Clover has been hand-stitching Mugwort pillows since 2017.

Why Mugwort? This plant is an ancient, magic-allied herb that can enhance dreaming states in some folks.

Working with Mugwort with an openness to explore your dreams, wanting to enhance a vivid imagination, wanting to lessen fear around dream-states, or if you have or are establishing regular dream practice are all good practices with enhancing your dreams with Mugwort. Mugwort as a healing herb is also used as a nervous system relaxant, soothing to the digestion, as Moxibustion in acupuncture, and as a food in Asian cuisine.

Unlike psychedelics, supplements, teas and drugs- you do not need to ingest Mugwort in order to work with this powerful herb. The wonderful thing about Mugwort is that even a small amount (say.. stitched into a handmade pillow!) can, for some people, open doors in their dreams. Working with plant medicine is being in relationship, it is a practice of relating. If you are unsure whether Mugwort will support your dreams, a Mugwort pillow is a great way to begin working with this plant. Since beginning to stitch these pillows, I have started growing many varieties of Mugwort, propagating it, and harvesting it myself for cleansing smoke bundles.

Why Practice with Dreams?

In Western culture, there is an over-emphasis on productivity, outcomes, consumption, and future-casting out of the present moment. We can be very uncomfortable with our dreams when our dreams point to ambivalence, big feelings, fear or rage, trauma, or the unknown. Because I am a symbolic, archetypal thinker- I think of dreams as shadow work, the collective unconscious, our ancestors, The Underworld, or any number of ways repressed parts of ourselves try and communicate*(*see note at bottom).

Regularly working with dreams heals us in a few ways. It accepts our shadow side, our existential fears (yes, even Death), it creates courage, it accepts grief/ sorrow/ anger and wonder/ imagination/ play as healthy aspects of a whole self. Perhaps we re-parent ourselves a little in preparation for regular dream practices; gathering together our tools of patience, compassion and loving acceptance for a walk through The Underworld/ Unknown with our sleeping self.

Teachers I love for Working With Dreams

If you are curious about establishing dream practice, delve into the work of Toko-pa Turner. She has a Dream School workshop, loads of affordable downloads easily accessible on her website for dream practices, and one of my favorite newsletters. She is also the author of an incredible book on belonging, which although not exclusively about dreams, is a must-read.

Rest is also a social justice issue. Follow the work of Tricia Hersey at The Nap Ministry and open your eyes to the restorative and social implications of rest, collective dreaming, and de-colonizing our minds. Her Instagram is not to be missed.

Y’all know I adore adrianne maree brown so very much. Here is a link to a recent podcast episode on their How To Survive the End of The World with Aesha Rasheed; mostly a tender and moving conversation about bodywork and magical ritual, touching on the Dreamworld. “Dreaming is a collective practice”- Aesha Rasheed

There are many possible ways Mugwort could influence your dreams!

Some folks work with Mugwort while engaging in dream journaling or establishing a dream practice (practices that help you remember your dreams, most notably writing them down when you first wake up, tech cleanses, and waking up without an alarm clock). Others find Lady Mugwort too strong and overwhelming- if you aren’t allergic, start small! As mentioned above, being in relationship with plants & herbs also means that the longer your work with a plant, your relationship will change over time, gain nuance. Plant relationships go through ebb and flow times just like all relationships.

Mugwort has powerfully guided me through times of grief and loss, through bleak seasons, through periods of nightmares, and generally calming nervous system support the longer I have worked with it.

*I am not a doctor, therapist or medical professional. None of these statements or anything I make are intended to treat, diagnose, or medicate illnesses, mental health, conditions, or sleep issues. These also are not definitive statements about Mugwort or dreams, simply my reflections. Some people are seriously allergic to the Mugwort family of plants and should proceed with caution and medical advise when working with this herb. If you have purchased my pillows, they have each been made with safe, locally sourced, organic ingredients- however, are absolutely not intended to be opened and ingested.

Simply place Mugwort pillows under your sleeping pillow, on your Altar, by your bedside or nightstand, give as gifts, or bring out for short-term or dream journal practices.