“When hope is fleeting, stop for a moment and visualize, in a sky of silver, the crescent of a lavender moon. Imagine it — delicate, slim, precise, like a paper-thin slice from a cabochon jewel.
It may not be very useful, but it is beautiful.
And sometimes it is enough.”
Once in a while, something is admired for its beauty and its usefulness.
Lavender is one of those things.
While its fragrant, royal flowers are admired for their beauty, lavender has also been appreciated for its many uses and benefits for at least several thousand years. Native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and thought to be one of the first herbs brought to the Americas from overseas, this stunning mint-family herb has been adopted throughout the world for its aroma, culinary, and medicinal properties. It has also attracted symbolic meaning over the years.
Symbolism of Lavender: Grace, Serenity, Innocence
What does lavender symbolize?
Purple is the color of royalty and it radiates elements of grace, refinement, and elegance, and the color lavender symbolizes purity, devotion, and love. There are many positive meanings associated with lavender and if you see pastures of this magnificent herb or breathe in its essence, chances are good, you will associate some or all of these meanings with lavender as well. Throughout history, lavender has symbolized:
Elegance
Peace
Grace
Love
Beauty
Innocence
Devotion
Purity
Virtue
Healing
Serenity
As a late spring and summer bloomer, lavender is a popular floral addition to mid-year engagement parties, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, Mother’s Day celebrations, birthdays, and tea parties. Not only is it fragrant and beautiful in gardens, arrangements, and bouquets, but it makes a fabulous floral and herbal addition to tea parties and receptions, as it can be enjoyed in herbal iced tea blends, popsicles, cocktails, baked goods and culinary wonders. Lavender can also be added to party favors to further enhance its presence in the theme of your celebration. The magic of lavender is at your fingertips — weave it through your daily life and invite it to your celebrations so your guests can enjoy its wonder and feel the profound fountain of symbolism it exudes.
Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Using Poetic Tea’s “Sestina” herbal blend, make your own health-conscious herbal lemonade with lavender and feel the love.
What are the benefits of using lavender for wellness?
Lavender is most commonly used to support mental health and a sense of wellbeing, and it is also prized for its scenting and healing effects on the hair and skin.
For the skin, lavender (and the essence extracted from it) has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are used in the treatment of acne, skin irritations, bug bites, and burns, and can be applied topically in lavender-infused salves; Lavender essential oil is also a common ingredient in many soaps, bath, and beauty products because of its anti-bacterial properties and marvelous scent.
For the hair, lavender essence has potentially been shown to speed and promote new hair growth, and in combination with other essential oils, may actually help prevent balding.
For mental health and mood enhancement, lavender oil/steam can be inhaled to feel instant benefits (don’t directly consume essential oils), and fresh or dried flowers can be brewed in water to extract its properties and flavor, then strained and ingested as a fragrant tisane (herbal tea).
Benefits of lavender include feelings of well-being. It has been used to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Lavender has been known to promote a sense of calmness and well-being, and has been used as a general mood lifting tonic, and to treat anxiety, depression, and stress. Lavender’s relaxing properties are also beneficial for promoting quality sleep and the herb can be helpful in treating insomnia.
Further, lavender has been used to treat mild aches and pains such as common headaches, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and nausea. It may also be relevant in the treatment of certain cancers and dementia, but as is the case with most herbal remedies, there is a serious lack of funding for sufficient scientific research and so it is left to each individual and culture to experiment with what herbal forms work wonders for them, and to share their own experiences so that others might benefit from the same herbal magic.
* I tend to think most good things are best in moderation, so please consult with a doctor before ingesting large quantities of lavender, and also if you are pregnant, nursing, on medications, or think you may be allergic to lavender.
Lavender-Inspired Teas
Hand-blended, sustainable-sourced herbs
Cheers to your well being, sense of beauty, and relationship with nature. Please feel free to comment below how you have found lavender to be a beautiful and/or useful companion on your life journey. I would love to hear your stories about how lavender has been woven into your life celebrations. Do you have recommendations for gardening and creating lavender-inspired remedies and recipes? I would love to hear them as well. You never know who might benefit from them.