Coby Michael, an occult herbalist and author of ‘The Poison Path’, joins me today to discuss the captivating realms of poisonous and psychoactive plants, dark herbalism and shadow work. Coby introduces us to the hidden potential of these plants in their healing and spiritual practices, as well as their ecosystem roles. Important in our conversation are the myths, realities, and political narratives surrounding cannabis, magic mushrooms, and nightshades. Suddenly more timely today are the dual natures of plants like Belladonna and Amanita muscaria, their medicinal and transformative powers and their resurgence in modern metaphysical and healing communities. Coby emphasizes the need to discover the balance between the empowering and risky nature of herbal medicine and explore how traditional wisdom can guide us today.
Coby Michael

Coby Michael is an occult herbalist and magical practitioner specializing in the ritual use of poisonous and psychoactive plants. He studied religion at Arizona State University and has been a folk herbalist since a young age. He owns and operates The Poisoner’s Apothecary, an online shop and educational resource for the poison path. Coby has been blogging since 2016 and is a prolific writer including articles for This Witch Magazine (2020),The Witches' Almanac (2022) and The Poisoner’s Guild (2023) . His first book The Poison Path Herbal came out in 2021 with Inner Traditions and Coby recently celebrated the release of his second book The Poison Path Grimoire (Nov 2024). He is also co-author of Leo Witch, part of Llewellyn’s Witch’s Sun Sign Series (2023) and is working on his next book The Poison Path Oracle. He is the founder of Botanica Obscura Conference, an annual gathering of magical plant practitioners from around the world sharing their plant spirit knowledge. He currently resides in St. Petersburg, Fl and travels the country teaching people about plant magic, the poison path, occult herbalism and plant medicine.
The Poison Path Grimoire: Dark Herbalism, Poison Magic, and Baneful Allies

This book by Coby Michael is a deep dive into the occult use of baneful herbs and poison plants, offering a rich blend of magical theory and practical application. The author explores the plants traditionally feared or misunderstood, showing how their dark qualities can be harnessed for personal transformation, shadow work, and powerful spellcraft. With detailed rituals, magical correspondences, and recipes, the book serves as a formulary for practitioners of occult herbalism who wish to engage with these potent plant allies. The text delves into poison lore, history, and occult toxicology, revealing how poison plants serve as alchemical tools for spiritual growth. Michael’s work provides an insightful and respectful approach to dark herbalism, focusing on healing and inner alchemy rather than harm.
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