October tends to make old stories feel a little closer.
Some plants seem to carry their stories in their very names.
Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) ~ Beautiful poison.
It is a plant that has fascinated people for centuries, not simply because it is toxic, but because so many stories grew around it.
Its dark berries.
Its bell-shaped flowers.
Its connection to beauty.
Its place in traditional medicine.
Its association with magic and folklore.
And the strange history behind the name Atropa, connected to Atropos, one of the three Fates in Greek mythology.
There is something almost poetic about the way humans have looked at this plant and turned it into a character.
A beautiful one
A dangerous one
A mysterious one
But this is where I want to slow down.
Because when we talk about plants like belladonna, it can be difficult to separate historical use from folklore, documented tradition from later storytelling, and botanical fact from the mythology that has gathered around a plant over time.
That is part of what makes this month’s exploration so fascinating to me.
Not simply asking, “What is the story?”
But asking:
Where did the story come from?
And what can we actually trace back through history?
Throughout October, I’ll be sharing the full stories on the Rooted Soul Apothecary blog.
I’ve started that journey with Atropa belladonna: The Beautiful Poison, the first story in my October poisonous plant series.
If you’ve ever been curious about the history behind deadly nightshade, this is where our October wandering begins.
And then come back.
There are quite a few strange plants waiting for us.
With Love,
Hollie
Rooted Soul Apothecary
Continue Exploring October in the Apothecary
Poisonous Plants, Medicine & Myth
Old plants, strange histories, medicine, mythology, folklore, and the stories humans have woven around the botanical world.
Haunted Trails & Forgotten Places
Old paths, forgotten places, local history, and the stories that linger in landscapes long after the people have gone.
More October stories will be added throughout the month.
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