The way that my daturas at home give me two leafs and MAYBE one bloom per year if I am LUCKY but the one growing on the side of the highway exit ramp is huge and beautiful

plants for altered states is a very big part of many practices, and I respect the hell out of that aspect of herbalism. however, I really struggle to enjoy herbalism spaces where the conversation is *only* about getting high off plants. it makes the poison path feel lonely sometimes

For as much of my magical practice (and autistic special interest) is tied up in knowledge of poisonous plants, I don’t feel like I connect with the poison path label. I don’t use flying ointments or any other entheogenic application of these plant allies, and I don’t have the space or skills to safely grow the plants themselves. Instead, I work with representations and research, and while I deeply appreciate my connection to them, it feels so separate from how “the poison path” appears.