There’s something sacred in the way herbs grow. Quiet. Intentional. Healing. Each one holding stories, secrets, and scents that reach further than just our fingertips. For me, herbs aren’t just part of my work - they are part of my blood. My great-great-grandmother was a herbalist in Salford, Manchester, tending to tinctures and tonics with the kind of knowledge passed down through heart and hand. I like to believe her whisper lives in my garden, in the way I blend a tea, or tuck a sprig of sage into a ribboned bundle.
These are the herbs I reach for again and again - the ones I grow, work with, and love deeply.
Lavender
The Scent of Home
Lavender is the very heartbeat of my garden. I grow over 20 varieties, and each one brings something unique - in colour, scent, shape, and energy. I use it in everything: teas, candles, bath blends, perfumes, floral arrangements. It’s a staple in my aura mists and a quiet soother in my nightly routine.
The scent of lavender calms my anxious thoughts almost instantly. There’s a reason it’s always hanging to dry in my studio or tucked gently into drawer sachets and ritual bundles.
Spiritual whisper: Lavender is an herb of peace, protection, and deep feminine strength. It’s said to open the crown chakra and invite serenity into both body and spirit. I think of it as a wise grandmother plant - gentle, but never to be underestimated.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
The Gentle Uplifter
If you were to pluck a feeling from the air on a good day, it would smell like lemon balm. Fresh, soft, citrusy and full of life. I steep the fresh leaves in tea - often with a bit of honey - and it never fails to bring a sense of calm. I love watching it flourish in the garden, eager and generous.
Spiritual whisper: Lemon balm attracts joy and clears away sadness. I believe it has the quiet power to shift a heavy mood. It’s also used in spellwork to attract love, happiness, and healing.
Echinacea
The Wild Strength
There’s a wildness to echinacea that I love. It stands tall even when everything else seems to droop, defiant in the heat and brave in a storm. I keep tinctures made from its roots for the colder months - a herbal shield when sniffles come knocking.
Spiritual whisper: Echinacea is tied to resilience and protection. In folk magic, it’s used to strengthen spells and create energetic boundaries. To me, it’s a reminder that I am allowed to stand strong too.
Mugwort
The Dreamweaver
Mugwort isn’t for everyone - but she is certainly for me. I use her in dream pillows and occasionally in teas before bed (just a small amount). There’s something about her silvery leaves that feels otherworldly, like a portal to somewhere softer.
Spiritual whisper: Mugwort is deeply spiritual - said to open the third eye and thin the veil between worlds. It’s the herb of dreamers, visionaries, and seers. I burn it gently during full moon rituals or when I need to reconnect to myself.
Sage
The Wisdom Keeper
She’s ancient. Earthy. Rooted. I reach for sage when I need grounding or clarity. It’s a staple in my kitchen and my spiritual practice. I grow both common culinary sage and purple ornamental varieties, bundling them with rosemary and lavender.
Spiritual whisper: Sage has long been used to cleanse and protect. She holds the energy of the elders - full of knowing, full of grace. I hang her above doorways to keep the energy in our home calm and clear.
Rose
The Soft Power
Sweet, timeless, and romantic - rose is the crown jewel of my apothecary. I use her in perfumes, herbal baths, tea blends, and anything that needs a little touch of tenderness. Her scent stirs something deep within me.
Spiritual whisper: Rose opens the heart chakra and calls in love - not just romantic love, but self-love, compassion, and divine feminine energy. I believe she teaches us that softness is sacred.
Each of these herbs is more than just a plant to me - they are ancestral companions. With every harvest and every brew, I feel that ancient wisdom stir. It’s in the way I tie bundles with ribbon, the way I write labels with care, and the way I speak to my plants as I move through the garden.
Herbalism runs in my blood - a golden thread passed down from my grandmother’s grandmother. I honour her every time I touch the soil, blend a potion, or whisper a blessing over a steaming cup of tea.
May you find your own whispers among the leaves.
And may the plants always speak kindly to you.
With love and wildflowers,
Kels x