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Candace A. Croft, Ph.D.
Pumpkin Hearts Do pumpkin others as you would have others pumpkin you. She told me that whenever her intriguing nature called me to visit her house in the woods which was often. The Pumpkin Lady. That’s what I called her during the time of year when leaves on the trees became brittle and, touched by autumn’s chill, dropped to the ground. On the day she announced, “It is time,” we donned our fall jackets and boots and went to the pumpkin patch. The air was crisp and I remember thinking if I stood still long enough a thin coating of frost would glitter my face, hair, and eyelashes with crystals of silvery-white as it did the pumpkins. Then, decorated as a goddess, I, too, would be a Pumpkin Lady. The Pumpkin Lady walked the patch slowly, reverently. She bent and greeted each pumpkin as if it were a guest in her home. Blowing warm air from my mouth into the hollow of my fist to warm my hands before pulling mittens from my pockets, I asked why she wore gloves with the fingertips cut off. Weren’t her hands cold? She responded by caressing an orange orb, gently stroking its skin as one would the face of a lover. Without diverting her glance, she seemed to speak as much to the pumpkin as to me when she said, “I must feel their pumpkin power.” From anyone else, I would have found the statement odd, but not from The Pumpkin Lady. She was a long-lost pumpkin relative, a kindred spirit in communion with her family from the patch. As if channeling the character, Lucy Van Pelt, from the Peanuts cartoon strip, she sang a lilting song that was a cross between a ditty and a chant:
Out of the vast, creative void of black Nothingness We join as one in Great Pumpkiness— The holy root is found, Health and wholeness are all around; Out of the vast, creative void of black Nothingness We join as one in Great Pumpkiness— From divine connection that reigns supreme Prosperity flows and blessings spring; Out of the vast, creative void of black Nothingness We join as one in Great Pumpkiness, We join as one in Great Pumpkiness.
Hearing her sing that half-hymn, half-giggling tune, I felt compelled to join along and, as I fumbled my way through the song, indeed felt a pumpkin flower unfold within my heart. Its tickle never failed to make me smile. Eventually, after reviewing the field, one of the patch was chosen. I never asked why it was chosen above the rest because somehow I knew it was chosen for its greatness. It held the most pumpkin power. The Pumpkin Lady carried it ceremoniously to the little wagon she had wheeled there and somehow, even dressed in jeans, sweater, and field coat, she commanded an air of dignity. Once the regal orb had been selected, we set to work gathering the rest from the patch, stripping it clean in no time flat. The pumpkins would return with us to grace her home as decorations and nourish the temple of her spiritmindbody. During Halloween, The Pumpkin Lady told me, malevolent spirits caused mischief in the lives of humans, upsetting life’s cornucopia of blessings by playing tricks that made people clumsy, accident-prone and, in short, frustrated their ways. So, she carved pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns and placed them around the home’s perimeter to guard doors and windows—anywhere impish spirits were known to enter—and keep the hobgoblins at bay. After the danger from interfering goblins and Halloween had passed, pumpkins were placed in arrangements that frequently included a horn of plenty also filled with beans and ears of corn. The Pumpkin Lady told me the decorations acknowledged the harvest of blessings received and inspired a blessed harvest to come. Of course, no season of Great Pumpkiness would be complete without toasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie. The Pumpkin Lady served them generously throughout the season with the explanation that one’s spiritmindbody was fortified by eating the pumpkin’s power. Although the aroma of the baking pumpkin’s power enticed me, I was obliged to wait as The Pumpkin Lady affirmed the health it offered with grace, saying, “I am connected to the Divine root and willingly receive its abundance. May holiness, blessings, and prosperity flow through me and from me.” Only then could I eagerly enjoy the treat before me—pumpkin pie heaped with whipped cream, not the stuff purchased already prepared, but a fluffy confection that was whipped to perfection in a bowl in her kitchen and melted as liquid sweetness on my tongue. As she had prepared the treat, she stopped to tap lightly on my chest and remind me once again as she was known to do routinely, “Divine creations, all good souls are pumpkins at heart, so always do pumpkin others as you would have others pumpkin you.” I knew precisely what she meant. To be one with Great Pumpkiness was truly divine magic.
