First – kids, don’t try this at home! Although my first thought when I picked up this book that it would be of the “oh, I’m so spooky and Witchy” variety of fluff (and there is a bit of that self-consciously ‘spooky’ attitude in here), there is much more substance to it, and I will recommend it to the experienced and serious practitioner as a useful introduction to this mode of magic work.
Michael deals here with herbalism and herbal magic centred on powerful and sometimes dangerously poisonous plants in an alchemical, animist and gnostic fashion. His emphasis is on personal transformation, using the poison to transform and purify oneself and one’s situation, acquiring plant spirit allies, transcending the dualism of poison and healing.
He draws from a wide range of sources, quite eclectically, and provides numerous recipes for tinctures, lotions and ointments, discusses various plants and a wide range of applications. The obvious poison work has to do with curses and defending from curses, death, trance journeys and shadow work, but also includes aphrodisiacs and entheogens.
The book begins with a chapter defining his terms and setting the context of the later discussion. He moves on to a discussion of the history, mythology, and occult foundations of the poison path in which he draws eclectically and references several widely different and unconnected mythologies. A brief outline of different aspects of the poison path: dealing with death, disease, and contagion; vampirism; aphrodisiacs and love magic; shadow work; and bringing this approach into other modes of magickal work. He then discusses dark herbalism in outline (as his previous book on a Poison Path Herbal went into much more detail on the practical facets of this path). The fifth chapter is a substantial list of plant allies, with their poisonous and healing qualities, suggestions on connecting with them and areas of their application, as well as tips on preparing them for use in tinctures and ointments. The final chapter is a practical discussion of formulae and ritual practices.
Michael cautions against becoming absorbed by the dark while working in this fashion, always using the experiences with darkness and contamination as means to purify and purge – good advice in challenging circumstances. He is also careful to recommend caution in ingesting poisons, developing relationships that are more symbolic and less dangerous (although there is no way to completely avoid danger in this kind of work).
An interesting introduction to this path.
~ review by Samuel Wagar
Author: Coby Michael
Destiny Books, 2024
224 pg. Paperback £14.00 / $25 Can / $ 18 US
