Flower Glossary is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Flowers are truly beautiful creations, aren’t they? The way they bloom and grow entices many of us, from avid gardeners to flower fanatics. And we often find ourselves wondering about the meaning of these flowers. What do they symbolize, and what do they mean?
Lavender is a popular flower and one that many of us love or have growing in our gardens. The sweet smell is soothing and often helps us relieve stress or sleep at night. But what does lavender mean and symbolize? Let’s find out today!
Lavender flower meaning and symbolism
Lavender represents all things calm. It represents purity, devotion, serenity, grace, silence, and calmness. It’s no wonder then that lavender features in many herbal remedies for stress and relaxation!
Lavender’s purple color also represents calmness and serenity. There is something soothing about lavender, not just in its smell, but color too—the whole flower encompasses serenity and an element of stillness. You can’t help but pause when you see or smell lavender.
The stillness it creates allows us to relax and be at one with ourselves and is something we have seen happen for thousands of years.
The color purple also represents power, nobility, and a symbol of spirituality. In other cultures where lavender has been expensive, we have seen the rich decorate their homes and themselves with lavender as a sign of their wealth.
When placed in your home, lavender represents calmness and serenity; it also represents nobility and power. Notably, lavender in a home represents happiness. A peaceful and happy home will have lavender in its windows or vases, and it’s a constant seen throughout time and cultures.
On a darker note, lavender represents caution. We must not misconstrue our passions, or they will turn into frustrations and disappointments.
Lavender also acts as a reminder to keep us grounded in our actions and choices in life. We must remember the calmness and serenity and move through our lives with grace and devotion to our passions.
But religiously and spiritually, the unchanging color of the purple lavender holds significance. The unchanging shades of purple have earned it their place in many religious rituals across the globe and for years. Let’s take a look at those now.
On a religious note, Lavender is mentioned in the Bible and has some interesting symbolism. It was used for purification rituals and healing, suggesting a medical element to lavender and a spiritual one.
Lavender featured oils and perfumes used by high priests and nobilities, telling us that it was popular and coveted.
But most notably, lavender was used in anointing the feet of Jesus by Mary Magdalene. The use of lavender here symbolizes devotion but also purity and a chance at redemption. It was also used to anoint Simon the leper, suggesting the healing properties of lavender and again its purity.
Lavender is also featured in baptisms and weddings. The purity, devotion, and innocence that lavender represents are featured here, in ceremonies where we see high levels of devotion to God, partners, and their faith.
In other cultures, lavender was again a symbol of aristocracy and nobility, mainly because only the rich could afford it.
In ancient Greece, lavender signified a strong connection to the unknown, the afterlife, and Gods and Goddesses. We would see lavender burnt in temples and shrines of these Gods and Goddesses as part of their rituals and a token of respect to the Gods.
And what about spiritually? In yoga and meditation, lavender is one of its famous symbols. In certain versions of the chakra system, lavender is designated in the crown chakra, where the center of a person’s energy resides.
The crown chakra is also where your cosmic connection and higher purpose are activated. Placing lavender here confirms its spiritual meaning and reinforces its connection with a higher power.
As we mentioned earlier, lavender represents serenity and purity; placing it in the crown chakra allows you to heal and be conscious. It suggests that there is peace and calmness in your head and a connection to higher purposes that isn’t often seen on Earth.
Final Word
And just like that, we have come to the end of our lavender journey! As you can see, lavender has many meanings and symbolizes calmness, serenity, and grace. The flower holds high standing in many cultures and religions as a mark of devotion and innocence.
The healing properties of lavender are seen as far back as the Bible, and it’s clear that the flower means something sacred to many people.