Lavender

Here is some information on one of my favorite herbs. Enjoy.

Lavandula officinale or Lavandula vera. It's a perennial. Its color is medium purple. Its meaning is Distrust. Its folk names are: Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus, or Spike. Its gender is masculine, its element is Air, and its planet is Mercury. Its light green tincture can be used to attract love, to produce sleep and peace. It can be anointed directly onto the skin. The following recipes can be assumed to be "Old Wives Tales" but then again, we know that old wives have always known more than we give them credit for.

Uses: (It seems to have some conflicting uses historically)

It's often used in love spells and sachets.

Clothing rubbed with the flowers attracts love.

Cosmetic Uses:

Water of lavender is excellent for acne, to reduce puffiness, or normalize the sebaceous glands.

The oil is used in perfumes, after shaves, and soaps. Mixed with alcohol, it can be used as a toilet water or insect repellent. A mixture of lavender, southernwood, rosemary, and wormwood can be used as a scented moth repellent.

Sweet Powder

This is a deodorant when rubbed under the arms and all over the body. Mix the following ingredients thoroughly and strain through a sieve.

5 oz. Orris root
2 oz. powdered Calamus
2 oz. powdered Benzoin or Storax
1/2 oz. powdered lavender buds
2 oz. powdered Cypress
1/2 oz. powdered Clove
1 oz. powdered Rose petals.

Lavender-Basil oil

Combine 1 pint of 75% alcohol, 1 oz. Lavender water, 30 drops of Lavender oil, and 30 drops of sweet Basil oil. Allow the mixture to stand for a couple of months, shaking thoroughly at intervals.

Arab women used to rub this mixture in their hair to perfume it.

Lavender oil

< FONT COLOR="#F3ADFA">Mix 1 part oil of Lavender with 3 parts Olive oil or 1 part Lavender oil and 1 part Coconut oil. Use this as a massage oil for the lower back.

Healing Uses:

The flowers are burned to induce sleep and rest and can be scattered around a home to protect its peacefulness.

Linden and lavender mixed together in equal parts and made into pillows, will help an insomniac get to sleep

The buds of the lavender flower, if mixed with marjoram, clove, carnation, betony and rose leaves and worn around the neck in a bag will cure a headache.

Healing Bath

This bath speeds the healing process. To help rid yourself of a cold, add two parts eucalyptus to this formula.

3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lavender
2 parts Rose
1 part Peppermint
1 part Cinnamon

Oil of lavender is also used as a purification anointment. It is said to bring peace to troubled relationships and build oneÕs energy.

Energy Bath

Use this bath when you are fatigued or depr essed.

3 parts Carnation
2 parts Lavender
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Basil

Peace Oil

Wear this oil when you are nervous or upset.

3 drops Ylang-Ylang
3 drops Lavender
2 drops Chamomile
1 drop Rose absolute

Peace Incense

1 part Sandalwood
1 part Lavender
Burn this incense to produce a peaceful feeling.

Romantic Uses:

Lavender mixed with Violet flowers will arouse love and lust.

Oil of lavender, if anointed on the body, will attract men.

Love Powder

For use in attracting love.

3 parts Yarrow
3 parts Lavender
2 parts Rose petals
1 part Ginger

Happiness Powder

To lift the spirits, sprinkle this powder on the floor.

2 parts Lavender
1 part Catnip
1 part Marjoram.

Love sachet

Tie this up in a pink cloth. Place the sachet among your clothing.

3 parts Lavender
2 parts Rose petals
1 part Orris root

A Passion Drink

5 parts Rose petals
1 part clove
1 part Nutmeg
1 part Lavender.
1 part Ginger

Place all ingredients into a teapot. Boil three cups or so of water and add to the pot. Sweeten with honey if desired. Serve hot.

Historically:

Lavender oil and lavender water were worn by prostitutes centuries ago in order to attract customers. Despite this, in the Renaissance, it was believed that if lavender were mixed with rosemary, it would preserve a womanÕs chastity.

Love Bath

For promoting and attracting love.

3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lavender
1 part Cardamom
1 part Yarrow

Giving equal time...

Celibacy Bath

Add to a tub of tepid water. Bathe in this blend to cool down.
4 parts Lavender
2 parts Camphor

The Romans used lavender oil in their baths, fumigated a room in preparation for childbirth, and to promote menses and expel afterbirth.

Folk custom for finding out if your wish will come true.

Place lavender under your pillow at night just before you go to sleep and think of a wish. In the morning, if you have dreamt of anything relating to your wish, it will come true. If, however, you did not dream of anything connected with your wish, it will not come true.

Sources: Jean Roses's Herbs and Things, Scott Cunningham's: Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Patricia Telesco's A Victorian Grimoire.

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