There are many body art designs around that are ideal to emulate a theme of faith or cultural beliefs however a dreamcatcher tattoo is one that is perfect for both purposes and it is also a very beautiful work of art.
This would be suited to anyone who is looking for a way to show their spiritual beliefs and also for those who wish to pay homage to the Native American Indian culture. A dreamcatcher originates from an old Native American tribal myth and it is believed to protect us from evil by catching any harmful spirits that may be lurking. Dreamcatchers are a large hoop-like frame made with wood from the willow tree, cloth and threads woven together. These strands resemble a spider’s web around a hoop, which is adorned with sacred personal effects such as beads and crystals, with feathers dangling from it. Its original purpose was to hang over children’s cradles or at the door of the village with the belief that the web would catch all the bad and evil while they slept. In our modern society, many people still hang these above their beds to keep nightmares at bay and to encourage sweet and innocent dreams.
The dreamcatcher tattoo is very similar in design to its strand and stick counterpart however, the colours used for the bead and feather decoration tend to be more vibrant than the more natural versions used in reality. Symbolically, this is a very spiritual form of body art that is associated with harmony and balance however the meaning can vary slightly depending on the individual tribe’s cultural associations to it. Dreamcatchers originated with the Sioux tribe who believed that a dreamcatcher changes a person’s dreams so that only good dreams would be allowed to filter through. These good dreams would pass through and slide down the feathers to the sleeper while the bad dreams would remain in the net, disappearing with the light of day. However, the Lakota tribe believed the dreamcatcher was actually the creation of a very wise leader, who disguised himself as a spider weaving the web within the hoop thus representing the human life cycle.
This perfect circle would thus hold in all the good ideas in its web while letting the bad ones pass through the holes while other interpretations include inner strength and good will. Ultimately they symbolize unity among the various Indian Nations and are general symbol of identification with the Native American culture.
This is very popular body art design that looks good as a small, medium or large image either on its own or accompanied by other images of a similar nature and it is also a very versatile design that can be customized to make it more individual for you. Sometimes a human or animal face is inked within the central part of the dreamcatcher tattoo while other designs may incorporate flowers or landscapes often with the rising sun or full moon. Wolves and eagles are among the favorite totem animals regularly used on body art designs of this kind.
