Summer Fruit

It’s the end of the Cannes film festival and beginning of a long weekend with summer temperatures. Mornings are spent at the beach and evenings with friends sharing recipes, stories and life. Suddenly fruit is everywhere, on towels, t-shirts and in interior decor. Feng Shui practitioners see fruit as symbolising growth, abundance and productivity. Think of the myths around apples as a gift of choice, poison or love. Other countries use fruit to show a new season has started or as part of a religious festival. Peaches in Japan often represent immortality and fertility and there is the famous Peach Boy story. Strawberries have special meaning to the Seneca in the US as they are the first fruit of spring and thoughts of re-birth and hope are celebrated. The pineapple in Victorian England was exotic and symbolised real wealth if given as a gift. The fig in Greece represents peace, honour and healing and figs have a high level of potassium and magnesium for good health.

Feng Shui First

As fruit is all about abundance and growth, think carefully what that means to the area on the Bagua map. Consider the colours for each area. Lemons and limes are great for the relationship sector as they match the colour for that area. Red fruit and plums would be ideal for the Fame area and purple and blue fruit for the Wealth sector. Make sure any fresh fruit is thrown away if old as you don’t want mouldy fruit representing death in any sector! Art decor is perfect and the use of ceramics works as well for interior design and harmony. Then sit back and enjoy a summer cocktail!

Vodka Watermelon Cocktail

Here is one for the summer and can be made as a single cocktail or a long spritz.

2 ounces (1/4 cup) chilled watermelon juice – you can find this in stores or make your own
1 1/2 – 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of good quality vodka
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice about 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon agave nectar, honey or maple syrup for added sweetness* (optional)
fresh mint, lime to garnish