HOME | DD

Foxfeather248 β€” Triple 'Dream' Catcher

Published: 2005-02-11 11:12:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 9326; Favourites: 145; Downloads: 253
Redirect to original
Description While I really like the idea of dream catchers, and their history, they have become a heavily commercialized and generally watered down image to most people.
That really is unfortunate, since they are beautiful things.

So... I decided I wanted to try to make a dreamcatcher that represented more of an 'energy web' than a traditional dreamcatcher. The three parts represent the spirit, mind, and body. Here's why I decided upon that.

Traditionally (though there are many different stories about this, and this is just one of them), dreamcatchers are meant to protect their owners from bad dreams. The idea is that all dreams are energies in the environment, and when you sleep, your mind is vulnerable / open to them. The web of the dreamcatcher, manned by a 'spider' (represented by a bead on the web itself), would catch bad dreams and let good ones through the hole in the center. Whether you believe such a symbol has physical power, there is no doubting that the mind is a strong, powerful thing capable of physically affecting our bodies. Perhaps the strength of a dreamcatcher lies in the fact the owner believes they are safe, and so their mind is better geared towards good dreams and thoughts. Or perhaps there is something more to it than that.

Either way, I wanted to take the idea of energy in the environment a step further. Our physical bodies, minds, and spirits are constantly under attack by all sorts of energy every day everwhere we go. So I made an 'energy catcher' that represents those different parts. My idea is that it could help catch some of those bad things and let the good parts through. That way it could help with depression, physical sickness, and spiritual malaise, among many other things.

Also, a note on the feathers. The feathers are meant to be more than pretty decorations. Feathers are a symbol of movement, of freedom. They help to guide the energy into and out of the web.

This particular piece took me a long time to make, though I am getting a lot faster at weaving. It is about 12" x 22" at its longest / widest points. I plan to make some more soon and get them up for sale on my website. I am also open to dreamcatcher / energy catcher commissions, so drop me an email if you are interested.
Related content
Comments: 33

FaeAmtutz-Artz [2013-10-22 01:21:06 +0000 UTC]

this is beautiful. I was wondering if I may use it in an image manipulation project?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

EBlackLight [2013-10-21 12:20:22 +0000 UTC]

AMAAAAAAZINGΒ Β Β Β 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Quatchi-jane [2012-07-06 05:16:27 +0000 UTC]

really beautiful

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

epithymbric [2012-01-12 11:48:42 +0000 UTC]

beautiful <3

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Positively-3-Nobody [2011-06-02 15:59:26 +0000 UTC]

Amazing. I've always had a fascination about dream catchers, and the number 3 and the energies that number holds... You've just put my mind into physical form!
I myself want to learn how to make these and start making my own, funny thing is my first idea was pretty damn close to the same as this.
Great work and great understanding of energies, keep it up!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Karaognjanovic [2011-04-09 10:30:15 +0000 UTC]

Nice work! How long did it take to make this peace?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to Karaognjanovic [2011-04-09 14:25:16 +0000 UTC]

I'm not sure, probably about 5-6 hours start to finish, but I've been weaving awhile

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Karaognjanovic [2011-04-09 10:27:45 +0000 UTC]

Nice work! How long did it take to make this peace?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

JediArtMaster [2009-08-25 02:24:05 +0000 UTC]

yeah your right about the watering down of the dream catchers.its cool you put alot of thought in this...are you native american? if you dont mind me asking?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to JediArtMaster [2009-09-02 00:07:13 +0000 UTC]

I'm part Saami, actually.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

JediArtMaster In reply to Foxfeather248 [2009-09-03 19:50:52 +0000 UTC]

oh nice! I'm wasco,eskimo,shawnee,and tlingit and for some odd reason people think I'm asian lol

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

KJLoving [2009-01-18 21:06:12 +0000 UTC]

Waaaa! That's awesome... I used to make them with my mother. One of the ones we made is hanging on my wall right now actually, along with my medicine bag and a Maori charm my mother brought back from New Zealand. The dream catcher was over my bed, but I kinda moved my bed out of my room because it took up too much space... It's now over my little altar area, with all my spiritual and archaic stuffs... Books, my incense holder, candles, knife...etc..

