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Make a Dream Pillow
Dream
pillows are used to promote restful
sleep and pleasant dreams. They are small and flat, placed in a
standard
pillow, and stuffed with a sachet of calming and sleep-inducing dried
herbs.
As the sleeper sleeps, movements of the head will gently crush the
herbs
to release delightful scents and please the senses throughout the night.
Such dream pillows have been used for centuries. George
Washington reportedly used one filled with hops, which have a decidedly
sedative effect.
You do not need to be able to sew that well to make a dream
pillow. You will need two 6-inch squares of material. You
can also use lightweight washcloths.
Dried
herbs may be harvested at home, purchased
online or at local markets. Choose herbs to fit the mood and
fragrance
preferred. Dried rose petals, for instance, emit a floral and romantic
fragrance while rosemary and mints will give you a clean, invigorating
and slightly spicy result. Chamomile has a light apple-like
fragrance while dried sweet woodruff emits a wonderful vanilla scent. The best way to find the right combination
is
to experiment. Here are some simple combinations to get started
with:
- chamomile,
mint and lavender
- rosemary
and
mint
- rose
petal,
lavender and passion flower.
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Herbs
Muslin
Sachet |
| Supplies
Two 6 x
6 pieces of natural, breathable
fabric
A muslin
sachet designed for loose tea
(to be pulled tight or sewn together)
2 1/2
feet of silk
ribbon to match or complement
the color of the fabric
Fiberfill
or batting
Dried
herbs for sachet
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Silk
Ribbon
Fiberfill |
| Mix the
herbs in a bowl, then fill sachet,
cinch tightly or sew closed. Sew three sides of the fabric together,
outside-in.
Turn inside-out, stuff the fabric 1/3 full with fiberfill, center the
sachet,
then fill the side gaps and top of pillow.
Do not
overstuff, the pillow should be
flat enough to be comfortably tucked in a standard pillow. Fold open
sides
in to create a clean seam, then stitch closed.
Tie the
ribbon like you would to complete
a present wrapping and tie a bow facing the muslin side. Write the
herbal
ingredients you used on a little card to thread through the ribbon.
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Holly Dream Pillow
In his book
Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham says that if you gather nine holly leaves,
wrap them in a white cloth and tie it with nine knots then place it
under your pillow, what you dream of will become reality.
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Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs |
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Pillows
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