Day 8: My Go-To Herb — Lavender, My Softest Companion

If there is one herb that has followed me quietly throughout my life, it is lavender. I do not even remember the first time I smelled it. I just know that every time I catch its scent, something inside me exhales. Lavender makes my shoulders drop. My breath deepens. My spirit softens. It is the closest thing I have to an immediate grounding switch.

I am obsessed with it.
And honestly? I am not ashamed.

I drink lavender tea.
I buy lavender soaps.
I use lavender lotions.
I carry lavender essential oils like it is emotional first aid.
If a product comes in a lavender scent, I am probably grabbing it off the shelf like “thank you, this is mine.”

But the beauty of lavender is that it is not just a nice smell.
It is a spiritual ally.
A healer.
A protector.
A soft bruja’s best friend.

When I started researching herbs and their metaphysical properties, lavender came up again and again. Calm. Clarity. Cleansing. Protection. Intuition. Dreams. Peace. A balm for the nervous system, the mind, and the emotional body. It was like reading a list of things I desperately needed during some of the hardest seasons of my life.

And then I stumbled onto something that made everything click:
Lavender is deeply tied to my astrological sign.

According to multiple sources, including the one I found on Curious Cauldron, lavender aligns with my zodiac energy in a way that feels almost fated. The herb’s softness, its spiritual grounding, its calm clarity, and its connection to intuition are traits that mirror who I am and who I am constantly becoming. It felt like lavender had been whispering to me long before I ever understood its meaning.

It was always meant to be one of my herbs.

I think that is the magic of lavender. It is gentle without being weak. It is calming without being boring. It is soothing without making you numb. Lavender does not force anything; it invites. It lets you unclench slowly. It makes space for you to breathe. It comforts you without overwhelming your senses.

To me, lavender is the embodiment of soft bruja energy.

It is the herb of the woman who is tired but still trying.
The bruja who carries heaviness but still chooses light.
The girl who grew up learning hardness but is now learning softness.
The spirit who wants both grounding and magic.
The tender heart who needs peace in a world that feels too loud.

Lavender is that hand on your back saying, “Breathe. You’re safe.”

And I think that is why it has always been such a powerful companion for me. In every chapter of my life, lavender has been there — in a bottle, a tea cup, a candle, a lotion, a diffuser, a soap bar. It has always shown up when I needed to soothe my anxiety, calm my nervous system, or reconnect with my intuition.

It is not just an herb; it is a ritual.
A comfort.
A familiar scent that feels like home.
A reminder that softness is a strength too.

So yes, lavender is my go-to herb. It always has been. And now that I know how aligned it is with my spirit, my sign, and my path, it feels even more meaningful.

If you are on your own spiritual or emotional healing journey, I hope you find an herb that feels like this for you. One that makes you feel seen. One that speaks your language. One that holds you with gentleness.

For me, that herb is lavender.
Always has been.
Always will be.

Check out this article about the herb: https://curiouscauldron.com.au/blogs/sacred-space/magickal-properties-of-lavender?srsltid=AfmBOormeE6Rdk5veB4vxNaioLca_81dZSCpJm2nXQH3pwzGVlDmw0l1

#astrologicalHerbs #authorLife #brujaRituals #calmingHerbs #emotionalHealing #gentleWitchcraft #herbalMagic #intuitiveLiving #LatinaSpirituality #lavenderBenefits #lavenderHerbMagic #softBrujaChallenge #spiritualSelfCare #TheOrdinaryBruja

Day 6: Favorite Witchy Book(s)

Books have always been one of my portals. Not just for escape, but for understanding myself, my identity, my spirituality, and the parts of me I never had language for growing up. When I started walking a more intentional spiritual path, I didn’t have a mentor. I didn’t have a coven. I didn’t have someone guiding me step by step. What I did have was curiosity, intuition, and a lifelong love of reading.

So I did what I always do.
I found books that helped me make sense of the magic I could feel living inside me.

Today’s Soft Bruja Challenge prompt is all about those witchy books. The ones that opened my eyes, grounded my rituals, deepened my understanding, and shaped the way I walk through the world as a spiritual Latina woman. Some are nonfiction guides that taught me about my inner bruja. Some are fiction stories that reminded me that our magic is real because it is rooted in our emotions, our culture, and our humanity.

Here are the ones that have stayed with me.

NonFiction

Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic. — Lisa Lister

This was the first book I read cover to cover when I intentionally stepped onto my spiritual path. And honestly? It changed everything. Lisa Lister doesn’t just talk about witchcraft. She talks about womanhood. She talks about intuition. She talks about the power of living in sync with the moon, our bodies, and the rhythm of the world around us.

I loved how she explained the historical violence women experienced simply for being healers, midwives, herbalists, or intuitive women. And then she flipped it, showing how the witch is reawakening in all of us today. This book gave me reasons for the things I felt but never voiced. It gave me clarity. It made me feel less alone in my intuition. And it made me feel empowered.

If you are new to the spiritual path, this book is a grounding, validating, energizing place to start.

The Green Witch — Arin Murphy-Hiscock

This book is soft bruja energy in paper form. It is a gentle, practical guide to working with nature: herbs, flowers, essential oils, roots, and the elements. Since I have a green thumb, this book made everything click. It helped me understand how to blend the medicinal and the spiritual. How to turn my plants into partners. How to use herbs for both healing and magic.

