Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Caroline Dow, author of Sanctuary of Your Own.
In Sanctuary of Your Own, my book on how to create a personal haven for meditation, relaxation, and renewal, I recommend incorporating elements of the five senses to kindle revitalization. Most of us probably can easily choose something to stimulate sight, sound, touch, and smell, but sometimes we neglect the sense of taste. While it’s simple to place an apple on your altar to represent wisdom or even a chocolate treat to help you relax, it can be fun to sometimes vary the theme and prepare a smoothie that carries a symbolic meaning. So in this blog post, I’m offering a recipe for an apricot eggnog potion.
During my meditations, I often take time to honor the reigning divinity of one of the days of the week by preparing a drink associated with the particular deity of the day and imbibing it in my haven. I call such a liquid refreshment a potion because I’m consuming it with a purpose in mind. After preparing the recipe and taking the potion to my refuge, I sip my drink and meditate on the symbolism associated with the goddess or god of the day.
Apricots are a fruit of Jupiter, whose day is Thursday. This deity represents expansiveness, benevolence, idealism, sociability (making friends), good fortune, and the religious life. As you drink your smoothie potion, you can meditate on any of these themes. All the ingredients in this potion are symbolic of love, so you can add this theme to your contemplations. In parentheses I offer an alternative key word for each ingredient that can also suffice as themes for your Thursday meditation.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs (fertility)
- 2 tablespoons honey (harmony)
- 1 cup apricot nectar (friendship). Cans of nectar are available at the grocery.
- ¾ cup orange juice (long life)
- ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder (nurturing)
- 2 tablespoons protein powder (Added just because it’s good for you!)
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice (joy)
- 1 cup frozen strawberries, partially thawed (Besides perking up the blend, strawberries stand for foresight.)
Makes 2 servings.
In a small mixer, beat the eggs until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add the honey, beating constantly. Set aside. In a blender, combine the apricot nectar, orange juice, milk powder, protein powder, and lemon juice; cover and blend until well mixed. Add the strawberries; blend again until smooth. With the blender running, add the egg mixture. Blend until smooth. Transfer to a storage container, cover, and chill. Stir well before serving. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf (for prosperity), strawberry slice, or lemon peel curl. Relax, contemplate, and enjoy!
P.S. Other botanicals associated with Jupiter include myrrh, carnation, clove, oakmoss, clover, nutmeg, jasmine, sugar, and amber.
Our thanks to Caroline for her guest post! For more from Caroline Dow, read her article “Create Your Own Personal Haven—Anywhere.”
