Lemon Balm

What this is

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). Melissa, the bee-herb, a Jupiter-and-Moon plant of Sagittarius and Cancer, the herb of gladness that maketh the heart merry; Paracelsus called it the elixir of life and rubbed it on the hive to keep the bees at home.

What it governs

Lemon Balm answers to Jupiter and the element of Air, with a second hand from Moon. Its seat in the zodiac is Sagittarius and Cancer, and its day is Thursday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the waxing moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Paracelsus' elixir of life — a cup of fresh leaves steeped lifts a dull mood by afternoon.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning lemon is warm and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the leaf. Its working colour follows Jupiter, royal blue and purple; its metal is tin, its stones are citrine, moonstone, its number 4, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Chesed. It carries well on the body, kept in a pocket or a small sachet and it is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

Gladness and healing everywhere: rubbed on the hive to keep the bees and grown for cheer from Greece onward; carried to draw love and success and ease a sad heart in folk craft; the tea for the nerves and the dull mood. The merry heart, one bee-herb, hive and breast.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Lemon Balm on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, Moon's Companion, Today's Gathering, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its one office: paracelsus' elixir of life — a cup of fresh leaves steeped lifts a dull mood by afternoon. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Sachiel; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with Jupiter's expansion and good fortune. As the Moon's Companion it asks you to do its quieter work by night, or with the turning tide of the moon behind you. As Today's Gathering it marks a plant to take up now, while the waxing moon and the day are with it.

Why it matters

Lemon balm gladdens and steadies the heart. Its whole nature is to lift a flat, low mood back into cheer. It asks you to choose gladness where you can, and to take the small cup that turns the afternoon.

Correspondences

planet

Jupiter

element

Air

zodiac

Sagittarius, Cancer

number

4

sephirah

Chesed

day

Thursday

colour

royal blue, purple

metal

tin

stone

citrine, moonstone

tarot

The Empress