lemon balm

melissa offinalis

this is a medicine of discovering the alignment of heart, spirit, body, womb, and stomach.

it was planted for a dear friend who makes incredible elixirs.
when we first met, i was aware that there were mutual ties to costa rica.
she is a wealth of knowing and depth of relationship with plants. respected in medicine circles and one who moves with embodied knowing.
to be honest, i was a bit nervous to meet her.
and as she walked up and we hugged, her spirit soothed my nerves. she welcomed me to the farm and land and spoke of how glad she was that i was there.

the farm is a web of friendships, it seemed every corner i turned i was met with another plant beloved.
when i walked the row of lemon balm, it felt like coming home.

melissa offinalis had been a cherished ally during my recovery after the accident. one of the plants i sat with daily.
early in the summer of 25, there was a clear invitation to understand each piece of the infusions i drank daily- the unique nature of each medicine. starting with one plant, and slowly, every few days adding another plant in.
i started with nettle.
i had days of unrest in my nervous system. it was not until i added the first plant, lemon balm, back in that i understood.
for some time, i have been in a deep love affair with plants, i speak daily of the importance of their presence in my life. and like many close relationships, i was not aware of the depth of lemon balms offerings until there was distance.

lemon balm is an ally of the nervous system, a nervine. i often explain it to women as the feeling in your body when you meet a dear female friend and she puts her hands on your shoulders or runs her hands down the tops of your arms.
shoulders relax, breath deepens, an exhale that one was unaware they were holding.

a beautiful manifestation of the asteroid ceres’ energy, the great maternal nurturance. honey bee medicine. medicine of land, and plant, sweetly woven.

lemon balm tends to the digestive system, lending a teaching of the parallel between mind, nervous system, and belly. when both are at rest, this peace moves gently and fluidly through the heart space.

profoundly direct and gentle. a sharing, a love of making medicine.
abundant and resilient as a plant, inviting one to tune into this resonance.

may your heart, mind, body, belly, and being be aligned in peace and rest.
all ways.
always.

to see this dear plant sister’s offerings: earth and spirit.