Fabulous Folklore: Toads in Witchcraft

I love this tiny toad with a broomstick. It is found carved in wood on the building of the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, Cornwall.

Toads have been associated with Witchcraft for many hundreds of years.

During the Renaissance it was widely believed that Satan sent witches familiar spirits to help them with their work. Toads were not liked in Medieval Europe, they were seen as ugly, disgusting creatures that were associated with poison. They were believed to be able to kill people even without being a familiar, which was a common concern. The witch could use the poison of toads to others, so the poor toad became entangled in this idea of harm. Stories of toads joining the Witches Sabbath or being compared to the Devil did not help, and terrified everyday folk, adding to their belief that toads were awful creatures connected to death and filth.

The familiar of the Second Witch in Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a toad known as Paddock. He has the witches throw another toad into their cauldron. It is possible that Shakespeare may have read Discovery of Witchcraft (1584) by Reginald Scot, where the word familiar is first seen in print.

It was thought that toads had a “toadstool” in their heads, a sort of magickal gemstone that acted as an antidote for poison. Amulets containing dried frogs were abundant; and cunningfolk may have used toads in their medicine and remedies, keeping them for this reason, and subsequently bolstering the idea of a witch’s familiar.

Bufagin, a toxin produced from the glands on the top of a toad’s head, may have been linked to flying rituals and ointments, but it is a steroid not an alkaloid, and as such produces an anaesthetic effect rather than a psychoactive one. However butofenin, a toad toxin and alkaloid may be a good ingredient for a flying potion.

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Hellebore Magick: Herbal Lore

So happy to see these beauties back - lovely hellebores. While everything is still frozen and the trees are bare, it’s exciting to see these wonderful flowers blooming.

Hellebore is poisonous, gloves must be worn when handling it.

In Greek mythology hellebore was used to save one of the kings of Argos’ daughters who suffered from a mental illness that caused them to run naked through the city, wailing at the top of their voices. This hysteria was supposedly induced by Dionysus. The quick thinking of Melampus of Pylos saved the day - he administered a potion made from hellebore which saved the daughters. 

Hellebore is associated with the element of water, and Mars and Saturn. It is used for protection and in exorcisms, and in healing rites where mental health is concerned.

I think baneful plants and flowers are often the most beautiful. What’s your favourite spring flower? 

NEXT - Winter Aconite Magick: Herbal Lore
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Winter Aconite Magick: Herbal Lore

Winter Aconite - Eranthis hyemalis

These gorgeous little buds are Winter Aconite. They open out to a beautiful flower which looks like a large buttercup (they belong to the buttercup family). They’re not to be confused with lesser celandine, which will flower between March and May, and have a pointy, star-shaped flower. Hyemalis means “wintering flowering.”

When we think of aconites we tend to think of monkshood (highly toxic), also known as wolf’s bane, which is from the same family (Ranunculaceae), which is associated with death, hallucinations and flying ointments, magickally, but I find this sweet little yellow flower much lighter in energy.

As a spring ephemeral plant they remind me of the fleeting beauty of life; and their appearance in the coldest part of the year reminds me that even after tough times, hope should be held in your heart, for abundance will return once more.

‼️ Please note that all parts of this plant are poisonous; cardiac glycosides will stimulate the heart, and even cause cardiac arrest in large quantities. 

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Fabulous Folklore: Yew

                

Yews (Taxus baccata) are easily Britain’s oldest native trees. Yews are considered “ancient” when they reach their 900th birthday, and can live for thousands of years longer, up to about 3000 years old.

They are often found in church graveyards, our cemetery being no exception, due to churches being built on sacred pagan sites, and due to a spate of church building after the Norman Conquest, which led to many being planted. In fact, it is very rare to find very old specimens of yew outside of church grounds; this beauty (pictured) is a fine example, and is found within the grounds of Waverley Abbey, Surrey.

The yew has been associated with death and eternity by both Christians and Pagans; perhaps because of the length of time they live. The Druids held the yew sacred, observing new trunks being rooted where old branches touched the ground; symbolising the cycle of death and rebirth. Thankfully, the representation of everlasting life was largely forgotten by the 17th century, as it is noted that yews probably wouldn’t have survived the religious destruction of the Puritans. They are planted in a very deliberate manner in churchyards, in relation to funeral processions, and in our cemetery they are dotted along the paths, crowning the entrances to the chapels. The remains of Anglo Saxon churches suggests they were planted around the building in a circle.

Although poisonous, yews have a rich magickal history. Sacred to Hecate, the Yew was said to purify the souls of the dead as they entered the underworld of Hades, and it is one of the five sacred trees in Irish mythology.

It is popular for decorations at Yule; firstly because it is an evergreen, but also because the winter solstice represents the cusp between the season of death and the season of life, the days soon getting longer.

Yew should never be used by the lay herbalist due to its toxicity.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: My Personal Story About Talking Trees

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Fabulous Folklore: Wolfsbane

Wolfsbane, also known as aconite, monkshood, mousebane, pops, Cupid’s cap, flapdock, women’s bane, queen of poisons, devil’s helmet and blue rocket, belongs to the plant genus Aconitum; a group of plants which are all poisonous, with wolfsbane being one of the most toxic plants in the UK.

I haven’t managed to spot Aconitum napellus in the wild yet, but I did spy this Chinese aconite (Aconitum carmichaelii) at our local gardens, which I was really surprised to see! Isn’t she beautiful?

Serious poisoning by plants is rare in the UK, but the toxins of wolfsbane can enter the blood if protective clothing is not worn when handling. In 2014, a gardener in Hampshire, UK, died after brushing against it, which is extremely unusual, but shows the amount of care needed when handling these plants.

Aconite, along with other baneful herbs, is said to be a constituent of flying ointment, which is said to have been used by witches from the Late Middle Ages. This hallucinogenic ointment allowed the witches to astrally project; the witch’s consciousness “flying” off rather than their physical body.

Francis Bacon listed the ingredients of flying ointment as wolfsbane, “the fat of children digged out of their graves”, smallage (celery), cinquefoil (potentilla), and fine wheat (wheat flour).

Poisonous ingredients listed in flying ointments, past and present, include belladonna, henbane, mandrake, and hemlock.

Whilst I have a good general plant knowledge, I’m still learning about the baneful aspects of certain plants, and their history. One thing is for certain: baneful plants are absolutely beautiful.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Magickal Hydrangea

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