What’s in a name? BELLADONNA, Valued and Feared

Known in Latin as Atropa Belladonna, and by other names, such as Deadly Nightshade and Witch’s Berry, Belladonna means both death and beauty. It can ease many ills if heavily diluted, but in strong concentrations it can kill. The Latin word, belladonna means "beautiful woman." The first part, Atropos, is the name of one of the Greek Fates who was responsible for the determination of when a person would die. Belladonna has ancient associations with the Greeks and European witches. It was used in small amounts in wine as an aphrodisiac by the Greeks and incorported into love potions by European witches. But Belladonna is associated with dark spirits and used in charms and amulets for dark purposes. Women who worshipped Dionysis became extremely depraved from using it, often murdering male followers.

Truly a plant of extremes, it has been called sacred. It deserves the highest respect. The berrys are attractive but extremely dangerous. Small amounts can can be valuable and large amounts deadly. So it is with the Night. As someone I know recently mentioned, "You can love your shadow, but do not drown in it."


Pic from an anime wesite, forgot to get link :(
It's called Belladonna.