In naming my business, I wanted something that felt alive with meaning, something that would reflect both my work and the way I see the world. “Marigold Path” came to me after an unforgettable experience in Mexico City during Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. That trip deepened my understanding of how love, memory, and ritual connect us long after someone has died.
A Night in Mexico City
In 2023, I traveled to Mexico City to celebrate Día de Muertos. One evening, a local family welcomed me into their home for dinner. It was a gathering of friends and relatives to honor those who had passed. Their dining room glowed with candles, the air was fragrant with home-cooked food and marigolds, and an ofrenda (altar) overflowed with photographs, candles, and favorite items of their ancestors.
After dinner, the family matriarch gathered everyone and we set out for the cemetery, arms full of marigolds. The streets were alive with celebration, children in costume, musicians playing, and people carrying flowers and candles through the night. As we reached the cemetery, we began to decorate the graves, laying thick carpets of marigold petals across each site. Offerings of bread, fruit, beer, and other favorite foods were placed gently on top, and tall candles flickered in the dark.
Stories were told. Songs were sung. Mariachi bands wandered among the families. It was late, nearing midnight, but the entire city seemed to pulse with remembrance and joy. It was an honor to witness this deep, loving connection between the living and the dead.
That experience changed me and it became the inspiration behind Marigold Path.
The Meaning of Marigolds
The marigold, or cempasúchil, is known in Mexico as the “flower of the dead.” Its bright orange and gold hues are said to guide the spirits of loved ones back home for the annual Día de Muertos celebration. The strong scent and vibrant color act as a beacon, helping souls find their way to the ofrendas lovingly prepared for them.
Families often create literal paths of petals leading from their doorway to the altar, so their loved ones can find their way back. These marigold paths are not symbols of grief alone. They are symbols of reunion, love, and continuity.
Marigolds also remind us that life is fleeting. Their beauty lasts only a short while, yet their brightness lingers in memory, much like the people we love. I’ve always been drawn to that idea: that love doesn’t disappear when someone dies; it simply transforms.
The Land of the Dead: A Loving Continuum
In Mexican tradition, the land of the dead is not a place of punishment or fear. It is a continuation of life’s story, a realm where souls gather after fulfilling their purpose on earth. Each year, they return to visit the land of the living, guided by candlelight and marigold petals.
That vision resonates deeply with me. I love the idea that our departed loved ones are never truly gone, and that memory is a bridge we can cross in both directions. Día de Muertos captures what I believe about death and legacy: that remembrance is not sorrowful. It is sacred and connective.
Why “Path”?
While marigolds are central to the story, the word path carries its own meaning. It suggests movement, direction, and intention.
In my work, I walk alongside individuals and families as they navigate illness, caregiving, grief, and remembrance. Each person’s experience is a journey, sometimes winding, sometimes painful, but always leading toward meaning, healing, and connection.
“Marigold Path” reflects both the literal path of petals guiding loved ones home and the metaphorical path we each walk as we learn to live fully and remember tenderly.
Build Your Own Marigold Path
As Día de Muertos approaches (November 1–November 2), I invite you to create your own marigold path or altar to remember someone you love. You don’t need to have Mexican heritage to honor this beautiful tradition. You only need love and intention.
Here are a few ideas to begin:
- Choose a space: A small table, shelf, or outdoor corner works perfectly.
- Add a photo of your loved one.
- Include offerings: favorite foods, drinks, or small mementos.
- Scatter marigold petals (real or paper) leading to the altar.
- Light candles and take a quiet moment to speak their name.
- Tell a story or play a song that brings their memory to life.
By building your own marigold path, you create space for remembrance and reconnection. You celebrate not just a life that was lived, but the enduring bond that remains.
Closing Thoughts
For me, Marigold Path is more than a name. It’s a philosophy. It’s about honoring life, remembering with love, and finding beauty in both the living and the dying. It’s about lighting the way, one bright petal at a time.
