03/03/2026
Passionflower, a precious botanical native to Central and South America, was named for the Passion of Christ-referring to his suffering and death by Roman Catholic priests in the 1500s. It was also called "la flor de las cinca llagas" or "the flower of the five wounds," referring to Christ's stigmata. The five petals and five petal-like sepals of this flower represent the 10 apostles, who remained faithful to Jesus throughout the Passion. The circle of hairlike rays above the petals represents Jesus's crown of thorns.
Since its introduction into European herbal medicine, Passionflower has been used as an anti-spasmodic, hypnotic, anodyne, anxiolytic, sedative, and nervous system tonic. The leaf tea became popular in North American medicine in the mid-1800s for similar uses as those in South American traditions. Passionflower tranquilizes edgy nerves and helps with insomnia, mood disorders, headaches, colic, migraines, menstrual cramps, diarrhea, neuralgia, eye disorders, epilepsy and convulsions, and muscle spasms and pain.
To this day Passionflower is used by many sha-mans in floral baths to calm and cleanse the spirit. Passionflower is considered a bridge to "Christ consciousness," which assists in direct communication with the mythical voice within. It was also used as an incense to alter the energy of spaces that were stressed, traumatized, or disrupted. Passionflower is ruled by the mighty powers of Neptune, the planet of spiritual realization, religious experiences, the spirit world, and maya, the great illusion.
Guidance: Passionflower symbolizes surrender, sacrifice, and the crucifixion of the ego. Passionflower resembles the need to sacrifice in order to make space and move forward. The all-seeing double headed Owl symbolizes the great understanding perceived from both sides, whether it be upside down or inside out, and bestows Goddess Passionflower with unseen truths as she performs rituals for letting go. Owl is symbolic of discernment and able to light up what needs to be seen. Passionflower today might reflect the need to suspend actions that aren't aligned to your spiritual path. Are there certain decisions or action you've made that you must sacrifice in order to reassess your direction? Honor your intuition. It's okay if projects or original ideas come to an unexpected halt. Discernment is key to experience greater truth and opportunities.
