The Feathered Witch - One-Time Box Purchase

In April 2024, subscribers met the Feathered Witch.

The stories say she is an Owl; or a Crow; or something else. If she has a name, it has been forgotten, so she is called the Feathered Witch. The few who have met her say that she is very tall. Her feathers are mostly blue-black, with a few bright white ones highlighting the ridge of each wing. In some moments, her plumage appears to ripple into dark hair. She can run across the sea without wetting her feet.

Her hut is sheltered by oak trees, with a thatched roof which recalls a nest. Inside, it is crowded with cabinets and baskets. Surfaces are covered with scraps of paper (recipes, lists, hasty sketches), abandoned cups of tea, ingredients for medicine, and half-finished projects. Sprawled on the pages of an open book, a bright green Lizard basks in the sunshine. Spiders and Beetles scurry in the corners.

The hut is always left unlocked, just in case a wandering Ranger needs shelter in the night; but an oily thumbprint upon the door and window shows that the Witch has protected every entrance.

The Feathered Witch Box includes an abundance of beautiful objects; hints and additions to expand the story; a mysterious document; and a lore card.  

Some items are available for individual purchase.

• Mysterious Document
• An instructional document is augmented with marginalia which will help you interpret clues.  It is available only in the Feathered Witch Box.

• Lore Card
• The Feathered Witch is introduced in a full-color collectible 4x6 inch lore card.  The artwork for this month's lore card was created by Joanna Rzepecka, a Warsaw, Poland-based illustrator. She says, "My work is inspired by biodiversity, mainly animals. Through my work, I'm trying to capture moments where nature is untouched by humans. Peaceful scenery, colors, and rough textures are some things that I enjoy the most."

• Cypress Cones
• The Witch guides you through the clutter and sweeps a pile of notebooks and burlap bundles from the small bed. She smoothes her feathers into place, revealing graceful fingers. Locating a small bag of cypress cones – they look like carved beads – she rolls one over your hands and arms. She pauses a few times to breathe on the cone; and once to breathe directly on the translucent skin of your wrist. Add your cones to your altar or curiosity cabinet. Or, they can be used for purification, then tossed in a summer bonfire.
  

• Quill Pen and Ink
• Frowning, she pulls a feather from her own wing and whittles the end into a nib with a small pocketknife with a colorful handle. Then she rummages on a table to produce a small vial of ink, the same uncanny leaf-green as her eyes. She dips the pen and traces the veins that run down your left forearm. The sensation makes you shudder. In some spots, the ink feathers and she scrutinizes its patterns.

• Spouted Vessel
• She looks around for a clean cup and finds a small glass on a shelf. Clear and delicate, it has a curious shape, with a curving spout and two little feet to balance it. Its size makes it suitable for medicinal sherries and bracing tonics. Do not use it for hot liquids.

• Mint and Hibiscus Tisane
• She fills the glass with a russet-colored cordial and tells you to drink. It cools your mouth and throat. In Birdmoss, mint is used for purification. Hibiscus is thought to attract the petal-like particles which drift in the Current, creating a grounding connection with grass, plants, and trees. Together, they remove the effects of the Darkness and reinforce your spirit. Try sweetening this tea with amber sugar. (May contain peanut fragments due to intercropping.)

• Glossy Beetle
• She scoops up an emerald-green Beetle ambling along a shelf. She murmurs to her; then kisses her; then places her on your left shoulder. Try quickening your brooch – with lavender oil for tranquility, or a touch of gold dust for abundance. 

Teacup in photos is not included.