Conjuring Up a Good Night’s Sleep

by Monica Crosson

Sleep on sleep on another hour

I would not break so calm a sleep

To wake to sunshine and to show’r

To smile or weep …

This is the first stanza of Edgar Allan Poe’s Poem entitled “To_______,” a haunting poem that first appeared in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter on May 11, 1833. It was addressed to an anonymous woman and signed “Tamerlane.” It is essentially a lullaby.

As a child, these were the words that sent me blissfully into dreamland. I remember being tucked under heavy blankets as a soft breeze played with the lace curtains through my open window and my mother’s soft voice as she delivered the ethereal words of Poe. My goal was to stay awake to hear that fateful last line:

…But, O, thy spirit, calm, serene, must wake to weep.

I never did.

Sometimes I long for those days when I fought to stay awake long enough to hear a few stanzas of a poem. But alas, it’s the small demons that keep me stirring, sometimes long into the wee hours of morning. They go by such names as “late mortgage,” “youngest needs braces,” “brakes need replacing,” and “parent/teacher conference that went awry.”

But being a practical yet creative witch, I have done my research, gathered my supplies, and put together a few techniques that have been successful for me. Remember, if you have chronic insomnia that lasts more than a week, consult your physician. These charms, spells, and brews are intended to help ease occasional sleeplessness.

Herbal Sleep and Dream Pillows

Dream/sleep pillows have been in use to induce peaceful sleep, enhance dreams, encourage dream memory, and protect against nightmares for centuries. No matter the reason, herbal pillows are beneficial for anyone.

To prepare an herbal pillow, select a piece of fabric, preferably cotton or another natural fiber. This is a nice way to use leftover fabric scraps. Wash and dry the fabric. Don’t use a scented detergent or fabric softener—it will take away from your herbal mix. Now, cut it into whatever shape you wish. Of course, squares and rectangles are the easiest, but go ahead and get a little creative. Moon and star shapes are fun and relatively easy. If you’re doing this for a child, have them draw a simple pattern, or if you’re an adept seamstress, try a more complicated drawing that you can replicate. Making pillows is a great way to turn artwork into something special.

Next, create a blend of sleep- or dream-inducing botanicals from the lists below or craft your own mixture with fragrant herbs that you find especially calming or relaxing to use in dream magick. With the right sides of the fabric together, stitch along the edges, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance and making sure to leave an open space along one side. Once finished stitching, flip the pillow out through the open space and fill with your herbal blend. Finish the pillow by hand stitching the open area shut. You can embellish it with embroidered moons, spirals, or runes. Sew buttons or add lace—you decide. Remember, be creative.

Sleep and dream pillows can be tucked or pinned inside or under your pillow or placed next to pillows where they will release their fragrance throughout the night.

Here is a charm to say as sew your last few stitches:

Restful sleep come to me,

Release me from anxiety.

As I stitch, this spell is done,

As I will it, let it harm none.

Sleep Pillows

Sleep pillows are great for anyone who has difficulty falling asleep. For a blend that supports a deep, peaceful sleep, blend any of the following:

Balsam fir needles: Relaxing, soothing.

Catnip: Relaxing, helps bring deep sleep.

Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, and keeps bad dreams away.

Cinquefoil: A restful sleep or to dream of a new lover.

Hops: Relaxing and peacefulness.

Lavender: Soothing, relaxing, induces sleep, and relieves headaches.

Lemon balm: Eases stress, anxiousness and nervous feelings. Good for insomnia and relieves headaches.

Linden: Promotes sleep.

Rose petals: Brings warmth and love to a sleep or dream mix.

Rosemary: Encourages a deep, restful sleep and keeps away bad dreams.

Thyme: Ensures pleasant sleep, drives away nightmares.

Marjoram: Calms restlessness and nervousness.

Below are three combinations that have worked well for me in particular situations.

Stress Tamer: Takes the edge off when stress has you in its grip.

½ cup hops

½ cup mugwort

1⁄8 cup sweet marjoram

Out Like a Light: If you’re looking for a deep, restful sleep, this is the mix for you.

½ cup lavender flowers

¼ cup hops

¼ cup mugwort

Blues Blend: The blues got you down? Try this blend to ease melancholy.

½ cup sweet marjoram

¼ cup rose petals

¼ cup mint

1–2 whole cloves

Dream Pillows

Whether you want to enhance your dreams or protect against nightmares, blend any of the following:

Anise: To prevent nightmares and to ensure pleasant dreams.

