Bioenergetic Healing: Calendula’s Role in Vital Energy Balance

Calendula, commonly known as marigold, has been celebrated throughout history for its vibrant, sun-responsive flowers and its multifaceted applications in folklore and traditional medicine. Indigenous to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, calendula was cultivated by the Romans who named it for its habit of blooming at the start of each month, aligning with the new moon or 'calends'. They utilized its flowers for aesthetic and medicinal purposes, including treating scorpion stings. 

Its blooms, which open at sunrise and close at sunset, were also historically connected to solar symbols and considered by the 17th-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper as an "herb of the sun." Over the centuries, calendula's applications have been diverse—from treating wounds and preventing infection during the American Civil War to using herbal remedies for everything from skin irritations to systemic conditions like lymphatic congestion and menstrual irregularities. The flower's association with divinity and spiritual healing was also emphasized in folklore, where it was believed to induce clairvoyant dreams and was linked to the Virgin Mary, symbolizing purity and protection.

Homeopathic Calendula: Emotional and Physical Relief

Calendula, used in homeopathy under Calen., offers profound insights into its therapeutic properties through its detailed symptomatology. Prepared from the tincture of Calendula officinalis flowers and leaves, this remedy is especially pertinent for those experiencing intense nervous reactions, such as excessive fright, irritability, and acute sensitivity to noise. It is noted for alleviating deep-seated fears and depressive states, alongside physical symptoms like restless nights, heaviness of the head, and unusual dryness or irritation in the eyes. Calen. It is also highly valued for its effectiveness in treating painful, problematic wounds—whether open, lacerated, or suppurating—and issues related to severe burns, ulcerative skin conditions, and abnormal scarring. The remedy extends its benefits to various systemic conditions, including digestive disturbances, jaundice, and uterine disorders. It proves its versatility and essential role in homeopathic medicine for acute and chronic ailments exacerbated by damp and cold conditions.

Calendula and the Sympathetic Nervous System

Calendula is a cornerstone in naturopathic medicine for managing chronic sympathetic stress or conditions marked by sustained overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The autonomic nervous system, which the SNS is a part of, controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate, adapting our bodies to calm and crisis situations. Calendula addresses the overdrive state of the SNS that occurs during prolonged stress, which can lead to symptoms like acute nervousness, fatigue, immunodeficiency, and hypersensitivity. These manifestations occur when the body's physical reserves are depleted despite the SNS reacting intensely to stimuli. Traditionally used to comfort the heart and nerves, calendula provides support by soothing the SNS, thus helping to restore its balance and enhance recovery. This herb does not just counterbalance the parasympathetic nervous system but acts directly on the SNS, increasing its threshold for reactivity and allowing it a chance to repair and rest, making it invaluable for those experiencing the deep-seated impacts of stress.

The Etheric and Astral Inlfuence of Calendula

Calendula plays a crucial role in naturopathic medicine, particularly in supporting the etheric body, which shapes the physical form and vital processes such as growth, reproduction, and metabolic functions. As the primary organ of the etheric body, the liver maintains strong fluid dynamics and influences various bodily functions, including those of the skin and reproductive organs. Calendula's effectiveness extends to liver-related conditions such as jaundice, enhancing bile secretion and addressing liver congestion. It is also renowned for its soothing properties on skin ailments—from rashes and eczema to the healing of wounds—reflecting its deeper action on the liver-skin polarity, where liver dysfunction often manifests as skin issues. Additionally, calendula is linked to eye health, supporting the traditional Chinese belief that the liver influences eye function. By nurturing the etheric body and moderating the astral body's impulses, calendula helps maintain balance within the body's systems, demonstrating its profound holistic benefits. This makes calendula not only a remedy for physical ailments but also a supportive agent for the interconnected well-being of the physical and subtle bodies.

Spiritual and Physical Harmony via Calendula

Calendula, revered as a "gold remedy," embodies the luminous and life-giving qualities of gold through its golden-orange hue and deep connection with the sun, aptly reflected in its old English name, "Golds." Esteemed anthroposophical physician Otto Wolff likens gold to the sun's role in our solar system—radiating life, light, and order. In this sense, gold, and by extension calendula, is used to harmonize body and spirit, addressing deep fears, depression linked to liver function, and even bone health challenges. Calendula's influence extends to the heart, echoing Wolff's views on the heart's resonance with sun-gold forces, enhancing cardiac health and treating palpitations. Furthermore, the remedy Aurum from homeopathy, which is potentized gold, shares themes with calendula, such as leadership, power, and a strong sense of duty, alongside physical and emotional symptoms ranging from heart issues to deep-seated fears, showcasing calendula's profound integration of the physical and etheric realms. This holistic synergy is also evident in calendula's traditional use to bolster eyesight and soothe eye ailments, underscoring its all-encompassing therapeutic scope.

Binah/Tiferet Interface of Calendula in Spiritual PhytoEssencing

Calendula's significant role in Spiritual PhytoEssencing, a modality founded by Dr. Bruce Berkwosky, is highlighted by its support of the Binah/Tiferet interface, key components within Kabbalistic philosophy. Binah, or Understanding, embodies the feminine principle of creation, processing the intuitive wisdom from Chokmah and manifesting it into discernible forms and functions. It is considered the "mother" of the Sefirot below it, molding and nurturing the emanations it receives. Tiferet, positioned at the heart of the Tree of Life, represents Beauty and Harmony, balancing the flow between giving (Chesed) and restraint (Gevurah). Calendula, through its association with the sun and its healing, nurturing properties, perfectly embodies the interface between Binah's structuring, motherly guidance and Tiferet's harmonizing, compassionate qualities. This blend allows calendula to act as a healing conduit, addressing deep emotional wounds and promoting a balanced development of the self, akin to a mother's nurturing love tempered with wisdom. This relationship emphasizes the plant's ability to facilitate emotional healing, particularly in relationships characterized by coldness or harsh judgment, making it a profound agent for spiritual and emotional balance.*

*References: Berkowsky’s Synthesis Materia Medica/Spiritualis of Essential Oils

LÂCHE-LYMPHE	CALENDULA SOLUTION
FLEUR VIBRANTE BALM	FLEUR VIBRANTE SOLUTION