Calendula

What this is

Calendula (Calendula officinalis). The pot marigold, calendula, that opens with the sun and closes at dusk, named for the calends, the first of each month. A Sun-and-fire flower of Leo, the gold blossom held to be the Sun's direct gift, used for blessing, comfort, and clear dreaming.

What it governs

Calendula answers to Sun and the element of Fire. Its seat in the zodiac is Leo, and its day is Sunday, when its virtue runs fullest. It strengthens with the full moon. In the old practice its office is plain: Petals in the bath for a blessing-day; the gold flower is the Sun's direct gift.

Its properties

In the Galenic reckoning calendula is warm and dry, and that temperament is the whole key to its work. The part you take is the flower. Its working colour follows Sun, gold and solar yellow; its metal is gold, its stones are amber, sunstone, its number 6, and on the Tree of Life it threads up to Tiphareth. It is gentle, safe to use as the practice describes.

Where else it appears

Solar gold everywhere: petals strewn under the bed for prophetic and protective dreams in old craft; garlands of marigold for the dead and the gods across India and Mexico; the flower in the bath for a blessing-day. The Sun caught in a petal, comfort and consecration in one bright head.

Where you meet it on the Oracle

In the Green Kingdom you meet Calendula on Today's Herb, Angelic Herb, and Herb of the Hour. When it surfaces it counsels you toward its one office: petals in the bath for a blessing-day; the gold flower is the Sun's direct gift. As the Angelic Herb it stands under Michael; read its rising as that intelligence laying a hand on your day, with solar warmth and the will to shine.

Why it matters

Calendula blesses. Its whole nature is to take the open warmth of the Sun and lay it on an ordinary day. It asks you to let yourself be comforted, to treat the day as one the Sun has touched.

Correspondences

planet

Sun

element

Fire

zodiac

Leo

number

6

sephirah

Tiphareth

day

Sunday

colour

gold, solar yellow

metal

gold

stone

amber, sunstone

tarot

The Sun