Ep. 178: Wolfsbane | Magick & Lore

<p>⚠️ <strong>CONTENT ADVISORY:</strong> This episode includes a discussion of historical werewolf trials involving allegations of violence against children, murder, and cannibalism. Listener discretion is advised.</p><p>Last week, we followed the wolf through folklore, symbolism, and the world of <em>Practical Magic</em>. This week, we’re staying on the wolf trail—but turning our attention to one of the most infamous plants ever to bear its name: <strong>wolfsbane.</strong></p><p>Also known as <strong>aconite</strong> and <strong>monkshood</strong>, this beautiful purple flower has spent centuries straddling the line between <strong>medicine and poison, protection and danger, history and myth</strong>. But how did a plant once associated with poisoning actual wolves become so inseparable from witches, werewolves, shapeshifting, and the supernatural?</p><p>We’re digging into the very real science behind one of the world’s most toxic plants, its long and deadly history, ancient mythology, witchcraft and magical correspondences, the modern Poison Path, lycanthropy lore, and the many ways books, movies, television, and horror have transformed wolfsbane into the ultimate supernatural plot device.</p><p><strong>AND... remember that little sidequest into the Werewolf Witch Trials we stumbled upon last week?</strong> </p><p>Well, apparently we weren&#39;t finished with THAT rabbit hole! 🐺 This week, we&#39;re digging even deeper into the chilling history of people accused of transforming into wolves, the witchcraft hysteria surrounding lycanthropy, and the very real consequences of believing that werewolves walked among us.</p><p>And, of course, we’re returning to the <strong>Owens poison garden</strong>, where wolfsbane may have a small presence on the page—but in <em>The Rules of Magic</em>, it becomes something far more significant in the story of <strong>Vincent Owens, death, transformation, and escape</strong>.</p><p>Plus: Roman poisonings, witches’ flying ointments, Hecate and Cerberus, Shakespeare, <em>The Wolf Man</em>, <em>Harry Potter</em>, a bizarre Maisie Williams/<em>Practical Magic 2</em> red string, and the question we somehow never stopped to ask:</p><p><strong>Why the hell is it called WOLFSBANE in the first place?</strong></p><p>Grab your gardening gloves—actually, maybe <strong>don’t touch anything at all</strong>—and meet us in the poison garden. 🌿💀</p><p><br></p><p><strong>SOCIALS:</strong></p><p>⁠<a href="https://linktr.ee/magnoliastreetp