I first heard about Holy Basil (Tulsi) in the fall of 2013. It is thought of as the “Elixir of Life” the “Medicine of Mother Nature.” I wanted to discover on my own why it is heralded as such an incredible herb, so I planted it myself.
Little did I know what amazing experiences would come out of this simple act. From seedlings to mature plants, the scent of the flowers alone could carry you into a meditative experience, deeply calming and otherworldly at the same time. I could immediately smell and sense why the bees and butterflies would be attracted to this high vibrational plant.
Where I live in Connecticut, Holy Basil is considered an annual - meaning it would need to be planted anew every year. Amazingly, in the second year of planting Tulsi, I discovered seedlings that were already popping up from the previous year.
And so in 2014, there was an abundance of Holy Basil absolutely everywhere - both from the year prior and from my new planting. What to do with it all? I didn’t want it to go to waste. I knew I could create a tea from the leaves, but what else? I began to experiment with developing a tincture that would honor the healing qualities of this Holy Plant.
By the following year I felt a deep connection growing. Not only had I been drinking the tea regularly and experimenting with the healing tincture, but the beauty of the flowers were also calling my attention. I had wanted to combine art and healing in such a way to offer inspiration back to the plant kingdom. After many trials I discovered a way of weaving beautiful ribbons through the stems while encasing the flowers – almost like a version of the caterpillar in the cocoon if you can picture it! The message I kept getting was that these wands would help balance the energies of the chakras, bringing forth goodness, virtue and joy. They can also be used near your nightstand for a restorative sleep.
Not only can you see, smell, taste and touch Holy Basil, but this Queen of the Plant Kingdom also sings! Last summer, I purchased a Music of the Plants device, a magical machine from Damanhur, Italy that turns the electrical pulses of a plant into musical notes.
Holy Basil has touched the lives of many – it is nothing short of magical. I find it hard to put the music into words, but just think “childlike wonder” exponentially beyond what the mind can comprehend. Everyone who has been in the presence of the music has told me that they have felt somehow healed, changed, regenerated, restored…People have said they felt the music keying into their chakras. Each person has had their own unique experience and I think that is also part of the gift of what is communicated through the sound.
I have played the music of the Holy Basil plant during reiki healing sessions, meditations, during cooking workshops and for small dinner parties. Once, when I laid down to heal from a sinus headache, the plant stopped playing about 5 minutes into the session. In my mind I asked “why did you stop” and the reply I got was “so you could go deeper on your own”
I’ll end with another Holy Basil healing story – when Lulu, our 14 year old lab was transitioning, the vet who came to the house encouraged us to create our own farewell. And so we did. With our tears and our prayers and gratitude for a rich full life, the Holy Basil plant sang its song. And when Lulu took her last breath, the plant stopped singing. The sentient world of soul and spirit were there to honor her transition.
I’m happy to share more – please feel free to call, email, text or visit me in Old Greenwich!
To read more about Laura's Holy Basil Tincture & Holy Basil Wands, check out the Apothecary!
