Though only children blame sleeplessness on the monster in the closet, many adults also experience problems sleeping due to fatigue, negativity or stress. Various cleansings of the person or space, known in mainstream religions as blessings, may aid restful sleep. Lavender has a long history of cleansing and washing spiritually and physically. Explore lavender's history and ways to use lavender as a tool to cleanse or bless as a sleep aid.
What is Lavender?
Lavender is a spiky herb native to the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East and India. Used in Mediterranean cooking, lavender is also popular in soaps, sprays, potpourri, and lotions for its unique fragrance that is pungent and crisp with a hint of floral.
Brief History of Lavender as a Cleanser
Lavender’s name comes from Latin lavare, "to wash." The Romans used fresh lavender to mask the taste of rotting meat and dried lavender for cleansing baths and lotions. They also used lavender as an antiseptic and disinfectant. When the Romans colonized the future British Isles, they brought the lavender plant and its uses with them.
The Victorians centuries later expanded English lavender cultivation and created modern lavender products familiar to peoples of the West. The Victorians reinvented the traditions of cleaning with lavender using sachets for clean clothes and potpourri and popularized lavender scents in soaps, candles, bath salts, and other personal hygiene products.
How Lavender Can Promote Sleep
Various peoples before and after the Romans have used lavender, fresh and dried, to cleanse themselves physically and spiritually. Lavender's power to cleanse and heal can promote a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in a bedroom, bed, or even around an actual person. Lavender cleans not only the air, but also negativity, fear, stress and other sleep blockers with its relaxing scent. Combine lavender use with a blessing or prayer for added spiritual cleansing.
Using Lavender to Cleanse a Bed or Bedroom
Various forms of lavender alone or combined with a prayer or meditation can all bless a bed or bedroom for sleep. Try and adapt any or all of the following to cleanse a bed or bedroom with lavender:
- Place a small cloth bag of dried high quality natural lavender blooms under the pillow.
- Spray a blend of pure lavender, such as the Healing Garden's Relax Therapy Lavender or other of choice over the pillow or linens five to ten minutes before bed (Be careful when purchasing a lavender spray, as many contain artificial scents and little or no lavender oil. A self-made spray of water and lavender essential oil is ideal).
- Spray a lavender and water mist over the bed and in the air around as much of the bedroom as desired.
- Place a live potted lavender plant, preferably blooming, or sprigs of dried lavender flowers in the bedroom.
- Light a lavender scented candle or other form of lavender aromatherapy in the room before bed.
Combine any of the above with a meditation or prayer to cleanse the bed or bedroom for sleep. The following are some examples:
- A blessing to the religious power of choice such as, "God of cleansing power and might, be present in this space and free it from anxiety, fear, and stress. Grant me [include partner or others who share bed] rest and peace in this place of Your love. Amen."
- A mantra such as "God cleans. God cleans. God cleans for sweet dreams" substituting any concept of divinity desired.
- A short guided meditation focusing on the scent of lavender and imagining its cleansing power spreading not only throughout the room, but also into one's dreams and then into one's life and hopes."
Experiment with other blessings or meditations as desired.
Using Lavender to Cleanse and Bless a Person Who Can't Sleep
The body, too, can benefit from lavender use to relax before sleep. Try the following suggestions or some of your own:
- Massage lavender lotion into the body slowly and thoroughly before sleep.
- Indulge in a hot bath with lavender bath salts or a drop of lavender essential oil before sleep (note some people can be extremely allergic to lavender on the skin so experiment before sinking into a bath of it).
- Spray lavender over the body before dressing for bed.
Seeking divine aid in blessing or cleansing the self has roots in all the major religions and spiritual practices of the world. Combine a personal blessing with lavender use for sound sleep. Here are a few suggestions:
- A general prayer of blessing, such as "God of cleansing power and might, clean me in body, mind, and spirit, that I may rest and sleep soundly tonight in You."
- A short meditation releasing any stresses, negativity, or other blocks to sleep into the universe or chosen concept of the divine.
- The classic bedtime prayers, sharing and releasing any tensions of the day and concerns about loved ones, family, and self to the universe or personal concept of the divine.
Note that the simple nightly ritual of seeking a connection with the divine, called "prayer" in many mainstream religions, may soothe and relax the mind for sleep with or without the use of lavender.
Lavender, a Roman cleanser, still has powerful healing powers today. Combine lavender with personal prayers and blessings to cleanse a bed, bedroom or even the self for a good night's sleep.
For more spiritual sleeping aids, Prayers for Sleep or Prayers for Nightmares may be of interest.
Melissa Roberts - A trained hospital chaplain, Melissa is a freelance writer, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
