In the spirit of the Halloween holiday season, I’m offering a free zoom session to feature
Haunting Herbs on 

Monday, October 26
1:00 p.m. (ET)

The presentation features associations, historical and current, between witches and plants.
​ You won’t find spells, but may have a better understanding of plants magical properties, why they were needed and how they developed. 

If you are interested, send an e-mail to 
ywmikell@gmail.com
and I’ll send you a zoom invitation. 

Class size is limited.

I started Collecting Firsts years ago, when I  was weary of the  same house, job, drive to work, etc., and I decided if life was  going to be more varied  and vibrant,  it  was up to me to take a more creative   and proactive approach. It  never occurred to me that my ‘first’ plague was in the future, or the first time watching my  youngest daughter struggle with Covid 19. 

On  a brighter note, as she began to slowly  recuperate, inspite of on going  after effects, she asked me if I’d like to  participate  in the virtual Baltimore 26.2 mile crabby walk. At 70, I knew it would be a challenge as it was my  first, but wanted  to support her, so  I agreed. 

On Saturday,  October 10, we completed our required miles and yesterday  our t-shirts and medals arrived so  we opened them together  on a Zoom call! 

We’re planning to do  the turkey trot  on Thanksgiving Day and run a half a marathon in the  spring. Setting goals together has helped to make this bittersweet year a little  more  bearable. 

Even during a pandemic, there are ways to  collect firsts. I hope you are all setting goals and making wonderful memories. 

​​As Halloween approaches, our thoughts may turn to ghosts, goblins and witches! One of the most infamous witchy moments is the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, circling around the cauldron. 

ALL
"Double, double, toil and trouble:
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. "

Second Witch
"Fillet of a fenny snake, 
In the cauldron, boil and bake;
Eye of  newt and toe  of frog,
Wool of  bat  and  tongue of  dog." 
​

​​Aww, come on now!  You didn’t really think witches were scouring the forest to gather  the eye of a newt or the toe of a frog, did you?

Folk names were used for herbs long before Shakespeare came along It was a bit like the copyright protections we have today.  “Witches” were actually healers who were protecting their recipes and secret ingredients from those who had no  understanding of nature, plants and their magical powers. Secret code names were created to protect the identity of the ingredients as well as  give mystery to the herbal  cures. Many plants are still called by their folk names today!

Some names can be determined by the part of the plant associated with particular body part: for example, seeds were associated with eyes.  If Shakespeare had said mustard seed instead of “eye of newt”, a certain mystery would have been lacking. 

Even though his descriptions were visually stirring, they were not appreciated by the herbal healers of  the  time. His using their code names made them furious  and they  put a curse  on not only Shakespeare, but  anyone  who  dared  use the word ‘Macbeth’. Uttering the word in a theater is considered bad luck, to this day. Even witches who have dedicated their lives to healing can become enraged and vengeful if their secrets are exposed!  Hopefully,  I won’t  regret writing this article.   I  think I’ll  go gather some agrimony, just  in case!

Bud or Bloom -  Beak, Bill or Nose
Blossom -  Head
Blossom or Seed  - Eye
​Bud  -  Heart
Leaf or Petal - Teeth or Tongue
​Leaves - Foot, Leg, Paw, Toe, Wing
Sap - Blood
Seed -  Heart 
​Seeds or Sap  -  Genitals, Private Parts, Semen
Stem - Tail
Stringy parts of the herb -  Hair
​Roots or Stalk  - Guts

Cat -  Catmint
Dog -  Houndstongue, Grasses, Couchgrass
Eagle -  Wild Garlic
Frog  - Cinquefoil
Hawk -  Hawkweed
Lamb - Wild Lettuce
Rat -  Valerian
Toad -  Sage
Weasel  - Rue​

Folk names for aconite - blue rocket devil's helmet, leopard's mane,
monkshood, mousebane, wolf's bane, woman's bane, 
​

A thirty-three year old gardener, Nathan Greenaway, died of multiple organ failures after touching monkshood. If that doesn't convince you to keep your distance, there is no hope.

