Let's take a journey to the villages rife with tales of the cunningwomen who had the power to hex and heal for a price, but who would also serve as the scapegoat when things went awry.
The Poison Garden is a kit designed to provide witchcraft tools that focus on the more sundry aspects of traditional witchcraft. Each offering in our Poison Garden speaks to elements of traditional witchcraft in the 1500s and 1600s, whether it includes actual poisonous plants or plants brimming with strong witchcraft lore. In doing so, we honor the workings of the cunningwoman and her relationship with the spiritual and the botanical, and the price she paid for that knowledge.
The Poison Garden includes:
- The Devil's Chive: Our chive blossom oil references the lore of the chive, and garlic in general, as it relates to witchcraft. The chive was both saught after and hated by the witch, and could be used to identify one. We can use our ritual oil for protection.
- The Imp Watch: In 1645, Elizabeth Clarke was subjected to a "watching," wherein officials would stand watch overnight to see if her imps, including one named Vinegar Tom, would emerge. Our hydrosol of the same name is used to summon spiritual support, and our spell card features an accompanying charm.
- The Flight: To aid you in spirit flight, we offer you a Wormwood Tincture from Octoberfields.com. Place this tincture in night teas or apply sublingually before astral travels. This is an homage to the infamous Flying Ointment said to help witches attend sabbath.
- Aqua Tofana: An optional addition, Aqua Tofana was the ingestible poison designed by Giulia Tofana in 1600s Italy. She disguised her poison by branding it as a beauty product fitted with arsenic, lead and belladonna, a combination that was common in beauty products at the time and wouldn't have even raised an eyelash. But Aqua Tofana had a more fatal purpose. Through word of mouth, Giulia would sell her potion to women who intended to kill their abusive husbands. While Giuila may not be labeled a witch, she certainly sold her goods to cunningwomen and fortune-tellers, who then provided or sold the goods themselves.
- Witch's Butter: Tremella mesenterica, or yellow jelly fungus, was said to be evidence that a witch's familiar had been running about the village. The familiar would vomit this "butter" to poison the livestock of village members. The witch would craft this butter herself using cow's milk tainted by the touch of her heathen hands. We place tremella in a vial for you to protect against hexes, curses and ill-will.
- A 3x5 spell card with traditional witchery spells using the ritual tools in this kit, as well as history related to the use of these plants, both in reality and as shared in witch trials. We focus on spells concerning familiars, second sight, flights to the wilderness, breaking hexes and more.
We apologize; due to the inclusions in this kit, no Mini Kit option is available.
The Poison Garden: Traditional Herbal Magic
**Please note, herbal products are not regulated by the FDA and everyone responds differently to the application or ingestion of herbs. Please consult a doctor and ensure for your particular situation (side effects with medications, pregnancy) that you are able to use particular herbs before you apply or ingest herbal products. As stated, our herbs are sourced from quality sources, like Mountain Rose Herbals or Starwest Botanicals, as well as local apothecaries, but it is important to address your particular body's capability in handling herbs. In addition, do not ingest unless explicitly stated or unless it's clear to do so, like for teas and oxymels.