From the street art and store window displays of New York City in the spirit of Valentine Day "LOVE COLLAGE" of the city declares loud and clear that in the heart of things "all you need is love, love, love".

Pomegranates are the Season's favorite fruit, ripe with a nutritious goodness that stirs up passion and gets our blood pumping. While nibbling on its red, perfectly sweet with a hint of tartness, succulent seeds produces a sensory delight with health benefits, contemplating on the pomegranate's rich lore and mythology may be a mind opener of global proportions.

Reflecting on the pomegranate's intimate portrait, painted vividly by the human history, we may come to a realization that humanity shares within cross-currents of its cultural diversity a universal, tender and endearing affection for the "apple of many seeds". In many parts of the world, across the wide spectrum of societies and traditions, beloved pomegranate is celebrated in legends, myths, rites and rituals.

According to the myth, it was Aphrodite herself, the Greek goddess of love, who planted the first pomegranate tree. It is the pomegranate that claims the notoriety to be the original divine edible in the Garden of Eden. Native of the ancient Near East, praised as sacred, the heavenly fruit was and still is considered a potent symbol of fertility, sexuality, birth and abundance that ensures romantic bliss, longevity and renewal.

Hailed in literature, immortalized in the textile patterns and various design narratives worldwide, this creativity-nurturing fruit reveals and mirrors back to us our basic desire for happiness and fulfillment. And by focusing on a simple, yet unifying story of the juicy pomegranate we illuminate our collective heritage, an appreciation of which potentially and ultimately is a path to harmony amongst us.

A radiant pink diamond drew a lot of attention at the sumptuous Met exhibit "Sultans of Deccan India, 1500–1700: Opulence and Fantasy". Named Agra, large in size, a plundered survivor of the spoils of war long-past, it was destined only for the kings and is still oozing with the masculine vitality of its previous keepers. On the gentler note at the exhibit nearby "Elaborate Embroidery - Fabrics for Menswear before 1815" at the Met's Ratti Textile Center pale pink floral embroideries whispered of the tastes and preferences of the 18th century male. These delicate, refined embellishments were a reflection of the masculine elegance and a must-have adornment for the man of style at that time. At last few nagging questions can be asked openly about the obvious color devisions and stereotypes in our pop culture right now. 

When did the girls started to claim pinks solely for themselves? Segueing into a broader question of color-coding babies at birth, why did this lovely color infiltrated their wardrobes as a gender identifier and become such a strong expression of the feminine realm? Elvis Presley unabashedly loved pink and according to his Memphis clothier Bernard Lansky he looked "sharp" in it. The glimpses into the past indicate that pink was as much a masculine domain as a feminine one. Nowadays, while pink-clad images of male sartorial rebels and aficionados tickle us with their acts of pink courage and manly "super confidence", social media Moms continue to engage in the heated debates in the blogosphere whether pink should be worn by the boys. And the thought of men's pink underwear may cause conceptual tremors.

Naturally, colors do not have a gender. The idea of pink for the girls and blue for the boys was invented by the American retailers and manufacturers as a selling strategy. Starting to emerge at the beginning of the last century, it gripped the nation's psyche in the 1940's. Surprisingly, in the midst of the current equality and liberation movements, color-coding at birth tends to prevail. 

PINK, the most LOVING color in the Universe does not have a gender and it is time to "tear down this gender wall". Resonating with the unconditional love and the heart center, it carries calming, caring, gentle energy. It helps us to love ourselves and others. It teaches us forgiveness, tolerance and compassion. It is a color of healing and acceptance. Just imagine what would happen if the military of the world would wear pink uniforms? Just imagine, if the masculine essence in all of us would be showered with the over-abundance of pink in all forms? Perhaps, we may experience greater sense of harmony?.. Or down the road peace on earth?.. Let your mind wonder - the possibilities are self-evident.