I have the task of cleaning out an apothecary that has been neglected for years. This project started out strong. Among these shelves there are jars of herbal oils and years worth of dried herbs. Too much clutter has made the apothecary confusing to use. Ready to use remedies are stacked besides dried herbs too old to use.
Many of these herbs are beautiful to behold. But after 5 or so years in a jar some of their medicine has dwindled. Still, I wanted to use them in a special way. To honor these herbs that were so carefully collected years ago. I decided to put their more spiritual associations to use and sprinkle them a small garden.
Common, Garden Sage has long been associated with wisdom and longevity. Personally I love the scent of any type of sage and think it would have a positive affect on the part of the garden closest to the kitchen door. Maybe the scent will keep pests from eating the microgreens. On a more spiritual level white sage, as well as other common varieties of sage have been ritual burned to push out negative spirits for generations. And according to (Flying the Hedge :: Herbarium) sage can be carried around to "to bring luck, wisdom, and protection. Burn it to purify rooms and objects and dispel negativity." (source)
Lemonbalm is a herb that I personally associate with joy. Like sage, the magickal properties of lemon balm spill over into the realm of herbalism. And the Herbarium writes to "Drink as a tea to bring joy and happiness to the drinker. Burn as an incense for happiness spells or add to spell bags, hang around the home, or diffuse as an essential oil for the same purposes. Since lemon balm is deeply associated with bees and a great pollinator, it can be used in spells to attract bees and therefore success and abundance into your life." (source)
Both herbs were collected from this very garden four or five years ago. It seems right to return them here, to bless the prospects of this garden as the wheel of time moves on. As I sprinkled the herbs around the potted plants and saw them tumble over the new growth and soil I wished for abundance and health to come to this patch of land.
Hopefully great harvests await!