What is a suncatcher?

noun
a decorative piece of glass, mineral, or other see-through material that is hung in a window to bring in and disperse the sun's rays on the walls of a room [1]

No…but really…is that all they are?  That definition makes them seem just blah which is definitely not the case!

Suncatchers come in many shapes, sizes and colors.  They are made of many different types of materials.  Some of the more popular materials used include stained glass, colored glass, beads, and crystal.  They are the optical equivalent of a wind chime.  Wind chimes make pretty music for your ears while suncatchers are a treat for the eyes to look at and make pretty rainbows and sparkles of light for your eyes to enjoy.

When a suncatcher is placed in direct sunlight or near a bright light, it disperses that light into colorful rainbows and light flecks that scatter around the room. That’s why they are often referred to as rainbow makers.  The light isn’t just reflected, the suncatcher ‘catches’ the light, splits it up and sends it traveling off in many different directions, scattering it around the room.  It can bring the energy of the sunlight into an area that is dark.  Suncatchers have been used by many to bring good Feng Shui into the home or workplace.

“Feng Shui (pronounced "fung shway") examines how the placement of things and objects within it affect the energy flow in your living environment, and how these objects interact with and influence your personal energy flow. Your personal energy flow affects how you think and act, which in turn affects how well you perform and succeed in your personal and professional life. Feng Shui affects you every moment of the day — whether you're aware of it or not.”[2]

Suncatchers take the positive energy of the sun and energize the area by spreading that light around in the form of rainbows and flecks of light.  The little rainbows and light flecks dancing on your walls are sure to bring a smile to your face.  It’s like a little reminder that you should be happy or that an angel is watching over you.

Dobi suncatchers are made with the finest quality crystal beads and prisms from Swarovski® for the ultimate in sparkle.  Some of Dobi Designs' suncatchers also include natural gemstones with various healing properties.  Crystals and gemstones have been enjoyed by many over the years, not only for their beauty, but for their healing and spiritual properties.  The word ‘crystal’ comes from the Greek word krystallos which literally means frozen light.  I thought that was pretty neat!  A crystal does not have to be colored in order to produce rainbows.  Clear crystals tend to provide the greatest range of colors when the sun shines through them.  Enjoy one today - everyone deserves a little sparkle in their day!

 [1] suncatcher. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon. Dictionary.com, LLC. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/suncatcher (accessed: June 16, 2016).
[2] Understanding the Principles of Feng Shui, dummies.com, http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-the-principles-of-feng-shui.html (accessed: June 16, 2016).