Dreamcatchers originated in North America from the Ojibwa Indians. They were hung above the sleeping place to protect the sleeper from nightmares. The classic model consisted of a circular wicker hoop in which a net of sinew or string was spun. This net was decorated, for example, with beads, feathers or leather. According to the Indian conception, the bad dreams should be caught in this net and neutralized with the morning sun, while the good dreams should slip through the middle opening and be guided to the dreamer by the hanging threads. Nowadays you can find dreamcatchers in all sizes and colors or as craft instructions for a DIY project. What is behind the seemingly harmless decoration?
The dream catcher is a Native American cult object and is said not only to improve the quality of sleep, but also to ward off evil spirits. Marketed as a protective and comforting companion for the night, especially for the children who are plagued by night terrors. The benefits of dreamcatchers are also being marketed to adults: as good luck charms in the car, as a calming focal point in the meditation area, etc.
Biblical evaluation
The belief in the protective power of objects is superstition.
This also applies to amulets, lucky charms or talismans. They cannot bring about or protect good, nor can they inflict harm, because this is the realm of dead matter, as the Bible text says. But as soon as the door to the world of spirits is pushed open by superstition, the person who believes in it falls under the spell of these spirits.
Jeremiah 10, verses 3-5: “For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
Experience report by Liana de Andrade
My daughters Alexandra, Andreza and I bought such a dreamcatcher at a Christmas market in the early 2000s. When we asked what this dreamcatcher was about, the seller replied that bad dreams were caught in its net. I asked again: “Are you sure it catches the bad dreams?” He replied with a “yes” and added, “but you have to believe it!” In my dreams, I always saw male figures chasing after me, with unnatural faces and who wanted to kill me. These dreams involved a lot of blood. In my dreams I saw myself running away and also praying. So I thought that a dreamcatcher like this could be a help for me. After hanging the dreamcatcher in my bedroom, I observed the following. I now had massive problems falling asleep and woke up more often. Instead of the help I had hoped for, that the fearful dreams would now come to an end, my situation became increasingly worse. The dreams became more and more violent and intense and I thought it was because the dreamcatcher was too small, so I bought a bigger one.
But as the dreams got worse, more intense and more violent, I realised that something couldn’t be right. Eventually it got to the point where I could hardly sleep. Now I also suffered from anxiety during the day and the lack of sleep made me very aggressive. I found it difficult to concentrate, so I lacked the spiritual strength to read the Bible and pray. I wondered how it was possible that a device designed to prevent bad dreams could have the exact opposite effect. I began to suspect that bad dreams were caused by dream catchers. In my distress I decided to free myself from the “clutches of these dream catchers” and trust only in God and pray to Jesus Christ. As soon as I let go of them pastorally and allowed them to pray with me, things got better immediately. Then it became very clear that the dream catchers were not keeping away evil spirits, but calling them out.
Today I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for completely freeing me from these clutches and from further spiritual practices through house altars with Buddha figures. At the same time, He has given me true, heavenly happiness.
Liana de Andrade
1 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumf%C3%A4nger
2 https://minimididesign.com/traumfanger/
