As I began walking the path of feminine sleep, I discovered sleep as my spiritual practice. It’s where plants met me in the dream world.
My very first plant dreams began simply. I would sip a tea before bed, lay down, and slip into sleep with intention. I didn’t expect anything more than rest. But one night — and then night after night — the dreams returned. I tried to ignore them at first, thinking they were coincidence, but they would not let go. 3 plants, 2 I did not know of yet. They are special to me to this day
- Comfrey Root — in my dream she pressed her cool, healing leaves into my palms. Her presence felt like a calling: “Begin here. Comfrey root was the first clear voice. It started my official plant journey — the doorway into plant spirit medicine, aromatherapy, and both eastern and western herbalism.
- Black Cohosh — she was like a dark shadow and an initiation. Her message was courage, if I were to translate the feeling it was “Do not fear your depths.”
- Hawthorn Berry — she entered as warm light in my heart, and I didn’t understand it then but I did as I sipped her medicine. Energetically my heart became lighter, more open. And became medicine to the women who came for rasayana, rejuvenation therapies in my Ayurvedic practice. I still use her medicine to soften the heart or to remember all that it does so to help me connect, heal physically and energetically.
- And other plant presences like the old oak tree — each a teacher.
And Mugwort, well that’s another story for another time. She’s fierce medicine.
After the hawthorne berry dream, everything shifted. I sought out herbalism. I had no idea how far this path would take me and each teacher led me to the next to discover Eliot Cowen Plant Spirit Medicine. The experiences have been magical: an apothecary that seemed so natural for me, creating scent meditations and experiences, herbal formulas and anointing oils whispered to life, and a lifetime of devotion to the plant kingdom.
Dreams Become Turning Points
These plant dreams were not the only dreams that shaped my life. Over time I noticed a pattern — certain dreams arrived before pivotal moments
- A dream of water and a small wooden boat came before a season where I finally let go of an old role. The boat taught me trust in the current.
- A recurring dream of light in my chest showed up before a relationship shifted — it was a soft instruction
- Two dreams of my cat I left behind the home I left during a move, scared me. It wasn’t a pleasant dream. I knew I didn’t want the 3rd time, so I went to get her and there she was waiting for me.
I learned to listen — truly listen — they began to inform decisions, to give courage, to offer clear medicine when my mind felt confused.
Sleep is a spiritual practice where we are invited to
- Let go of control
- Open the channel for intuition to guide us
- Allow the divine to send us messages through images, symbols, and sensations.
Tonight, as you lay your head down, invite a request or say a prayer. Plant a seed in your heart.
