Day 6

BOUQUET

"Xoloitzcuintle." Say that 7 times real fast! (If you are from Mexico, I bet you can!)

The xoloitzcuintle is a canid that is native to Mexico and South America. If you are kind to dogs (possibly to animals in general), a "xolo" will meet you when you die and will guide you across the great river of souls that separates the living from the dead and across the land of the dead to safety. Without them, the journey is long, more difficult, and more dangerous. Some have told me that if your guide, your particular xolo dog, is dark grey they are experienced enough to guide you well. If they are very light colored, they are inexperienced and your journey will not be as smooth as it might be. And if they are very dark black, they are extremely experienced, but exhausted and your journey will be difficult.

"Bienvenido de nuevo" translates to "Welcome Back." We all cycle through over and over again. It's not a single trip, folks.

The featured flowers are cempasuchil - marigolds. Their scent is said to guide souls back for a visit on earth with their loved ones on the Day of the Dead - Día de Muertos - which is coming up here in México in a few short days .