The plants of middle earth

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

I agree that tulsi is also a good athelas choice. for the record the leaves are shaped much like convential sweet basil but are grey an a little fuzzy the smell is somewhat liquorice like. It makes a very tasty and relaxing tea. If tsulsi is athelas I am only glad that Tolkein did not add a version of its orgin story to the lore. since the Indian legend of where tutsli came from while interesting is a little on greusome side. (Basically the legend says that the gods honored the first Indian woman who threw herself on her husbands funeral pyre by making tulsi from the charred remains of her hair.)

Well, that is even more fascinating, given Arwen's death. Granted she does not exactly throw herself on her husband's funeral pyre and we do have that monument to the madness of self-immolation in the macabre steward. However, it is true that Aragorn's death produces a depression in her that removes her will or desire to remain living. She withdraws from her children, from Gondor, and from life and dies upon the green hill which is the monument to hers and Aragorn's love. It is a green byre, if I may be allowed to play upon bower and pyre. Emotionally or psychologically, there are similarities with the tulasi tale.