incubation

noun5

1. •
   Sitting on eggs for the purpose of hatching young; a brooding on, or keeping warm, to develop the life within, by any process.
2. •
   The development of a disease from its causes, or the period of such development.
3. •
   A period of little reaction which is followed by more rapid reaction.
4. •
   One of the four proposed stages of creativity (preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification): the unconscious recombination of thought elements that were stimulated through conscious work at one point in time, resulting in novel ideas at a later point.
5. •
   Sleeping in a temple or other holy place in order to have oracular dreams or to receive healing.

   • Incubation in the vicinity of burial places, cremation grounds, holy wells and sacred streams was common. The ancient Hebrews visited vaults or slept among tombs to get meaningful dreams. — 1978