Bay: To induce dreams of a prophetic nature.

Catnip: Relaxing, induces sleep, used in dream pillows to dream of love.

Cedar: Used to dream of love.

Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, and said to keep bad dreams away.

Cinquefoil: To assure restful sleep or to dream of a new lover.

Clove: Brings warmth and an exotic feeling to dreams.

Hops: Relaxing, brings peacefulness.

Jasmine: For restful sleep and pleasant dreams.

Lavender: Soothing, relaxing, eases headaches, and induces sleep.

Marigold: Induces dreams of a prophetic nature and protection against black magick through dreams.

Mistletoe: Prevent nightmares and insomnia.

Morning glory: To safeguard your sleep against nightmares.

Mugwort: Induces dreams of a prophetic nature, enhances lucid dreaming, and helps with remembering of dreams.

Peppermint: “Compels one toward sleep,” induces dreams of a prophetic nature enhances clarity and vividness in dreams.

Rose: Brings warmth and love; may be used to evoke romantic dreams.

Rosemary: To prevent nightmares and to bring deep sleep.

Sage: Helps makes dreams come true.

Sweet woodruff: Protection from nightmares.

Thyme: Drives away nightmares and ensures a restful sleep.

Valerian: To promote a peaceful atmosphere.

Vervain: To prevent nightmares.

Wooly betony: Keeps negative influences at bay. Prevents nightmares from interfering with your sleep.

Yarrow: Induces prophetic dreams.

Below are combinations that have worked well for me in three dreamtime situations.

Nightmare Be-Gone: This is a mix I made for my daughter when she was having bad dreams. She designed and sewed her own pillow in the shape of a ghost with big, black button eyes.

¼ cup rose petals

¼ cup rosemary

1⁄8 cup lavender flowers

1⁄8 cup hops

A Little Romance: If you want to stir dreams of a sensual nature, try this mix.

1 cup rose petals

2–3 whole cloves

¼ cup peppermint

¼ cup catnip

Dream Remembrance Mix: This mix encourages dream recall while also providing a restful sleep.

1 cup mugwort

¼ cup lavender

Tea Time

Besides being consumed as medicine, tea has been used to dye fabrics and fiber, create aromatic and healing baths, and flavor foods, soups, and stews since prehistoric times.

Sacred medicinal tea has also been used for thousands of years by shamans and other magickal practitioners as a way of connecting to divinity and receiving spiritual guidance. In our more recent history, tea has been consumed, not only for its medicinal qualities, but just for the sheer pleasure of it. The two recipes I have included support sleep and induce sweet dreams, as well as taste wonderful.

While your tea steeps, try this charm.

Anxious thoughts

You tried your best,

But now it’s time for

My mind to rest.

By the power of herb, root, and leaf,

Time for me to have some peace.

Now sit in a favorite chair with some relaxing music and enjoy.

Nighty-Night Tea

2 tablespoons hops

1 teaspoon lavender, rosemary, thyme, and mugwort

1 tablespoon chamomile

1 pinch of valerian root

Take a teaspoon of the mixture and pour 1 cup of hot water. Cover and let steep five minutes and then strain. Makes 8 servings. Store in airtight container for later use.

Sweet Dreams Tea

1 tablespoon dried lemon balm

2 teaspoons dried peppermint

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon dried rose petals

1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers

2 slices dried licorice root

Place herbs and spices into a mortar and crush with a pestle until roughly combined. Take one teaspoon of mixture and place it in a mug. Pour about one cup of boiling water over the herbs and steep for five minutes. Makes approximately eight servings. Store in an airtight container for later use.

If you just don’t have time to make your own blends, there are some great tea blends available online. My favorites are from Honey Bee Holistics, a shop that uses local and organic ingredients. They have a great tea that combines chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm.

Bedroom Reclaiming Spell

It’s a busy world for the modern practitioner. With the demands of work and family, it’s hard to make time for ourselves. To make time, we usually end up sacrificing our sleep. One hundred years ago, the average person slept 9½ hours per night. By the 1960s, it had dropped to 8 hours per night. Now, the average person only gets about 7 hours (or less) per night.

Sleep and dreaming were sacred to the ancients. The Greeks would visit temples to perform various religious rites that included sleep, hoping to have a dream that assured their good health.