Wolf's bane is a member of the Ranunculus family, as is the seemingly innocent buttercup. But beware. All members of this family, over 500 varieties, are poisonous. 

Aconite, from the Greek work akon, meaning dart or javelin, was used on the tips of arrows to kill wolves. Legend states that the arrows never missed their mark and death from the plant's poison was immediate. I can't help but wonder who gathered and prepared the arrows, as all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous even to the the touch. 

Monkshood remind me of delphiniums - same family - and both are grown in gardens as ornamental flowers. You won't find them in mine. The story of the gardener is more than enough to deter me.  The original headline was that he had merely brushed past the plant and the result was death, The reputation for the herb's toxicity is enough to convince me to keep my distance. 
​

Most beautiful of poisons,
border-plant,
wearing your small green cowl,
little friar, little murderer,
aconitine flows
from your roots
to your deep purple flowers,
small deceiver,
centerpiece
for a poisonous
feast.

A few leaves
in the salad,
a few seeds
in the soup,
a thick root
to flavor
the stock--
& it is all over.
Let the lover beware
who buys you
for love philters;
the dose is deceptive.
One pinch may lead to passion
but two will surely lead
to death.
Yet you twinkle
little blue bell
at the edge
of the garden,
wearing no warning
about your slim green neck.
Wolfbane, Friar’s cap,
Chariot of Venus--
how many may claim
to be poisonous
head to toe?
That honor--
Friar Death--
belongs to you.

The seeds are poisonous to chickens, giving Henbane its common name,. The Latin name, Hyoscyamus - from the Greek 'hous' meaning pig and kuamos meaning bean -  has been interpreted as a reference to the noxious smell, but it could well be, as Erica Jong notes below, that the 'sickly flowers turn men into swine."  Turning men into pigs must have been more common in the past than it is presently.. In addition to Henbane's special powers, changing men into hogs was also attributed to mandrake - check my mandrake post.

With the current misogyny in the U.S., it seems some men don't need any herbal assistance. Fortunately in my recent travels, this hasn't been a concern but I have no plans to move to D.C. or Hollywood so maybe my geographical location has spared me. Ha!

Henbane is not used often because it is so highly poisonous. As with some of the other members of the Solanaceae family, it contains the propane alkaloids and it best left alone..
(Note: Non-poisonous tomatoes and potatoes are in the Solanaceae family.)

Simply smelling the herb can have derogatory effects. Legend states the dead who wander along the banks of the river Styx wear wreathes of henbane flowers to prevent them from remembering their previous lives, according to Greek mythology. 

Scott Cunningham, herbalist extraordinaire, noted  

​"Henbane, another poisonous plant largely ignored in herb magic today
due to its toxicity, is still sometimes utilized as a love bringing herb in the following 
manner: to bring love, a man should gather henbane, naked, early in the morning
while standing on one foot. Worn, it will bring love."

Once again, I am puzzled. This entire plant is poisonous, yet there are accounts of a man gathering this vilely fragranced plant, unprotected by clothes, and then actually wearing it?  (For several reasons, I hope they get dressed first!) 

Cunningham also notes the herb can be burned to attract rain and this should be best done outdoors - they need to tell people this? - as the fumes are poisonous. He then notes that fern can be used as a substitute. Hopefully the fern cam be used in the love spell as well!

Once again I got sidetracked - easy to do with the versatile and many faceted herbs! In reference to Halloween, witches rubbed an ointment which included henbane and other herbs on the handles of their  broom sticks to enable them to fly. And allegedly, there were evil witches  - most aren't, you know - who used the herb to inflict convulsions, delirium and even death on their victims. 

Henbane should best be avoided unless under the supervision of a well trained herbalist,  Witches, Henbane and Brooms, 

​It has inspired American poet and novelist Erica Jong, probably best known for her 1973 novel Fear of Flying. This poem is from her book Witches. 

