Thorn & Moon Moonflower Candle- The Poison Garden Collection - Datura stramonium - Thornapple - Baneful Flora - Decorative 6" Pillar Candle

Our Thorn & Moon Moonflower Candle in The Poison Garden series is an elegant way to honor the magickal but dangerous Moonflower plant. Moonflower, or Datura stramonium, is a poisonous plant within the genus Datura. Another name for Moonflower is a thorn-apple or devil’s trumpet. The lovely white flowers of the plant bloom during the summer, and open only at night, emitting a sweet, pleasant, and intoxicating fragrance, and are fed upon by nocturnal moths. Known primarily for its hallucinogenic and narcotic properties, other effects include delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia, bizarre behavior, and severe mydriasis with painful photophobia (light sensitivity) that can last several days. Amnesia is also reported, and death can occur due to the dangerous levels of atropine, which varies greatly from plant to plant. The effects of Datura toxicity have been described as: “Blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry as a bone, the bowel and bladder lose their tone, and the heart runs alone." Once a person reaches this stage he or she would be delusional and unable to distinguish reality from a waking dream. The herb has long been used in witchcraft for various spells and potions, and is known to be an ingredient for Witches flying ointments since it is known to grant the feeling of flight. It is thought by some in magical circles, to have the ability to transform the spirit into a bird or animal. It has long been believed by practitioners that one could acquire magickal gifts, and wisdom from the plant. It is associated with the moon and moon magic. In ancient times, tribes of the early Americas would ingest the small black seeds of datura to "commune with deities through visions.” In Peru, priests at the Temple of the Sun believe that Datura allows them to communicate with the spirits of their ancestors, and gain wisdom from beyond the grave. This is why they call the Moonflower Huacacachu, the grave plant. Datura may even have been known to the ancient Egyptians, as it is depicted in the art "Lady Tuth-Shena". Streaming from the sun disc on Horus's head are five rows of what appear to Datura flowers. In his book, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Wade Davis identified D. stramonium, called "zombi cucumber" in Haiti, as a central ingredient of the concoction vodou priests use to create zombies Famous painter, Georgia O’Keefe often used the Moonflower as the subject of her paintings. Moonflower can be found growing within the famous “Poison Garden” of Alnwick Castle, home to over 100 legendary deadly plants. A sign hangs on the gate stating, “These plants can kill” and none are permitted to touch or smell. Place this decorative candle in your home, upon your altar to correspond with your spell’s intent, to enhance the magickal working, or give as a unique gift for someone who admires the strange & unusual, magickal, or who loves botanical illustrations and oddities. Our candle features an image of a Moonflower plant (Datura stramonium) in an elegant framed design with its scientific name, measures 6” tall x 3” diameter and is made with a white, unscented vegetable & paraffin wax candle, with the image printed directly into the wax in intricate detail. Please see our shop for additional botanical candles in The Poison Garden Collection. Disclaimers: *please never leave lit candle unattended. *trim wick to 1/4 inch before each use. *do not burn for more than two hours at a time *for first time use, do not let wax pool melt beyond 1/2 inch of the top edge. This will help keep the candle’s shape and preserve the image. * Thorn & Moon is not responsible for any misuse, or outcomes of this product. ~*~*~*~ International buyers ~*~*~*~ Please be sure this item is allowed to be shipped to your country before purchasing: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immctry.htm