Working with Mountain Laurel- a toxic beauty

Earlier in Spring I collected Texas Mountain Laurel flower cuttings and a bucket of Chittamwood berries.
As with any plant, there are both positive and negative aspects.  No herb is entirely 'baneful'.  The flowers of the mountain laurel offer the sweetest poison temptation, so fragrant yet so toxic.  How would I use such a misleading plant?  The sensuality and sheer beautiful energy of this tree can be worked with if done so in care.  Incense, simmering oils, candles, inks, dried wreaths, amulets, and ritual kindling bundles are all possibilities.

"Beyond their functions as agents of bodily harm, poisons have also served as gateways of religious ecstasy, occult knowledge, and sensorial aberration, as well as the basis of cures"  -Daniel A. Schulke

For the mountain laurel oil base I separated the heavily scented petals and stamens with orange pollen from the green stems. The flowers smell like the sweetest grape bubblegum but the wood puts off a heavy stink.  Remember, do NOT use anything crafted from mountain laurel topically or ingest it without the guidance of properly trained herbalists.  Even honey made with these sweet flowers can be deleterious.  There are cases where toxins ingested by pheasants eating the berries and foliage were then passed on to hunters eating their catch.  The medicinal uses according to Mrs. Grieve of Botanical.com:

"---Constituents---Leaves possess narcotic poisoning properties and contain tannic acid, gum, fatty matter, chlorophyll, a substance resembling mannite, wax extractive, albumen, an acrid principle, Aglucosidearbutin, yellow calcium iron.
---Medicinal Action and Uses---Indians are said to use the expressed juice of the leaves or a strong decoction of them to commit suicide. The leaves are the official part; powdered leaves are used as a local remedy in some forms of skin diseases, and are a most efficient agent in syphilis, fevers, jaundice, neuralgia and inflammation, but great care should be exercised in their use. Whisky is the best antidote to poisoning from this plant. An ointment for skin diseases is made by stewing the leaves in pure lard in an earthenware vessel in a hot oven. Taken internally it is a sedative and astringent in active haemorrhages, diarrhoea and flux. It has a splendid effect and will be found useful in overcoming obstinate chronic irritation of the mucous surface. In the lower animals an injection produces great salivation, lachrymation, emesis, convulsions and later paralysis of the extremities and laboured respiration. It is supposed, but not proved, that the poisonous principle of this plant is Andromedotoxin.
---Preparations and Dosages---A saturated tincture of the leaves taken when plant is in flower, is the best form of administration, given in doses of 10 to 20 drops every two or three hours. Decoction, 1/2 to 1 fluid ounce of powdered leaves from 10 to 30 grains. Salve made from juice of the plant is an efficient local application for rheumatism." 
 http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/l/laumou12.html
  
The first step in making Mountain Laurel oil, soaking the petals in a light olive oil with a touch of rum. This will sit in a dark space to be shaken every few days for a few weeks. Then the botanical parts will be strained and I can work with the oil in various ways.

Crafting amulet bottles is one way to interact with and hear the voice of such plants.  I have crafted these type of vial pendants using oil or dried herbs along with various curios. Both of the pendants below carry the leaves of bitter nightshade.

This tree is a beautiful evergreen that can grow to 25 feet.  It has lustrous green pinnate leaves and fragrant wisteria-like flowers that drop down in pink or purple bunches.  It is extremely hardy and does well in my zone 8 and 9 yard.  It is tough, extremely drought tolerant, disease free, and has outstanding ornamental qualities. Studies show that it requires less than ½ the amount of water than a Crepe Myrtle tree requires, making it an ideal xeriscape plant.

The seeds from native Texas Mountain Laurel trees were of great value to native American Indians in the region. They were worked into ornamental jewelry as beads, and reportedly a strand of these seeds could be traded for a horse.

