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Basil ritual for a good atmosphere in your team

We spend many hours with our colleagues, and the team atmosphere shapes how we feel every day. A timely thank-you, a shared coffee or help offered before anyone asks can change the mood of a whole office. Basil, a plant that in many traditions symbolises harmony and good companionship, grows best when it is cared for a little every day, just like relationships. This ritual invites you to tend to both at once.

By the Cardaluna editorial team · Updated

In short: We spend many hours with our colleagues, and the team atmosphere shapes how we feel every day. You need 4 simple items and 5 steps. When: On a Monday morning, when starting a team project or after a tense period at work.

When to do it

On a Monday morning, when starting a team project or after a tense period at work. The waxing moon is the traditional phase for growing bonds.

What you need

  • A small pot of basil
  • A little water
  • Some sticky notes or small cards
  • A pen

Step by step

  1. Place the pot on your desk or in a shared space with some light, if your workplace allows it. Water it a little and say quietly: “may this team grow in trust.”
  2. Think of three colleagues and something specific they have done well or that helped you in recent weeks.
  3. Write each of them a short thank-you note, for example: “thanks for helping me with the report; your effort really shows.”
  4. Hand over the notes in person or leave them on their desks. During the week, offer help with something small without expecting anything back.
  5. Every time you water the basil, check how the atmosphere is going and choose one kind gesture for that day.

Safety first

These rituals are symbolic. Do not ingest herbs or oils, ventilate the room when burning incense or herbs, and never perform a ritual to harm or control anyone.

To finish

A good atmosphere is built with many small gestures and with respect, not with forced favours. Avoid gossip and, if there is a serious conflict or unfair treatment, go to your manager, HR or workers’ representatives. Water the basil without drowning it and wash your hands after touching the soil. To keep caring for your working life, pair it with the cactus ritual or the business card ritual.