Have you ever observed the flow of your thoughts? Have you ever noticed how your mind travels from one thought to another? It is quite seamless, and thus, unnoticeable to many. Well, the concept of a ‘linking thoughts’ dreamcatcher emanated in my mind just in the spur of the moment.
Source: https://www.enkiquotes.com/dream-catcher-quotes.html
The idea is to observe the flow of thoughts, how they are related, and grasp the hidden desire or dream you have with these thoughts. For being able to understand this in its full being, let us delve right in step by step.
How Do Thoughts Emanate?
Thoughts are said to emanate from either a stimulus or without one. Say, an event in the external environment creates a chain of thoughts in your mind. This is SDT, i.e. Stimulus Dependent Thought. If the stimulating event wouldn’t have occurred these thoughts wouldn’t have emerged in the mind.
Source: https://www.omaritani.com/blog/what-you-think
Another way a thought process starts in the mind is independent of any stimulus. This is known as SIT or Stimulus Independent Thought. This is said to occur when our mind is in a vacant mood. Also, it is mainly guided by the overall issues bothering a person.
How Are Thoughts & Dreams Linked?
We dream around 4-6 times a night. And, the most vivid of those occur during the REM sleep, i.e. Rapid Eye Movement phase. This is because during this phase the brain is most active.
According to many experts, dreams are linked to our thoughts. They help us to solve problems in our lives, incorporate memories, and even process emotions. According to Sigmund Freud, our dreams are a window to the subconscious mind. They are thought to reveal the person’s unconscious desires, thoughts, and motivations.
Source: BBC Reels (https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p08yxrlb/why-our-dreams-could-be-the-key-to-time-travel)
Let’s understand this. Some experts say that our dreams reflect our own thoughts and feelings. You might have had a dream related to something you’d been thinking about during the daytime. The dream translates as a continuation of the thought at night. Thus, our dreams are really linked with our thoughts.
What Is A Dreamcatcher?
First, let’s take a glance at the brief history of dreamcatchers. A dreamcatcher, as everyone must have seen, is a woven wall hanging made around a hoop. It resembles a spider’s web, some say. It is adorned with beads and fairy lights to improve its aesthetic appeal.
As per the Native American population, and some experts, dreamcatchers were designed as objects to be hung by the bed to filter bad dreams. They are believed to filter good dreams and trap the bad ones inside the net. According to legends, when the first sun rays hit the dreamcatcher, it destroys the bad dreams.
Source: https://pixabay.com/images/search/dream%20catcher/
The concept of dreamcatcher has originated from a woman in Native American legends, Asibikaashi- the spider woman. She was said to be the custodian of the Ojibwe community. She reportedly created a dreamcatcher to protect these people in their sleep.
Earlier, the dreamcatchers used to be prepared by weaving willow hoops into a web. Feathers and beads were hung on it for decorative purposes. These were traditionally hung by the cradles of babies for their protection.
How To Create A ‘Linking Thoughts’ Dreamcatcher?
Well, say reflect on the few remarkable thoughts you had today. Take a moment and with closed eyes, gently try to remember them. Try and recall the thoughts you had just after this one.
Now, make a physical note of these thoughts. Ponder deeply to which unfulfilled dreams do they point towards. Note these dreams down in front of these thoughts. While this exercise may even help you unearth the causes of certain pressing thoughts you might have during the day.
Source: Discover Magazine (https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-do-we-dream-science-offers-a-few-possibilities)
Following this process, create a mind map-like structure linking one thought to another finally reaching its source dream. You might also gift a physical dreamcatcher with ribbons of paper strips bearing dreams or good thoughts on them to a loved one. Make different dreamcatchers with aspirations towards your achievable dreams and hang them on your desk. These might as well serve as objects of motivation for you.
Whatever your dreams point to, they might indicate a hidden liking towards a hobby, say, writing, gardening, or music. Sometimes, these thoughts might also direct you towards a long-buried grudge or unresolved trauma. In such cases, it is best to discuss it with a professional therapist.