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Magically, this Venus herb has been implicated in lycanthropy and shapeshifting. It is interesting in relation to this that in the language of flowers, jimsonweed signifies disguise. Some people say this is an aphrodisiac, probably because it is a Venus herb, or possibly because of a mention of another datura in the Kama Sutra. Contrary to some claims on the web, this magick herb was not used in traditional West European flying ointments; it's a North American native plant. That's why the settlers of Jamestown, who gave this herb its name, didn't recognize it and made it into a "sallet"--ate it boiled like spinach and hallucinated for 11 very unpleasant days. Its visionary qualities--and they are very strong--can probably best be accessed by inhaling the scent of the flower, which is sweet and released in the late afternoon and early evening. Some consider this a Saturn herb, which makes some sense because of its association with a number of other plants that are Saturn. Saturn's preoccupation with borders would also suit the shapeshifting aspect, since that means one changes one's borders. Still, unlike henbane or belladonna, its cousins, its flowers are very Venus. In Herbalism
Toxicity This herb is a neurotoxic and produces a psychotic-like state, which can include violence. Effects of ingesting this herb are hot, dry, and flushed skin, horrifying hallucinations, pupil dilation, headache, delirium, rapid and weak pulse, convulsions, and coma, all of which can last for days, so don't do it. This herb is sold for inclusion in ritual incense and magickal use only.
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Uses in Witchcraft & Magick:
Shapeshifting All text on this site © 2004, 2005 Alchemy Works; No reproduction without permission |
Jimsonweed / Moonflower
This datura was used
medicinally by some native peoples. The
Navajo chewed the dried roots in ceremonies to
stop fever and made a leaf infusion to wash
the wounds of castration in sheep. The
Cherokee smoked the dried leaves for asthma,
which was also how it was primarily used in
Western medicine (it was previously available
over the counter in anti-asthma cigarettes).
Many other native tribes smashed the
leaves into a poultice for wounds, but none
took this particular datura for religious
purposes.
I am convinced that the
tropane-containing plants do not wish to be
ingested. For instance, many of them
contain a number of chemicals besides
tropanes--in this one, acetone and
formaldehyde--that are just plain hostile to
animal life. No animals will willingly
eat jimsonweed, which says a lot. Although
reports of deaths connected to herbs are
usually unsubstantiated, I have found reliable
numbers that two people (probably children)
died of this plant in 1999. Read Dr.
Duke's