3 Reasons People Leave a Little Dirt Under Their Pillows
Introduction
What’s more natural than dirt? It’s part of the fundamental structure of life on Earth; plants grow in it, and all living things return to it at some point. It’s the mattress of life, and the grass is the silken sheet on which we rest our weary heads. Soil comes in many shapes and forms, and its uses are limited to imagination. You can build houses with it, make ceramics or just enjoy a succulent meal - if you’re a worm that is.
In a lot of creation myths, the sedimentary element of mud is present. Humanity is made in the divine image and formed from clay. The brown sludge of life has always been present and is an eternal recurrence in not only our lives but also our stories. What you might not know, however, is that some people are leaving a little dirt under their pillows before going to bed.
What might sound like a new age grounding technique is a powerful method with its roots deeply planted in human unfictional history. The amount of dirt, what kind and for what reasons people do it vary depending on geographical context, but also on the culture of the land. Some ancient peoples have been doing this for far longer than other cultures, and modern man is finally catching up on the knowledge his ancestors knew. This simple practice doesn’t require much, just a little bit of dirt. You don’t even need a shovel, you can just grab a handful, pocket it and bring it back to your bedroom. Don’t worry about onlookers and people around you - some might judge you and claim it’s unhygienic or even dirty, but if you tell them these three reasons, you will have them convinced in no time, and maybe you can all pool together for a common dirtpile.
This extensive list of three reasons why people keep dirt under their pillows is just the beginning of this pile of soil. It goes much deeper, and to fully uncover the secrets of dirt, you will have to extend your searching and practice by engaging fully with the mud of life. How many scoops of dirt can you take from a pile until it stops being a pile? We don’t know, but we do know that the very act of digging into the dirt is a primal instinct and a longing of wormhood.
1. The Longing of Wormhood
Has your partner ever asked you whether you would love them if they were a worm or not? Most likely, the answer is yes - this is an instinct that people have. Some call it an evolutionary leftover, others believe it to be some astral memory of a past life. Whatever it is, we do know that it is a soulful pining to be a worm. Wormhood, as we call it, is the full embracing of not only living like, but being a worm. Worms are very important to the ecosystem of the Earth. The invertebrate animal with a tubelike body and no limbs is a consumer of organic matter and is one of the most important detritivores and coprophages of nature. They are vital to breaking down organic material, which releases and frees organic substances and reintroduces vital nutrients to plants, which can be absorbed through the soil.
These decomposers are the digestive system of the planet, and they make sure that complex molecules are chemically broken down by enzymes into simpler and more biologically available ones. The worm may be viewed as a spineless, wriggling and nasty piece of nature, but it’s an important component to the larger whole, and unlike many of us, it fills an important function. The home of the worm is the cool dirt, and just the smell of dirt can invoke some strong feelings in some people.
It’s this longing for wormhood that makes them leave a little dirt under their pillows. Sweet, tubular and terrestrial dreams come to those who make their way through the wormhole of the mind. These nightcrawlers are believed to herald the coming of the celestial megadrile. A mythological figure which consumes everything in its way, both physical and metaphysical. The hole left after this cosmic consumer is the nothingness from which all springs forth, after the consumption of itself is completed. The wormiverse turns inside out, and the externally segmented tube-within-a-tube reality plan corresponds to the internal segmentations of the universal mind.
When the brain wriggles and crawls around itself, it’s the creeping reality of wormhood setting in. To some, this is less of an esoteric truth and more of a physical and real longing for a simpler consciousness - a reality fully immersed in the basis of life. Dirt can invoke this feeling and provide a tangible and physical reaction for those who are prone to worminess. Squiggly lines are erased, and the two medial giant axons connect - sending signals from front to back. Wherever soil, water and temperature conditions allow, there are worms, and with global worming on the rise, it's no wonder people are leaving a little dirt under their pillow and with quivering lips beckoning the wormliness of man.
“Bless the Maker and His water.
Bless the coming and going of Him.
May His passage cleanse the world.
May He keep the world for His people.”
2. An Offering for the Dirt Man
As the saying goes, not all who leave dirt under their pillow are worms. To some, the act of leaving a little ground under the pillow is an offering for the Dirt Man. Who is the Dirt Man, and why does he want my dirt, you ask? The truth is, we don’t know a lot about the Dirt Man, but there are some facts we do know. He lives underneath the mountain where he, like a dragon, guards his treasury of soil. When he comes to town, you better hope you have a dirt offering ready under your pillow, because we do know he is willing to resort to violence to secure his supply of mud. However, if you leave a small offering of dirt tucked beneath your pillow, you will be safe. He might even give you something in return.
