Dream Incubation
What is dream incubation?
Dream incubation is the act of focusing on a goal or question with the intent of dreaming the answer, or bringing about the desired outcome through dreams. This can be a cure for illness, speeding up the healing of injuries, answered prayers, receiving signs from guides, and much more!
History
In ancient Hellas (Greece), dream incubation was performed in temples, mainly in those dedicated to Asklepios, the God of healing and medicine. Participants with an illness or injury would bring to the temple an offering to the God, sometimes including one for Asklepios' daughter, Hygeia. After making their offering and praying, the suppliant slept within the sanctuary. The goal was to receive a dream which would either heal the supplicant or reveal to them how this could be achieved. In the morning, another offering was made. If they had been healed, the offering often took the form of the body part which had been healed. E.g. someone who walked with a limp which was cured would leave a clay figure of a leg as offering.
Modern Dream Incubation
Modern dream incubation can be done following the basic outline of the ancient Greek method: offering, prayer, sleep, offering. You can call on deities from whichever pantheon you follow/deities you are close to. You can pray to the deities which govern the area you are seeking help with (healing, protection, etc. or ask them for a sign.) The first time I tried dream incubation I asked my patron, Haides, whom I had just devoted to, what he would like me to do as his devotee, and the dream he sent to me was his answer.
*If you are secular or don't currently follow any deities, you can ask your Higher Self, spirit guide, animal guide, etc. to send the dream!
My Method
There are different ways to go about this, and you should feel free to tweak it to work for you! The following is simply an example which I have used with great results. I recommend to wear loose, comfy clothing and make your bed and room as cozy as possible.
1. Begin with a short fast; mine was about 12 hours. (Be sure to check if this will work for you and your health! Do not attempt if you are diabetic or have other health issues that will be effected by not eating. It's always a good idea to consult your doctor beforehand and ask how this can be done safely *for you*.) If you cannot fast, consider eating a cleaner diet than typical, such as cutting out junk food or soda leading up to your incubation.
2. To get into the right mindset and reduce outside influence, I also "fasted" from media. I left my TV off, turned off my phone, and spent some quiet time without any media or screens. The idea is to remove this experience from your every day life so that you are in a more open state and are more aware.
3. I meditated with some soft music/nature sounds on what my goal was (in this case, receiving a message from Haides). I then prayed to him to send it to me if he willed.
4. I wrote my intent on a piece of paper, drew a sigil for dreaming on the back, and placed a couple dream and vision related crystals beneath my pillow. I also kept a journal and pen nearby. I then went to sleep.
5. Once I woke up, I wrote down everything I remembered dreaming. This is easier the more that you do it, so if you don't typically remember dreams, try journaling about your night each morning for a while.
*Even if you remember nothing, write that, write what happened before bed/what you were thinking about. This tells your brain you wish to remember and often will aid in remembering your dreams.
6. If you've invoked a deity's aid, make another offering to them in thanks, and then look up the symbols from your dream if you need more interpretation.
Some Other Ideas:
• Candles - burn candles beforehand with colors or scents matching your intent, or with calming scents to help you get sleepy (Just remember to blow them out before you lay down to sleep!)
• Herbs - you can make a little herb sachet to place beneath your pillow
• Tea - try drinking a tea which matches your intent, or to help you sleep, or aid in having a vision
• Make a mobile for dreaming and/or visions and hang above your bed
