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In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.” -  Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary

Atropa belladonna: Fruit of the Slain

Disclaimer: Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), as its name implies, can be a deadly poison under certain circumstances. This information is for educational purposes only, and the reader is held solely responsible for any harm that may come from acting upon this information.

From the shores of the Mediterranean to the Northern-most parts of Scandinavia, there are tales of female spirits deeply associated with the Fate of humans. They are the most primal of spirits, and even the gods are subject to their design. These often dark or primal entities represent the unsympathetic and vast powers of Nature and the mysteries of Death. From the Burney Relief depicting the Queen of the Night and the night-flying demonic birds of ancient Mesopotamia (known in Hebrew as lilit, to Ancient Greek deities of vengeance known as the Erinyes or Furies, to the Icelandic and Norse Sagas that speak of bloodthirsty and winged spirits of the battlefield known as Valkyrjur: the dark sky seems to be teeming with these night-flying, feminine spirits.

In Norse folklore, the spirit can be sent forth in the form of the fetch or astral double known as the fylgja to carry out one's occult goals. The fylgja, or "fetch that connects the persona to nature, the animal and vegetal kingdoms," (Frisvold, 2021) operates in much the same way as the witch's familiar. These spirits can carry out magical tasks for their counterparts and are usually depicted as feminine in form. This ability to send the spirit forth is associated with witches and other sorcerous practitioners, who could leave their bodies and act as forces of nature to protect their loved ones on the battlefield. Many women (and probably some men) were believed to have protected their husbands in battle in this form, and it is here that the connection between Valkyrie and magical practitioner becomes vague.

Spirit-flight is one of the characteristic abilities of the witch, and is the foundation of a number of traditional witchcraft practices associated with the Witches' Sabbath and its pre-Christian counterpart, the Wild Hunt. This nocturnal congregation and spirit procession was comprised of a menagerie of shape-shifted entities, from the deities leading the procession to the human and animal spirits that are their retinue. Transformation into geese, owl, falcon, and many other winged and earth-bound animals were common vehicles to take flight by those who walk the Road of Night.

The ability to send out one's spirit is a common motif. Whether to heal or harm, to enter the dreams of another or to travel long distances to affect the physical world, we see this repeated theme as both an accusation of diabolical witchcraft and a sign of one's spiritual power. There are various trance-inducing techniques, including ritual postures, controlled breathing, and exposure to external stimuli, all of which have been used on their own or in combination with visionary plants and fungi to achieve spirit flight and ecstatic trance. In European forms of witchcraft and their North American offshoots, one can look to a particular family of plants that have aided many in this pursuit (some so well that they never returned!). The family in question is the infamous and ubiquitous nightshade family, or Solanaceae. These plants have important medicinal and spiritual uses around the world, and include members such as thorn apple, henbane, and deadly nightshade. Many plants in this family have visionary or entheogenic properties, and are used in plant medicine ceremony by indigenous people today, including tobacco, angel’s trumpet and the daturas. The entheogenic nightshades owe their chemical potency to the tropane alkaloids, which are anti-cholinergics—valuable in medicine, but in the right situation, they can be deadly poisons. (Michael, 2021)

The plant that encompasses all these things is none other than Atropa belladonna, commonly known as deadly nightshade in English. Power over life and death, battle frenzy, spirit flight, and visionary power are all within the shadow cast by this potent plant spirit. This is a poisonous plant whose connection to warfare goes back centuries, used to improve fighting ability and resistance to pain and alternately to poison the enemy army. The name belladonna is thought by some to be associated with the cult of Bellona, a Roman war goddess whose devotees were believed to eat the berries of the plant to work themselves into a frenzied trance. We see this connection to feminine figures associated with battle and bloodshed continued in the story of Atropa belladonna and her deadly path through history by none more so than the Valkyrie. The valkyrja (ON) for Valkyrie was an important part of Norse cosmology and its mainland Germanic counterparts. In general, the Valkyrie was one of many categories of female spirits, or disír, and could even be the spirit body of a living person sent forth to various ends. They could be the wives or sisters of human heroes that came to aid them in battle with their magic. These spirits were seen as both protective, but also potentially destructive. The name Valkyrie means "chooser of the slain," and their most important function was to choose who would die in battle, and which of them would be taken to Valhalla. The Valkyrie, as seen in its characteristic functions, is able to travel between the realms. A psychopomp and intermediary spirit who travels between the middle realm, the land of the dead, and the realm of the gods, the Valkyrie teaches us to do the same, lifting us from the battlefield, healing our wounds, and reminding us that, if we so choose, we can fight again!

The connection between the Valkyrie and Atropa belladonna can be seen in the various names of the plant, which give hints to this connection. When we look at ways that deadly nightshade has been used historically, and the occult characteristics that it displays today, one can see that this connection goes much deeper than language, which is simply a reflection of the already deeply ingrained affinity between these spirits.

