Moon Day
Magick & Medicine

Beginning Pharmakaeia
Baneful Herbs

Since the beginning, Plant Allies have stood by us, helping us to achieve the means to our ends whether personally or publicly motivated. Along the way, those Allies have been deemed with negative monikers by humans because of what they do naturally – as they are made. They are faulted for being poisonous to animals. Just as there is no Divine fault in the creation of the stars above, even though they can burn you out of your mortal coil, there is also no fault in the Divine creation of the plants below. (Creation can be interpreted how YOU wish.)

As thought throughout time, Plants in many cultures have their own Spirits and will work with Practitioners differently. The more you walk with Plant Allies, whether Hurting or Healing, you will begin to hear how they speak to you. You will begin to have lucid dreams from and with them.

Known as ‘botanical toxins’ to many, they have been called upon for thousands of years. In antiquity, these Allies were called upon to poison emperors. Today, they are called on for protection, and in the right dose, medicine, as in those for cancer treatments. To counter these poisons in antiquity, servants were often used to ‘taste food’ before it was consumed. This crafted the Art that was called ‘mithridating’ at one time. Today, as for cancer, we simply must consent to the chemical (plant based) poisons we put into our bodies.

As we can see, ‘poison’ does not always mean ‘bad’. The purpose of the Intent for the Plant Ally is truly the source of the misnomer, not the plant itself.

Beginning Pharmakaeia
Alkaloids of Nightshade

One of the most important terms to learn when on the Poison Path or when growing a Shadow Garden with things such as Night Shade, Hemlock, or even Belladonna -- just to name the most well known, is ‘alkaloid’. It also helps to know its effects on the body. The primary plants considered in the alkaloid are Solanaceae. Lest we forget, these plants also include tomato and eggplant amongst others, so, judge not. Some Practitioners are deathly allergic to anything in the nightshade family, like tomatoes. So, now you know why.

The most significant effects that these plants have on animals are with brain chemistry. Long before they reach that toxicity though, the animal will usually have an “allergic reaction” which indicates a sensitivity to the plant. They will develop itching at the site where they have come into contact with it or develop a rash around the mouth if they have consumed it. So we are aware, it only takes about 5 milliliters of Wolfsbane to kill an adult human. If we are going to walk the Poisoner’s Path, it is imperative to learn our antidotes FIRST. For this one, it is … well, it doesn’t exist. Or, we have not found it yet.

Wolfsbane was reportedly dubbed so because it is a neurogenic and cardiogenic toxin that had permanent effects on the lives it touched. Know that it should never be burned indoors without adequate ventilation. If it is burned outdoors, the Practitioner is advised to remain upwind so the toxic air does not blow onto them, entering their lungs. Lore says it may have received its name from the poisoning of wolves by farmers burning it to clear their land for livestock.

(Lore also says it was used in microdoses to treat ‘lycanthropy’ because humans figured out it killed wolves.)

Treatment for Wolfsbane poisoning if caught in time is "symptomatic and supportive" but as stated,"there is no specific antidote." When severe reactions occur, treatment has usually entailed resuscitation effort (CPR) to restore a regular heart rhythm via electrical shocks to the patient's heart. Because of this, Wolfsbane is strong in Magick.

The plant’s toxicity is often a byproduct of its chemical reaction with those chemicals external to it, such as those naturally found inside the body of the animal. For most of these plants they serve no purpose for the plant itself outside of ‘protection’ for a few, like the tomato against ‘pests’ (or life that wishes to feed on them). All of this should be considered carefully if we wish to PHYSICALLY poison someone.

But what about Magick? What about SPIRITUALLY?

These Allies will help with that too. Please note, physically, it does not take much of this Plant Ally to accomplish our Intent. Most plants can be found growing in wild conditions and others can be mail-ordered from reputable sources in ‘microdoses’ for magickal use.

For those that wish to not walk a Poisoners Path, a real to life drawing or picture can work with the Intent instead. if we take time to learn about the Plant Ally and its story in its natural habitat, it pays in dividends of Knowledge.


