About the Book
A practical guide to the magical and ritual use of poison plant allies
• Shares a detailed formulary, including rituals, magical correspondences, and recipes for working with the baneful herbs of occult herbalism
• Looks at the plants of fate and the divination practices they support, love magic with poison plants, shadow work and spell work, the devil’s garden, and the use of nightshades as power plants for medicine and magic
• Explores poison history, lore, occult toxicology, and the alchemical power of working with poison
Examining the art and science of working with noxious and malefic plants and fungi, Coby Michael discusses the occult properties of poison and how poison plants can be used in spell work and other magical operations. He looks at the plants of Fate and the divination practices they support, love magic with poison plants, shadow work, the devil’s garden, and the use of nightshades as power plants for medicine and magic. Presenting a detailed formulary, he shares rituals, magical correspondences, and recipes for working with specific poison plant allies and other baneful herbs of occult herbalism.
Exploring the path of dark herbalism, the author explains how it encompasses not only veneficium—poisonous plants and fungi—but all plants that humanity has tried to forget, from “invasive” plants and those we can’t domesticate to those that have been regulated arbitrarily or simply feared as “toxic” or “poison.” He shows how the dark herbalist seeks out plants that are adversarial or taboo because the qualities we consider “dark” are really the plant’s spiritual medicine and can offer powerful wisdom and healing. Examining poison history, lore, and occult toxicology, he explains how the aim of using these plants is not to cause physical death, but rather death of the ego. He shows how “poison” in this sense is an alchemical force that allows the practitioner to become a vessel for the forbidden fruit of knowledge and how the transmutation of our personal poisons can lead to powerful self-transformation.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Eimi OstaraMoon
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Entering the Other Garden’s Gate
1 Lingua Serpentis: Speaking the Language
of the Poison Path
2 Poisons in Context: History, Mythology,
and Occult Foundations
3 Venefica: The Many Branches of the Poison Path
4 Dark Herbalism: Walking through the Shadow World
5 Botanical Allies: A Compendium of Plants
for the Poison Path
6 Formulary and Ritual Practicum:
Building a Poison Path Practice
Final Words (hopefully not my last)
Works Cited
Index
About the Author :
Coby Michael is an occult herbalist and magical practitioner who teaches about the ritual use of poisonous and psychoactive plants. The author of The Poison Path Herbal and coauthor of Leo Witch, he owns and operates The Poisoner’s Apothecary, an online shop and educational resource for the poison path. He has been blogging since 2016 and has written articles for Alraune: The Poisoner’s Guild, This Witch Magazine, and The Witches’ Almanac. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Review :
“Readers are taken on a captivating journey through the mysterious and often misunderstood world of poisonous plants. We are fully immersed in the forbidden gardens of herbalism, uncovering the secrets, history, folklore, recipes, and cautionary tales that bloom there. For those with a budding interest in herbal magick and medicine as well as seasoned green witches, this book is an indispensable resource that delves into the shadowy aspects of working with poisonous plants. The Poison Path Grimoire provides a fresh perspective on the ever-so-delicate dance between medicine and poison!”
“Coby Michael guides us into the forbidden corner of the witch’s garden and reveals the link between our shadow selves and poisonous plants. Coby dispels fear about these plants and their relation to the occult without removing the magic and mystery, deepening our connection with these outcast plants. This book contains valuable insight into a lesserknown subject that will surprise and enlighten readers of all practices.”
“Coby Michael weaves a tapestry of myth, magic, alchemy, and spellcraft in this tour de force of plant magic. The recipes, rituals, and hands-on practices are clearly rooted in the author’s own experiences, and they’ll inspire you to deepen your love of poisonous plants and the wisdom they have to share. The Poison Path Grimoire elevates the practice of green magic to new heights.”
“Just like her aunt Circe in Homer, Medea was called by Apollonius of Rhodes a polypharmakos—'one who knows many drugs.’ She was famously joined by Jason—a name given by Cheiron that also implies a knowledge of pharmaka—in the legendary search for the Golden Fleece. According to alchemical tradition, the Aureum Vellus was less a gilded ram’s pelt than it was a priceless sheepskin parchment possessed of a potent recipe for a magical pharmakon. Coby Michael has proven to be a veritable polypharmakos himself, and The Poison Path Grimoire qualifies as nothing short of a genuine Aureum Vellus.”
“The Poison Path Grimoire is a mixture of science-backed herbalism, history, established poison path praxis, and deeply personal experience that is a well-constructed, desirable addition to any herbalist’s library.”
“Readers will be showered in the emerald gifts of poison plant sorcery and guided into connection with a host of plants, practices, and perspectives fueled by Coby’s intense connection to this work and all it’s capable of.”
“An excellent book for those wanting to dig their roots deeper into the gardens of shadow and wind their way down the crooked path with the help of its most famous and infamous green spirits.”
“In his second book, Coby delves in-depth into the poison path, giving us many threads to explore from the tapestry of witchcraft and plant gnosis.”
“Examples of Coby’s deep respect of and refreshing approach to verdant magic and lore are stunningly presented within the pages of The Poison Path Grimoire.”
“This grimoire holds universal wisdom related to baneful plants suitable to all type of magical practitioners and herbalists. Coby’s philosophical approach to the poison path transforms this book into a guide not only for magick but also for contributing to spiritual development.”
“The Poison Path Grimoire was especially meaningful to me in broadening my repertoire of tools with the use of plants and ways of calling the spirits in my work with ecstatic trance for healing and spiritual growth, for communing with my ancestors, spirits of the earth, and the spirits of the mythic stories of antiquity.”
“The Poison Path Grimoire exceeded my expectations, and I cannot state enough how much I love this book, and Coby Michael’s work in all the forms it takes. I recommend this book to any witch looking into the Poison Path, flying ointments, and dark herbalism, but with the caveat that The Poison Path Herbal should be read first, as The Poison Path Grimoire works with material directly from the former. I rate The Poison Path Grimoire 5/5 stars....The Poison Path Grimoire is my favorite book of 2024!”
“The information in The Poison Path Grimoire is beyond useful and a must for anyone interested in baneful herbs and how to incorporate their uses into personal practice. It’s a magical book filled with dark herbalism, left-hand-path philosophy, shadow work, and spellcraft. While tempting to describe the work as dark, it’s also healing, empowering, and uplifting as the information presented enriches one’s personal practice.”
