Why I Still Keep a Lavender Wand By My Bed
How one simple herb holds ancient wisdom, healing, and heartfelt memories
Picture this - a sunny breezy spring day, sheets snapping on the line and the fresh scent of lavender waftng through the air.
That’s the thought that comes to my mind when I think of lavender.
But I also think of running my hands over the flowers and inhaling the deeply calming aroma.
When I do this, It feels like there are a thousand ancient memories associated with this amazing plant and the memories of lives since passed when lavender was a more prominent part of society.
In the Middle Ages lavender was grown in most gardens as it was used in herbal remedies. Lavender was placed between linens as most people didn’t take baths daily. It was also put in bags and hung in rooms as an air freshener.
A lavender wand is a decorative way to preserve the scent of lavender and use it as an air freshener. I made a lavender wand once at a lavender farm. These wands can only be made with fresh lavender stems.
That’s because the stems are bent back covering the buds in a sort of cage. Once all the stems are bent back, the lavender stems are secured and decorated with ribbon.
I still have this wand in my bedroom and while the scent isn’t as strong as it used to be, I enjoy the decorative beauty of the wand.
Traditionally lavender wands were given as gifts and given to a bride for good luck.
In ancient times lavender was also associated with purity, devotion and protection. It was often used in religious ceremonies and as a talisman to ward off evil.
In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, the washer women were known as lavender as they spread the laundry over lavender bushes to dry and absorb the scent of lavender.
The herb was strewn on floors and burned in sick rooms as a disinfectant and deorderant as lavender has anti-bacterial properties. The herb is also an insecticide so it was placed in linen closets to protect linen from moths.
Lavender has long been considered an aphrodisiac and the herb of love. A lavender tea was drunk by maidens to discover the identity of their true loves. The herb was put under the bed of newlyweds to ensure passion on their wedding night.
Lavender is best known for its ability to calm the nervous system. It’s benefical for muscle aches, digestive issues as well as cramps and spasms.
The herb’s relaxing abilities helps women suffering from menstrual cramps and disorders.
It’s this relaxing ability that can also help with sleep, as small lavender sachets placed near a pillow can be inhaled during the night to provide a relaxing sleep.
Lavender has been used in perfumes for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Greece and Egypt, where it was used in mummification.
Even if you didn’t use lavender for these things, simply growing it in the garden brings pleasure. The bright purple blooms are a joy to look at and attract beneficial insects.
When you discover there are other wonderful colors, such as dark blues, pinks and even white, growing lavender can become an obsession.
In case you didn’t notice, I love lavender and that’s why I produced the eguide, Lavender Love Affair. It details the different types of lavender, how to grow and harvest it, crafts and recipes to make, a guide to it’s healing abilities and more.
Lavender has been cherished for centuries — for calm, for beauty, for love.
Now you can explore its magic too with my Lavender Love Affair guide, filled with practical tips, DIYs, and historical herbal wisdom.
It’s yours free when you buy Feng Shui with Herbs for Home and Garden or become a paid subscriber of Herbs with Marilyn.