Flora Friday - Pomegranate

 

(Photo Credit - Sainsbury's)

Hi Guys,

It suddenly occurred to me that we hadn't covered the pomegranate during Hallowe'en season. So I'm stepping away from the witch's brew we've been following, but just for this week.

Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, this little fruit has many benefits. You can also utilise the flower, leaves and bark of the tree too.

Latin Name - Punica granatum

Folk Names:

• Carthage Apple
• Grenadier
• Malicorio
• Malum Punicum
• Pound Garnet
• Granatum

Gender:

• Female

Elements:

• Air
• Fire

Planets:

• Venus
• Pluto

Star signs:

• Scorpio

Deities:

• Astarte
• Persephone
• Sekhmet

Chakras:

• Third Eye Chakra
• Root Chakra

This fruit is connected to this time of year due to the story of Persephone (Greek):

As the daughter of Demeter, the Goddess of the fields and harvests, Persephone was originally an Earth goddess walking the Earth with her mother, until her uncle, Hades, kidnapped her and took her to the underworld. She was deeply unhappy there and refused to eat anything. 

During her time in the underworld, her mother, Demeter, neglected her duties while she searched for her daughter, so the fields went fallow, the crops did not reach harvest, and the land became cold.

Persephone was coerced into taking a mouthful of food eventually, this food was a pomegranate, and she ate six seeds. Hades was delighted, as he had tricked her, and she must now remain in the underworld for six months.

For six months of the year, Persephone walks the Earth with her mother, and they attend to their duties, this is considered to be Spring and Summer. The other six months are spent in the underworld, so the crops do not grow. This is considered Autumn and Winter.

As it is all connected to the underworld, this is where the pomegranate's association with this time of year comes into play.

Pomegranate is a round red fruit with a white inner flesh that is packed with edible juicy seeds called arlis

Pomegranate has many health benefits, including:

• Relief of joint and muscle pain
• May help fight prostate cancer
• Mat also be beneficial against breast cancer
• Helps regulate blood pressure
• Rich in antioxidants
• Great urinary health
• Helps prevent kidney stones
• Anti-microbial
• Supports both brain and digestive health

Of course, there are also things to look out for:

• May disrupt foetal growth
• Can reduce blood pressure too much
• May cause allergies
•  Interaction with other drugs can be fatal
• May cause digestive upset

Magickal uses:

• Blood substitute
• Fertility
• Connect to inner voice
• Magickal ink
• Money (dry and grind the skin to add to incense)
• Protection
• Wisdom
• Wishes

In Flower Language:

Shrub:

• Good luck
• Elegance
• Foolishness and foppery

Blossom:

• Mature elegance
• Perfection

Fruit:

• Elegance
• foolishness and foppery

As always, please consult a professional before adding anything into your diet and lifestyle!

I hope this post has helped.

Kerenza x

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