Offerings for the Dreaming Vessel:
Supporting the Physical Body During Dream Work

As we expand our vessels to bring through information from the Otherworld and stretch through the confines of ordinary reality, it’s important to keep the physical vessels well nourished. This not only serves as a means to integrate what comes, but a well nourished body and supple nervous system can also help one open into even deeper states of expanded awareness and invite liberation.

KIDNEY SUPPORT: 

In Eastern Medicine, the Kidney/Adrenal system is said to house the physical and Spiritual Ki/Chi or Energy of the body. They are also said to influence dreaming, sleep, and lucidity of thought. 

Kidneys rule the water element of the body and are in direct relationship to the fire element that is housed by the Heart. Heart and Kidney are in deep connection and when in balance allow Spirit to rise and inhabit the physical body in full, bright and grounded radiance. 

When the Kidney/Adrenals are out of balance this can be indicated by the following:

• Insomnia: while liver affects falling asleep, kidneys are in charge of keeping one in sleep state. Waking frequently in the night can indicate kidney imbalance

• Frequent urination: 4-6x/day and not waking to urinate in the night is considered balanced

• Hyper vigilance, anxiety, obsession/repetitive thoughts, fear

• Feeling cold

• Tending towards wearing black

• Having a groaning sound to the voice

• Issues with the teeth, ears and bones 

Wintertime is hard on the kidneys as they have to work harder in the cold to keep the balance of water and warmth in the body. 

Here are several suggestions to support the kidneys during the colder or transitional months:

• Eliminate intoxicants (caffeine, alcohol etc.) and heavy, hard to digest foods. The kidneys have to work over time to cool the blood from an overloaded liver.

• Favor well cooked foods over raw fruits or vegetables. Cooking helps to pre-digest food therefore making it easier for the body to process its nutrients. Raw foods bring cold and damp to the digestive track, and will eventually slow it down if not balanced with foods that invite warmth or digestive fire to the body. 

• Consider adding mildly warming spices (not stimulating) to your food and drink such as cinnamon and ginger. Avoid cooling and bitter herbs.

• Be sure to have ample sea salt in your diet. A good quality salt helps balance the waters of the body.

• Avoid ice, especially before bedtime as cold food or drink can cause nightmares. Warm beverages are preferred. Drink only enough to bring the color of your urine to have a light yellow hue. Colorless urine is an indication that you’re drinking too much. Dark urine, too little. 

• Attempt to be well asleep by midnight. The kidneys restore between 12-4am.

• Keep your feet warm. The kidney meridian originates on the soles of the feet.

Disclaimer: Please check with your physician before making any big changes to your lifestyle and diet. The above information is meant to serve as general information in regards to the Eastern Medicine perspective on promoting healthy kidney function, it is not meant to be prescriptive, nor is it medical advice. Because each person’s vessel (and the elements and organ systems therein) is unique, it is recommended you work with a trained acupuncturist or DOM to do a full intake and health history. 

MOON BATHING:

Moon Bathing, or exposing the skin to soak up rays from the moon, is an ancient ritual practice with traceable roots in traditional Ayurveda (Indian Medicine). Much like the Sun energizes the body, the moon soothes and nurtures and helps settle the mind.

Moonlight has as many health benefits as sunlight. According to Ayurveda, moonlight calms Pitta (the fire element in the body which can become untethered). It is also widely recognized for having an affect on the endocrine system and therefore hormones. Exposure to moonlight can increase fertility, calm inflammation and nourish the nervous system.

Often, when people feel aggravated, unsettled, ungrounded and in need of down time and rest, it is often accompanied by struggling with insomnia. If you’re up at night, perhaps it’s that your body is intelligent enough to answer the Moon’s invitation to be held by Her, to be bathed in Her light.

If you’re in need of a bit of soothing or seeking to balance, perhaps you might consider accepting the Moon’s invitation to bathe in Her light. If it’s too cold or too urban to be naked out in Nature, staring up at the moon for a while or catching moon rays through a window can suffice.

Bathe for around 20 minutes and note how it affects your system. 

ABHYANGA: Ayurvedic Self-massage (notes prepared by Emma Landau: www.emmalandau.com)

Abhyanga is a cornerstone to the Ayurvedic approach of self-care, longevity, and stress-relief. It is a practice that can be performed regularly. According to the ancient classical texts of Ayurveda, Abhyanga ‘destroys aging, exhaustion, and vata-related imbalances. It improves vision, nourishment, longevity, sleep, health of skin, and makes the body strong.’

Indications

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Restlessness and insomnia

• Anti-aging

• Dry skin

• Wrinkled skin

• Exhaustion/fatigue

Directions

Abhyanga can be performed daily or at the suggestion of your Ayurvedic Practitioner or Physician. It should be enjoyed in a warm space, without draft.

1. Warm 1⁄4 - 1⁄2 Cup of massage oil on the stove until comfortably warm.

2. Use old towels that you don’t mind getting oily to sit/ lay on while massaging.

3. Apply warm oil to the body in the directions of the hairs on the body

(Anuloma), slowly moving from the hands and feet towards the torso and

heart.

4. Pay special attention to oiling the head, ears and feet. Just a few drops of oil

at the crown of the head will do if unable to oil the entire head.

5. Rest with the oil on the body as long as is comfortable, ideally at least a few

minutes.

6. Finally, take a warm or hot shower. This allows the oils to penetrate more

deeply into the tissues, rewarding you with even greater benefits of the

Practice.

NOTE on TOWELS: Special “abhyanga towels” should be set aside and washed separately so as not to ruin other clothing. Using borax can help take the oils out. Air dry towels only. Caution: drying oily towels in a machine drier is a fire hazard.

NOTE on BATHTUB: Be sure to clean your bathtub regularly to avoid oily residue buildup. A quick scrub with soap and hot water helps to keep safe from slipping.

Contraindications: Oil massage is contraindicated for those who have kapha aggravation, poor appetite, indigestion, or for those who have recently undergone cleansing therapies (Pancha-

Karma). Abhyanga is also contraindicated during fever and menses.

Variations: While sesame oil is most commonly uses, differences in the type of oil used in self-massage help to personalize the benefits to your constitution (prakruti) or imbalance (vikruti). Different oils also can be used depending on the season. 

• Vata: sesame oil, olive oil, castor oil

• Pitta: sunflower oil or coconut oil

• Kapha: safflower oil, mustard oil

Up-leveling abhyanga with essential oils:

• Vetiver (V): for vata imbalances, grounding, calming, stabilizing

• Rose or Sandalwood (P): cooling, clarifying, heart-opening, uplifting

• Bergamot/orange (K): warming,