Lucid Dream with Calea Zacatechichi
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Inner eye opening plant ally.
Clairvoyance
Mental Clarity
Sleep Remedy
Oneirogenic
Nervine Tonic
Digestive Aid
Calea Z
Latin name Calea zacatechichi/ternifolia
Calea zacatechichi has gained fame because of its extraordinary ability to initiate powerful, clear, vivid dreams. Ther herb, who goes by many names including Aztec Dream Grass and thle-pelakano meaning ‘leaf of the God,’ is thought to be one of the most reliable and potent oneirogenic herbs in the world.
It was once used by the Aztecs and Mayans and is still used today by the indigenous people of Mexico for oneiromancy (dreamwork) including the Chontal of Oaxaca. It is believed that the Aztec magicians, the nagualli, called upon the spirit of Calea to travel deeper and more rapidly into Tlàlocan, a realm of unending Springtime in the afterlife.
NATIVE LANDS
Calea can be found in its ancestral homeland of Mexico, where it grows wild in the sun-drenched savannahs and canyons of the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is known to adapt to a variety of habitats, including disturbed areas, fields, and roadsides, often growing alongside other weedy or pioneer plant species such as grasses and herbs.
Within these arid regions where the Earth is parched, the intermittent streams and rivers flow like veins of life-giving water through the land. Calea draws its vitality from these threads of water, giving the herb its yin nourishing energy.
Inner Eye
It is believed Calea activates the inner eye, enhancing one’s psychic senses and clairvoyance. Calea has always been associated with opening the inner eye (note: I do not subscribe to the chakra system), our eye of insight that allows us to perceive beyond the veil. The herb helps remove the blocks and programming imposed by the synthetic matrix, a term used to describe the system of control and conditioning in our current reality.
When your intuition awakens, the truth is revealed.
The magic of Calea Z is found within REM sleep cycles.
Dreams are reported to become more vibrant, lucid, memorable, and otherworldly. There are many constituents in Calea that are considered psychoactive and it’s likely a complex interaction of ingredients that induces its oneirogenic effects.
One of the unique characteristics of Calea Z is its ability to enhance dream cohesion. Several studies have shown that Calea decreases time spent in REM sleep, while increasing the time spent in slow-wave, shallow sleep – the stage where dreams are most vivid and memorable. It is believed that the plant’s ability to extend the duration of shallow sleep could explain how it enhances the clarity and cohesiveness of dreams.
Calea Z’s spirit is known for soothing and refreshing the mind, clearing the senses, and teaching us how to understand the depth and truth of our dreams by bringing precision to our perception. Traditionally, Calea has been known to bring about clear prophetic dreams that are oftentimes positive guides to a better life.Dreams tend to be hyper-realistic and detailed. Many have reported having dreams on “alien” planets or meeting strange beings. Some even describe the dreams feeling as being “more real” than reality itself.
The best practice for harnessing the effects of Calea Z is by consuming the plant in either tincture or tea form right before bed or by implementing the WBTB (wake back to bed) technique. WBTB involves waking up in the middle of the night, consuming the herb, then falling back asleep after a certain amount of time has passed. This method is a great way for beginners to learn how to have lucid dreams. It is also recommended to keep a dream journal when practicing oneiromancy.
RELATED POST: Oneirogenic Herbs for Dreamwork
MYTHIC
CHARACTER
ELEMENT
Water
POLARITY
Negative (Yin)
INNER GUIDE
Intuition
CELESTIAL
Neptune
ARCHETYPE
The Psychic
ASSOCIATIONS
“Third Eye”
Visions/Prophecy
Dreams
Intuition
Leaf of God
The name “Calea zacatechichi” is derived from the Aztec language of Nahuatl. “Calea” is believed to mean “bitter” or “unpleasant,” while “zacatechichi” translates to “bitter grass.” The name refers to the bitter taste of the plant’s leaves.
The Chontal of Oaxaca, Mexico call it thle-pelakano meaning leaf of the God. They use it for rituals that involve smoking the plant, drinking it as tea, and placing it under a pillow to induce visionary dreams.
