Mythology and Folklore:
In ancient Greece, basil, or basilikon phuton was called the “kingly herb” for its use in royal medicine. It was hung on doors to bring good luck and wealth, and given to loved ones for protection. Egyptians used the herb in the country’s cuisine and applied it in embalming rituals. Native to Asia and Africa, Hindus who considered it sacred often planted basil on graves. To the Romans it was a symbol of hate that led to insanity in men. They believed that the plant should only be harvested using specific tools and rituals. Today, in many regions in Italy it is a symbol of love and romance known affectionately as “kiss me Nicholas”. In late Medieval times, a pot of basil placed on a window sill was used to signal to a lover that it was a safe time to approach. Sicilian folklore holds that the plant is linked to both love and death as when it sprouts from the head of Lisabetta of Messina’s murdered lover in the tales of the Decameron.
Above: William Holman Hunt's Isabella or The Pot of Basil
Healing Benefits:
Most people only think of basil as a culinary herb, but it is widely used in traditional medicines the world over for a variety of ailments. It has anti-bacterial properties as well as essential oils like eugenol and linalool that help fight inflammation in the body. In Ayurvedic medicine, basil is used to improve immune functions and it contains magnesium which helps increase blood flow by allowing muscles to relax. Sweet basil has mild sedative properties. Be safe and consult a professional medical herbalist for the appropriate use.
In the Garden:
Basil is an annual plant, a member of the mint family which prefers full sun and rich moist soil. Don’t worry about a partially shady location as too much sun may cause sunburn. Good drainage is really important to prevent root rot. While many gardeners will use garden or topsoil, some experts prefer a mix of peat and aged bark. Perlite, sphagnum and wood chips are also excellent growing mediums. Basil requires a lot of water and if you live in an area with very hot weather or a southern greenhouse you may need to water more than once a day. Those who grow their basil in clay pots also will need to take care the plants don’t dry out. Fish emulsion or a half-strength fertilizer may be used weekly to keep your plant happy and healthy. Basil needs to be pinched back often to prevent it from flowering.
Literature and Art:
Basil is found in works of prose, poetry and art from the Middle Ages until the present day. In George Elliott’s masterpiece, Middlemarch when the village physician Tertius Lydgate, having learned to accept his fate of being married to his spendthrift wife, compares her to the herb: “He once called her his basil plant; and when she asked for an explanation, said that basil was a plant which had flourished wonderfully on a murdered man’s brains.”
It appears in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s To Emilia Viviani and John Keats poem Isabella as he meditates on his parents and class anxieties. Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote lovingly about basil in Steepletop reflecting on how she and her husband Eugen would cover the herbs at night to protect them from frost.
John William Waterhouse:1907 Isabella and the Pot of Basil. Isabella's murdered lover Lorenzo appears to her in a dream and tells her where to find his corpse. She removes his head and hides it in a pot of basil watering it with her tears.
Your Weekly Writing Exercise: Write a letter to a stranger, someone who haunts you. Introduce yourself and your reason for writing. Be authentic and engaging, share a few stories, thoughts or experiences. Talk about your hobbies, movies you’ve seen or books you’ve read, your favorite poetry. This is a very personal exercise that will allow you to connect to someone on a deeply human level.
This basil-lime cooler is a refreshing drink and a good way to use up the excess of basil in your garden! The Ingredients: 10 medium basil leaves sugar 2 tsp. lime juice vodka 1 1/2 oz (optional) club soda or sparkling water Add the basil leaves and 2 tsp. sugar to a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, gently crush and grind the basil until no larger pieces remain and the sugar is dissolved. Add the vodka, lime juice and a few ice cubes to the shaker. Put the lid on and shake for about 10 seconds. Fill an old fashioned glass with fresh ice and strain the vodka mixture into the glass. Top off with club soda. Garnish with a sprig of basil or a lime wedge.