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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.
Tonique en francais
FR1 Soleil levant de Oana Marangoci
Ingrédients : Un divorce, une plage, une femme qui retrouve confiance en elle
Purpose: Évoque la force intérieure
FR2 Amis de nos jours de Oana Marangoci
Ingrédients : Une chanson enfantine connue, des « reels », de l’amitié
Purpose: Éveille la joie des petits gestes amicaux
FR3 Petit Oiseau by Zoe Perrenoud
Ingrédients : Poésie, espoir dans les moments difficiles, beauté de la nature
Pour: Trouver la beauté dans les choses simples
FR4 L’amour rend une visite nocturne de Oana Marangoci
Ingrédients : Un visiteur nocturne, des griffes et des ronronnements
Purpose: Apporte du réconfort
For courage and strength
For courage and strength
This tonic will inspire bravery, reinforce inner strength, and encourage action.
Square Bottles (large texts)
1 Colours by Evelyn Valdivieso
Ingredients: Short prose, authenticity, self-acceptance
Purpose: Self-compassion and acceptance
2 Our Story by Evelyn Valdivieso
Ingredients: Short prose, a different version of the story
Purpose: Courage to stand by your truth
3 Rising Sun by Oana Marangoci
Ingredients: A divorce, a beach, a woman recovering her self confidence
Purpose: Reminds of inner strength
4 Things Left Unsaid by Melanie Czarnik
Ingredients: Short prose, Mystery, Nightshift security guard
Purpose: Courage to address your loved ones
Heart Bottles (medium texts)
Above Mountain Peaks by Benny J
Ingredients: Several haikus, mislabeled adventure
Purpose: Brings a spirit of adventure to counter self-doubt
9 Postcards by Wendy Winn
Ingredients: Free verse, new streets, writing postcards
Purpose: Encourages small actions
10 Rule Number One by Zoe Perrenoud
Ingredients: Self-doubt, a sudden tumble, an unexpected ally
Purpose: Accepting that failure is a part of success
11 The Accident by Goetz Von Thadden
Ingredients: 100 words, braving pain, a new experience
Purpose: Restores a feeling of pride
12 To Do Lists by Jess Bauldry
Ingredients: Poetry, lists, a sense of normality
Purpose: Reminds readers to put rest first
For human connection
For human connection
This tonic will foster connection, empathy, and a sense of belonging.
Square Bottles (large)
13 Bertie (the Second) by Melanie Czarnik
Ingredients: Short prose, humour, a Teddy bear.
Purpose: Restoring hope in humanity
14 Life Mechanics Part 1 by Georgia Darke
Ingredients: An autumn day, a walk in the woods, two friends and a simple yet deep conversation
Purpose: Rekindles hope for connection
15 The Glass Cabinet by Anne Klapperstück
Ingredients: A tumult of butterflies, childhood memories
Purpose: Rekindles hope for connection
Heart Bottles (medium)
16 A Medicinal Poem to Cure Loneliness by Dana Rufolo
Ingredients: Poetry, a pinch of silliness, a "Boo"
Purpose: Nurtures the inner child
17 Encore by Loretta Marie Perera
Ingredients: Poetry, a crowd, a concert
Purpose: Recovering a sense of belonging
18 In the Moment #1 by Adam Dennis
Ingredients: Rich poetic tapestry, words that flood the heart, a fiery dance
Purpose: Encourages connections
19 Life Lessons by Goetz Von Thadden
Ingredients: 100 words, an aunt, standing tall
Purpose: Remember a mentor
20 My roots by Wendy Winn
Ingredients: A giant honey mushroom, old and new roots from two continents
Purpose: Recover a sense of belonging
21 She'd Wanted a Bike by Jess Bauldry
Ingredients: Short story, a birthday wish
Purpose: A humourous reminder that it's never too late to do what you want
For light and hope
For light and hope
This tonic will rekindle hope, remind of purpose, and illuminate dark places.
Square Bottles (large)
22 Prophecy by Oana Marangoci
Ingredients: A planet devastated by war, a phoenix, a rebirth
Purpose: Rekindles hope
23 Squatter by Jess Bauldry
Ingredients: An insomniac, a noise in the wall, a dream of blue and yellow
Purpose: Rekindles hope for recovering sleep
Heart Bottles (medium)
24 Holding Pattern by Adam Dennis
Ingredients: Rich poetic tapestry, a distant hope, keeping safe
Purpose: Rekindles hope of connection
25 Life mechanics Part 2 by Georgia Darke
Ingredients: Winter months, self-reflection, a friend bringing comfort
Purpose: Reminds one of purpose
26 Lost In The Moment by Benny J
Ingredients: Time measures, snow, fire
Purpose: Reminds of simple things
27 Put a Ring On It by Benny J
Ingredients: Several haikus, a wedding, hope
Purpose: Rekindles hope towards healing
28 Rivers by Loretta Marie Perera
Ingredients: Poetry, an inner river
Purpose: Reminder of inner strength
29 Spinning by Jess Bauldry
Ingredients: Poetry, rest
Purpose: Reinforces the idea that joy is worth waiting for
30 The Calm After The Storm by Dana Rufolo
Ingredients: Poetry, words that curse, a reflection, a fair-weather day
Purpose: Rekindles hope
For comfort and healing
For comfort and healing
This tonic will offer solace, nurture self-love, and guide the reader through healing.
Square Bottles (large)
31 Fire by Anne Klapperstück
Ingredients: A photography student, a breakup story, a fire ritual
Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection
32 Small Wins by Anne Klapperstück
Ingredients: A fortune-teller, an Irish landscape, a dream
Purpose: Rekindle hope for connection
Heart Bottles (medium)
33 A Lullaby for the Broken-hearted by Evelyn Valdivieso
Ingredients: Poetry, lost things, a treasure kept
Purpose: Reminds reader to let go
34 Broken by Dana Rufolo
Ingredients: Free verse, a broken heart, new days
Purpose: Fosters closure and self-compassion
35 Love Paying a Night-time Visit by Oana Marangoci
Ingredients: A night-time visitor, claws and purrs
Purpose: Brings comfort
36 Not alone by Wendy Winn
Ingredients: Not thinking of him, a bite of lemon pie
Purpose: Encourages closure and self-compassion
37 You Are My Light by Loretta Marie Perera
Ingredients: Poetry, an abuser, feeling light and love
Purpose: Encourages closure and self-compassion
38 Your Story by Loretta Marie Perera
Ingredients: Poetry, the end of a story and the beginning of a new one
Purpose: Helps reader find inner strength and peace
Capsule (micro format)
Capsule (micro format)
Anew by Adriana Boysová
Oh boy by Adriana Boysová
Once upon a time by Adam Dennis
What if by Adriana Boysová
Space and time by Benny J Artist
How are you today? You message your troubled friend. by Jess Bauldry
Round and Round by Benny J Artist
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
Slow by Benny J Artist
Spring by Benny J Artist
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 by Benny J Artist
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
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