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These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Tagetes lucida | Mexican Marigold

Botanical Overview:

  • Family: Asteraceae

  • Common Names: Mexican Marigold, Sweet-scented Marigold, Tagetes, Yerba de Tagetes

  • Plant Type: Annual herbaceous plant

  • Native Range: Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Southwestern United States

  • Key Identifiers:

    • Small, bushy plant growing up to 1 meter tall

    • Bright yellow or orange flowers with a distinct, sweet fragrance

    • Leaves are narrow, finely divided, and aromatic when crushed, often releasing a citrusy or anise-like scent


Properties:

  • Active Compounds: Flavonoids, essential oils (including limonene), terpenoids, and tannins

  • Pharmacological Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, calming, mild psychoactive effects


Distribution and Habitat:

  • Grows in open fields, roadsides, and gardens, preferring well-drained, sunny locations

  • Found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, thriving in Mexico and Central America

  • Cultivated in gardens for ornamental and medicinal uses, sometimes found in wild areas where it grows as a spontaneous herb


Medicinal Uses:

  • Digestive Health: Traditionally used as a remedy for indigestion, bloating, and upset stomachs

  • Anti-inflammatory: Used in poultices or teas for its anti-inflammatory properties to treat skin issues, wounds, or inflammation

  • Calming and Relaxation: Known to have mild calming properties, used to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension

  • Antimicrobial: Sometimes used in topical applications to treat minor infections and as a disinfectant

  • Other Uses: Used for its soothing effects on the nervous system and to aid sleep


Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

  • Psychoactive Nature:

    • Known for its mild psychoactive properties, particularly in its use during rituals, as a mild hallucinogen in some indigenous practices

    • Often consumed as a tea or used in incense to promote relaxation, calmness, and spiritual insight

    • The plant is associated with mild visual enhancement and a sense of euphoria, but the effects are subtle and not strongly hallucinogenic

  • Not Psychedelic: It does not induce intense psychedelic experiences like classic hallucinogens (e.g., psilocybin, LSD) but can offer a mild altered state of awareness, often accompanied by a relaxed or introspective mood


Magical Correspondences and Uses:

  • Element: Fire

  • Planetary Association: Sun

  • Magical Uses:

    • Often used in spells and rituals for protection, especially against negative energies or ill-wishing

    • Traditionally believed to attract love and positive energy, often included in love spells and charms

    • Incorporated in celebrations and rituals to honor the ancestors, particularly in Mexican Day of the Dead traditions, symbolizing remembrance and connection to the spiritual realm

    • Used in divination practices for enhancing intuitive abilities and increasing clarity of thought

    • Sometimes burned as incense to purify spaces and create an uplifting atmosphere

    • Associated with the enhancement of psychic awareness and intuition


Folklore and Mythology:

  • Day of the Dead: Mexican Marigold is a central flower in the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations, where it is believed to guide the spirits of the deceased back to the realm of the living.

  • Spiritual Significance: The plant's bright color and strong scent are thought to attract and guide spirits, making it a symbolic link between the living and the dead.

  • Protection: In some traditions, the plant is believed to ward off evil spirits and provide spiritual protection, often placed near altars or in sacred spaces.

  • Ancestral Rituals: Used in indigenous practices, it is sometimes part of spiritual healing ceremonies, believed to open pathways for communication with ancestors and the spiritual world.

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