The Powerful Pomegranate

I recently became a limited company – Fertility & Pregnancy Ltd, and with that came a new website, business cards, etc. You may have noticed that I chose a pomegranate as the logo and several people have asked me why. So here’s the thinking behind why I chose that image.

The humble pomegranate carries great symbolism in many cultures around the world, ancient and modern. In Ancient Israel, pomegranates were known as the fruits brought to Moses to demonstrate the fertility of the “promised land”. It is traditional to consume pomegranates on Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) because, with its numerous seeds, it symbolizes fruitfulness. In some Indian Hindu traditions, pomegranates symbolise prosperity and fertility, and in ancient Persian culture it was also a symbol of fertility. In modern day Iran, it still represents love and fertility.
In Ancient Greek mythology, pomegranates appeared several times. In modern Greece, the pomegranate still holds strong symbolic meaning. When you buy a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring a housewarming gift of a pomegranate, which is placed near the altar of the house as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and good luck. The pomegranate is the symbol of Armenia and represents fertility, abundance and marriage. At olden days Armenian weddings, the bride was given a pomegranate fruit which she threw against a wall, breaking it into pieces. Scattered pomegranate seeds ensured the bride future children. It was customary to put fruits, including pomegranates, next to the bridal couple during the first night of marriage, which was said to ensure happiness, protect a woman from infertility and safeguard a man’s virility.

In China, the pomegranate was an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny – in days gone by before the introduction of the one child policy! It was thought that a fruit containing so many seeds was a sign of fecundity (I love that word!) so people would hang pictures of pomegranates bursting open to bless them with several children. In Feng Shui, the pomegranate is a symbol of fertility because of its many red seeds.

When getting pregnant takes longer than imagined, it is easy to become disappointed, anxious, or depressed. As each month passes, we look for more tips and tricks, willing to try anything. For centuries, people across all cultures have believed that certain symbols can help increase fertility. Believing in luck or superstition can ease anxiety and create a sense of security and confidence when things feel out of your control. Scientists studying the placebo effect have proven that the power of expectation or preconception can be responsible for creating a desired outcome. It can be empowering and inspiring to know that you are using a symbol that has helped countless other couples for centuries. If you are trying to conceive, try placing a picture of a pomegranate with lots of seeds or a pomegranate ornament in your bedroom, or wear a subtle piece of pomegranate jewellery as a fertility talisman – have a look at my shop page for ideas.
Pomegranates are a superfood, full of powerful polyphenol antioxidants and have been linked with these health benefits:

• Prevents heart disease
• Lowers blood pressure
• Helps prevent cancer
• Helps digestion
• Improves immunity
• Increases libido
• Gives younger looking skin
• Lowers stress levels
• Helps prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
• Prevents plaque formation

Read more about these health benefits.
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A pomegranate isn’t the easiest fruit to prepare. Try cutting it in half and banging the skin with a spoon so the seeds fall out, or try peeling it and breaking it up underwater – the seeds sink and the pith floats so it’s easy to strain it off. However, with such strong symbolism and a wide variety of health benefits, I think they’re definitely worth the time and effort!