Hello everyone,
I am pretty new here, so I feel shy to share, but I decided to try. I follow an Eastern spiritual wisdom path, and I have seen a little of that here, but not a lot. Recently I obtained a seed of a tulasi (holy basil) plant from a friendly woman at my local temple. I have tried to cultivate this plant before, but somehow she always passes on. Now I am about to embark on the journey again.
It is believed that taking care of the tulasi plant in your home helps with your spiritual inspiration. She is a person, not just a plant, so we care for her very carefully, being careful not to over-cull her flowers or leaves, etc. She likes humid temperatures and grows a lot in India, but also happily in other warm places.
In the tradition I follow from India, we sing to her, and we offer her leaves and flowers at the altar to the God and Goddess. It is said that He won’t even accept any food that does not have a tulasi leaf on it, He is that favoring of her.
Here is a verse about her, when she is in human-like form and not as a plant, her name is Vrinda Devi:
By the order of Vrnda Devi, Vrindavana looks beautiful, as if decorated with all the qualities of the spring season. By her order the flowers blossom and spread their fragrance everywhere, the wind blows, the bumble bees are maddened and intoxicated by the sweet honey of the lotus flowers, and they are buzzing here and there. The peacocks are dancing, and deer are also dancing here and there. So, by the grace of Vrnda Devi, on her order, Vrindavana becomes so beautiful and provides the most wonderful playground and setting for Radha and Krishna’s pastimes.
Vrndavana is the name of the forest and village wherein Krishna and His beloved consort Radha reside.
If you would like more information on goddess Vrinda Devi, here is a discussion about her that I recommend, from a bhakti-yoga website: https://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-discourses/19-discourses-2000/165-tulasi-devi
Here is a video of a beautiful prayer to her, with original & transliterated Sanskrit lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJSUd4fHWSU&ab_channel=GaudiyaRasamrita
Let me know if it was OK to share this topic in the Wisdom category, or not. Love & light! 
As someone with an educational background in Global Studies and a meditation background in Zen Buddhism, I really really appreciate when folks share about deities, beliefs, and wisdom from various traditions. I love learning about them!
& Calendula flowers. I’ve really got to go through my space & put things with each other so I know where they are in here. 
& there is a cleanse that does from your Earth Star 
Chakra through the Crown 
Chakra. I do that one laying down, I’ve found for some meditations I do much better laying down rather than sitting up. Most of the time I’m sitting though, especially when I am outside.