Myths, Legends, & Folklore...: Witch Balls & Dream Catchers

The other day I was looking around in my room at all the interesting things I have bought over the years. You know, stuff like ancient Egyptian relics, metaphysical crystals and healing stones, infinity mirrors, dream catchers, etc. Then, I ran across this purple ball I used to hang from the ceiling. It had a very peculiar design on the inside of the sphere, and I was trying to think of what it was called. I remembered what this purple ball was for, which was to remove evil spirits by trapping 'em, not that I believed it would do such things. So, I did a quick web search using the terms "a ball that removes evil spirits" and within no time at all, I found out this purple globe-shaped thingy was considered a witch ball. I was thinking, a what? Witch Ball?

I bought that thing in the past, merely because I liked the way it looked, and I've never really been big into superstitions. Now, I must say, regardless of the myths and folklore surrounding these objects, the witch balls are rather attractive - at least most of the ones I've seen. If you're interested in the history of them, I'll provide a resource link in a moment. At the end of this post, you can find additional shopping links to aid in your online search for dream catchers and witch balls. Plus, these items make great gifts for the hard-to-shop-for people.

Anyway, per myths, legends & folklore, the Witch Ball is used for protection against evil spells, witches (Yeah, what about the Bell Witch? Ha!), sickness, bad luck, and negativity. Traditionally, Witch Balls are hung in an east window. However, any area around your home or even outside, is a good spot to place a Witch Ball to deflect negative energy. Witch Balls have had many names and different legends surrounding their existence. Each name has been used depending on their use or time in history. A few of these names are Fairy Orbs, Pond Balls, Spirit Balls, Friendship Balls, Good Luck Balls, Globes of Happiness, Gazing Balls, and Butler Globes. If you'd like to read more about all of these along with the legends attached to 'em, visit: http://www.sunnyreflections.com/witchballs-legends/ (link is no longer active)

I'd say that Dream Catchers are far more common than Witch Balls, at least in a commercial sense. The history of dream catchers goes back to how the Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams - both good and bad. The dream catcher, when hung over or near your bed while swinging freely in the mystic air of darkness, catches the dreams as they flow by. Supposedly the good dreams know how to pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes as they magically slide down the soft feathers so gently that many times the sleeper does not know that he/she is dreaming. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, get tangled in the dream catcher and perish within the first light of a new day. Wow! Now doesn't that sound cute? Ha!