Nature's Naughty Herbs - the baneful components of magick

The Usage of Baneful Herbs & Curios…

    This is a cautious journey into the darker side of Nature and her fiercer aspect as manifested in the so called ‘baneful’ herbs.  While there are as many ethical codes as there are types of Witches, remember that every herb has its own blessings and curses.  For instance, you might regularly sprinkle nutmeg on your pies yet if you were to consume a whole nutmeg pod, you most certainly would die a painful death!  You must decide for yourself if your usage is educated, just, and worth the risk.  Baneful herbs tend to be toxic, making them stronger and faster acting both physically and spiritually. 

    Until the mid 1900’s most of these herbs were widely used in pharmaceutical and folk magic practices.  Marijauna infusions, belladonna eye drops, cocaine cough drops, and opiate elixers for female remedies could be found at any common drug store. However, due to their toxic and addictive nature many of these plant based products are very difficult to find today in medicinal, dried, or seed form.  Some common herbal ingredients from earlier times such as marijuana and fly agaric are simply outlawed in most countries now.  Others, such as belladonna in pinkeye relief drops, are still used in very limited circles. As the number of synthetic medicines grow and regulations against homeopathic healing continues, the availability and usage of baneful herbs in traditional folk magick and healing has also waned.    
 Vintage medicine labels showing the usage of baneful herbs & modern illegal substances.
Considering the potential health and legal risks of using baneful herbs, why would any practitioner do so?  Used in magick and medicine for centuries, these botanical curiosities can lead to hallucination, coma, or painful death if not applied properly.  Then again, so can the misuse of modern pharmaceutical medicines.  For those of us who are drawn to traditional hedge witchery, herb craft, and the Green Path, to not seek these herbs and their wisdom leaves a void in our practice… maybe in our very energy, our ability to heal, and the possibility to communicate with the spiritual Green. The symbolism and spiritual power of these plants is derived from humanity’s oldest consciousness and relationship with our environment.  Before grocery stores, before even farms, we foraged ALL of our medicines and food from the Earth.  The loss of this relationship and level of knowing pains many of us. 

"Upon the poison path, we may speak of many 'firsts'- the initial sting or bite of a poisonous animal; the first adverse reaction from a prescription drug; the first experience of anesthesia;  the first apparition borne of an hallucinogenic substance.  This inceptive consciousness may also be applied to Astral Poison: heartbreak, betrayal, emotional violence, nightmare.  Each situation may be regarded as initiatic..."  

-Daniel A. Schulke 'Veneficium: Magic, Witchcraft, and the Poison Path'

Beyond the health risks, some practitioners find themselves in dread of any herb termed ‘baneful’, actually considering these plants to inherently carry evil spirits or negative properties.  Traditionally some of these herbs are used to draw spirits (datura) while others exorcize them (larkspur)- some are employed to do both (wormwood).  They may be used to sow discord or confusion (poppy seed, devil's shoe string). Certain herbs are said to be able to possess a lover to the heights of passion while others destroy a couple’s relations or cause impotency and infertility.  Visions, a sense of flying, and hallucinations of dancing hoards are said to be invoked by certain botanical applications. Hexing, cursing, tricking, goofering, domination, or bending over are all ways of describing the darker affects of baneful herbs.  There is a real fear among many spiritualists of opening a dark door that cannot be closed again… of somehow drawing malignance and danger to oneself with these plants.  However, others feel that how the herb is approached and the intention of the user is what actually determines a baneful or beneficial working.  The study of cursing does not necessarily mean one practices willful malignancy.  A doctor must know the poison to provide an antidote and so to a Witch must know how a curse was cast and even use a bit of the same ingredients in the undoing.

    You can work with any plant’s energies and symbolic properties for positive goals.  Developing a relationship and educated familiarity with any plant can lead you to an awareness of its ‘spirit’ or ‘familiar’.  These beings may then choose to aid you in your workings and journey if tended to properly. You may try creating talismans, coordinating the planetary associations of specific plants with various sigils, stones, and days. Roots, leaves, and berries can be added to medicine bundles, mojo bags, or gris gris bags.  You could craft a spell bottle to enshrine the plant's spiritual anima.  Certain herbs lend themselves well to poppets as the heart or stuffing of the doll.  Additionally glass pendants or tiny bottles of various herbs may be worn to invoke their specific power.

