Legend
of the Dreamcatcher
Long
ago, when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high
mountain. On the mountain, he 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 sacred language. Only spiritual leaders of the Lakota could
understand. As Iktomi spoke, he took the elder's willow hoop - which had
feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it - and began to spin a web.
He
spoke to the elder about the cycles of life and how we begin our lives as
infants. We then move on to childhood and in to adulthood. Finally, we go to
old age where we must be taken care of as infants, thus, completing the cycle.
"But,"
Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, "in each time of life there
are many forces - some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces,
they will steer you in the right direction. But, if you listen to the bad
forces, they will hurt you and steer you in the wrong direction."
He
continued, "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."
All
while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web ... starting from the
outside and working toward the center. When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave
the Lakota elder the web and said, "See, the web is a perfect circle, but
there is a hole in the center of the circle."
"Use
the web to help yourself and your people ... to reach your goals and make use
of your people's ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit,
the web will catch your good ideas, and the bad ones will go through the
hole." (Note: Some bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and
the good ideas pass through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)
The
Lakota elder passed his vision on to his people. Now, the Sioux use the
dreamcatchers as the web of their life. Traditionally, it is hung above their
beds or in their homes to sift their dreams and visions. Good dreams are
captured in the web of life and carried with them ... but the evil dreams
escape through the center's hole and are no longer part of them. (Note: Some
bands believe the bad ideas are caught in the web and the good ideas pass
through to the individual. Either account is acceptable.)
Lakota
believe the dreamcatcher holds the destiny of their future.
- See more at:
http://aktalakota.stjo.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8820#sthash.fMmBzFOa.dpuf
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