Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus • Sun-bright stalk • Threshold sweeper • Clarifier of thoughts

Names & whispers

Lemongrass is known as fever grass, citronella grass, and sometimes “sun-blade” in old folk speech. In many kitchens and cottage gardens she stands by the doorway – a bright, clean scent that seems to cut through stale air and heavy moods. Where she grows, people speak of rooms feeling lighter the moment her leaves are bruised.

Her sharp, citrus edge carries both welcome and boundary: an invitation to come in clear-minded, and to leave what no longer belongs at the doorstep.

Planetary & elemental threads

• Planet: Mercury with a touch of Sun – quick, bright, and clarifying.
• Element: Air with a fine Fire edge.
• Seasonal voice: Late spring through high summer, when light is long.

Magic & uses

• Clearing mental fog and inviting focused, practical thinking.
• Freshening the energy of kitchens, workspaces, and doorways.
• Road-opening for projects, studies, and written work.
• Support for divination when you want crisp, honest answers.

Ways to work with her

Lemongrass can be used in light floor washes for thresholds and work rooms, in simmer pots to lift the mood of the house, or in sachets hung by the front door to “comb” the day’s energy as you come and go. A few blades, dried and crumbled, can be added to incense for clearing tarot decks, journals, and reading cloths.

Some keep a tiny lemongrass bundle near their desk or altar as a reminder to breathe, reset, and begin again with a clearer head.

Notes & care

Lemongrass is generally gentle, but essential oil is strong and can be irritating to sensitive skin. Always dilute well and patch-test first. If you are pregnant, have very sensitive skin, or live with animals that dislike citrus scents, keep her work mostly in room mists, simmer pots, or floor washes rather than on the body.

As always, let this lore sit alongside good medical advice – she is a plant ally, not a replacement for care.