Dreaming, form of mental activity, different from waking thought, that occurs during sleep.Ancient cultures believed that dreams were spiritual in origin, often foretelling the future. Aristotle believed that dreams originated from within the dreamer, arising from the heart. Modern dream research has focused on two general interpretations of dream content. In one view, dreams have no inherent meaning but are simply a process by which the brain integrates new information into memories. In the other view, dreams contain real meaning symbolized in a picture language that is distinct from conscious logical thought.
The Power of Symbols: Our mind uses symbols as building blocks of consciousness and awareness. A group of symbols form a thought; a group of thoughts form an idea; a group of ideas coalesce into an image; a group of images form an opinion; a group of opinions form a belief; a group of beliefs form our philosophies. Symbols may be closed or open depending on how we interpret them through our life experiences.Shocks or traumas create our closed symbols.Those symbols and experiences that we fear are pushed out of our consciousness and we close the door on them. Closed symbols prevent us from perceiving reality in its truth, causing us to form a skewed, unbalanced, pretense reality.Know that whenever we are confronted by a closed symbol, we are being given the opportunity to learn, grow and change.
Open symbols are in the light.Whenever we are able to open up a closed symbol and conquer its monster, we experience a great energy surge. We feel much lighter with an expanded awareness of self. Our life now takes on a beauty, power and joy that we didn't know was possible as we gain clarity about our personal and sacred dreams and perceive our extended contribution to the collective dream and the dream of Grandmother Earth.
Native Americans believe that dreams both good and bad float through the air all day and night searching for their destination. While sleeping under a Dreamcatcher, one may feel secure that bad dreams being confused and ill-intentioned get caught in the web to perish with the first light of day, while the good dreams, knowing the right way, easily slip through the center hole, work their way down the web catching all the good energies of the stones and adornment, floating down the feathers and onto the dreamers head. One never need fear bad dreams again while sleeping under a smudged, or blessed Dreamcatcher.
Legend of the Dream Catcher
Long ago when the world was young, an old lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision. In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider. Iktomi spoke to him in a scared language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand. As he spoke Iktomi, the spider, took the elders willow hoop which had feathers, horse hairs, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web. He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life....how we begin our lives as infants and we move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants,completing the cycle. Iktomi said, "In each time of life there are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature, and also with the great spirit and all of his wonderful teachings." Iktomi gave the web to the Lakota elder and said, "See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hole in the center of the cirlce. If you believe in the great spirit, the web will catch your good dreams and ideas - - and the bad ones will go through the hole. Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make good use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions." The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Lakota's use the dreamcatcher as the web of their life.It is hung above their beds or in their home to sift their dreams and visions. The good of their dreams is captured in the web of life and carried with them...but the evil in their dreams escapes through the center hole, and are no longer part of them.
