Lemon Balm
and Renewal
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm is a bushy perennial that releases a delightful lemony fragrance when brushed against. It’s great to plant near walkways for that reason. As a member of the mint family, it can be a little wild, so sequestering it to a large planter might be preferable to releasing it in your yard.
Leaves of lemon balm can be added to salad or made into tea. The tea has a mild lemon flavor that is not as strong as the plant’s fragrance would suggest. I like to make a tea of half lemon balm and half nettles. The nettles make it more robust and nutritious, while the lemon balm improves the flavor of the nettles.
Lemon balm has historically been used to counteract melancholy and anxiety. The citrusy smell vibrates with an energy of renewal, a kind of antidote for melancholy that is also the plant’s correspondence.
Renewal means starting over, sweeping out the old and beginning again. It’s a metaphorical throwing open of our energetic windows. We sweep away what no longer nourishes us or what is no longer relevant in our lives. It’s not an accident that many cleaning supplies have a lemony smell; the scent is clean and fresh, and renewal is a clean and fresh start. It’s a deep, cleansing breath for all areas of life.
The world of energy is in constant motion. If you mindfully pay attention, you’ll notice that some things are depleting, and others are renewing. There is a balance in the world, but you personally might be spending too much time with depleting energy. Certainly, our on-the-move culture is aligned with depletion. In attending to renewal, be aware of this balance of energy and consciously align yourself with renewing energy when you need it. Be aware of where this energy is manifesting—and also where it is not. Be attentive to activities, people, habits, and thoughts that renew and refresh you, as well as those that don’t.
Morning Attunement Questions
• What connections do I have with lemon balm and renewal?
• Where else in the green world or in my life do I observe renewal?
• What does this correspondence feel like?
• How can I describe this energetic attribute of renewal in words or pictures?
• Where does renewal resonate most strongly in or around my body or in my life?
Daily Integration Questions
• In what ways is the world reflecting lemon balm or renewal back to me?
• What nuances and shades of meaning do I notice about lemon balm and renewal?
Evening Reflection Questions
• Where and how did I experience lemon balm or renewal today?
• How did I embrace renewal today?
• What wisdom does lemon balm’s correspondence of renewal bring to my life?