Herbs Associated with Sleep
Agrimony: Promotes sleep. When placed under the head it will make one sleep as if dead.
Ash: Use the leaves to bring about prophetic dreams.
Betony: Shields the sleeper from visions and dreams while sleeping.
Calendula: Provides protection while sleeping when scattered under the bed.
Chamomile: Calms the nerves when taken as a tea. Burned as an incense, chamomile will bring on a restful state for meditation
Cinquefoil: A bag of this herb suspended from the bed will promote restful sleep all night.
Daisy: Sleep with a daisy root beneath your pillow and an absent lover may return to you.
Elder: Place elderberries beneath your pillow if you have difficulty sleeping. Will allow for peaceful slumber.
Lavender: As a tea, lavender relieves nervous tension and exhaustion.
Mandrake (CAUTION: TOXIC): Hung on the headboard for protection during sleep.
Passionflower: Traditionally used for anxiety and insomnia, helps to fall and stay asleep.
Rosemary: Laid under the bed it protects the sleeper from all harm.
Valerian Root: One of the best herbs for sleep, help you to calm down. Usually taken as tea or tincture but warning, valerian has a very pungent smell.
Crystals Associated with Sleep
Blue crystals and those that are ruled by the moon work best for sleep/dream magic.
Amethyst: Helps to calm the mind and body. Drives off insomnia and nightmares. Will also ensure that the user does not oversleep.
Aquamarine: Ruled by the moon, good for rituals involving sleep and dreams.
Blue Lace Agate: Soothing and good for anxiety related to sleep.
Blue Tourmaline: This stone allows you to destress and promotes peace and sleep.
Celestite: Used to relieve headaches and tension in the body.
Citrine: Wear at night to prevent fear, nightmares, and to promote a good night’s sleep.
Coral: Best for peaceful sleep by driving off nightmares.
Green Jasper: Wear to stop hallucinations and to promote restful sleep
Holey Stones: Hang this stone near where a pet sleeps to guard it.
Lepidolite: Place on your nightstand or headboard to be free of nightmares and to promote restful sleep.
Malachite: Promotes tranquility and ensures sleep if worn to bed
Moonstone: Ruled by the moon, wear jewelry with moonstone beads to bed to fall asleep quickly.
Peridot: Is calming to the nervous system and is helpful in promoting sleep.
Sodalite: Wear or hold before bed to relax the mind and calm emotions.
Topaz: Fends off nightmares and ends sleepwalking.
A more mundane method of producing sleep are herbal teas and tinctures. Caution is advised when ingesting any herb, no matter how safe it may seem. It is important to follow proper instruction and take the correct dosages. Teas are the more simple of the two, amounts will vary but generally steep the herb in a cup of boiling/hot water. You can add milk, sugar, or honey for taste. Good herbal teas include lavender, chamomile, skullcap (caution), mugwort (caution), hops, and mullein.
Tinctures are usually made from a very high proof alcohol infused with various herbs. These are usually taken in smaller doses either alone or in a glass of water. You can make your own tinctures but if you don’t have access to the ingredients, you can purchase tinctures at herbalist shops and health food stores. Popular herbs for sleep tinctures include valerian root, hops, passionflower, skullcap, chamomile, lavender, catnip, and lemon balm.
Dream pillows are a sort of catch-all for sleep magic. You can use them for any purpose regarding sleep. Dream pillows are traditionally made by sewing together two pieces of fabric and stuffed with herbs like lavender and mugwort. If possible, collect herbs for dream pillows during the waxing or full moon. Color is something that can be taken into consideration when crafting a dream pillow, use personal color correspondences. Crystals can also be added to dream pillows. You can also draw or stitch sigils into the pillow.
Anise Seeds: Stops nightmares.
Bay: Will induce good and prophetic dreams
Betony: To prevent nightmares
Calendula: Brings clairvoyant dreams
Hops: Stops with restless nights, helps bring on sleep
Morning Glory: Add the seeds to prevent nightmares (CAUTION: morning glory seeds are toxic if consumed)
Mugwort: To induce prophetic dreams
Peppermint: Offers one glimpses of the future in dreams
Vervain: Protection from bad dreams and nightmares
For protection during sleep place a bowl of black salt (or witch’s salt) under the bed while you sleep, renew with the Full and New moons.
Put selenite around the border of your bed to ward off bad dreams and night terrors.
To keep dreams away, wear a sprig of lemon verbena around the neck while sleeping.
Burn chamomile before bed to induce sleep.
Add a sachet of lavender to you bath before bed to help you fall asleep.
Hang vervain near the bed to keep you free from nightmares
If you have trouble sleeping, charge a blue candle with a visualization of yourself sleeping through the night and burn for a few moments before bed.
Place bay leaves beneath your pillow to induce prophetic dreams.
Wear a charm bag of vervain around the neck to provide protection from bad dreams.
To protect yourself while asleep, mix equal parts flax seed and mustard seed and place this mixture next to your bed.
A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams.
Sleeping with a sunflower under the bed allows you to know the truth in any matter.
If insomnia persists night after night, it may be cured by placing some datura leaves into each shoe and then setting the shoes under the bed with the toes pointing toward the nearest wall.
Personal Correspondences + Experiences
Mastering Herbalism by Paul hudson
Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham
Earth, Air, Fire, and Water but Scott Cunningham
Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
The Black Toad by Gemma Gary
Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura
