Night Shade

(Atropa belladonna) Poison

Folk Names:

Banewort, Black Cherry, Deadly Nightshade, Death’s Herb, Devil’s Cherries, Divale, Dwale, Dwaleberry, Dwayberry, Fair Lady, Great Morel, Naughty Man’s Cherries, Sorcerer’s Berry, Witch’s Berry

Gender:

Feminine

Planet:

Saturn

Element:

Water

Deities:

Hecate, Bellona, Circe

Ritual Uses:

The priests of Bellona, according to ancient tradition, drank an infusion of belladonna prior to worshipping Her and invoking Her aid. Bellona is the Roman Goddess of war.

Magical Uses:

Today belladonna is little-used in herb magic due to its high toxicity—all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous and there are still reports of death resulting from accidental ingestion of nightshade. In the past, it was used to encourage astral protection and to produce visions, but safer alternatives are available today and belladonna is best avoided.