Coby Michael is a practitioner of the Poison Path of occult herbalism and a cultivator of entheogenic herbs. He contributes to the Pagan Archives at Valdosta University, writes regularly for The House of Twigs, and maintains a blog, Poisoner’s Apothecary, on Patheos Pagan. He teaches classes and online workshops on plant magic, baneful herbs, and traditional witchcraft. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Coby Michael's The Poison Path Herbal is THE book that witches on the Poison Path have long been waiting for. It is an intense ride through the history and folklore of baneful plants, with exceedingly clear instructions on how to not only successfully grow them in your own garden but it also thoroughly details their proper preparation and usage on both magical and mundane levels. This is truly an important addition to the library of any apothecary or hedge rider. * Tara-Love Maguire, coauthor of Besom, Stang, and Sword * Reading The Poison Path Herbal is like sitting around a fire on a moonlit midsummer night conversing with a master of occult secrets. Brilliantly discussing Renaissance magic and herbalism; Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology; Biblical lore; and modern understandings of plant medicines; Michael seamlessly laces botanical science with entheogenic enchantment throughout this engaging work. In the process he outlines the Poison Path, showing the various mysteries and divine associations of Venus, Saturn, and Mercury. Read closely and carefully, as this book is not for the faint of heart. Michael is a real witch, and this is a book of real witchcraft, which includes recipes to make your own psychoactive tinctures, incense, beer, tea, and ointments. Hell-he even teaches you how to grow the magical plants yourself! The Psychedelic Renaissance has been waiting for a book like this-an advanced entheogenic grimoire for the witchy, the wyld, and the wyrd. * Thomas Hatsis, author of The Witches' Ointment * Coby exquisitely, with much research and deep respect, presents venefic, malefic, cthonic, and pure Poison Path magic, ethnobotany, and history at its finest. This is an essential book for any serious poisoner and herbalist. * Jaclyn Cherie, owner of The Nephilim Rising * Coby beautifully combines history, folklore, science, and magic in The Poison Path Herbal with a compelling and charismatic writing style, drawing on years of practice and experience. It is an informative and poetic resource--a powerful introduction to the Poison Path, and a reference for more advanced students. * Ian Vertel, founder and owner of Poison Plant Cult * I'm very keen to discover what Mr. Michael has collected and presents in this new book. For some, it might be a bit beyond the pale, but for those interested in ethnobotany, as well as those curious to look into some of the more shadowy corners of plant study, as well as how plants have been used in the past by apothecaries, herbalists, and the cunning folk (and if you know where to look, are still used today), this looks to be the book to be reading indeed. * Johannes E. Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist *