To encourage special dreams and promote certain types of sleep (sound, healing, etc), one may want to create a dream pillow.
You can be as fancy or as basic as you like. Although a 12 by 4 inch, handmade pillow is the most comfortable, if you're like me and cannot sew a fancy stitch to save your life, you can simply use a handkerchief and after rolling your herbal creation within, tie both ends secure with ribbon and stitch up the overlap.
OR, if you want to reuse a commercial dream pillow, simply cut the stitches from one end, fill with your own conconction and sew back up.
A standard dream pillow uses apx 8 to 10 ounces of dried herbs. You can use as many different types as you wish, but do be sure to try and balance out your intent.
Next, you will want to gather your herbs. Use the list below as your guideline.
You will want your pillow to be as smooth, loose, and as flat as possible so if necessary, grind the herbs using a motar and pestle. Get them to the point where they are softer and powdery so that they are easier to manage.
You can use essential oils to provide frangrance if you wish but do be sure that after mixing in the oils that the herbs are completely dry before placing in your pillow or they will rot and smell acrid. This decay is more likely to promote disturbing dreams.
Add a single drop or 2 and allow to dry. If you desire more scent, add another drop and allow to dry. Continue this process, one drop at a time until the desired scent is reached.
The simplest dream pillow is filled with mugwort alone.
Mugwort intensifies dreams, making them linger so that you're more likely to remember them as well as encourages clairvoyance and spiritual protection.
Dream Herbs
Alecost - Promotes contact with the Earth Mother
Insominia Pillow
4 ounces of dried hops
2 ounces of dried rose petals
2 ounces of any one of these herbs: calendula, cowslip, or lavender blossoms
Prophetic Dreams Pillow
4 ounces of dried peppermint leaves
4 ounces of dried rose petals
A few drops of sandalwood essential oil
Astral Projection Pillow
4 ounces of dried mugwort
4 ounces of dried Dittany of Crete
Bergamot - Soothes nerves and aids in peaceful sleep.