Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants - Juliet Diaz 2020

Lovage Levisticum officinale
A Compendium of Plants

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES

love, self-love

This plant’s name is said to come from the medieval “love-ache,” which sounds unpleasant until you learn ache simply meant “parsley” back then. In truth, lovage a very positive plant. All parts are edible—her flower, seeds, leaves, and roots—and she is quite delicious. Her flavor is like a very intense parsley, and her seeds make a useful spice, much like fennel seeds.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Lovage is an aquaretic, meaning that she is much like a diuretic—causing you to urinate—but without the accompanying loss of electrolytes. This quality makes her fantastic for purification and detoxing—she can help clear out a urinary tract infection and prevent kidney stones. She can also regulate menstruation, ward off a migraine headache, and calm indigestion.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

The assumption in the Magical community is often that lovage’s primary function is to bring you love—but her true richness lies in helping you to love yourself. Lovage is associated with all things self-love and self-care. She is both a beauty and a love herb, healing the spirit by clearing heart-centered wounds and raising your self-confidence. As your love for your inner being grows, you will begin to attract love from the entirety of the universe.

PLANT WISDOM

Self-love is your innate right, gift, and power. But it isn’t an easy journey. I know how hard it is to love yourself in a world that highlights your “flaws” and claims to know what “real” beauty should be or look like. And it certainly doesn’t help if we’ve experienced a trauma. But here is the thing: Self-love is healing work, and it’s about getting back in touch with the sacredness of your existence, the beauty of your unique self, and your truth. Lovage will latch on to your heart and never let go, gently helping you navigate the twists and turns of your life with unconditional love. Invite lovage into your dreams, and she will be gentle and intuitive in her healing heart work for your subconscious. She is truly the queen of hearts.