The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has slowed to a halt, yet the fresh warmth and expansion of spring has not yet arrived. In the words of the illustrious author and Garden witch Ellen Dugan, “At the coldest time of the year, when connecting outdoors with nature would be uncomfortable or risky due to extreme cold for many of us, your best option [at Imbolc] is to bunker inside your warm, comfortable home.” Indeed, just as the earth rests and renews in preparation for its young fresh greenery to burst forth in all its splendor, now is the time to get the most out of these final days of winter: to relax, sleep deep, and shore up your energy for the promise of the scintillating springtime that’s just around the bend.
Sleep and relaxation, after all, are magical things, and important prerequisites to living our beauty, as well as to sustaining the vital health that nourishes our intentions, happiness, and spiritual power. What’s more, our dreams hold important keys to our mental health and emotional well-being. When we honor them and work with them consciously, they can help us heal from the past, enjoy the present, and make the most of our future. (All of this is very much in alignment with that which the Goddess Brighid, who is honored at Imbolc, holds dear: intuition, inner illumination, and holistic vitality.)
Herbal Dream Pillow
This magical, herbal dream pillow will help you soothe stress, rest well, sleep deeply, restore your strength, and remember your dreams, all while healing your mind, body, spirit, and emotions during your nightly adventures.
The following is a summary of the relevant magical properties of each herb it contains:
Lavender is the quintessence of relaxation, inner equilibrium, joy, and holistic well-being. It relieves stress, balances the emotions, alleviates headaches, and supports restful sleep.
Mugwort is the go-to dream herb for many magical practitioners. It promotes vivid, lucid healing and/or prophetic dreams while opening up the third eye (the chakra and psychic portal at the center of the forehead) and enhancing intuition.
Patchouli is sensual and grounding. It helps you get out of your head so that you can connect with the cozy comfort of being curled up in a warm bed. With a scent and vibration that’s very in alignment with the earthly soil (the cornerstone of magical power), it also helps recharge your magical batteries. This, of course, can be especially helpful after being cooped up indoors for the winter.
Linden and passionflower are extremely soothing. They soften hard edges and help one drift peacefully into a deep and restful sleep.
Time to complete: 1 hour or less (not counting prewash time)
Cost: $8.00 to $10.00 (or more if you don’t already have basic sewing supplies)
Supplies
One piece of paper or tissue paper
Paper scissors
Fabric scissors
Pins
¼ yard flannel in a print and/or color that feels very soothing and restful to you (Optional: ¼ yard of another color print of flannel)
Needle and thread
1 cup dried lavender blossoms
½ cup dried mugwort
2 tablespoons dried linden flowers
1 tablespoon dried patchouli
1 tablespoon dried passionflower
(Note: Instead of the above combination, just use 1¾ cup lavender if you prefer simpler or less earthy scents)
A large bowl
An iron
Instructions: First, wash and dry the flannel. Using the paper, create the pattern by cutting a 10 by 4 ½-inch rectangle.
Fold the flannel so that right sides are together (or, if you’re using two pieces of fabric, place the right sides together).
Pin the fabric to the pattern and cut.
Remove pattern and pins, and leaving the fabric pieces with right sides together, pin them to each other.
Sew the long edges of the rectangle, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance. Remove pins and turn right-side out.
Fold one of the open ends of the pillow about ¼ inch inward, hiding the rough edges. Using the iron, press them this way, then pin them together and sew. After sewing, remove the pins.
Mix all the herbs together in the bowl. If there’s sunlight outside, take them outside or hold them by a sunny window and bathe them in the light to bless and activate them. (Otherwise, just visualize them being filled and surrounded by very bright white light.) Ask the Goddess Brighid to bless them and to empower them with the purpose of restful sleep, intuitive activation, and dreams that are both healing and illuminating.
Using a spoon, or whatever way is easiest for you, stuff the pillow with the herbs. (It shouldn’t be too full; it should be able to rest on your eyes comfortably.) Then press the open edge closed as you did on the other side. Pin together and sew. Remove the pins.
Bless and Consecrate Your Dream Pillow
Create a simple altar to Brighid, perhaps with an image of her and a candle. You might also add items that represent or hold the energy of restful sleep, such as an amethyst crystal, some chamomile tea, or an image of the moon and stars. Light the candle. Hold the dream pillow in both hands and say:
Goddess of illumination, Lady of light,
Please bless me with relaxation, prophetic dreams, and psychic insight.
Help me shore up my strength and magical might,
By sleeping soundly and deeply throughout the night.
With honor and thanks a plenty for thee,
I consecrate this dream pillow,
And so mote it be.
Hold the dream pillow a little distance over the candle, letting it be lightly warmed (but not burned!). Then, hold it to your brow, your heart, and your belly, setting the intention to nourish yourself with clean and comfortable bedding, a peaceful and clutter-free sleep environment, and plenty of time for a good night’s sleep.
How to Use Your Dream Pillow
If you sleep on your back, you can rest the pillow over your eyes. This will help block out light while supporting relaxation with aromatherapy and magical energy. Otherwise, you can just sleep with in near your head so that you can still inhale its peaceful scent and benefit from its vibes. Additionally, you might consider using it while meditating on your back or taking a small nap break any time during the day. I’ve also found that resting with it over the eyes can help alleviate headaches.
For Further Reading
Dugan, Ellen. Seasons of Witchery: Celebrating the Sabbats with the Garden Witch. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2012.
Budapest, Z. The Goddess in the Office: A Personal Energy Guide for the Spiritual Warrior of Work. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.