OTHER NAMES
Monk’s Hood, and Aconite. Consider the purpose of your Craft before you call on the incarnation of that Plant Ally. Many of these plants have both a baneful and beneficent uses, dual faced/faceted, just as Janus. For example: Monkshood is associated with 'chivalry' while Wolfsbane can mean 'misanthropy' or a dislike of others that can be felt strongly when used in a Banishment.

Read that Knowledge again.

Learn the two sides of everything FIRST. Over time, begin adding notes to your Herbal Grimoire or Journal that will aid you as everything you pick up esoterically is not always “common Knowledge” to those that are unlearned in the Arcane Arts.

Beginning Practicum
Wolfsbane Banishment

As this is January, and as you read in the ‘Origin of January’, we are choosing Janus as the Deity to call upon for our Working for this Lesson. Please go back and read the Origin story if you have not.

This is only a sample spell and you may change any part of it to suit your Craft needs, or to be more in line with the Path that you walk.

BANISHING

INTENT: “For target X (any living being, undesired habit, or non-beneficial thought, etc) to completely go away from my life and the life of those around me.”

With that stated, the life of X, or the lives of others around them, may or may not matter to other Practitioners. Make room for all possibilities to balance that energy. Make room for everything from a day of sneezing after doing this Spell … to wars and civil disturbances where your life may depend on having this Knowledge to keep you safe.

It is not simply to be used to “hex” another. It may keep you from subjugation.

SUPPLIES:
BLACK CANDLE
WOLFSBANE (DRIED)
OIL OF ROSEMARY

CORRESPONDENCES:
DEITY: JANUS
Your choice:
MOON PHASE
DAY OF WEEK

After safely collecting the above, cleansing, clearing and grounding— cast a Circle and call upon Janus.
Give offerings if called to.

WORDS:
”Janus, God of Crossroads, I call upon YOU, carry through my Work.

Janus, God of Seeded New Beginnings, I call upon YOU, raise the fruit of my labor.

Come forth and empower my Will and Work! Make it so!

Candle of Black, you are Intented to banish X from my life!

Upon you are the powers - I deem so!

Oil of Rosemary, you are tasked so that X may psychically feel the burn of my banishment! The Fire of my rage!

Wolfsbane, your energy is called upon to sicken X from my presence, from my thought, FROM MY LIFE! Burn this banishing poison into their being!

As I Will It, So Will It Be!”
(You may adjust words to suit your magick)
 

Allow the candle to burn completely down, noting the flame and wax. This can tell how strong the spell may be. Upon completing, scrape the remnants into the trash and say:

“To the Filth Eater these remains. So Will It Be.” (We all know, or should, this is considered by many to be one of the countless avatars of Hekate, a counterpart or “in the family of” multifaced and faceted Gods and Goddesses, such as Janus.)

Cleanse, clear and ground, you and your space. You may or may not set a time frame on works such as this but if Intent is strong enough, it should transpire quickly and results can be seen.

ALTERNATE METHOD
Every Practitioner may substitute any correspondence with the Universal Correspondences as long as you IMBUE EACH ITEM WITH YOUR INTENT AND INFORM THE PLANT OR STONE ALLY OF WHAT THEY ARE STANDING CORRESPONDENT TO.

ALTERNATE EXAMPLES
A medicine cup with 5mL of Water or Water with dried Wolfsbane in a secure location AWAY from accidental ingestion. Once evaporation completes the spell is cast.

A paper towel or napkin wet with 5mL of Water or Water and Wolfsbane, allowed to dry to cast the spell.

Moon Day W11

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

SUBMISSION: W11 MON WOLFSBANE SPELL (Due by Sunday)
Please submit the above spell by Sunday at Midnight. You MUST INCLUDE a before AND after picture. (Gathering supplies and Activation/Casting of spell.) A picture of the flower is acceptable as a stand in for that Correspondence.

DO NOT DISPOSE OF SPELL
REMNANTS YET!


EMAIL
Three Circles Medicine & Magick™
Please utilize the above email link
IF NO BUTTON IS PRESENT
to receive full Submission credit.

Lessons are subject to change without notification to Practitioners.
Late Submissions receive no credit without prior approval.