Native American Dreamcatchers & Medicine Wheels
According to Ojibwe legend, a Native American dream catcher is a handmade hoop woven with a web of sinew or thread, hung above the sleeping space to filter dreams. Traditions and meanings vary across communities. Shop handmade native american dream catchers and medicine wheels online at Kachina House, made by tribal artists from across the Southwest. Sizes run from 2-inch singles to pieces over twelve inches wide.
Dreamcatchers come from the Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region. According to Ojibwe legend, the woven web catches bad dreams and holds them until morning light dissolves them. Good dreams pass through and drift down the feathers to the sleeper.
As the Ojibwe spread across the land, mothers began weaving them by hand for their children. The practice spread to neighboring nations over generations. Each community carries its own stories and traditions. If you want to go deeper into that history, our guide to dreamcatcher history and meaning is a good place to start.
A medicine wheel represents the circle of life and the Four Sacred Directions. The outer ring stands for the whole of existence. The spokes represent the four directions, each carrying its own meaning, color, and teaching depending on the nation. Some medicine wheels include an attached medicine bag. Others are sold separately.
How to Choose a Dream Catcher
- Size: Small pieces under 5 inches suit personal spaces and bedside tables. Larger works over 12 inches are better suited to wall displays and entryways.
- Materials: Look for natural sinew or thread, leather-wrapped hoops, and real feathers. These are the marks of handmade work.
- Origin: Every dreamcatcher at Kachina House is made by a Native American artist. No imports, no factory production.
- What to look for: Slight variation between pieces is normal and expected. Handmade work is never perfectly uniform.
Common Questions
- What is a dreamcatcher meant to do? The woven web catches bad dreams overnight and holds them until morning. Good dreams pass through the web and drift down the feathers to the sleeper. Bad dreams dissolve in the morning light.
- Where did dreamcatchers originate? Dreamcatchers originate with the Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region. The tradition spread to other Native nations over time, and practices vary by community.
- How do you hang a dreamcatcher? Above or near the bed, where morning light reaches it. Sunlight is said to clear the bad dreams caught in the web overnight.
- What is a medicine wheel and what do the colors and directions represent? A medicine wheel is a circular symbol representing the circle of life and the Four Sacred Directions. Each direction carries its own color, meaning, and teaching. These vary by nation; there is no single universal meaning across all tribes.
Kachina House is the largest distributor of Native American arts and crafts in Arizona. Questions? Call toll free at 800-304-3290 or drop us an email.
