Lavender
The Elf Leaf
When you died in July,
I was sick of flowers,
picking through wilted
funeral arrangements.
I scorned nature’s cycle,
surrendered my gardens
to her wrath,
fall and winter.
Then I saw the red shoots
of spring’s peonies, fell
on my knees and pulled
quack grass from their roots.
I felt your life under
my fingernails, in my veins
a transfusion
of who you were and are.
But it was the lavender,
the scent of heaven on my hands,
the song of the honeybees,
that went straight to my heart
and healed me.
Lavender is a sturdy worker. Her dependability and strength are defining characteristics. The washer woman of old, she knows all the secrets to getting things in order. And like a comforting nanny, she is always there for you. Her petals form a tubular flower, much like a pitcher. Inside she will keep 4 stamens. Her leaf shape speaks to her ability to her complexity, sometimes smooth and sometimes toothy. Balance is beloved by her, so her leaves grow in sets of two on nodes along the stem. Lavender’s leaves are covered in fine hair which often contains the essential oils. This is where her power dwells.
The Magic of Lavender
Correspondences
Element: Air
Gender: Feminine
Sabbat: Litha
Planet: Mercury
Chakra: All
Spellwork
Joy
Love
Peace
Protect
Clean
Proverb
English: Like lavender, grow sweeter as you grow older.
The Medicine of Lavender
Ayurvedic
Not Applicable
Herbology
Antiseptic
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Analgesic
Nervine
Carminative
Antispasmodic
Circulatory Stimulant
Antidepressant
Sedative
Insecticide
TCM
TCM Name: Xun Yi Cao
Botanical Name: Lavandula
Common Name: Lavender
Energy: Cool, Dry
Flavor: Bitter (mild)
Organs: Heart, Pericardium, Lungs, Kidney
Movement: Opens, Descends
Science of Lavender
Botany
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Type of Plant: Herbaceous perennial
Habitat: Well drained, Sun
Zone: 5-8
Bloom Time: June – August
Height: 2-3 feet
Spread: 2-4 feet
Propagation: D
Harvest: Flowers on dry days
Part Used: Flowers
Constituents: Linalool, Cineole, Flavonoids, Tannins, Coumarins
Native Region: Europe
Sustainability: Good
Leaf
Structure: Simple
Arrangement: Opposite or Whorled
Shape: Lanceolate
Length: 2 inches
Margins: Entire or Toothed
Surface: Pubescent
Flower
Inflorescence: Compound spike
Sexuality: Perfect
Stamen: 4
Petals: Irregular, tubular
Color: Purple
Size: Small
Sacred Story
Fairies love lavender and often sit upon the flowers, wrapping themselves in the inspiring fragrance. When you feel like you could use a boost in creativity, call on the fairy realm. Place lavender under your pillow, and the fairies will whisper magic inspirations to you while you are sleeping. Sweet dreams.
