The Unnoticed Charm
[For Passing Through Without Being Seen]
Clíodhna has sent us a remedy for unwanted attention. She says it has never failed her. Given that Clíodhna lives alone up at the black fort and has done for forty years without incident, we consider this a strong endorsement.
You will need:
dirt from a crossroads (any crossroads, even a small one between paths)
a seed of any kind (saved, not bought)
grey thread
a small piece of mirrored glass (a broken compact works; a watch face works; a chip off a car mirror should not work but Clíodhna says it does)
Timing:
New moon or overcast day. Do not make this on a clear bright morning. Bright mornings invite scrutiny.
Method:
Mix the crossroads dirt and the seed in the palm of your left hand. Consider the places you need to pass through unseen. Not people — places. Places have better memory than people and respond to negotiation.
Fold the mixture into a small square of cloth or paper. Spit on it once. (Clíodhna’s instruction, not ours.)
Lay the mirror fragment face-up on a flat surface. Place the folded packet on top of it.
Wind the grey thread around both: the mirror and the packet together, seven times, saying nothing. Silence is the working here. The thread is the working. Your quiet attention is the working.
Carry in a left pocket, or a pocket nearest the heart.
The pocket-sized guide to iron and salt
We are of the understanding that Clíodhna is making pocket sized talisman recipe zines for islanders in crisis.
Please email me, Orion Slade, to express interest.