Native American Spirituality And Dreams

Native American Spirituality and Dreams

Native Americans always held dreams high with great respect. They believed that their dreams came to them as means of wisdom and guidance. They believed that they would be visited by ancestor spirits early in the morning. Which is the reason why people believe spirits run wild at two am, which is about the same time of the deepest part of your sleep experience?

Each Indian had a special animal. The animal had meaning. Some of the names would include their animal, like bear, wolf, eagle, and so on. For an example, the coyote is an animal that plays tricks and it would warn the Indians on not to give in to temptation. If the animal appeared in the dream, it would be extreme significance. It is considered aid in deciding or warning. Each animal has a message and different animals will appear in different dreams during different phrases of a person's life.

When it comes to advice, a specific animal will return to the dream each night until the issue is resolved. Most Native Americans believe that dream spirits help watch over the tribe and provide the tribe with assistance and guidance. One of the spirits is that of a deer. It gives warmth, food, clothing, tools, but it will tell the tribe what answers they seek. The wolf is known as the protector.

It will watch over the dreamer. When the wolf appears in a dream it is warning the tribe. The Indians understand they need the animals for food and to live, but they give the animal prestige because they keep the tribe leaving, and therefore, have power, especially in their dreams.

Indians are deep thinkers who had to learn how to survive off the land. There were no white people around to show them the way; they needed to reply on the gods and animals to protect them. If a Native American has a dream about one of the animals that they praise, they will pay heed to the dream. They will make sure that they consider what advise the dream has given and weather or not the dreamer has a need to follow the dream. The wolf is always taken seriously in a dream because it knows the way of life. The wolf is very wise.

Many historians believe that their dreams were based on drugs that altered the mind, however, in Native American traditions, the gods of spoken to them in a dream. The Gods have paved the way for their exists. Some feel that if they did not alter their state of mind, then their dreams would be different and they would have ended up differently. However, according to Native Americans, their traditions were stumped on and their culture mocked. They truly believe that God talks to them in their dreams and every dream is a symbol of life.