Herba Apollinaris,
Circe’s herb,
The Delphic Priestesses’
wine--
is it you
with your jagged leaves
& sickly flowers
who turn men
to swine,
is it you
who pluck the prophecies
from smoke,
above the great Omphalos
in the gorge?

Common as the lowly potato,
but with the power
to bring oblivion or death,
Ulysses lost
his sailors
to your spell,
while that mild witch, Circe,
wove harmonies
upon her magic loom
where the fabric
flickered
like firelight.
Sleepy beasts
beneath her shuttlecock,
the wolves & lions loll
like aging dogs;
the witch tickles
their bellies.
Half girl, half goddess,
all enchantress,
Circe dreams of her Odysseus,
luring him
with bright thoughts,
bright threads,
& honeyed wine.
Was it you, Henbane,
turning beastly men
to loving beasts--
is that why Circe
loved you so?
—Until Ulysses
stormed in
with his broadsword,
the master mariner,
the son of gods
of old;
& used
to taming women to his will.
He took the witch
to bed--
not out of lust
for Hermes himself had ordered it--
(& Odysseus always
had a god at hand).
Was it Henbane
they smoked
before they went to bed?
Was it Henbane
that let their loving slip
from one slim night
into a whole fat year?
She sent him home
the long way
from her famous
bed of love,
Through Death’s cold vastnesses,
& pale Persephone’s glacial halls.
Was it you
Henbane
who made the journey slow--
or was it Circe,
half girl, half goddess,
harmonizing on her lovely loom
while men lolled at her feet
like sleepy beasts…
O Circe
you knew
a thing or two!

​Jong, Erica (1997), Witches, Abradale Press

One of the challenges when studying herbs is the confusion that arrises from folk and common names. The nightshades are a perfect example. In this post we will look at two, Both are from the Solanaceae family, as were the previous Deadly Halloween Herbs, excluding Aconite. 

The lesson from this is that it is critical to know the latin name when studying herbs. For that reason I'll list the latin name first, with the collages, and additional folk names below. Also, please beware of what you find on the internet. I've seen sketches with black berries on the bittersweet night shade and I have never seen the plant or a photo of the plant with black berries. They can be green, yellow, orange or red, but I've never seen black. 

Both of the herbs are poisonous and all parts should be avoided.. They have both been attributed to enabling witches to fly. "Bella Donna" means beautiful lady in Italian and at one time, women were rumored to use the herb to enlarge their pupils so they would look more desirable. Sadly as with many herbs, the amount needed was almost the same as the lethal dose so there were accidental deaths as a result. I'll stick with eyeliner and mascara for my eye make up. If that's not good enough, the guy can take a hike!  
​

When the Deadly Nightshade flowers,
dreamy-eyed girls
open their lids
for their lovers;
Maenads fall upon men
dripping with dreams;
& children die
from the sweetest
of inky fruits.

Belladonna,
wine of the Bacchanals,
you are indeed the witch’s berry,
I look into your open eye & see
Dionysian orgies,
women in love with death,
dying with the widest
& brightest of eyes.
Have you no shame at all
Atropa belladonna?
The other herbs
pretend to be angelic,
but you freely play
the Devil’s part.
Dwaleberry, Sorcerer’s cherry,
Murderer’s berry--
your sweetness bursts
on the tongue,
the lungs relax,
& death comes
merely
from refusing
air.

​
Once again, I'm featuring the Deadly Herbs of Halloween. We'll begin with Mandrake, the root of Mandragora. Legend states that the plant sprung from the dripping blood and semen of men who were hanged at the gallows. 

​Mandrake, translated as the dragon resembling man,  (Atropa mandragora, Mandragora officinale) is one of the most powerful of the Halloween Herbs. The root, said to resemble the form of a human body, can grow to a length of three or four feet. It is most often associated with males (Man-drake, Mandragan, Mandragor, Mannkin), but other names include a feminine reference (Ladykins and Womandrake).  And there are other folk names including Brain Thief, Wild Lemon, and Raccoon Berry. Do you see why I love herbs?

