Due to its pungent odor and many seeds, the orange is considered a fruit of love and fertility. In ancient Greece, mythology relates that Zeus presented Hera with an orange (or Pomegranate) on their wedding day. The aromatic clove is hailed as a comforter of the heart in the East. These two love symbols, the orange and the clove, can be combined to form an amulet that will not only serve as a representation of the love, but will also help to preserve its earthly counterpart.
- Seville Orange (or Pomegranate)
- 2 ounces whole cloves
- rolling mixture (any aromatic, aphrodisiacal spices which you find appealing)
- ribbon (red, green, or white would be best)
As with all charms to induce growth or gain in some way, it would be best to begin this charm sometime during the waxing moon. Completing the charm by the Full moon would be especially powerful. With a heavy darning needle, punch holes in the skin of the fruit. Insert a clove into each hole. The cloves should be placed so that they just touch each other and the whole orange is covered.
Roll the finished product in the rolling mixture. This can contain whatever aromatic spices/ingredients you like (ground apple flowers, apricot flowers, lemon balm, cardamom, cherry flowers, coriander, cinnamon, gardenia, geranium, ginger, hyacinth flowers, lavender, lemon verbena, licorice, maple, marjoram, mint, rose flowers, sandalwood, etc) in addition to orris root as a scent fixative. Allow the orange to remain in the spice mixture for several days, rolling it every now and then.
With a small brush, remove the rolling mixture from the tops of the cloves. Tie a ribbon around the orange. (Red for love and lust, green for love and growth, or white for purity).
This pomander can be presented as a gift to the one you love as a symbol of your devotion or hung in your room or closet to scent the air.