Word Tonics catalogue

A remedy for the restless soul, a balm for the weary heart—Word Tonics offers poetic medicine for the modern age. Created by members of writing collective Writers Who Talk, these lyrical elixirs and prose-infused cures bring solace, strength, and renewal. Housed in bottles and large capsules, each piece is a dose of wisdom, comfort, or quiet rebellion—tailored to soothe the conditions of our time.

Available at the Migration Festival, these healing words are brought to life with evocative illustrations by Ane Marcussen, making each tonic a potion for both the mind and the senses.

Take a sip. Let the words work their magic.

Meet our Authors and our Illustrator here.

Cracks in courage

This tonic will inspire bravery, reinforce inner strength, and encourage action.

Square Bottles (large)

1   Dragonflies beat the air with urgent wings by Jess Bauldry

Ingredients: Dragonflies, a mother, a daughter and a walk beyond the garden hedge. 

Purpose: Encourages action, nurtures the inner child 

Heart Bottles (medium)

2   A Little Bit of Magic  by Melanie Czarnik

Ingredients: An encounter, a bride, a piece of advice

Purpose: Restore self-confidence

An Arctic Hunt  by Oana Marangoci

Ingredients: An adventure, a mother, a sense of revenge

Purpose: Ease climate anxiety, offer a sense of justice

Flying  by Goetz Von Thadden

Ingredients: 100 words, birds, a dream, a discovery

Purpose: Inspire self-confidence

5  On taking up the bagpipes late in life  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, learning something new and fun 

Purpose: Inspire action

Party of One  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, a social media post, the words "Date yourself"

Purpose: Reinforce self-confidence and self-love

Postcards  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, new streets, writing postcards

Purpose: Encourage action

The Accident  by Goetz Von Thadden

Ingredients: 100 words, braving pain, a new experience

Purpose: Restore a feeling of pride

Missed connections

This tonic will foster connection, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

Square Bottles (large)

Bird Heart  by Anne Klapperstück

Ingredients: A nest, moss, a home 

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

10 Life Mechanics Part 1  by Georgia Darke

Ingredients: A bright autumn day, a walk in the woods, two friends and a simple yet deep conversation. 

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

11 The Glass Cabinet  by Anne Klapperstück

Ingredients: A tumult of butterflies, childhood memories

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

12  You Belong Here  by Anne Klaperstück

Ingredients: Glowing lanterns, feeling lighter

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

Heart Bottles (medium)

13 A Medicinal Poem to Cure Loneliness  by Dana Rufolo

Ingredients: Poetry, a pinch of silliness, a "Boo"

Purpose: Nurtures the inner child

14 Belonging  by Goetz Von Thadden

Ingredients: 100 words, a woman, a whirlwind of new places

Purpose: Celebrate being different

15 Encore  by Loretta Marie Perera

Ingredients: Poetry, a crowd, a concert

Purpose: Recover a sense of belonging 

16 In the Moment #1  by Adam Dennis

Ingredients: Rich poetic tapestry, words that flood the heart, a fiery dance

Purpose: Encourage connections

17 Life Lessons  by Goetz Von Thadden

Ingredients: 100 words, an aunt, standing tall

Purpose: Remember a mentor

18 My Roots  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: A giant honey mushroom, old and new roots from two continents

Purpose: Recover a sense of belonging 

19 Passing on Hope  by Dana Rufolo

Ingredients: Poetry, a little seahorse, a new purpose

Purpose: Recover a sense of belonging 

Shadows of the soul

This tonic will rekindle hope, remind of purpose, and illuminate dark places.

