The Power of Words

Dreamcatchers were created by Ojibwe/Chippewa Indian parents to act like spider webs that trap nightmares instead of flies, but let good dreams pass through.

At the Museum of Man in San Diego years ago, we were taken by this community dreamcatcher. Patrons were asked to write their fears on "feathers", hang them up on the dreamcatcher, and leave those fears behind. As we navigate our first month of quarantine, many fears have swirled through our minds (over and over again). We noticed, however, that sometimes when we wrote those same fears down or spoke them aloud (either to our friends, family, or wellness providers) that those fears were sometimes not as frightening as they were when they were silent fears.

Today we encourage you to share a fear aloud that you've been carrying recently. Write it down. Tell a friend. Tell your therapist. Scream it into your pillow. Either way, get it out. And then, if only for a brief moment in time, let it go. Imagine you've left it at this community dreamcatcher back in San Diego and make room for better dreams ahead.