Another name is Herb of Circe, as it is thought to be the herb used in the brew made by the sorceress Circe (Kirke) to turn Odysseus's trespassing men into swine. And there is more than one herb of Circe. More on that later. 

If  that weren't enough, there are additional benefits! It can protect your home and assure affluence and abundance. Silver coins placed next to this handy root will double in amount over night. Even those  of us who aren't known for our mathematical expertise can see the benefit!

Mandrake can be used to attract love if you hang the root on the headboard of your bed. Keep in mind, this is a three to four foot long hairy root that looks something like a person. I'm just wondering how I'd react if  I woke up in the middle of the night and . . . .oh, never mind. Once true love is guaranteed it will ensure fertility and the scent ensures a peaceful night's sleep - at least until the baby arrives! 

But there is a problem. Mandrake roots are rare and expensive, and, well they should be, considering the challenges involved with obtaining one. To ensure that the magic is intact, there are certain procedures that must be followed. You don't just go out with a shovel to your nearest mandrake patch and start digging.The root must be obtained on a moonless night, ideally yanked out just at the stroke of midnight. 

There is another problem. The mandrake does not want to be removed from the ground. It shrieks in protest. The shrill screams seem to have a derogatory effect on all that hear them and drive them to insanity, so as you can imagine, people aren't lining up to be harvesters of the mandrake root.

There is a solution but Zippy, my Puggle, and I don't like it. "The safest way to secure a mandrake was to tie a dog to the plant on a moonless night. Plugging one's ears with beeswax and blowing a horn to drown out the shrieks, the dog was whipped at the stroke of midnight and the jumping animal pulled the screeching root from the ground and died."

Died. A dog, at least one or we know they wouldn't have given this example, died so that someone could tie a hairy root to their bedpost.

One more thing to keep in mind when considering the use of mandrake is that is is poisonous. It is a member of the Solanaceae family and the berries and roots contain anticholinergic alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine.

There is good news though!  If you're looking for a substitute for your spell this Halloween, you can use the root of an ash, which might be even more difficult to dig up than the Mandrake. It is a tree, after all. The root of betony or may apples have also proved to be worthy alternatives. For an even more easily obtainable solution, apples are said to work just as well. I hope you have read this far before running out to dig up a mandrake root. 

In addition to its many attributes, Mandrake inspired poetry from the hauntingly talented Erica Jong. Enjoy. I'm on my way to tie an apple to my bedpost. 

References: 
Lehner, Ernst and Johanna (1960), Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees, Tudor Publishing Company
Stories from my grandmother

O Mandragora
herbal puppet,
little man dancing
with your great tap root,
small song-&-dance man
cloven-hoofed as the Devil--
no wonder you make such noise!

O Mandrake
putting out fine root hairs…
for centuries
Pythagoras & Theophrastus
sang your praises--
blessed you as aphrodisiac
& soporific,
blasted your resemblance
to man.
Like man you are tricky, devious,
double-natured;
like man you curse & bless.
Like man you are a poisoner
& a love-bringer;
like man you take
what you can.
O Mandrake
bringer of fruitfulness & potency,
lamp in the darkness,
killer of starving dogs,
shrieker, gallowsman, dragon-doll--
you were once thought beneficent
in Biblical times,
but gradually the Devil claimed you.
You grew at the foot
of the gallows,
lapping up dead men’s sperm,
giving birth only to death.
& yet we all give birth
to only death,
& your other attributes--
O bringer of treasure, sensuality, love,
success in battle--
also lead to death.
So dance little Mandrake
in your doubleness.
Rejoice at the gallows’ foot.
You are indeed a dress rehearsal for man,
& we shall join you underground
soon enough.
© Erica Jong, Witches (1981)
​