Square Bottles (large)

20  No One Exists  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Poetry, reflection, "Jim Carrey says"

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

21  Squatter  by Jess Bauldry

Ingredients: An insomniac, a noise in the wall, a dream of blue and yellow 

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection 

22  Things Left Unsaid  by Melanie Czarnik

Ingredients: A mysterious room, a library guard and a haunting truth

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

Heart Bottles (medium)

23 After   by The Wordsmith

Ingredients: Poetic wordsmithery, campfires, fleeing virtue, a rebirth

Purpose: Rekindle hope

24 Anti-Flat System  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, hairspray, a good laugh and a lift

Purpose: Rekindle hope of connection

25 Holding Pattern  by Adam Dennis

Ingredients: Rich poetic tapestry, a distant hope, keeping safe

Purpose: Rekindle hope of connection

26 I decided to be thankful  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, two pairs of socks, regrouping

Purpose: Gathering strength

27 Life mechanics Part 2  by Georgia Darke

Ingredients: Winter months, self-reflection, a friend bringing comfort

Purpose: Remind you of purpose 

28 Nightfall  by Goetz Von Thadden

Ingredients: 100 words, a northern coast, soft footsteps

Purpose: Illuminate dark places

29 Psychic Hotline Callers  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Free verse, questioning otherworldly wisdom, tiny frogs, suspenders

Purpose: Relieve feelings of emptiness

30 Rivers  by Loretta Marie Perera

Ingredients: Poetry, an inner river

Purpose: Reminder of your strength 

31 The Calm After The Storm  by Dana Rufolo

Ingredients: Poetry, words that curse, a reflection, a fair-weather day

Purpose: Rekindle hope

32 When you are ready  by The Wordsmith

Ingredients: Ghosts and shadows, fragile hearts and shining truth

Purpose: Illuminate dark places

43 Prophecy  by Oana Marangoci

Ingredients: A planet devastated by war, a phoenix, hope

Purpose: Rekindles hope

Wounds of the Heart

This tonic will offer solace, nurture self-love, and guide the reader through healing.

Square Bottles (large)

33  Fire  by Anne Klapperstück

Ingredients: A photography student, a breakup story, a fire ritual

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

34  Mireille  by The Wordsmith

Ingredients: Sunlight, sweetness, a sublime bouquet of words

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

35  Small Wins  by Anne Klapperstück

Ingredients: A fortune-teller, an Irish landscape, a dream

Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection

Heart Bottles (medium)

36 A Lullaby for the Broken-hearted  by Evelyn Valdivieso

Ingredients: Poetry, lost things, a treasure kept 

Purpose: Letting go

37 Broken  by Dana Rufolo

Ingredients: Free verse, a broken heart, new days

Purpose: Closure and self-compassion

38 Leaving behind  by Adriana Boysová

Ingredients: Free verse, an absence, finding one's rhythm

Purpose: Foster acceptance

39 Not alone  by Wendy Winn

Ingredients: Not thinking of him, a bite of lemon pie

Purpose: Closure and self-compassion

40 The White Pelican  by Oana Marangoci

Ingredients: A funeral on water, a grieving son and his wife, a white pelican

Purpose: Find comfort after a loss

41 You Are Light  by Loretta Marie Perera

Ingredients: Poetry, an abuser, feeling light and love

Purpose: Closure and self-compassion

42 Your Story  by Loretta Marie Perera

Ingredients: Poetry, the end of a story and the beginning of a new one

Purpose: Find strength and peace 

Capsule (micro format)

Anew by Adriana Boysová

Oh boy by Adriana Boysová

Once upon a time by Adam Dennis

What if by Adriana Boysová


How are you today? You message your troubled friend. by Jess Bauldry

You knew what I needed to hear by Jess Bauldry


After a breakup by Oana Marangoci

As Nature Renews by Andra Valette

Perspective by Melanie Czarnik

What I wish I'd told my friend before she died by Jess Bauldry

When you’re overwhelmed by Jess Bauldry


Life after love by The Wordsmith

Love is a sea by Adriana Boysová

Love is a seed by Adriana Boysová

Shades by The Wordsmith

To Love songs by Adam Dennis

Tough Guy by Adam Dennis

Toxic by Melanie Czarnik