With so many of us misusing our bedrooms as offices or entertainment centers, it’s no wonder it’s hard for us to “shut down” when we try to sleep. Playing a video game or finishing up some work on computer before bed may keep you awake long after you turn the computer off. Our bedrooms need to be designated as a place of rest, and it’s time to reclaim them as scared space.

For this spell you will need:

One blue (healing, sleep) or white (all purpose) tealight

A small bundle of lavender

A white feather or small cast swan (symbol of the Goddess)

Moonstone (restful sleep)

Timing: Waxing or Full Moon/Monday

Goddess: Caer Ibormeith, Celtic Goddess of sleep and dreams

Before you begin, take the time to give your room a thorough cleansing. Wash all of your linens, and if possible, dry them outside on a line. Dust top to bottom and finish up by washing the windows and the floors. Now that it is clean, it’s time to treat this room as a sacred place. Remove the television and/or computer and replace them with a few favorite books—or possibly a dream journal. Bring in fresh flowers, candles, incense, or anything else that comforts you and lets your senses know this is a space for rest.

On your nightstand or dresser arrange your altar. Make sure to place your tealight in a fire-safe container. Cast your circle. Now light your candle and say:

Swan Goddess of sleep and dreams,

My blankets wilt and anxious shadows creep,

Keeping me from a good night’s sleep.

Send me your song of restful slumber,

And as it’s sung—my anxiousness sundered.

I have reclaimed this room, the spell is spun,

As I will it, shall it harm none.

Close your circle and let your candle burn out on its own. Keep your altar set up as reminder that your room is a place of calm and rest.

The Ritual of Bathing

There is nothing more relaxing than a long hot soak in a bath. In Roman times, bathing was a communal activity conducted in public facilities that were more reminiscent of our modern-day spas. They were places for social interaction—a kind of community center where people could discuss business or just gossip about the neighbors.

Bathing has also been used as a ritual tool. Royalty, religious leaders, and magickal practitioners have bathed in waters infused with oils and herbs or milk and honey as a form of purification—cleansing both mind and spirit—for thousands of years. Many Pagan traditions today recommend ritual bathing before any sabbat, esbat, or major spellworking.

I’ve included a simple ritual bath that you can do any time (including a bath salt recipe that will be sure to leave you feeling relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep).

Goodnight Moon

1 cup Epsom salt

2 cups sea salt

½ cup baking soda

10 drops lavender essential oil

2 parts chamomile flowers

1 part lemon balm

1 part catnip

Pour all ingredients into a large bowl and lightly mix with your hands. As you mix, infuse your bath salts and herbs with positive energy. Keep stored in an airtight jar until ready for use. Makes enough for two to three uses.

On the night of your bath, gather as many candles as you like and place them safely around your bathroom. This is also the time to set up a stereo if you would like to listen to some relaxing music. Burning incense is also a nice idea; I would recommend frankincense for its healing properties related to relieving conflicts and stresses within the body. It is known to bring about a state of peace and calm.

Fill the tub with water as hot as you can stand. While the tub fills, fill a muslin drawstring bag with some of your bath salt mixture. Knot the drawstring three times, saying:

The power of these herbs (first knot)

Wash peace over me (second knot)

As I will, so mote it be (third knot)

Place the muslin bag in your bath. Light all your candles and turn on the music. Maybe sprinkle a few chamomile flowers directly into the tub. It’s not only relaxing, but the flowers leave your skin with a soft glow. Turn out the lights.

As you immerse yourself in the bath, feel all the tension and stress leave your body. Focus on this. Imagine all that negativity draining out of every pore. The bath is relaxing and leaves you clean—body, mind, and spirit. As you get out, imagine your anxiety draining with the bath water. Dry off as usual and then spoil yourself with your favorite luxurious body lotion or oil.

Good Night

Well, I think it’s time for bed. Now that you have relaxed in the tub and enjoyed a cup of tea, it’s time to cozy up under crisp, clean sheets. Take in the scent of your newly reclaimed room, be it fresh flowers or incense.

The candlelight dances and flickers across your walls and the silence envelops you with downy wings. Let the silence and candlelight work their magick as you read a few pages from a favorite book or record your thoughts in a journal.

Are you feeling drowsy now? Time to extinguish your candles and lay your head on your pillow—don’t forget the dream pillow you made. Now is the time for its magick to take effect. What dreams will you weave tonight? I hope they’re lovely. Now sleep …