The Poison Path Herbal: Baneful Herbs， Medicinal Nightshades， and Ritual EntheogensThe Poison Path Herbal by Coby Michael is a collection of knowledge pertaining to certain plants---those whose chemical substances which may cause death， even in small doses。 An aspiring herbalist， I can't claim to critically review books on magic or baneful plants。 At the same time， Michael's presentation intrigued me。 For who hasn't wanted to know why Hellebore is cast as Saturnian， while Datura， Venusian， in na The Poison Path Herbal: Baneful Herbs， Medicinal Nightshades， and Ritual EntheogensThe Poison Path Herbal by Coby Michael is a collection of knowledge pertaining to certain plants---those whose chemical substances which may cause death， even in small doses。 An aspiring herbalist， I can't claim to critically review books on magic or baneful plants。 At the same time， Michael's presentation intrigued me。 For who hasn't wanted to know why Hellebore is cast as Saturnian， while Datura， Venusian， in nature？ A widely-read author （perhaps scholar is more likely）， accomplished in green pagan arts， science， history and mythology， Michael describes in detail the historical， cultural， and modern usages of these plants。 The herbal section of the book is arranged in fascicles， one for each of the three ruling planets， Mercury， Venus， and Saturn。 Prized in antiquity when Greek and Roman herbalists associated plants with their gods and goddesses， in modern times these plants are categorized in the various medical traditions by their affinity for parts of the human body and the mind。 In other words， most plants are used today in medicine， in varying degrees， and for purposes that vary as well。The author meticulously describes each “family” of plants， positing that each of the three ruling planets has characteristics that preside over the plants within its circle。 For example， the power of Saturn is “dense” and offers “crystallization and containing effects”。 Saturnian stamp and seal are presented for visualizing the planetary concept。 As well， the Physical Characteristics， Medicinal Properties and Astrological Correspondences are listed， subtended by Alchemical Symbolism。 These properties establish a broad overview of the plants。 In all sections， leaves， flowers， roots and odor are defined in physical terms。 And then， qualities of each planet are emphasized。 For example， see the Venusian qualities of regeneration and care， which influence the heart， reproduction， and are tonic。 In other words， the herbs of Saturn， Venus and Mercury are shown to belong to a hierarchy beyond the usual taxonomic one。 I found the planetary influence to be especially compelling， where such description is supported by historical reference and allegory。Belladonna and three of the Nightshades， Black， Eastern Black and Bittersweet are from the Deadly Nightshade Family。 Three others， namely Hemlock， Hellebore， and Wormwood， also represent the Saturnian collection he’s chosen。 Yet though these three have Saturnian traits---they “shield and protect， are about structure and foundation and are masculine in nature”---oddly they are the least deadly in terms of their poisonous qualities。 So， it appears that of the over 30 plants individually defined for their poisonous qualities， a few are not as deadly as to be called poisonous。 These Michael calls “magic catalysts”---plants that harmonize or positively influence an intention。 Herbs Aztec Tobacco and Myrrh are among the notable ones in this selection。And yet the admonition remains: many plant constituents are indeed dangerous。 Plants may be dangerous if you use them unaware or disrespectfully， and especially if maliciously。 Their properties may be strictly off-limits for you because of a single existing condition or medication you are taking， or any number of conditions that would preclude the healthy use of these plants。 The Poison Path Herbal informs readers and warns of potential risks and vulnerabilities。An added bonus， Michael dedicates a section on Practice， or practical advice for those using the herbs。 In it you’ll find instructions for preparing formulas， making extracts and infusions， etc。， and recipes for incense and powders， even ink。 As well， he gives instructions for tending seed and growing the plants which， by and large are wild and resistant to being cultivated。 An aspiring herbalist， I can't claim to know works on magic or baneful plants。 Yet I appreciate the candor and inclusive approach in organizing and presenting this poison path herbal。 Mostly， what impresses me is that a reader’s inquisitiveness about these plants is well served。 Advice， historical precedent and mythos are generously and fairly applied and the writer appears to be deeply acquainted with the topic of magic and poisonous plants。 。。。more