65 Trendy Dreamcatcher Tattoos, Ideas, & Meanings

Nov 5, 2023

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Are you thinking of getting a dreamcatcher tattoo or looking for some inspiration?

Have you ever wondered what the real meaning of the dreamcatcher is?

Many people have dreamcatchers hanging from their car mirrors, windows in their homes, and their purses, and they really don’t know what the dreamcatcher stands for.

In this article, we will talk about dreamcatcher tattoos and what they represent.

Origin

Five main parts of a dreamcatcher represent and make up what a dreamcatcher is and what its meaning represents. I’ll break down the five main components of a dream catcher, so you will understand what a dreamcatcher is, and it will help you design your dreamcatcher tattoo.

The first thing to note is that dreamcatchers may originate from the indigenous people. However, today they are seen worldwide and might be claimed to have originated from other parts of the world. Different tribes and different cultures might have different meanings of what the dreamcatcher represents.

Meanings of Dreamcatcher Tattoos

The meaning of the dreamcatcher that we’re talking about today is the indigenous people of Canada, specifically the Anishinaabe teachings of the dreamcatcher.

The Circle

So the first identifier of a dreamcatcher is that of course, they are round. Dreamcatchers are usually made with a wooden hoop or pliable material. The authentic dreamcatchers from our ancestors were made of red willow. The circle represents the circle of life, and that is very important to Anishinaabe people because the circle is the center of everything. It signifies that there is no real end or beginning. Life is continuously going around in a circle.

The Web

The second component of a dreamcatcher is that they have a web. This web can be made with either a net or thread. Sometimes you will see a dreamcatcher is made with colorful string, and that’s where the artist is expressing their artistic ability and their personality. The web is used to catch bad dreams when the person is sleeping, but at the same time, it allows the good dreams to come through.

The Weaver

The third identifier or significance of the dreamcatcher is that they have stones or gems weaved into the web. These are to represent the spider that has created the web. The teaching behind this is that the nightmares actually get caught in the spider’s web, and the spider is the web weaver. You will see various dreamcatcher tattoos made by different artists that might have more stylish designed gems and stones. It’s just a matter of preference that the artists wanted their dreamcatchers to have.

The Feathers

The fourth part of the dreamcatcher is the feathers hanging from the circle. It is said that the feathers hanging from the bottom of the circle can allow the good dreams to be caught in the spider’s web and have a passage through the feathers to the person sleeping below it.

Protection

Now the fifth fun fact about dreamcatchers is that they are beautiful creations and come in many different styles and sizes and designs and that they’re primarily used to ward off nightmares. The nightmares that are caught up in the web are then said to be burned up by the morning light. The good dreams are passed through the web, down the feathers to the undisturbed sleeping person.

So that’s the core significance of the dreamcatcher and its meaning and all of the five different components of the dreamcatcher.

Colors of the Dream Catcher Tattoos

One of the great things about dream catcher tattoos is that since they include feathers and beading, the colors used in them are more than I can ever list here! Some people wish to stick with a more traditional look for their dream catcher tattoo. Turquoise was used heavily by the Native Americans, as well as eagle feathers. Some people love to have their tattoos designed with vivid colors and use purples, pinks, oranges, and blues for their tattoo. Color is a personal choice, and so your dream catcher can look like anything you want it to be!

Placement of Dream Catcher Tattoos

There are many interesting choices when it comes to the placement of dream catcher tattoos. Here are the most popular areas to put one:

The small of the back is a place where women often choose to put their dream catcher tattoo.
For men, the upper arm (top of shoulder) is a popular area of placement.
Both men and women find it attractive to put dream catcher tattoos on various areas of their backs. In my opinion, the best place on the back is in the upper center, directly in the middle. The shoulder blades are also great places for this beautiful work of art.
The lower leg (calf).
The back of the neck.
The hip is popular for women, as is the side of the stomach.

No matter where you choose to put your dream catcher tattoo, this design typically looks better large rather than small. There is a lot of detail that goes into a dream catcher, so the bigger, the better. But you can also have a tiny dream catcher on your wrist or behind the ear.