To Sleep... Perchance, to Heal

by

Terri J. Andrews

To many Native American Indians of past and present, sleeping is an art. Falling asleep is a ritual and entering into the actual dream-state is a welcome nightly occurrence. Many believe great powers could be derived from dreams, and through a sophisticated interpretation system, they could predict the future, connect with the Great Spirit and answer questions that concern an individual or an entire group.

Some cultures put particular emphasis on the power of the subconscious and would not hunt, fish, feast or fight unless a dream told them to do so. Some would even endure pain, fasting and hallucinates to bring out the needed vision or prophecy. Others, such as the Iroquois and the Cherokee, recognized the vital importance of night-time visions and incorporated the "messages" into their spiritual practices. They took great care in deciphering the meaning behind the dream and would therefore share it with the community, or with related individuals. To them, the dream was real. Two realities existed - one while awake, the other while asleep. Yet, both served a role in the persons life and each aspect of the consciousness was appreciated and valued.

The cultural history of many Native societies included the use of dreaming as an important medical tool. For thousands of years, illnesses would be diagnosed by a Medicine Man or Woman who was told of a dream, deciphered the meaning, and then laid out a plan of action that would heal the sickened body, or the ill-fated mind or soul.

These self-constituted Medicine people, also called Shaman’s, claimed to be able to walk into a persons dream, removing the imbalance of evil and extracting the illness or demon that infested the patient. Today, Shamanism is still practiced and is used by people all around the world.

Healing While Sleeping

The common thread between the groups were the belief that the body could be cured while asleep. It was thought that most illness started within the mind, and could then be cured there as well. Natives dreams were considered value agents in maintaining good health and could allow the dreamer to look at themselves in a more critical manner and evaluate their physical and mental being. Since it was thought that the "un-awakened state" was full of magical properties, many Shaman’s would use the dream interpretation as a revelation of the hidden reasons a person was ill, and then, what could be used to heal the patient.

This practice can be applied today - to everyone - from every culture. Here is a nighttime ritual that you can use at home, with techniques taken from my own bedtime sleep schedule.

1. Place a dream catcher above your bed. The belief is that dreams fly around at night and the dream catcher, shaped like a spider web, would catch the bad dreams and hold them until morning. When the sun rose, the bad dreams disappeared. Only the good dreams would penetrate the dreamers sleep. (Note: Do not purchase a dream catcher from a non-Native. If you cannot find a genuine dream catcher - obtain a pattern from a book at the library and make one yourself. They lose their power if they are "fake".)

2. A night-time routine is extremely important. Prior to bed you should:

*relax with stretching and deep breathing

*burn candles - and incense of cedar or juniper to clean the air and your mind

*drink a relaxing herbal tea to cleanse the body

*pray - be thankful for your day and ask for a peaceful night

3. Use positive affirmations. As you lie in your bed, tell yourself that you will remember your dreams - and that all dreams will be an opening into your mind. Breathe in deeply and repeat several times "My dreams will help me to heal". Say this inside of your mind as you fall asleep.

4. Place a notebook next to your bed. Upon wakening, write down your dream. Do this while you are still in your bed - not after you are awake and preparing for your day. Your dreams are fresh and detailed when you first wake up.

5. Invest in a good dream interruption book. As time goes by, you will be able to identify problems within your subconscious, without the book. You will learn to look for clues. For example, if you are constantly drinking water in your dreams - your mind may be telling you that your kidneys are in need of more water (for flushing). Or if you dream includes physically ill people - pay close attention to their ailments. If you envision a stranger who is mentally stressed and in need of some "down time" - this may be a mental note from your inner voice telling you that you need to relax and release stress.

6. Share your dreams. This was a very common practice among the Native communities - it was believed that if you did not share your dreams, that your dreams would be taken from you. So to increase the power and strength of your dreams, share them - either in a journal, or with a trusted love one.

7. If you are having problems falling asleep, try some of the following:

*Melatonin - a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland that helps to regulate your sleeping cycles

*Herbal capsules or tinctures of: black cohosh, blue vervain, herbane, hops, motherwort, lady’s slipper, skullcap, kava kava, California poppy, passion flower, chamomile or lemon blam 1500-2000 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of magnesium daily - calcium has a calming effect and helps to relax the muscles

For thousands of years, Native people have valued the inner wisdom that comes with sleep - using it as a window to the inner working of the mind. You, too, can learn to translate the messages sent to you during the night - acting as your own personal Shaman. You can walk into your own mind and pull out it’s hidden secrets and omens. Your mind is awake even when you are not - it is alive with wisdom and power. It wants you to hear - to use its valuable information. All that you have to do - is to listen.