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Handmade using traditional Nepalese weaving techniques and materials, this unique dream catcher is sure to bring positive energy into your home. Each piece is individually crafted and decorated with colorful beads, crystals and stones that will give any space a special flair. The intricate design will be sure to captivate the eye of any who view it, as its beauty reflects the culture of Nepal. As you hang this dream catcher in your space, keep in mind the meaning behind it—the hope that good dreams will come true for all who sleep under its watchful eye.
The Story Behind the Art:
Dream Catchers are often referred to as "Sacred Hoops." The original Dream Catcher can be traced back to the Ojibwe Native American tribe where they were originally used as talismans to protect sleeps of all ages from bad dreams. Traditionally shaped as a circle, it is believed the shape represented the circle of life and the travels of the sun and moon across the sky. Woven like a spider web, dream catchers are meant to capture bad dreams during the night and hold them there until the sun of the morning can burn them away. The strands that hang below are traditionally meant to take the good dreams and gently carry them down to the peaceful sleeper.
Meet the Artist
dZi Inc. has been working with artisans in the Tibetan exile community in India since 1990, and with Nepali artisans involved in traditional Tibetan style crafts since 1995. Their products are marketed as part of dZi’s ‘Tibet Collection’ line.
Authentic cloth prayer flags printed on hand-carved woodblocks are specially made for dZi by The Gu-Chu-Sum (9-10-3) Movement of Tibet, established in 1991 and based in Dharamsala, India. Gu-Chu-Sum was first organized by ex-political prisoners from the Tibetan freedom movement; monks, nuns and lay people who had escaped from Tibet due to political persecution. Its purpose is to provide employment and support to Tibetan refugees needing help in India, and to educate about human rights abuses in Tibet. You can try to visit www.gu-chu-sum.org, but the Chinese Government regularly sabotage their site!
dZi’s screen printed prayer flags are made by the Tibetan Nuns Projection (TNP), also based in Dharamsala, India. TNP’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment and education for Tibetan nuns who have fled Tibet for reasons of religious and political persecution. Visit tnp.org to learn more.
dZi’s Paper Prayer flags and incense are made by Tibetan Handicraft in Kathmandu Nepal, a member of Fair Trade Group Nepal and leader among the handmade paper export community. This business supports hundreds of people in the local community through it's income generation enterprise, and runs an elementary school providing free and low cost education for local children.
At Gray Walrus, we believe in empowering small businesses, skilled artisans and connecting them with the global market. Through our fair trade eCommerce site, we offer handcrafted, ethically sourced goods and community partnership that support communities around the world. Our mission is to create a world where social and environmental responsibility is a top priority, without sacrificing quality or style. Join us in our journey to promote conscious consumerism and make a positive impact, one purchase at a time. Join us in fostering this effort. #fairtrade #handcrafted #smallbusinesssteward #consciousconsumerism
We love being a part of community and helping support artisans to improve quality of life for so many.
Gray Walrus
Having been a small business owner for most of my adult life, I understood the struggles that impact small business owners and artisans. My vision was to create a space that could positively impact those around me and throughout the world to create a substantive impact! Human kindness is often missing in today's busy world. If we could each make small lifestyle changes such as making purchases that support each other, how much could we positively impact one another and the lives and communities we are in?