Did you know that during the Renaissance the nobility used various gemstones and crystals suspended from a "Proving Tree" device to detect the presence of poisons in food? Or that they also used narwhal horns? I sure didn't! Peppered throughout are numerous interesting historical facts. Melusine Draco's new book lays out a concise history of the usage of toxic plants by poisoners, physicians, and green men/women (cunning folk), illustrating the cyclical waxing and waning of the plants' popularity and usage over the centuries. There's been a lot of buzz in the occult world of late about the poison path: the use of poisonous plants for spirit work, journeying, trance and generally altering one's mind and perception. She then concludes the book by giving a good number of her bottling spells to stop various forms of harassment, incorporating the use of baneful plants. Her preferred method is bottling, which seems to be somewhere between a curse and a binding which she believes can be undone by unbottling the spell itself. She also warns that a curse cannot be undone by the one who’s cast it. She does not dismiss cursing as ethically wrong while placing emphasis on the seriousness of doing so and the magickal coin that such a working may cost the witch in the long run. Melusine has one of the most balanced views I’ve seen on cursing. The last chapter of the book discusses using these plants for cursing or bottling. The magickal uses of these plants are also briefly mentioned afterwards. The third section of the book is a very well researched encyclopedia of baneful plants and fungi including every day plants and herbs around us that aren’t normally discussed or thought of as such. The historical use herbs to combat poisoning is also examined - most being herbs that induce vomiting. Certain imagery and amulets as well as prayers and incantations were also used to help ward off poisoning. Other stones were believed to ward off poisoning just by wearing them or having them on your person. Some gemstones were believed to neutralize poisons and were placed on the goblets of Royalty as a protective measure. The information about how people would use stones to detect poisons was really interesting. The second part of the book discusses historical methods of detecting poison and trying to counteract it. As a traditional witch she places emphasis on the connection of poisons with that of witchcraft, sorcery and cunning folk traditions. Rowling, women poisoning their husbands, the flying ointment of witches and much more.
#ACTUAL MANDRAKE ROOT FULL#
This section is full of interesting information from political assassinations, the Gospel of Aradia, Shakespeare, J.K. She starts the book off by giving a fairly thorough introduction into the historical, mythological and fictional worlds of poisons. Coming in at only 96 pages, the book is brief and to the point. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this subject. Melusine Draco’s latest book By Wolfsbane & Mandrake Root is a great introduction into the world of baneful plants. This is a very concise, well-planned and exceptionally informative book I think is a must for any gardener, if just for the symptoms of poisoning, given so many of these plants are most likely sitting pretty in your own yard. I had not heard of "bottling" prior to reading this and as far as curses go, that's the ticket! (Not that I would, mind you!) Plenty of book references for later reading.
#ACTUAL MANDRAKE ROOT HOW TO#
The chapters are laid out splendidly with history, alphabetical herbs of caution, with effects, properties and magical elements noted, how to avoid them and how to utilize them. The Alnwick Castle's Poison Garden in England has long been on my bucket list of must see's and this book has just reinforced that desire tenfold. Plenty of references to take note of, as well as terminology, stepping back centuries. What a totally fascinating read, from the history of poisonings to the herbs and such used to do so.
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