Lavender Meaning and magickal uses
Also called English Lavender, Elf Leaf, Spike
A soothing purple herb for calm, sleep, cleansing and gentle love.
- Intentions
- Peace, Sleep and Dreams, Cleansing, Love
- Element
- Air
- Planet
- Mercury
- Day
- Wednesday
- Moon phase
- Waning Crescent
- Chakra
- Crown
- Parts used
- Flowers, flower spikes
How to use it
- Sleep sachet
Tuck a small bag of dried lavender under your pillow. As you settle in, breathe deeply and let each breath tell your body that the day is done.
- Cleansing wash
Add a cooled lavender infusion to your floor-washing water or a spray bottle. Mist a room while you picture tension lifting and the space feeling fresh and light.
- Peace bundle
Tie fresh lavender stems into a small bundle and hang it upside down near your bed or desk to dry. Its scent becomes a cue to slow down.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
The name lavender likely comes from the Latin lavare, to wash, because Romans scented their baths and laundry with it. In medieval and Tudor England it was strewn on floors, tucked among linens and carried to sweeten the air. Folklore links it with love, too: young people would make a wish on lavender on Midsummer's Eve. It remains one of the most loved herbs in modern witchcraft, a calming, all-purpose favorite for beginners and seasoned witches alike.
A soothing purple herb for calm, sleep, cleansing and gentle love.
- Intentions: Peace, Sleep and Dreams, Cleansing, Love
- Element: Air
- Planet: Mercury
- Zodiac: Virgo, Gemini
- Day: Wednesday
- Moon phase: Waning Crescent
- Chakra: Crown
- Parts used: Flowers, flower spikes
Safety: Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA list), so keep plants, dried bundles and especially lavender essential oil away from pets. Never swallow the essential oil, always dilute it for skin, and ask a healthcare provider before using it during pregnancy. Burning dried lavender is fine for most people, but ventilate the room.
How to use it
- Sleep sachet. Tuck a small bag of dried lavender under your pillow. As you settle in, breathe deeply and let each breath tell your body that the day is done.
- Cleansing wash. Add a cooled lavender infusion to your floor-washing water or a spray bottle. Mist a room while you picture tension lifting and the space feeling fresh and light.
- Peace bundle. Tie fresh lavender stems into a small bundle and hang it upside down near your bed or desk to dry. Its scent becomes a cue to slow down.
Works well with: Purple Candle, Amethyst, Lepidolite, Lavender Oil, Litha
Folklore
The name lavender likely comes from the Latin lavare, to wash, because Romans scented their baths and laundry with it. In medieval and Tudor England it was strewn on floors, tucked among linens and carried to sweeten the air. Folklore links it with love, too: young people would make a wish on lavender on Midsummer's Eve. It remains one of the most loved herbs in modern witchcraft, a calming, all-purpose favorite for beginners and seasoned witches alike.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.