It also gave me language for things I had already been doing instinctively.
Dominican households are full of plant magic.
We just never called it witchcraft.
We called it “remedios.”
We called it “lo que hacía tu abuela.”

This book helped me see the lineage in that.

Santa Muerte: The History, Rituals, and Magic of Our Lady of the Holy Death — Tracey Rollin

This book called to me from the shelf. You know that feeling. When something in your chest says, “Pick this one up.” So I did. And I read it cover to cover.

Santa Muerte is often sensationalized, misunderstood, or demonized, but this book breaks the stereotype. It explains her history, her purpose, her rituals, and why she is beloved by so many marginalized communities. She is a protector. A guide. A guardian for those who walk dangerous paths, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally.

This book helped me understand her without fear.
It helped me understand the devotion.
It helped me understand why her energy resonates with certain people.

And it gave me a deeper respect for her as a spiritual force.

Fiction

Fiction has its own magic. It carries emotion, cultural nuance, inner journeys, and the psychological depth that mirrors our real lives. These are the fiction books that have nourished me lately:

Salt Bones — Jennifer Givhan

Dark, atmospheric, culturally layered, and beautifully written. This book woke up all the parts of me that love gothic, magical realism storytelling through a Latina lens.

Signal To Noise — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A perfect blend of nostalgia, magic, and emotional complexity. Silvia always delivers stories that feel deeply human and culturally alive.

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/signal-to-noise/9400848/#isbn=1786186446

The Ordinary Bruja — Johanny Ortega

My own story. My heart. My lineage. My attempt at writing a girl who believes she is ordinary until life forces her to remember her magic. This is the book of my soul, and it belongs on my witchy shelf too.

Why These Books Matter to Me

Each of these books came to me at the exact moment I needed them. They taught me something different:

Witch taught me to honor my intuition.
The Green Witch taught me to work with nature.
Santa Muerte taught me to understand sacred things without judgment.
Salt Bones and Signal To Noise reminded me how powerful our stories are.
The Ordinary Bruja reminded me why I write.

These books are more than recommendations.
They are stepping stones.
Ritual companions.
Pieces of my healing.
Pieces of my identity.
Pieces of my bruja journey.

And if you’re walking your own path, maybe one of these books will become part of your story too.

***Some book links are Bookshop affiliate links. If you buy a book through them, I earn a small commission that helps me keep writing and sharing stories. Thank you for supporting indie authors and indie bookstores.

#bookshopAffiliate #brujaIdentity #greenWitchBooks #healingThroughBooks #herbalMagic #intuitiveReadingList #latinaSpirituality #magicalRealismFiction #santaMuerteGuide #softBrujaChallenge #spiritualSelfCare #theOrdinaryBruja #witchyBookRecommendations

Simmer Pot Spotlight

New Moon in Virgo is here, and it’s the perfect time to cleanse, ground, and set powerful intentions. My latest blog shares a magical Virgo-inspired simmer pot recipe designed to purify your space and open the door for new beginnings.

Ready to stir your intentions into being?

Read the full blog now! https://tasarlaromaney.wordpress.com/2025/08/20/new-moon-in-virgo-rituals-simmer-pot-smudging-herbs-healing-tea/

#NewMoonMagic #VirgoSeason #MoonRituals #HerbalMagic #SimmerPotMagic

August is an herbalist’s dream.

Basil, lemon balm, calendula, and more are bursting with flavor and magic this month. Learn which herbs to harvest, how to preserve them, and the best teas and tinctures to make while they’re at their peak.

https://tasarlaromaney.wordpress.com/2025/08/13/the-best-herbs-to-use-in-august/

#HerbalMagic #AugustHarvest #WitchyHerbs #HerbalRemedies

🌿 Breathe Easy & Digest Smoothly! 🌿

Unlock the power of herbal teas 🌟—thyme, hawthorn, and chamomile are your new BFFs for lung & gut health! 💚

Sip smart, live well! ✨

#HerbalMagic #WellnessTea #HealthyLiving #SipSipHooray #TeaTime

Spring is in the air—why not bring it indoors? 🌼

Discover how to make your own Springtime Herbal Spray using herbs like lavender, lemon balm, and peppermint. Clear energy, lift your mood, and refresh your space—all with a few spritzes of seasonal magic!

Read the full DIY blog here: https://tasarlaromaney.wordpress.com/2025/04/16/awaken-your-senses-make-your-own-springtime-herbal-spray/

#HerbalMagic #SpringVibes #EnergyClearing #DIYWellness #SpringtimeRituals #DIYHerbalSpray #NaturalLiving #Aromatherapy #WitchyWellness #PlantWisdom #SeasonalHealing

Embracing Holistic Health: A Journey Through Tradition and Community Healing

#HolisticHealth #Curanderismo #HerbalRemedies #WellnessJourney #CultureBoundSyndromes #TraditionalHealing #CommunityWisdom #NaturalHealing #MindBodySpirit #HerbalMagic #WellnessTraditions #EmbraceTheUnexpected

https://youtube.com/shorts/c4Fx_v8kxDs?feature=share

New episode out today with Kamden Cornell to talk about their lovely book, animism, and the power of working with invasive species in magic and witchcraft. Available from all fine podcatchers or direct from the source: https://witchlitpod.com/episode/s8e07-kamden-cornell/

#podcast #writing #occult #books #HerbalMagic #PlantMagic