This working comes from Santería, passed on to me by a beloved Elder and offered here for anyone who is losing sleep to more than ordinary restlessness. It's suited to frequent nightmares, to the feeling of being under attack while asleep or of someone trying to force their way into your dreams. It's also a gentle, effective one for little ones who can't sleep because of bad dreams.
Tools & Ingredients
5 limes (never lemons, see the note below) to release dis-ease, provide protection against negative energies and protect pregnant mothers and newborn babies
A jar of cloves for protection, cleansing, removing pain and opening us up to love and friendship
A heatproof plate
Salt for protection and strength
Protection oil of your choice (uncrossing or strength is usually appropriate)
A tea light candle or small spell candle
A small piece of paper for a petition if you feel so called
Candle Colours
Blue for communication with ancestors
Red to quicken the work
White as an offering
Pink for love
The Working
Cleanse your materials.
Wash the candle and limes in a Florida water wash, then pass them through smoke to clear away any other energy they may be carrying.Prepare the limes.
Cut a deep cross into each lime, then pour salt into the cut.Add the cloves.
Pierce the inner flesh of each lime with an odd number of cloves, using a different odd number in each one. One clove in the first lime, three in the next, then five, seven and nine.Set the candle.
Place a tea light candle in the middle of the five limes.Anoint.
Drop a little protection oil around the candle and over the limes.Light and pray.
Light the candle and pray over the working, speaking your intention clearly.Let it burn and rest.
Leave the candle to burn all the way out, then leave the limes under your bed, on your bedside table or wherever sits closest to where you sleep. Leave them in place for three days.
A Note on Lemons
Never substitute lemons for limes in this working. Lemons are wonderful for cutting and clearing, and they're often used for cord cutting and sending energy away. But placed under your bed, they can do real damage to your relationship with whoever shares it with you. A lemon will cut away negative energy while you sleep, but it won't feed anything good back in, which can leave you just as open to further attack once the cutting is done.
That said, lemons have their own place. Drop lemon pieces or a little lemon essential oil behind someone's footsteps to help ensure they walk out of your life and don't return.
