DAILY WISDOM

DAILY CELEBRATION, March 1, 2010


Today I am Celebrating Lavender!


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I was reaching for my Lavender oil this morning to soothe a headache and thought it was a wonderful thing to Celebrate today!  I think Lavender is one of the herbs that is recognizable and favored by many.  Not only is it beautiful but it is so very useful as well!  I want to share some of my favorite uses of Lavender with you today!
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Some Lavender Folk Names:  Elf Leaf, Nard, Nardus, Spike
It is a masculine herb associated with Mercury and Air.  It has the powers of Love, Protection. Sleep, Longevity, Purification, Happiness and Peace.  Lavender or Lavendar is a great hedging plant and likes its home to be in a sunny, open area.  It doesn't really care for mulch because when it rains the mulch splatters onto the leaves and can result in fungus disease.  Now, some folks tell me they mulch theirs all the time and they do wonderfully; but for me this has not been the case.  Mine seem to do best with a mulch of stone which keeps them warm and fungus free.  Its eneries and flavors are spicy, fragrant, mildly bitter and cool.  It affects the lungs and liver systems.  It's properties are aromatic, carminative, antispasmodic and antidepressant which are all general tendencies of purple or blue plants.



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Infuse Lavender as a tea to soothe headaches, calm nerves, ease flatulence, fainting, dizziness and halitosis.  The essential oil of Lavender is used as an antiseptic, mild sedative and painkiller (a drop or two rubbed on the temple with a tension headache works wonders!).  It is a nice calmer for children as well.  Add 6 drops to bathwater to calm irritability.
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Rub your clothes with Lavender to attract love yet drive away mosquitoes!  Lavender water was worn several centuries ago by prostitutes to advertise their profession as well as attract customers.......it is especially attracting to men.
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Burn the flowers to  induce sleep and rest.  Scatter the flowers about the home to promote peacefulness.  Smell the plant often to ensure a long life.
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A Lavender Divination----Place some Lavender under your pillow while thinking of a wish.  Do this right before you jump into bed.  If you dream anything at all about your wish it will come true.  However, if you didn't dream at all or your dreams were of something other than your wish it will not manifest.
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A nice foot bath for gardeners with smelly boot feet...
2 quarts warm water
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup herbal vinegar or plain white vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh Lavender flowers and leaves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Fill a large plastic pan  with the warm water.  Stir in the baking soda, vinegar and fresh herbs.  The water will fizz and bubble when you add the soda and vinegar.  Soak your feet in the solution for 15-20 minutes.  Pat dry and massage them with a rich natural oil (olive oil or almond oil work great) or foot cream.
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Mothers and housewives are the busiest people I know and deserve Kudos for all that they do for their families.  They make sacrifices everyday for their children, husbands and communities.  Here is a wonderful soothing bath tea that can recharge any Superwoman's batteries!
2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers
2 tablespoons dried rosebuds or petals
2 tablespoons dried Lavender flowers
2 tablespoons dried hops flowers
Mix all of the herbs together and store in a pretty jar.  To use; place the flowers in a square of cheesecloth and tie the ends with a long ribbon or cotton string.  Tie the string on your tub faucet so that the water runs over it as you fill your bath or simply throw it in the tub while filling.
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A nice calming activity for children.
Make a scented Play Dough
1 cup of flour
½ cup of salt
1 cup of water ( you may color this with food coloring if you like)
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2-3 drops Lavender essential oil
2 tablespoons Lavender flowers
Mix the flour, salt, water, oil and cream of tartar in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until it begins to bubble.  Remove from the heat and stir in the Lavender flowers.  Next add the Lavender essential oil.  Knead for 3-5 minutes or until smooth (it will be a tad bit lumpy with the flowers but I crush mine in a coffee grinder first).  Store in an airtight container.  You can leave your creations out to air dry and they will harden.
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A Purple Koolaid Mustache To Go with The Purple Lavender!
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Scented Sugar Scrub
¼ cup dried Lavender flowers
1 cup granulated sugar (I like to use brown sugar)
In a clean, dry, glass jar alternate layers of sugar and Lavender.  Cover with a tight fitting lid or plastic wrap and place in a dry spot for a few weeks.  To use; Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand and mix with water or your favorite cleanser.  Massage into your skin.

You can also put Lavender flowers in cheesecloth and place in a jar with white, granulated sugar for a flavored sugar.
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Lavender Lemonade
Steep 1 large tea ball filled with Lavender in a quart of boiled water until the liquid turns a nice rosy color.  Meanwhile, in a gallon jar ( I prefer glass), mix 2 large cans of frozen lemonade concentrate with 4 cans of water.  Add the cooled Lavender infusion.  Finally, add ice and garnish with fresh mint, lemon balm or Lavender sprigs.
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Drying Lavender is easy!  Just cut and hang!

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After Shave Lotion
Add 1 oz dried Lavender flowers and 1 oz of dried sage to 2 cups of witch hazel.  Place in a tightly closed jar and let sit for at least a week in a very warm area.  I like the top of the frig for that.  Strain and rebottle.  This aftershave is not only invigorating but smells wonderful as well!
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Rubbing Lavender on your skin when outside will keep mosquitos and other flies at bay.  When I hold outside classes and are bothered by flies, as soon as people start playing with the Lavender they disappear!