Understanding how some plants we know to be dangersous can also be useful when used in the right ways

The Poison PathPoisonous Plants in Medicine and Magic

Beautiful, dangerous, healing, feared and revered — poisonous plants have played a fascinating role in herbal medicine, folklore, witchcraft and ritual for thousands of years.

In this workshop we’ll step onto The Poison Path and explore some of Britain and Europe’s most infamous toxic plants, looking beyond the sensational stories to understand their history, symbolism and traditional uses.

We’ll explore plants such as belladonna, henbane, mandrake, monkshood, foxglove, yew, hemlock and deadly nightshade, alongside others traditionally associated with witches, healers, poisoners and folk medicine.

Discover:

How to recognise some of our best-known poisonous plants

Why the difference between a medicine and a poison can sometimes be extraordinarily small

Historical medicinal uses and how modern medicine has developed compounds from toxic plants

Poison plants in British and European folklore

Their associations with witches, cunning folk, death, protection, transformation and the spirit world

The truth behind legendary witches’ flying ointments

Planetary, elemental and magical correspondences

How poisonous plants have been used symbolically in charms, ritual and traditional magical practice

Famous poisonings, folklore and historical misconceptions

How to work with the symbolism and presence of poisonous plants without needing to ingest or physically use them

This is a workshop for anyone fascinated by the darker side of herbalism, witchcraft and plant folklore — where healing plants and deadly poisons meet.

Educational and practical, but definitely not a class in poisoning people! We’ll focus on identification, history, folklore, traditional knowledge and safe magical approaches to these extraordinary plants.

No previous knowledge of herbalism or witchcraft is required.

Description supplied by the event organiser.