.  Find out how the Dream Catchers wove me and you will perhaps discover how Dream-Catchers will weave you. Soar with me into new realms of imagination and possibility.

Click on a dream-catcher image for close-up and story

Architectural size dream-catchers are available for large spaces.

 Dream-Catcher sizes listed are approximate