Reference:
​Jong, Erica, (1997) Witches, Abradale Press

 © Mikell Y. Worley, Datura, Collage, 9 x 12

Today's herb is Jimsonweed, also called devil's trumpet, Hell's bells, thorn apple and moon flower, from the genus Datura. It belongs to the Solanacease (nightshade) family. Its toxic ingredients include tropane alkaloids, including atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, and it is particularly dangerous because the amount needed for a high is nearly the same as the lethal over dose which greatly increases the chance of accidental fatal overdose. ​

There are times I simply must pause when I do herbal research. These are the kinds of things that have guided me to avoid deadly herbs for so long. I've been sharing information on haunting herbs for years and it has all been in fun, using only herbs found in the gardens of the healing witches. But there can be a dark and serious side to herbal use. The lists of illness and most often death associated with this herb are readily available on the internet so I won't list them here. 

That being said, I have been in awe of the gorgeous Jimsonweed for years and would not be anymore inclined to eat it than I would poison ivy. I can enjoy it at a distance and as with all the deadly herbs, I strongly advise you look, but don't touch!

References:
Bliss, M. (2001), Datura Plant Poisoning, Clinical Toxicology Review

Datura stramonium

of the poisonous flowers--
even your smallest buds
are said to cause
madness, sleep & death,
but your spiny ″apples,″
prickly & stiff as porcupines,
are the real villains,
& were much beloved
by Kali’s worshipers,
the Thugs.

(O kill, kill
but kill
in a goddess’ name!)
Deadly poison
for arrow tips
& sacrificial victims’ hearts--
you were also used
in love philters!
The cynic laughs,
knowing that love
is the first poison--
the poison
that takes the soul,
the mind,
& all the organs
down below.
(O kill, kill
but kill
in a goddess’ name!)
Venus, Kali, the Great Mother
the God of the Witches--
what does it matter?
Love potion or poison,
it is the same drink
that brings oblivion
in the end.
Love-will, Sorcerer’s herb,
Jimson weed,
you were used by brothel keepers
to seduce the innocent,
& witches brewed you
for their flying ointments.
The soldiers of Jamestown
made merry with your juice.
It was a new country
but the herbs were old.
The poisons link us
to antiquity--
the poisons & the love philters.
Down through the Ages
we are joined by vines;
we wear garlands
of poisonous berries
like jewels.
Green as innocence,
green as love of death,
we bud, we flower, we fall--
& ancient herbs
grow
out of our blind
eyes.

The first step in preparing the pumpkin seeds is to cut open your pumpkin! If you can find a peanut pumpkin,I think you'll be delighted! I was! They look like they are covered with peanuts and are a little sweeter than most pumpkins. And baking your own pumpkin, instead of using canned, is always worth the effort. What a difference!
​Directions for baking the pumpkin are in an earlier post. Do a search on the welcome page!

Add one or two tablespoons of olive oil to thoroughly coat. 
The final amount will depend on the size of your pumpkin and the amount of seeds.
(about 1 teas. oil per 1/2 cup of seeds) 

Add 1 teaspoon pink  Himalayan sea salt and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
(inspired by Kevin  Lee Jacobs - a favorite!)
​

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
Spread on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and serve warm!

Watch them closely so  they don’t burn but be certain to cook them until crisp so they won’t be tough!
​

 This is on of many options. You'll find a lot of recipes for savory, as well as sweet, roasted pumpkin seeds on line.  If you come up with your own variation, add it in the comments below! Enjoy!

A friend asked where I find my information on herbal legends and lore. I'be been collecting for decades, following my grandmother's example. Her journals are filled with articles, recipes, and notes. She was born in 1900 and there are pages dated from 1918 forward. Many of her notes are stained from use and the journals are falling apart, but they are priceless treasures to me!

She also gathered cards, booklets, etc, including give aways from stores. One of my favorites is a 50th anniversary edition from the Valley Rural Electric Co-op, Inc., celebrating President Franklin's Rural Electrification Order 7050. 

I started collecting longer ago than I care to admit, and have 3 ring binders and journals filled with hundreds of articles, notes, and sketches. And now the internet is brimming with information, though a lot of what I've collected isn't on line - yet! I'm continuing to sketch almost every day and so on it goes!