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to KJLoving [2009-01-18 22:32:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Dream catchers are really wonderful - mine is over my altar space, as well.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

StripedDandelion [2008-02-06 12:39:57 +0000 UTC]

I like this one! I once made one too, so i know how long it must have took
I love the way you attached the feathers, and it's cool you made three rings vertically. Usually there are two on the sides, but i like this better. it's more... dynamic
Can i ask what material you used for the rings?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to StripedDandelion [2008-02-07 04:27:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I've been making dreamcatchers for some years now so I'm much faster than I used to be, but they are still time consuming, for sure.
I use metal rings for these, sometimes I make my own rings from willow branches but they never end up nearly so symmetrical.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

StripedDandelion In reply to Foxfeather248 [2008-02-07 13:13:35 +0000 UTC]

Okay, thanks!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

wolfmanxtreme [2007-05-04 15:57:12 +0000 UTC]

I would like to use this peice of art as a tattoo, i was wondering if i could purchase this peice of art? of if i could get a picture of it, as large a file as you can get?

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to wolfmanxtreme [2007-05-06 04:19:25 +0000 UTC]

This particular dreamcatcher is sold, I do have another in black if you are intereseted in that. Please drop me an email at foxfeather @ foxloft.com and I can let you know the details.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

oceanofblueeyess [2006-11-19 03:24:46 +0000 UTC]

very pretty!
I like your explanation

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

anthylorrel [2006-03-02 19:19:00 +0000 UTC]

Its a beautiful dream catcher... Would it be alright if I used the design for my sweet dreams series? The actual photo won't be in it, but the design will be used... if you could get back to me, that would be wonderful.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Foxfeather248 In reply to anthylorrel [2006-04-26 17:27:12 +0000 UTC]

Sure If you'd like to use the design, go ahead.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

anthylorrel In reply to Foxfeather248 [2006-04-27 21:02:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

tatsku [2005-07-02 08:19:52 +0000 UTC]

Amazing

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

KatieHofgard [2005-02-14 06:18:20 +0000 UTC]

Not only is this lovely, but I really appreciate the research you put in when creating this. The knowledge of the original purpose or function of a dream catcher is sparse nowadays. I have a dream catcher (the same one) for many many years now, and it's certainly more than a decoration for me. It was made with deer sinew and a bent willow branch, originally adorned by a few turkey feathers cut and died in different ways. But over the years I've added things that are a little more than decoration; threads from my baby blanket, an owl feather my dad found and gave to me, and two bundles of sage, one from the cliff face of canyon del muerte in Arizona. In any case, this is lovely and one of the few '3-D' pieces posted up here on deviantart I really appreciate. Well done ^^

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

crowebasalt [2005-02-11 23:01:56 +0000 UTC]

that is gorgeous! good job, Fox.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

greenfroggies [2005-02-11 22:46:28 +0000 UTC]

fantastic, i have two just cos they're pretty, yours is far nicer though

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Goldenwolf [2005-02-11 18:40:48 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that's a truly awesome idea! I love how you use 'traditional' elements to make your spiritual stuff instead of plastic hoops and beads, brightly colored leather, and dyed chicken feathers XP <----ICK!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

TwistedGenie [2005-02-11 17:28:36 +0000 UTC]

Very beautifull........and in three.....perfect!!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

kyoht [2005-02-11 17:14:45 +0000 UTC]

I really, really like that

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

DesertBlu [2005-02-11 16:28:23 +0000 UTC]

Perfection...not only in the item but in the words that detail the behind the concept...well done... truely

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

ilyat [2005-02-11 15:41:53 +0000 UTC]

This is gorgeous. There is always something so appropriate when things are done in threes; the triad here really is amazing.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Nashoba-Hostina [2005-02-11 15:24:58 +0000 UTC]

That's absolutley beautiful... and you used shaped switches to make the rings didn't you? Or did you use the metal rings you can get? Either wal, it's a lovely peice, and I really like all of the thought put into it. Great stuff!

~Nashoba "Nash" Hostina

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

GarnetCross [2005-02-11 12:43:21 +0000 UTC]

Oh-so beautiful. I always thought of the feathers as "giving the dreams wings". I was told that the dreamcatcher catches the bad dreams, and lets the good ones through to help them come true.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0