On the day Orangnia was born the whole kingdom gathered to celebrate her birth. She entered the world with a crown of light above her head, golden hair, skin so fair. Orangnia’s pure beauty and presence could not go unnoticed. 

Orangnia lived an exquisite life growing up in the palace. At coming of age she yearned to explore past the shackles of the kingdom walls. The Royal family prohibited such wanderings and Orangnia’s sorrow grew. She awoke one morning with a stinging itch and crimson scaling liaisons all over her godly figure.

Distressed by not only the sight of her indisposition, but her deeper intuitive awareness of her maladies origins. Orangnia in a flash of a moment decided to follow her soul to the unknown. She took with her only but an empty golden goblet and did not look back when she crossed the gates of the palace. 

Orangnia journeyed through the forests realms for many days in joyful innocence and awe discovering its jewels. She formed new bonds with the plant and animal spirits that she had only known about in her dreams. She danced in the sensuous moonlight, bathed in the warmth of sunlight and savored the sweet berries she came across. She advanced in search for the finest place to repose. 

Orangnia followed an orange light, which led her through a forest porthole. She entered a magical protective garden with the most mesmeric orange Calendula Wild Flowers she had ever seen. 

Orangnia gathered wood and made a fire. She took out her golden goblet and filled it with the spring water. She delicately placed the Calendula Flowers inside her goblet, warmed it by the fire, and sipped the creative nectar.

She spotted the most magnificent pond ahead and headed towards it she anointed the water with the calendula flowers, disrobed and plunged in to the holy waters. 

Orangnia gazed at the sky in ecstasy with her arms wide open. She felt in that moment such love, freedom, joy, pleasure and at one with the whole universe. 

As she emerged out of the restorative waters, she caught glimpse of her reflection in the pond. She saw a radiant light encompassing her. Orangnia’s sacred belly felt light as feather, her complexion and golden silken locks had returned to it pure glow. 

Orangnia with humbleness in her heart gently knelt down on her hands and knees, closed her eyes, kissed the earth and whispered... Thank You. 

Calendula officinalis, also known as pot marigold or garden marigold, has been used for centuries for beauty, soothing, restoration and renewal. 

MAGICAL 

Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers

HISTORY AND FOLKLORE

While Calendula’s origins are somewhat disputed, there is no question as to how important this garden flower has been in more recent history. Europeans and early American colonists relied on calendula’s sunny disposition for protection against the damp, cold of winter. It was a common pot herb, meaning it was often used in soups and stews, as well as a regular ingredient in daily herbal infusions and beauty treatments.

Calendula has been revered as a magical medicinal for centuries as well. Ancient Egyptians used calendula to rejuvenate their skin. The Greeks and Romans used it as a culinary garnish. In ancient as well as modern India, Calendula is often strung into garlands for weddings and religious rituals. Powers of protection and prophecy have been attributed to calendula. Strewing calendula under your bed was said to offer you protection from robbers and thieves and to induce prophetic dreams if you had been robbed, helping you to identify the culprit. When dealing with legal matters, it was considered wise to carry a bit of calendula in your pocket to ensure a positive outcome. Bathing in calendula infusion was thought to give one a healthy, sunny glow that would draw admiration and respect from one’s community.

In medieval Europe calendula was widely available and was known as “poor man’s saffron” as it was used to color and spice various foods, soup in particular.⁶ It was used not only to color foods, but also as a dye to color hair and to make butter look more yellow

Nicholas Culpepper, a 17th century botanist, herbalist and astrologist, mentioned using calendula juice mixed with vinegar as a rinse for the skin and scalp and that a tea of the flowers comforts the heart. Astrologically associated with the sun and the fire element, calendula was believed to imbue magical powers of protection and clairvoyance, and even to assist in legal matters. Flowers strung above doorposts were said to keep evil out and to protect one while sleeping if put under the bed. It was said that picking the flowers under the noonday sun will strengthen and comfort the heart.

Calendula was used in ancient times in India as well, and according to Ayurvedic healing principles is energetically cooling and has a bitter and pungent taste. It was employed on skin, as an eyewash, calming the stomach. 

And, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), calendula (called Jin Zhan Ju) is considered energetically neutral and drying and is used to support glowing skin and awakening circulation. .

Traditionally, in Native American cultures, it has been employed to calm stomach and restore skin.  

USES AND PREPARATIONS

Dried flower as a tea, tincture, or infused oil.
The fresh plant can be prepared as a tea or tincture.
The fresh flowers are edible.