Full Moon Greetings – April 16 2022
This blog post on lavender and kindness is part of my lunar blog series featuring one plant and its correspondence for mindful focus. (Read more details on the lunar mindfulness series. )
The Energy of Kindness
Lavender has a strong historical connection to both love and tranquility. The herb has been used in love potions, rituals, and bridal bouquets. And lavender tea and essential oils have been used to soothe stress and anxiety.
But to me, the most dominant energy of this herb is kindness. Of course, kindness is related to both love and tranquility. Love generates a willingness to be kind. And the act of being kind can relieve tension and create calmness. They are interconnected.
A Kindness Prompt
The world seems a little off kilter right now, but we can help shift the balance by committing to kindness as a mindful practice. And
lavender can keep that commitment uppermost in our minds. There are a host of ways to keep the herb visible and fragrant in your life. Lavender essential oil, lavender sprigs in a vase, or dried in a charm can remind us to set kindness as our default. We can also include the herb in food and drink where its unique flavor nourishes our spirit as well as our focus on kindness. Lavender syrup is a delicious way to incorporate the fragrance into your day. (See the recipe here.)
In the garden, any aromatic herb can serve as mindfulness reminder when we brush against it. Lavender can be a call to be mindful especially of kindness. Is that “kindfulness”?
My own lavender plants are tucked into garden beds that I don’t always see in the winter. But I pass a house almost daily while walking my dogs that has lavender all along the fence. The leaves retain their fragrance and bluish-green color throughout the winter. They always make me smile and are a reminder of the energetic correspondence of kindness.
The Practice of Kindness
Kindness is an intentional practice. It is easy to be kind in friendly situations. But the challenge with any intentional practice is responding when things are not optimal. In those situations, we can commit to being kind and respectful even if the other person is not.
And leading with kindness does not mean that we allow ourselves to be run over by some else. After all, we want to practice kindness with ourselves as well as others. But it does mean that even when setting boundaries or disagreeing with someone, we can intentionally be kind. It is a skill we can practice.
Lavender in Your Garden
One of the easiest ways to have a supply of lavender for tea, potpourri, and other kindness reminders is to grow your own. Lavender is a
perennial woody herb. It is not particularly hard to grow, but it is hard to get started from seed. It does not like to be over-watered so keep that in mind when placing it among other plants.
There are many varieties to choose from, but English lavenders are recommended for fragrance and hardiness. Two of the most popular English varieties are Hidcote and Munstead. If you don’t have a local source for lavender plants I recommend Richters or Strictly Medicinal Seeds.
For detailed information on cultivation, check out this article from the Farmer’s Almanac on cultivating lavender.
Questions for kindness contemplation
- What would it take to have kindness be your default setting when responding to difficult situations?
- How can you use lavender as a reminder to be kind?
- What other reminders can you create for yourself?
Committing to Kindness
Lavender is an herbal ally that can help us align and commit to kindness. Incorporating lavender into our gardens and lives can help us stay on track with that commitment. Don’t miss the point that the world changes one person at a time. Committing to kindness can help change the world.
Thank you Joann. Last summer I planted two small lavender plants in a very small backyard garden bed. They did alright but I get no sun in the fall/winter/spring there (no sun yet has reached the bed but that will happen in next couple of weeks and stay through the summer). They get covered with snow and that plus trying to shovel some of the snow out cut the plants down pretty low to the ground. I see no green yet by also there’s no sun on them. Any suggestions? I had lavender in pots at other times where I could move it around in the sun, or even bring inside but I have very little room inside for that and stopped.
Debbie, I wouldn’t worry about snow unless it is breaking the branches. Snow actually helps insulate the plants from frigid temperatures. My lavender doesn’t have new growth on it yet, so yours is probably okay. But they do like sun so that could be an issue. I know you don’t have a ton of room inside, but maybe you could get a miniature variety that would stay small in a pot and then bring that inside for the winter. Any variety could be pruned to keep it manageable but the miniature ones would be easier. Good luck and let me know if your lavender makes it through. If not, we can take some cuttings from mine so you can start again.
So helpful, and thank you. The small bed with the lavender is right by my backyard sidewalk going to garage and yard. I needed to keep that area shoveled for me and my dog (especially with foot injuries I had last winter), and in the process I had to remove snow from the yard because it never melted and I would run out of space for it. Removal was hard on these plants. I’m encouraged that it’s OK there is no growth yet I did mulch them in the fall and also added leaves on top of that in winter. I hope they make it!
I love lavender-scented candles too and lavender oil.
I will let you know when I see new growth on mine just as a cross check on yours.
Can’t wait for my lavender to bloom to try the syrup recipe. Thanks for your writing.
I know! I feel the same way. I love the flavor, but you can adjust it of course to be stronger or milder.