I tried the bay leaf ritual almost playfully at first—part curious, part doubtful—slipping a dried leaf beneath my pillow like a hidden intention. The first few nights didn’t bring dramatic revelations, but something subtle did shift: my dreams grew deeper, more vivid, filled with imagery that lingered long after waking. Writing a wish or thought on the leaf felt strangely personal, as if I were admitting something to the quiet of the night that I hadn’t been able to say aloud.

What surprised me wasn’t any sort of magic, but the mindfulness it created. That small bedtime habit slowed me down. It turned the usual routine of “scroll and fall asleep” into a calm moment of choosing what I wanted to invite into my life—comfort, clarity, luck, or simply a peaceful night. Maybe the leaf itself isn’t what matters, but the pause it offers. Even now, when I tuck one under my pillow, the night seems to carry a little more possibility with it.