Basil

Element: fire

Planet: Mars

Deities: Vishnu, Erzuli

Powers: 

Love, exorcism, wealth, flying, protection, calming, fidelity, good luck, purification

Use With: 

Lemon and rosemary to relieve anxiety, peppermint oil to spray into shoes for an energy boost. Crystals used with Basil include bloodstone, diamond, and emerald.

Warnings: in quantities above average food quantities: P N X for infant and toddlers

Rituals, Holidays, and Celebrations:

The scent of fresh basil causes sympathy between two people, and this is why it is used to sooth tempers between lovers. It is added to incense and sachets, and the fresh leaves are rubbed against the skin as a kind of natural love perfume. In Eastern Europe, it was once thought that a young man would love any woman from whose hand he accepted a sprig of basil.

Basil is used in love divinations. Place two fresh basil leaves upon a live coal, if they lie where you put them and burn quickly to ashes, the marriage (or relationship) will be harmonious. If there is a certain amount of crackling the life of the pair will be disturbed by quarrels. If the leaves fly apart with fierce crackling the projected relationship is undesirable.

Sprinkle dried basil around a lover’s side of the bed to keep them from straying.

Basil brings wealth to those who carry it in their pockets, and is used to attract customers to a place of business by placing some in the cash register or on the doorsill.

Basil can also be used to ensure one’s mate stays true.

Dilute basil essential oil in a base oil and then dab it behind your ears to ignite the fires of passion in your lover.

Skatter basil leaves across windows and doorways for purification.

Basil is strewn on floors, because where it is, no evil can live. It is also used in exorcism incenses and in purification baths. Small amounts are sometimes placed in each room of the house to bring protection.

Basil is also used to keep goats away from your property, to attract scorpions, and to prevent inebriation.

Witches were said to drink about ½ cup of basil juice before flying off into the air.

Basil can be used to diet, but only by a second party’s help, and without the dieter’s knowledge. According to an ancient spell, a woman or man will not be able to bite from any dish if basil has been secretly placed beneath it.

Basil given as a gift brings good luck to a new home.