As it turns out, The Pumpkin Lady knew her stuff. Associated with dignity and high rank; the prosperity of health, money, and blessings; and an orderly life, pumpkins and their seeds have long been cherished by Native Americans for their nutritional and medicinal properties. A food staple of the Iroquois, the pumpkin is one of the “three sisters” crops often included in cornucopias along with its sisters, corn and beans. Once recommended as a cure for freckles—an inaccurate claim, as I can attest—pumpkins are high in fiber and a rich source of many nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin E, potassium, and omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium, manganese, phosphorous and a good source of iron, copper, protein, and zinc. Pumpkin health covers many dis-eases. Called “green gold” for its color, pumpkin seed oil is good for overall prostate health. Components of the oil appear to slow the over-stimulation of prostate cell multiplication that results in an enlarged prostate, common in men over the age of fifty. Regular use of pumpkin oil has shown to improve bladder function in general and to specifically alleviate the difficult urination associated with a benign, enlarged prostate. In addition, some studies have linked pumpkin seeds with kidney stone prevention. Because they are high in zinc, regular ingestion of pumpkin seeds has been correlated with lower rates of osteoporosis, especially of the hip and spine. This is good news for both men and women. While we often think of osteoporosis as affecting post-menopausal women, one in eight men over the age of fifty will suffer an osteoporotic fracture, with men accounting for thirty percent of all hip fractures. Pumpkin seeds contain anti-inflammatory properties. They have been used to treat arthritis with some success and without the nasty side effects of harsh drugs. Pumpkin seeds also contain phytosterols, those compounds shown to be effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels, enhancing one’s immune response, and protecting against certain cancers. Only sunflower seeds and pistachios are richer in phytosterols than pumpkin seeds. Omega oils in the seeds contribute to smooth skin, increased energy, good sexual health, and optimal brain functioning. Because they contain L-trytophan, seeds also have been effective in alleviating depression. Pumpkin power involves the mind and spirit as well. According to lore, pumpkin dreams prophesize blessings. If one dreams of a pumpkin grown in the house, dignity and blessings will increase. Should an ill person dream about pumpkins, a healing cure is around the corner. Liberation will come to an imprisoned person who dreams of pumpkins and a safe journey home will await a traveler. The person who dreams of eating cooked pumpkin will find that wishes and prayers come true. A non-believer will come to believe in a Higher Power. Such prophesies are not surprising when one considers that the pumpkin flower is associated with the existence of the Divine. Its essence can benefit those who are either closed off to the concept of or feel alienated from a Higher Power. Their association with the Divine is why pumpkins are carved into faces. Jack-o-lanterns represent the souls of departed loved ones and, when placed in windows or set on porches, welcome the deceased souls with their light while protecting the area from spirits that would interfere with their passing. As you enter the holidays, or holy days, follow the ways of The Pumpkin Lady. Affirm your connection to the Divine. Be a pumpkin patch goddess or god and let your healthy spirit sparkle. Use pumpkin power to chase away malevolent energy that a full harvest of life blessings might be preserved without blight. Recognize the Great Pumpkiness rooted in your soul. Enjoy peace and health of spiritmindbody by following the green-golden rule: Do pumpkin others as you would have others pumpkin you and you will— KEEP YOUR HEARTLIGHT SHINING
Candace Croft holds a doctorate in Health & Human Development, is a certified Family Life Educator and an aromatherapist. A professor and, most recently, an academic Dean, she specializes in lifespan development, transpersonal psychology, and integrative health. She has authored numerous articles and been involved with energy work for over a decade. Candace lives in southwestern Wisconsin and is available to give presentations or to consult with your organization. Her books and aromatherapy products may be found at her website, www.HeartLightShining.com .
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