Lavender: Your Ally for Calm, Clarity, and Heart-Centered Healing.
- Anna Bazarnaya
- Sep 6
- 4 min read
When the Sun moves into Virgo in the end of August, there’s an unmistakable shift from Leo’s heat and boldness to something quieter, more intentional. Virgo, ruled by Mercury, reminds us that life doesn’t change only through big, sweeping gestures — small, mindful rituals can reshape everything.
This attention to detail is especially relevant during eclipse season, a time of heightened emotional and energetic activity. Eclipses amplify endings, releases, and shifts, offering a chance to clear what no longer serves us and make space for growth. It’s a season that asks us to slow down, pay attention to subtle signals, and support ourselves through gentle, grounding practices. More about the eclipse season, its meaning, and self-care is discussed in this article.
One of the most supportive plant allies for this time of reflection, release, and renewal is lavender.
Lavender has been prized for its fresh, soft fragrance since ancient times and was used in Ancient Rome to scent bathwater. Even the name "lavender" comes from the Latin word lavare, meaning "to wash." This connects to its spiritual use in cleansing negative energy, both from a space and from the mind.
Lavender is ruled by the sign of Virgo and the planet Mercury. And just as characteristics of Virgo include over-sensitivity and inhibition, so too can lavender soothe the nervous system, and quiet the inner neurotic energy that can cause self-doubt and inhibition.
Soothing the sense of trauma that inhibits self-expression, lavender is helpful in times when we are full of creative potential but frustrated in fulfilling it due to self-conscious reserve.
For those of us healing from trauma, lavender helps to gently and soothingly bring stagnant emotions to the surface. This can create an opportunity to sit with and process our feelings, which eventually provides new creative perspectives and solutions to the problems.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the calming, dispersing, and relaxing qualities of lavender benefit conditions associated with heat, inflammation, spasm, pain, and general unrest.
The psychological uses of lavender come from its ability to calm and stabilize the Heart. Home of the mind (Shen), the Heart is responsible for maintaining our overall mental-emotional equilibrium. As an aromatherapy, lavender calms strong emotions that threaten to overwhelm the mind.
Lavender essential oil helps release the pent-up energy associated with the Wood element, which manifests as frustration, irritability, anger, and an inability to move forward constructively. Like a tree root blocked from spreading or a sprout unable to push through the soil, this unbalanced Wood energy gets stuck, leading to rigidity, resentment, and even physical symptoms such as headaches, high blood pressure, and tension.
Lavender was brilliantly described by herbalist Peter Holmes as "a habit breaker and crisis smoother" for its ability to release mental energy that became stuck in habitual behavior, especially resulting from the build-up repressed emotions. Pair lavender with amethyst and let this powerful purple duo to further work on releasing old habits and addiction to substances that developed as coping mechanisms to numb the painful memories and emotions.
So, how do we work with lavender in aromatherapy?
One of my favorite tips is to apply a drop of undiluted essential oil on the crown of your head for an immediate grounding and psychic protection.
Apply a lavender blend around your throat, shoulders, scalp, and upper chest to balance your throat chakra.
Inhale pure essential oil from the bottle for at least 3 deep, long breath cycles.
Use in a diffuser to promote relaxation while maintaining focus.
Add 2-3 drops to a diffuser with water and run for 10-15 minutes during times of high productivity or when you need to unwind.
Add 4–5 drops of lavender essential oil to a cup of Epsom salts and use it in a bath for a soothing ritual soak that can help you relax and recharge after a busy day.
A foot massage with lavender essential oil helps diffuse overthinking and prepare you for rest. Dilute a few drops of lavender essential oil in a carrier oil, such as sweet almond or jojoba oil, and massage it into your feet or pamper your child or romantic partner before bed.
For a smoke-free alternative to traditional smudging, consider using a lavender hydrosol spray to refresh your space. Or make a spary with 10–15 drops of lavender essential oil, 1/2 cup distilled water, and a splash of witch hazel in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and mist around a room, your workspace, or your own aura.
Spritz your sheets and pillows with lavender hydrosol before bed to clear stagnant energy from your bedroom and promote restful sleep.
Cleanse your clothing of unwanted energy by adding lavender to your laundry routine. Add 4–5 drops of lavender oil to your detergent, wool dryer balls, or a clean, damp cloth.
Lavender is more than its famous fragrance — it’s a gentle ally for body, mind, and spirit.
Use it to calm the nervous system, release stagnant emotions, and create space for clarity and heart-centered healing. Small, intentional rituals with lavender can reset your energy and support emotional balance, no matter the season.
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