Bright, Sunny Calendula

Calendula flowers (Calendula Officinalis), otherwise known as yellow Marigolds, are among my favorite blossoms! These bright denizens of the garden always make me smile! It's hard NOT to notice Calendula flowers blooming in the landscape, even on the dreariest of days.

I love to use Calendula flower petals in many of my formulas, both for medicine and magickal uses. As medicine, the petals are a very effective wound and skin healer. It's soothing, yet antiseptic properties are wonderful in lotions and ointments, or in your bathtub. Calendula is also a strong anti-fungal for foot and yeast conditions, such as Athlete's foot or Candida. It can be used both externally and internally. I like to include it in health formulas to help soothe gastric problems, and tone the stomach. Calendula flowers can also help to regulate delayed menstrual periods. For this reason, you shouldn't take alot of it during pregnancy! the flowers can be used whole, infused into oils, or ground into powder for use in external formulas. I have added Calendula flowers to a couple of my favorite tea blends, Blossom Mint and Daily Support Organic Herbal Teas.

Magickally, Calendula is aligned with the element of Fire, due to it's sunny color and it's anti-septic properties. Among other things, Calendula is used in workings for protection, and also for legal issues. It's helpful to put some petals in your pocket, or on your altar, if you're headed to court. I have put petals into homemade candles burned for protection spells. You can add the flowers to a pouch for protection or court. I use Calendula flowers in my Flower Power Smokeless Smudge formula.
Whenever I get done mixing up a batch of this blend, I always toss a handful on the front steps of my house for blessing and protection. As with most kinds of magick, having the actual herb is better, but you can also use an image of the flowers.

What do think of when you see Calendula?