Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants - Juliet Diaz 2020

Datura
A Compendium of Plants

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES

peace, shadow work, opening the door between realms

Datura is known by many names, including Witch’s thimble and devil’s trumpet. She is in the nightshade family, as are her sisters belladonna and angel’s trumpet—but unlike angel’s trumpet, whose blossom points downward from heaven, datura sings from below (from “hell”). All datura plants contain alkaloids, especially in the seeds and flowers, that are toxic, narcotic, and hallucinogenic. The sap can cause irritation and rash, so it is vital that you wear protection when handling, and please educate yourself on this plant before working with her.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Despite datura’s toxicity, you can find her in ayahuasca brews and in smoking blends of datura and cannabis. Datura leaves are used to treat pain. In herbal medicine, especially in Ayurveda, she can treat asthma and help set a broken bone. The leaves of datura can relieve headache, rheumatic arthritis, and heart problems.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

Trained shamans have worked with datura for spiritual journeys since Aztec times, but I don’t recommend trying this on your own. Instead, take advantage of her powers safely, without ingesting her. Her presence alone will soothe you, helping you sleep and inviting prophetic dreams. If you let her, she can also help you explore the parts of yourself you don’t necessarily want to face—your shadow self. She will guide you, keep you safe, and help you face your internal monsters so that you can see they aren’t so monstrous after all. She will help you release them.

PLANT WISDOM

In many Indigenous cultures, including my own, poisonous plants are our most powerful allies in spiritual work. My mother has been growing datura—along with many other poisonous plants—since before I was born, so I am very close with this particular plant being. Datura spiritually cleanses the spirit and mind, purging the things that do not serve your well-being. She doesn’t care whether you’ve acknowledged these things as toxic—she’s getting rid of them whether you’re ready or not! She’s not gentle, either—she strikes like a serpent and shows the face of evil. Once you have worked with her, it will be hard to unsee what she has brought to the surface, and that can be painful. Make sure to spend some time on personal reflection, shadow work, and whatever other healing work you need to care for yourself.

Datura doesn’t visit dreams, but if you meditate with her or keep some of her dried leaves in your pillow, she will send you gently into a vision or dream state.