The ancient Tibetans recognized that our brains do not differentiate between so-called “reality,” and the subconscious or “fantasy” world. These two states are often referred to as the “waking dream” and the “sleeping dream.” Recently, in the Herbal group that I belong to, I led a discussion about how we can work with herbs to enhance the work that we do in the dreaming. This is a brief summary of what we discussed:
Ancient cultures have seemingly always respected the power and information that is shared in our dreams. There is extensive documented information about indigenous cultures across the globe with well developed dream practices, including an understanding of plants which science is still attempting to fully grasp. These peoples classically defined three different types of dreams. They are:
- The Daily Download – where images and various experiences of the day are parsed and catalogued by our brains, resulting in dream appearances.
- Outside the Box dreams – when we spend time attempting to find a solution or answer a question, but are unable to in our waking dream, the answer can come to us in our sleeping dream as we are more likely to think outside of the conventional.
- The Big Dreams – prophetic dreams.
The second and third sort of dreams are not readily accessed by simply going to bed and deciding to do so. As with any discipline, we must practice in order to get better. As we continue to pay attention to our dreams, and become more conscious of them, we also become better acquainted with our own symbols and understand our dream better. To truly benefit, a dream journal is recommended. Keep it beside your bed, open to the next available page, and place a working pen upon it. (I say pen because I have had the experience of waking in the middle of the night to write out a dream, being only partially awake, and finding that the very next morning I had only the indentions of words. My pencil was broken! *gasp*)
The list of herbs that one can work with for dreaming is extensive, with a great degree of variation in potency. If you know your guides, I strongly suggest that you speak with them about which herbs are right for you. Otherwise, use a pendulum, sit with the plant you are interested in working with (they often will speak to us in meditation when we are near them), and/or do research to see what level of dream intensity you are comfortable seeking. When beginning this path, it is always advisable to start out light and increase intensity as you become more equipped to work in this state. We spend at least one third of our time in the Dreaming, there is no need to rush one’s work. Each night is an opportunity.
After choosing your herb(s), there are many ways that we can work with them. As mentioned earlier, much communication can be done just sitting with a plant. If you were to put it on your bedside table, the energy and vibrations of the plant will definitely affect your dream space, much as it would if you were to ingest it. The more sensitive you are, the more likely this will be a good option for you.
Ingesting herbs will allow for the effects of the herbs to be felt. You can do this through a tea, tincture, elixir, baking with it, or in various other methods. For this it is especially important that you research the herb to find out which would be the more effective means for the plant you are working with. It is also important to be mindful of dosage, as many herbs can cause irritation or illness if used incorrectly or too generously.
Essential oils, placed upon the skin or in a diffuser can also be highly effective. As are essences when ingested before sleeping. The aromatic herbs are commonly gathered and placed into a dream pillow which can be inserted between the pillowcase and your pillow, or in other strategic places. All of these aforementioned methods can be used to enhance one’s dream, and this list is by no means exhaustive. They are just a few ideas to get you started. (If you have a method to share, please do so in the comments so that we can all benefit from the knowledge.)
Now that you have chosen your plant, decided upon the method of communion with its energies, it is time to prepare the setting where you will enter the Dreaming. Here is a checklist I use each night:
- Prepare the room that you will be sleeping in. This means making sure that everything is in its place and there are no “distractions” keeping you from being full in the Dreaming. As a messy room can make it difficult to settle into a good book, just because you are asleep does not mean that your mind is resting, so set the tone by tidying up before bed.
- Place your journal, with working writing implement on a surface next to your bed, ready for late-night scribbles.
- Have your plant, in it chosen form, ready. For instance, if you are having tea, have it steeping so that it will be ready as you set your space.
- Safety is of utmost importance. One would never go camping without the proper equipment. So it is with dream journeys. Always set up sacred space, in whatever way you feel most comfortable, before going on your dream wanderings. You can do this by casting a circle, praying, smudging your space and calling in guardians, or in countless other ways.
- Now it is time to ingest (or otherwise commune with) your herb(s) companion(s), and settle into your bed.
- As you begin to settle, think of your query or a theme for your dream. Keep that in mind as you breathe deeply and begin to relax into the dreaming. Be especially mindful of the images that come up as you journey through the hypnagogic state, just before sleeping. This is a space where knowing your own dream symbolism can be helpful for interpreting what you see.
- It is best not to be awakened by an alarm, but if you must, try to find one that is not jarring. There are several apps that can turn your phone into a Tibetan Healing Bowl, starting low and slowly increasing in volume. I use an app called Extreme Alarm, and it wakes me to the sound of birds chirping, a creek running, and a simple, serene piano melody. It is a slow crescendo that wakes me up, allowing me to hold onto my dreams.
- As soon as you awaken, make it a habit to roll over and begin writing in your journal. If you must wake up 10-15 minutes early to do this then that is part of the practice.
Note: It is very helpful to regularly go back and read over your dream journals. Many insights can be gleaned in hindsight.
For further exploration, I recommend these books:
Magickal Gardening on Middle Lane 