Welcome to the Deadly Apothecary

Discover the world of poisonous plants as guides and healers

This powerful oracle explores the magickal and medicinal properties of poisonous plants from around the world.

• Work with your shadow self
• Get an insight into what someone else might be thinking or feeling
• Perfect to work with when you are having relationship or job issues
• Insighful, dark and witchy

Now considered baneful weeds, it transpires that the most maligned plants in history contain incredible cures. These botanicals would not have been put on the Earth if they were not helpful to us in some manner. Poisonous plants function in a very powerful way. Just like these plants, the intense emotions we feel as humans, the ones we try to keep hidden, also function in a powerful way. In fact, they can be our greatest cures. Embracing our shadow side is not a journey for the faint of heart. Heed the call of the Priestesses of Poison; voyage with them through light and darkness, and you will be gifted with many insights. Let them help you accept all parts of yourself.

What is Shadow Work? Shadow work is for those who are ready to take the game of life to the next level. Life in human form on earth is a challenge to say the least! We are born into a body that experiences negative emotions, and it is meant to be this way. We all have tendencies towards certain conduct. Shadow work brings these emotions and behaviours into our consciousness, so we can be aware of them, and accept them as part of us, or work on changing them.

My intention for this oracle is that you embrace your human-ness and be gentle with your emotional side. This deck is for shadow work, for people who want to discover hidden emotions and agendas, both within themselves and others, and bring them into the light to be healed.

What people are saying about the Deadly Apothecary Oracle

“Once you connect, these cards become so tuned into the environment around you – powerful wisdoms indeed.” Clove – Living Medicine Apothecary

“I am loving the reds and the plants they chose!” Tarotmap

“…It’s not surprising that I love this deck. It’s such an interesting topic… and the guidebook is filled with information about each poison.” tarottidbits78

An example card from the Deadly Apothecary Oracle

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What people are saying about the Deadly Apothecary Oracle

This is a high quality deck, printed on nice card stock that shuffles easily. The art is beautiful and the plants directly correlate to the card meanings. The card meaning descriptions are thorough. If you are interested in toxic plants and their lore this is a perfect deck for you.
Helaina

Pairs great with my darker tarot decks, especially The tarot of the drowning world. Hana

Why are the plants from the Deadly Apothecary Oracle considered poisonous?

All the plants featured in the deck are poisonous, or considered poisonous because they are illegal. I originally had the reasons each plant were considered poisonous in the guidebook, but space restrictions meant that these were edited out.

What is a poison? A plant is considered poisonous if it causes harm to a living organisim.

