
Lavender
Lavandula spp.
Spile, Elf Leaf, Nard
Native to
Mediterranean, Southern Europe, North Africa, and Northeast Asia including parts of India
A majority of the Witchlist's Garden include naturalized species that now live across the globe, for history's sake and to ensure we recognize any appropriation that we may make in our use of a plant, we include it's nativity.
Parts Used
Flowers are harvested by picking the stems, typically prior to blooming - dry days are a necessity as mold will find a way with Lavender.
Antibacterial: Stops or slows the spread of bacteria
Antidepressant: Aids in alleviating depression
Antispasmodic: Relieves involuntary movements such as ticks and seizures
(Note: many antispasmodics have the opposite effect depending on your neurology, consult your doctor)
Anxiolytic: Calms, soothes anxiety and mental distress
Carminative: Relieves gas... Farts, specifically
Circulatory Stimulant: Boosts blood and oxygen circulation
Nervine: literally calms the nerves
Holidays
Midsummer
Plant Energies
Over the course of millenia, various religions, physical sciences, diviners and star gazers, etc. have come to assign energies. This is perfectly synopsized by JD Walker in A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft:
Plants can be hot, cold, wet, or dry. They are assigned to or governed by one of seven (or nine [by including the Moon and Sun], depending on your outlook) heavenly bodies. People assigned these characteristics based on where a plant grew, what it looked like, and what effect it had on the humans and animals that came in contact with the plant.
Planet(s): Mercury
Element(s): Air
Gender: Masculine
Sign(s): Gemini, Virgo
Chakra(s): Crown, Third Eye, Throat, Heart, Solar Plexus

Lavender in Action
The Bat & Raven offers these products that utilize the properties of Lavender.
Magical Properties
Balance
Chastity
Clarity
Divination
Drive out Evil
Happiness
Harmony
Healing
Joy
Longevity
Love
Luck
Moving On
Peace
Protection
Purification
Prosperity
Psychic Awareness
Reconciliation
Reduce Anxiety
Sleep
Spiritual Cleansing
Tranquility
Talk to your Doctor/Medical Professional before adding any Supplements, herbal teas, Infusions, etc.
Part of the reason that we list medical jargin is because many plants can interfere with or even counteract medications we already take or it can exacerbate ailments we already have.
When talking to your Medical Professional, we suggest asking what "actions" an herb might do to interfere
with your health, either positive of negative. For example, if you suffer from heartburn, a Cholagogue which creates more bile may not be advantageous. Too much of a good thing, eh?
Sources
Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham (Indiebound Books)
Green Witchcraft Grimoire: A Practical Resource for Making Your Own Spells, Rituals, and Recipes by Amythyst Raine (Indiebound Books)
Herbal Supplement Resource, Lavender: Health Benefits and Side Effects (Website)
The Herbarium by The Herbal Academy of New England, Monographs, Lavender (Subscription)
Herb Magic: An Introduction to Magical Herbalism and Spells by Patti Wigington (Indiebound Books)
Hildegard's Healing Plants From her Medieval Classic 'Physica' by Bruce W. Hozeski (Indiebound Books)
The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Indiebound Books)
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs: Your Complete Guide to the Hidden Powers of Herbs by Judy Ann Nock (Indiebound Books)