It’s the heart of winter here in the northern hemisphere. The holiday decorations are being taken down, the celebrations have passed, and yet the days are still long and shadowed. Even as the sunlight slowly begins to return, it can feel distant—something we long for more than something we can fully feel. This is the season that teaches us contrast: how darkness sharpens our awareness of light, how quiet invites reflection, and how life on this planet moves in cycles of retreat and return.
In this month’s episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we’re spending time with Calendula—a humble sun-keeper of the plant world. Across cultures, there are figures who don’t defeat the dark but walk within it carrying light: Persephone, Brigid, Hecate, Amaterasu. They remind us that illumination isn’t always blazing or obvious. Sometimes it’s stored, tended, protected. Calendula belongs to that lineage, offering warmth, resilience, and gentle support through the long night. Together, we’ll explore this golden flower as both a physical ally and a spiritual guide, and what it means to tend our inner hearth when the world feels cold.
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📩 Want to share a poem?
I’d love to include voices from the community! If you have a nature-inspired or herbal poem you’d like to share in a future episode, send it my way at: kim@joyfulroots.com. For more information and a list of plants, click here.
🌀 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or licensed health professional, and nothing shared here is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider about any potential herb-drug interactions or health concerns. If you experience an allergic reaction to any herb, discontinue use and consult a professional. You are the steward of your own body—listen with curiosity, and honor your intuition.
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Sources/References:
- WiseEarthBotanicals — Calendula’s lymphatic, digestive, and antimicrobial profile Calendula Actions & Herbal Support
- Herbal Reality — Traditional actions and tissue support descriptors Calendula Herb Profile (Traditional Actions)
- HerbRally — Calendula Monograph https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/calendula
- Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health — Clinical context on calendula and vulnerary uses (Romm & Winston – ScienceDirect) ScienceDirect
- The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook — (James Green) — Practical methods for making oils, salves, teas (not directly pulled but widely respected)
- Herbal Constituents — (Types of compounds like flavonoids, triterpenoids, etc.)
- The Book of Celtic Magic or Celtic Mythology (various writers) — Context for Brigid and hearth fire symbolism
- Wikipedia: Calendula – History & Folklore — historic names (Mary’s Gold, pot marigold), rituals, and lore Calendula History & Folk Uses (Wikipedia)
- Verywell Health — Overview of Calendula’s benefits, wound healing, skin support & uses (topical + internal context) Calendula Health Benefits and Uses (Verywell Health)
- ScienceDirect — Calendula’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound-healing actions (academic overview) Calendula Overview (ScienceDirect)
- Journal of Plant Medicines — Summary of clinical research on skin healing & inflammation Calendula Skin & Wound Healing Studies
- MDPI — Recent review on anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential Updated Review of Calendula Therapeutic Potential
