One of my favorite historical uses for atropa belladonna is her dilatory effects on the eyes. During the Renaissance, women used the juice of belladonna’s ‘devil’s berries’ in eye drops so that their pupils would widen and appear more alluring. Liquid, inky abysses you could get lost in; seduced by their endless depths.

This profound truth is why deadly nightshade is often a key ingredient in Flying Ointment and is known in the magickal world to open your metaphysical eyes and reveal the truth after exploring the depths of your shadows.

But, as with all things, belladonna (even energetically) must be used in moderation. Excessive or prolonged cosmetic use can cause blindness…a concept that we can carry into our practice. When we stay in the shadows too long, it can be difficult to imagine that light even exists. We begin to see nothing outside of us as we wallow in the darkness. As many of you know, I, myself, teetered on the edge of no return with this poison beauty over the fall and early winter. Remember as you work with her, that her seductiveness knows no bounds as she lives in all realms, eternally.