Odin/Wotan and the Valkyries are inextricably linked, as the latter serves the function of transporting the souls of fallen warriors to Valhalla to await Ragnarök, the final battle at the end of the world. In German, the plant has been called wutbeere or rage berry, synonymous with the Germanic god Wotan (whose name means the same). This is an ecstatic rage, a shamanic frenzy often entered to acquire occult knowledge or aid in battle. Its berries may have been one of the herbs used by the famously bloodthirsty berserkers who were widely feared for their battle frenzy and resistance to pain. Considering that the plant has been used at least up until the 19th century by hunters in Germany to improve their sight, focus, and their ability to hunt, it seems well within the realm of possibility that this consciousness-altering analgesic herb would cause effects that would benefit a warrior or hunter. (Rätsch, 2005)

Rätsch also mentions a similar use in Morocco, in which 3-4 berries are consumed to promote focus and mental clarity. The stimulation, arousal, and visual acuity that can be experienced in small doses is in alignment with the desired effects of performance-enhancing herbs. One of Atropa belladonna's previous Latin names, Solanum furiale, is another nod to the plant's ability to both calm and sedate (solamen), and also to cause frenzy (furiale). (Hansen, 1978) This link to the Furies of Greek mythology is another interesting connection to the association of this plant with ferocious, flying, feminine spirits.

Again, there is a multi-layered connection here between the practical uses of deadly nightshade and its esoteric associations with the Wild Hunt, a pre-Christian concept prevalent throughout Europe. This procession of spirits led by Odin/Wotan and various other deities is an important aspect of the medieval Witches' Sabbath, in which spirit flight is a main theme. Spirit flight is a kind of astral travel or out-of-body journey that can be achieved through a variety of trance-inducing techniques including the use of various entheogenic herbs and fungi. The Valkyrie is one of a number of spiritual allies that can be called upon to facilitate this transvection of the spirit to other realms and for spirit communication. Through ritual action and visualization we can call upon these spirits and shapeshift into their likeness to leave the confines of our body for the spirit world. As a typical ingredient in the medieval witches' flying ointment, Atropa belladonna is connected to the process as well, as its powerful tropane alkaloids can be used to shift consciousness. In meditation, spell craft, and entheogenic ritual, belladonna helps us to connect with the spirit world and our own incorporeal forms.

The Valkyries are multifunctional emissaries of death. "On the lower Rhine its fruits are known as walkerbeeren or Valkyrie Berries and anyone who ate the berries would fall victim to the Valkyries." (Rätsch, 2005 citing Perger, 1864) They are spirits of victory, revenge, and the powers of liberation and resurrection. In a shamanic context, these spirits can assist in transition between the realms. As parts of the self die, they are shed and transformed. Much of this process occurs in the lower realms with the help of the ancestors and nature spirits. The spirit of the Valkyrie and its botanical counterpart prepare one for this journey, bringing strength, fearlessness, and resilience to adversity. It is through this symbolic death that we are able to connect with the spirit world, change parts of ourselves, and pursue our ambitions unfettered.

Valkyrie and Deadly Nightshade
The following is a list of themes and associations that both the spirit of the Valkyrie and the spirit of Atropa belladonna have in common. This list is by no mean exhaustive, but offers a place to start.

• Self-sacrifice, resurrection, shamanic death
• Victory, vengeance, and overcoming adversaries
• Spirit flight, otherworld travel, and familiar spirits
• Self-empowerment and empowerment of others
• Facilitation of spiritual, emotional, mental rebirth process
• Devouring dark and harmful energies for healing
• Connecting to the warrior within, and healing battle wounds
• Spiritual protection when going in to "battle"

People often ask why I would choose to work with such "dark" themes, and plants that have been "used to cause harm." My answer is that the darkness we perceive comes from that which is hidden, and all that those things want is to be understood. This is something we can all relate to. Everyone wants to be seen, especially those inner parts of ourselves. The Valkyrie guides us and deadly nightshade gives us the capacity to see in the dark. Both the Valkyrie and the spirit of Atropa belladonna have been instrumental in my own spiritual journey, and they have presented themselves as willing allies that want nothing more than to empower others. These are spirits that are willing to go through the symbolic (and literal) death processes that we face as humans. They are supportive allies that have been to the darkest depths, and continue to return to help guide others through the shadows. In the end it is up to us, whether we climb to the tops of the World Tree or dwell deep within its roots.

Coby Michael - https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/3133

Copyright © 10-09-2023 - Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.

Bibliography:
Frisvold, Nikolaj de Mattos. Trollrún: A Discourse on Trolldom and Runes in the Northern Tradition. Hadean Press. 2021.
Hansen, Harold. The Witch's Garden. 1983. Weiser Inc.
Michael, Coby. The Poison Path Herbal: Baneful Herbs, Medicinal Nightshades and Ritual Entheogens. Inner Traditions/Park Street Press. 2021.
Rätsch, Christian. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and its Applications. Inner Traditions International. 2005.