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He stood there with it in his hand for a moment. Without any handwriting or other clues it was hard to say who it was from. He suspected Luna, of course. Or perhaps it had been Will, using his time-portal magic.

Dan didn’t remove the cash to count it. He just stuffed it in the inside pocket of his jacket. It sat there uncomfortably. Now he had one more thing to do. He had to find the rightful owner of this cash, so he could return it.

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL MAGIC

Archival Collection · Practitioner Remedies

THE WITCHES COUNSEL BLEND

A tea for difficult conversations and the clearing of clouded minds

Yields 1 cup · Scales easily for larger gatherings

Classification: Comfort & Clarity · Archive Ref. PR-114 · Submitted by: A. Berman, Director

BOTANICAL COMPOSITION

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

1 tsp

Adaptogenic anchor; calms without dulling. Creates the foundation for trust.

Blue Butterfly Pea Flower

5-6 blooms

Turns the brew indigo. Shifts to violet upon contact with citrus.

Lemon Verbena

½ tsp

Mental clarity; lifts anxiety at the root. Bright citrus note that balances the earthier elements.

Linden Blossom

½ tsp

Opens the heart gently. Eases apprehension. Honeyed. Essential for delivering difficult news.

Cardamom (cracked pod)

1 pod

Warmth and intentionality. Aids in the digestion of difficult things. Do not grind; crack only.

Ashwagandha Root (powder)

⅛ tsp

Grounding without sedation. Use sparingly. Strain sediment before serving.

PREPARATION

Steep in water that has just ceased boiling—never at a full roll—for five to six minutes, tightly covered. Volatile oils are shy creatures and will leave if given the opportunity.

Serve plain, with a small curl of dried orange peel resting on the saucer. When your guests have settled, offer lemon wedges at the table and allow them to add the juice themselves. Observe carefully. The color will change. This is not a trick. It is a reminder that things which appear fixed are often simply waiting for the right catalyst.