The Dirt Man only has one need, and that need is dirt. It remains unclear why he can’t get his dirt elsewhere and why he harasses seemingly innocent people. We don’t even know what causes a visit from him. However, we do know that it is best to be safe, and being safe entails leaving an offering for him. There have been stories of people being abducted into his subterranean lair if they’ve been unable to offer him a little dirt, we can’t tell for sure how many have been taken, but at least two people have made it back alive.
The appearance of the Dirt Man remains a mystery. Some say he looks like a man covered in dirt, others claim that he’s entirely made out of clay. Some have even mentioned him wearing a hat made out of rock. His age and origins are unclear, but we do know he lives under the mountain. Unfortunately, for legal reasons, we can’t disclose which mountain, as seeking out the Dirt Man willingly is extremely dangerous. Not all stories about the Dirt Man are horror stories, however.
Some fortunate souls who made sure to leave a little dirt under their pillows report extraordinary luck and well-being. These people never saw the Dirt Man, but in the morning, after leaving the dirt underneath their heads, the offering was gone, and in its place, one person found an earthworm. A telltale sign of good fortune and the Dirt Man’s acceptance of the offering. The musical artist Carter Vail made a song about the Dirt Man, which soon reached viral status. Not unlikely, he struck a bargain with the big man of Dirt himself.
Better safe than sorry, a lot of people are leaving a small offering for the Dirt Man. Are you doing the same, or are you keeping the dirt to yourself?
3. As a Late Night Snack
Dirt is incredibly texturally sound, not to mention rich in vitamins and therefore makes for a great late-night snack according to some. The convenience of storing dirt under the pillow allows for easy access to the snack. You don’t even have to leave your bed to enjoy a good and crunchy mouthful of mud. Consuming dirt on the regular has been linked to a lot of different health benefits, including telepathetic abilities and mental well-being. Dirt eaters report a 33% increase in feelings of “brown thoughts”. Researchers and scientists believe this is linked to the minerals and nutrients found in soil.
Lots of the b-vitamins are found in soil, and are linked to a wide array of functions, some of them cognitive. A handful of dirt, therefore, makes a great snack for both body and mind. Some find the smell and taste of mud to be very soothing and can help them fall asleep. Because of its properties, dirt doesn’t need to be stored in a refrigerator, and can safely be kept under your pillow for when those snacking urges arise. While this may sound strange to people not in tune with their wormy side, to a lot of people, the consumption of dirt comes naturally.
Babies often have an urge to eat anything they come across, and dirt is no different. Dirt has been linked to strengthening the immune system of younglings, but it is uncertain if it does for adult humans. For lots of other mammals, however, dirt is just a part of the diet. When eating plants and vegetables from nature, it is natural that a little dirt would come into contact with your digestive system, but in today’s modern world, plants and vegetables are cleaned to the point where barely any dirt is left on them.
This led people to find new, creative ways to incorporate dirt into their diet. While shoving fistfuls of clay into your mouth may not sound so appetising, a little bit right before bed is a lovely treat, appreciated by worms and humans alike. Disclaimer: Consult with your local doctor or worm-priest before considering introducing dirt to your evening routine. Some people have reported unpleasant encounters with the Dirt Man, exclaiming:
“THAT IS MY DIRT - WHY ARE YOU EATING MY DIRT?”
Others report feelings of wormhood and an existential pain, and feelings of disillusionment about the nature of humanhood.
Final Words
There you have it: three reasons people are leaving a little dirt under their pillows. Hopefully, you can find a meaningful practice and reason for storing a little muddy treasure under your head holder. Whether you’re longing to be a worm again, leaving a little offering for the Dirt Man or simply enjoy a succulent meal of soil before sleep, there are many more reasons for you to connect with the earth.
Soil is important, as a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water and organisms, it makes up a large part of an ecosystem which supports the life of plants and many other organisms. Part of the soil matrix is a solid collection of vital minerals and organic matter, and makes up the outermost layer of our planet. It acts as a medium for plant growth, a modifier for the atmosphere, a habitat for organisms, as well as a means of water storage, supply and purification. This regolith is a major component of life as we know it, and it’s no wonder so many of us want to reconnect with it. After all, we plant our metaphorical roots in its very physical being.
This amplification of spirit allows for real growth and makes up the composition of our entire being. Soil might feel dark, dense and oppressive, but aeration is one of its most important characteristics, and roots need to breathe; this ventilation is accomplished through a series of networks of interconnected soil pores. It’s also in these pores where water is held, and the soil’s capacity for water-holding is essential to plant survival. Remember this next time you step in some mud and you curse it for dirtying your spotless shoes, maybe even put a little in your pocket to put underneath your pillow.
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
