Some may be based on symbolism, but I believe there is alot more truth to it. Many ancient cultures have legends and mythology based on this concept of a time before time, a source creator of all things, woven and connected together by a sacred thread. Also known as The Dreaming, a time before the universe, before any memory or experience. In the aboriginal culture of Australia, dreamtime is known as 'The Golden Age' when the first ancestors were created, where all sacred knowledge comes from. I believe the DreamCatcher is also connected to the Dreamtime. DreamCatchers made for adults were made using stronger materials to symbolize adulthood.

They were the first original baby mobiles, giving the young child a beautiful handmade craft to admire and also help visually sooth them.

DreamCatchers were originally created for babies for protection, using natural materials such as willow and sinew which were not meant to last and therefore symbolized the temporary state of youth. Today dreamcatchers are found internationally in many Aboriginal tribes as a way of maintaining traditional spirituality. The origins of the dreamcatcher can be traced back to the Ojibwe (aka Chippewa) tribe who lived in the Great Lakes region of North America, and with time the traditional craft was also adopted by the Lakota people. The dreamcatcher web symbolizes the interconnectedness of all of creation, and the hoop itself represents strength, unity and the circle of life. The DreamCatcher was her gift to us, and an 8-pointed web represents the Spider Woman's 8 legs. There is also the ancient legend of Spider Woman, Asibikaashi, who was the original weaver of creation and took care of the people. While the feathers bring the good dreams (bawedjigewin) down to the sleeper. The name comes from the ancient Ojibwe legend because it is believed to entangle bad dreams throughout the night and only allow the good to pass through, awaiting the morning sun (giizis) for cleansing.

The origin of dream catchers