Herbal Dream Magic: Dream Herbs, Plant Allies, & Dream Incubation with Audrey Gilbert

What are dream herbs—and how can plant allies support dream recall, dream incubation, creativity, healing, and spiritual connection? On this episode of The Dream Journal, host Katherine Bell speaks with author, herbalist, certified hypnotherapist, dream guide, and intuitive coach Audrey Gilbert about her book Herbal Dream Magic: Spells and Rituals with Plant Allies.

Audrey explains the difference between sleep-supporting herbs and oneirogens, discusses familiar plants such as chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, mugwort, blue lotus, skullcap, blue vervain, and ginkgo, and shares practical ways to prepare for intentional dreaming. The conversation explores nighttime rituals, setting a clear question, keeping a dream journal, building a bedside altar, reconnecting during a “dream drought,” and working with dreams during a second sleep.

In the second half, the conversation expands into collective dreaming, dreams with the land, and a striking linden-tree dream in which the name “Tilia” becomes a doorway to connection and care. Audrey also tells the story of choosing her name through a vivid tree dream and describes how science, folklore, psychology, tarot, animistic spirituality, and herbal practice come together in her work.

In This Episode

What plant allies are—and why relationship matters more than treating herbs as tools

Dream herbs versus sleep herbs, including oneirogens and nervines

Dream incubation practices for questions, guidance, healing, and creativity

Simple rituals: journaling, intention-setting, tea, bedside altars, sigils, and reconnecting after waking

Plants associated with relaxation, vivid dreams, cognition, and dream recall

Audrey’s origin story and the dream that inspired her chosen name

Collective dreaming, dreaming with the land, and shared imagery

The relationship between folklore, personal experience, and emerging dream research