Botanical Oracle: Calendula, Calendula Officinalis

I remember as a little girl taking marigolds and trying to get the yellow dye off of them and rubbing them up and down my hands. Then my girlfriends and I would pick up a whole bunch and put them in a box. When I brought them into the house, my father would say to me, “Why are you doing that?  Those are weeds.”

Calendula, otherwise known as marigolds, are anything but a weed. I use this herb in almost every formulation that I make. These plants don't bloom very long but they do dry out beautifully.

Therapeutically and medicinally, marigolds are great in teas and tinctures, for gastrointestinal inflammation, and simple injuries like cuts, burns, and sunburns. It can also be used as a cleanser for fungal infections of the skin and nails, and one study shows it can be effective on varicose veins. Marigolds are highly anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal.

In Thompson's Oracle set, calendula is the word Brighton. It makes sense that Thompson uses this word for this flower. The yellow of the plant and its petals and flowers can brighten anyone's day. As Thompson says, it speaks of sunshine and good moments in life, and as I stated before, this is a plant that reminds me of my childhood. The good parts are childhood.

When I chose this card, all I could do was smile. This has to be the most special card to me. It means that I'm going to have a good day. It means I'm going to smile. It means I'm going to laugh. And if I'm not, it means I'm taking life too seriously and that I should take a step back and brighten my own day because the way I think about it is reality.

I'm really interested to find out what this plant means to you. I think most of us have grown up and enjoyed marigolds, even if our parents thought they were just weeds.. What's your story?

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