In popular American magickal practices, many commonly speak of meeting 'animal spirits' but fewer acknowledge a genuine consciousness emanating from plant life.  There are many older traditions to look to in reawakening this connection.  Dryad traditions throughout Europe, many of the Devi beings in Asia, and certainly the seguro plant spirits of Andean culture's can help in this work.  In the later case:

"Always on altars are seguros, magical amulet bottles filled with perfume, plants, and seeds...

(this is then) a "friend" or "ally", someone you can turn to for advice and information, who will listen and share your problems.  (These are) plants chosen for their specific healing and spiritual qualities. A seguro can help you maintain and deepen your link to the sacred because, of course, it contains your plant ally. If there are other plants you have journeyed to or would like to learn from, these can be added to the seguro as well and, when you know the language of your ally, this plant spirit will communicate your desire to the other plants, which will also offer their healing and support. You therefore gain access to the natural world and its powers more widely" 

 http://www.alumbo.com/article/37185-Plant-Spirit-Shamanism-The-seguro.html

Above: found on Pinterest, original artist unknown (let me know if you find the source)
Sealed baneful herb spirit bottles with Datura, Bittersweet Nightshade, Mandrake, Fly Agaric, and Black Henbane

The List
A variety of common baneful herbs and substances used in the magickal process. There are of course many more that could be added based on historical symbolism or toxicity.

Abrus, also called Rosary Pea, Precatory Bean (Abrus precatorius)

Barberry

Bats Head Root

Blood Root

Castor Beans

Chine Berries

Cinquefoil, Witch’s Grass

Coca

Datura, Jimsonweed

Devil’s Shoestring

Fly Agaric

Foxglove, Digitalis

Guano, Bat  excrement

Hawthorn

Hellbore

Hemp

Henbane

High John the Conqueror

Lemon Verbena

Licorice Root

Lily of the Valley

Lobelia

Lotus

Mandrake, European

May Apple Root, American Mandrake

Mistletoe

Mullein

Nightshade, Belladonna, Monkshood

Periwinkle

Poison Arrow Plant (Acokanthera species)

Poison Hemlock

Poke Root

Poppy

Rue, Ruda

Sulfur, Brimstone

Tonka Bean

Vandal Root

Wolfsbane or Monkshood, Aconite (Aconitum species)

Wormwood

Yew 

The List of Nots!

-This is NOT a medical document and in no way suggests the consumption or medicinal usage of said herbs. 

-This is NOT an approval of recreational drug usage or the acquisition of illegal substances. 

-The author NOT in any way responsible for the use or misuse of any herb nor is she responsible for any allergic reaction. 

-Additionally, this is NOT an exhaustive list of every toxic plant in the world.  Many ‘nice’ herbs may also be problematic if misused.  The practitioner takes upon themselves all magickal and physical risks associated with the handling of these plants or formulas.  These substances are potentially toxic and deadly. 

-The author also does NOT guarantee the outcome of any specific spell and offers these materials as curios only.  The success or failure of any magickal working is dependent upon the practitioner’s own belief system.

Notice to Reader!

    If you do choose to work with baneful herbs, avoid burning the plant material for this can cause toxic fumes.  The chemical properties can also be absorbed through the skin by direct contact and heavy smoke.  Do NOT ingest or smoke these!  Consider wearing gloves and especially avoid contact with open cuts or abraded skin.  Thoroughly washing hands, face, utensils, and vessels after handling these plant products. Clearly label storage bottles!  Keep out of reach of children or pets!

    Another point to consider, many baneful herbs are sacred to darker chthonic entities who will expect an offering for the collection and usage of said plants. Carefully consider these deities, your own ethics concerning self defense and attack, and the greater Web of being before proceeding.  Many witches, herbalists, and shamanic practitioners never feel capable of handling such fire… are you really ready?