Coby Michael is a writer, blogger and researcher dedicated to exploring magical practices and Pagan religion.  His interest in the occult and spirit world began at a young age, and for the past 18 years he has been investigating folk magic, witchcraft and esoteric herbalism.  Coby is a self-described occultist and practitioner, having studied religion and European history at Arizona State University.  He writes for, Patheos Pagan, running the blog "The Poisoner's Apothecary.  His writings consist of topics from astrology, traditional witchcraft and entheogenic plants to current events in the Neo-Pagan community, animism, and Western Esotericism.  He is also a contributing author at thehouseoftwigs.com, which provides a diverse selection of writing for the magical community.  Coby recently self-published a three-part collection, called "The Poisoner's Pocket Guide," which explores plants historically associated with witches and the practice of magic.  As a member of the Pagan community Coby is involved in local events, teaching classes on plant magic and acting as a networker connecting individuals within the community. What has become known as The Poisoner's Apothecary started as a blog on Patheos Pagan in 2016, arising from my work with traditional witchcraft and the plants associated with witches and the devil in the Middle Ages.  After six years of researching and cultivating plants connected to European Witchcraft my articles and book reviews began attracting the attention of others.  The Poisoner's Apothecary is an umbrella under which I write about a number of esoteric topics of personal interest.  It has grown over the past couple of years to encompass many areas and hundreds of articles. The Apothecary is also the name for an online store front that provides custom tools and ritual adornments, in addition to a unique collection of botanical curious and herbal specimen.  The name Poisoner's Apothecary is derived from the close association in the ancient world between magic and the compounding of poisons and medicines.

Note written by Coby Michael, 1988-