The Chontal slowly sip a strong BITTER brew of leaf tea. The prescribed quantity is a “handful” of dried leaves. Then they lie down in a quiet dark space where they can meditate and smoke a cigarette made of more dried leaves. They also place dried leaves under their pillow before falling asleep. In their state of expanded sensory perceptions and imagination, they perceive the voices of spirits who foretell them the cause of an illness or the location of a lost object or person. Calea also evokes tranquility where one hears their heartbeats and pulsations.
It is thought that the longer one endures the bitterness of Calea Z, the plant spirit becomes more eager to communicate its healing messages.
When the tea is drunk prior to bed it is held in the mouth for 10 mins or often much longer. The bitterness is said to be a test of how willing one is to receive the knowledge.
Wild
Medicine
HEALING
PROFILE
ENERGETICS
Cooling
Drying
Calming
FLAVOR
Bitter
AROMA
Pungent
INDICATIONS
Diabetes
Indigestion
Anorexia
Headaches
Insomnia
Anxiety+ Stress
Anger Tantrums
PARTS USED
Aerial parts
(leaves, stems, flowers)
Calea zacatechichi has a cooling effect on the body. Its cooling properties are useful for hot conditions like fevers, inflammation, and heat-related discomfort.
MENTAL CLARITY
If Calea Z is taken in high enough doses while awake, the experience can feel somewhat dreamlike, with a calming “floaty” effect comparable to Kava. In lower doses, Calea may increase mental clarity and focus. Some people smoke small amounts of the herb to help while studying or engaging in creative work. People have reported sharpened perception, enhanced imagination, a mild sense of continuity, and a rapid emergence of new ideas after consuming the herb.
NERVINE
Cooling energy can help reduce excess heat and tension in the body, including in the nervous system. The herb has mild sedative properties and has been found useful for insomnia, stress, anxiety, tantrums, and headaches.
DIGESTIVE AID
Calea zacatechichi contains several compounds that are believed to contribute to its digestive properties. One group of compounds found in the plant are sesquiterpene lactones, which are known for their bitter taste. These bitter compounds can stimulate the production of digestive enzymes and gastric juices, thereby aiding in the digestive process.
Calea zacatechichi Tinctures
Dream Elixir by Hellaborea
Empyrean Dream by Dreamcraft Apothecary
Celestial Dreams by Woodland Herbal
CAUTION
Do not take Calea zacatechichi if you are on any psychological medications, if you suffer from any heart conditions or high blood pressure, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cultivate
Calea zacatechichi in bloom.
Calea zacatechichi seeds.
GROW
Growing Calea from seeds is a difficult task, the most common way to grow it is propagation from cuttings. If you live in USDA growing zones 9-11 you can plant Calea outside with frost protection. Otherwise, it is recommended to pot this plant and bring it indoors during the winter months. The Calea plant likes full sun, however, it will tolerate low-light conditions making it suitable as a houseplant.
HARVEST
Calea leaves can be harvested year-round. The plant likes to be pruned so don’t hesitate to cut off whole branches after it flowers, it seems to like having to grow new shoots.
Calea Z Live Plant
from World Seed Supply
LEGAL STATUS
Legal in most parts of the world except Louisiana (USA) and Poland.
Calea is becoming increasingly rare in the wild due to habitat destruction and over-harvesting. It is listed as a threatened species in some regions.
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SOURCES
• Drugs of the Dreaming by Gianluca Toro & Benjamin Thomas
• Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America by James A. Duke
• The genus Calea L.: A review of isolated compounds and biological activities
• Calea ternifolia Kunth, the Mexican dream herb, a concise review
• Psychopharmacologic analysis of an alleged oneirogenic plant: Calea zacatechichi
• Calea ternifolia Kunth, the Mexican dream herb, a concise review
• Sesquiterpene lactones of Calea zacatechichi and C. urticifolia
• Anti-Hyperglycemic Activity of Major Compounds from Calea ternifolia
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