1. The Destroying Angel is a rare and deadly poisonous mushroom that has no known antidote if ingested; it shows no mercy.
2. The Deathcap is responsible for most of the worldwide deaths caused by mushroom poisoning because it looks like many edible mushrooms.
3. Hemlock Water-Dropwort is an extremely poisonous plant, responsible for many accidental fatalities because its roots resemble parsnips.
4. Black Hellebore’s black root was once dried and powdered to treat hysteria and calm strong emotions. It also has purgative properties, but too much ingested has caused fatalities.
5. Angel’s Trumpet The luminous white flowers waft a heady mix of chemicals that dull the brain. Many people in ancient times used it recreationally or in rituals for its hallucinogenic properties, but it is considered highly toxic because of its hangover like aftermath.
6. Baneberry The berries are extremely poisonous when ingested, but can be used to make a rich, black dye when crushed and macerated.
7. Lily of the Valley is used to treat a weak heart and employed as a diuretic. If ingested by children or animals, it can be fatal because if its strong effect on the heart.
8. Arum Lily The tubers were once used to topically treat wounds but cause severe digestive distress when ingested.
9. Snowdrop used to be employed as a digestive tonic but received its reputation as a poisonous plant because it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea when too much is ingested.  
10. Stinging Nettle’s poison reputation comes from the nasty sting the leaves will give you, sometimes with life threatening consequences if there is an allergy present. Stinging nettle should be avoided by pregnant women.
11. Boggard Posy has a pungent smell and is highly poisonous to livestock when eaten fresh and has been known to poison humans.
12. Poison Ivy is considered poisonous insomuch that the sap of the plant causes a great red blistering rash on the skin, but the fresh leaves, if prepared properly make an excellent tonic for nerves.  
13. Thornapple seeds were once used in remedies to alleviate respiratory problems but are now considered highly poisonous. Thornapple is a narcotic, like Belladonna, and is often used a recreational drug for its sedative effect.
14. Cuckoo Pint’s berries are poisonous, and cause burns in the mouth and throat if eaten.
15. Cannabis is illegal in some countries, considered a highly toxic Class B drug, and therefore tightly controlled for medical use.
16. Mistletoe A tonic of the leaves and twigs can be made to calm the nerves and muscles and help in treatment of epilepsy and headaches. However, the berries of the mistletoe are considered poisonous if eaten fresh and in great quantity.
17. Giant Hogweed is poisonous insomuch as it’s phototoxic, lowering the skin’s tolerance to UV light, leaving it vulnerable to severe sunburn where the sap has touched it.
18. Fly Agaric contains a natural source of bufotenine, which is similar to toad poison. It causes hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. In past times, it has been used by Siberian Shaman to produce hallucinations and visions of the future to help their tribespeople.
19. Foxglove is considered poisonous as ingesting too much can cause digestive distress and a speeding heartbeat. In fact, legend says that Foxglove can “raise the dead and kill the living.”
20. Tabacco The nicotine element in the leaves is deemed an addictive drug with detrimental side effects, which is why it is considered poisonous.
21. Opium Poppy The narcotic sap of the has a hypnotic and sedative effect, used to calm emotional and physical pain. Overdose causes death.
22. Belladonna The plant has a sedating effect, making people seem languorous and unaffected by strong emotion, but overdose causes death. On account of its highly fatal nature, Belladonna is associated with Atropos, one of the three Greek Fates who preside over human life.
23. Monkshood has the high honour of being considered the most poisonous plant in Europe, because of its powerful alkaloid content. When ingested, it slows the heart rate and paralyses the body.
24. Larkspur The seeds were once used in a tincture to combat lice and nits but are considered highly poisonous if taken internally
25. Madonna Lily is considered poisonous because it is toxic to cats. If cats ingest the yellow pollen, it can lead to kidney failure.
26. Mandrake root was once used to create a sleeping draught for those in physical pain. It’s narcotic and sedative effect can easily lead to overdose and death.
27. Henbane is a narcotic. When prepared properly, it has a sedative, sleepy effect, when prepared improperly, it is fatal.
28. Black Bryony purges, quite violently, and is not to be taken internally. However, when the root is applied topically, it quickly disappears bruises and inflammation.
29. Narcissus bulbs produce a substance that can numb painful wounds, but if ingested can cause violent purging and headaches.
30. Nutmeg is used in both sweet and savoury dishes to add a hint of comforting spice and roundness of flavour. However, if too much is ingested, Nutmeg can cause nausea and hallucinations.  
31. Castor Bean seeds are considered toxic because of their high ricin content, and badly prepared oil can cause severe poisoning.
32. Hemlock is extremely poisonous, but used in the right way can be an excellent sedative for nerves and muscles, as well as a tonic to combat disease and sickness.
33. Holly leaves have been used to treat fevers, jaundice, and broken bones in the form of tinctures and poultices. It’s poison reputation comes from the berries, which are violently purgative.
34. Cherry Laurel The poisonous parts of the plants are the leaves, which contain small amounts of the deadly hydrocyanic acid. If ingested in high amounts, they can cause serious illness.
35. Yew All parts of the tree are poisonous; however, a homeopathic tincture of the young shoots can help ease headaches, cystitis, and gout.
36. . Liberty Caps are considered illegal in some parts of the world, a Class A drug, and therefore highly toxic to humans.