Herbal Fridays: Basil

Herbal Fridays: Basil

Herbal Fridays: Basil
Pagan / Wiccan Related

Since I'm working on my herb seedlings right now, this week on Herbal Fridays we're looking at basil - I've already got a couple of lovelies that I'm looking forward to putting in the ground if things ever warm up here. Basil is one of those versatile herbs that can be incorporated not just into magical workings, but into recipes as well - and with a bit of creativity, kitchen magic really shines through with basil!

Basil is known far and wide as a culinary herb, but it also contains some interesting magical properties. In Mediterranean countries, it is strewn on floors to purify a home. It also can bring luck to people moving into a new residence - a gift of a potted basil plant guarantees good fortune. Magically, basil can be used in love magic and in love divination. Scott Cunningham says in his Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs that two basil leaves placed on a live coal will give you an indicator about the state of your relationship: if they burn to ash quickly, the marriage will be harmonious, but if they crackle and hiss, your marriage will be disruptive. Basil can also be used to guarantee fidelity -- or detect the lack of it. Source: About.com Paganism / Wiccan