rhyme + rune + riddance

Hello, swappers. Here is a swap to share the creative and supportive energy of the swapbot community. You will be making up a slim packet of enchantment for your partner.

For this swap you will use your imagination and become magical for a moment. We all have magic within us -- this is what lets us fly in our dreams, imagine good things, avoid bad things, know what our pets are feeling, and sense the mysteries of creation.

You will have one partner and send her an envelope that (ideally) requires a minimum of postage. For USA swappers this would be a 41 cent stamp.

Inside the envelope you will enclose THREE written things as described below, and an assortment of magical ephemera from your collection: lace, ribbon, clippings, cards, sparklies, labels, shapes, feathers, tiny charms, doo-dads, tokens, trinkets, papers, postage stamps, stickers, what-have-you.

THREE WRITTEN THINGS

1. a rhyme: you can make one up or copy your favorite poem. I think expressing one's creativity is a way to stay healthy and happy, so extra points for homemade rhymes. Limericks are always fun and easy. Here is a simple rhyme from Ogden Nash to start your juices flowing: "Celery raw develops the jaw. Celery stewed is more quietly chewed." See? Magic. It's nonsense, and you smiled.

2. a rune: after looking at your partner's profile, write her a personal rune that is one sentence long. By "rune" I mean a verbal charm, a blessing, or as dictionary.com says: "an aphorism, poem, or saying with mystical meaning or for use in casting a spell." This simple rune is meant to benefit your partner uniquely. You can decorate the paper on which your rune is written.

3. a riddance: in a yin-yang sort of spirit, reflect upon your own life and choose something that you want to get rid of. I don't mean extra weight or a pile of old clothes. Your "riddance" may be a bad memory or something you feel guilty about (ala postsecret.) It may be an addiction, a fear, a sadness, a dread. Whatever IT is, write one sentence describing this thing you want to get rid of. Decorate the paper if you want to, but you don't have to. Fold up your "riddance" as small as possible, and seal it with tape, stickers, glue or what-have-you. Your partner will not open this "riddance."

Here is the especially magic part of this swap: when your partner receives your packet and finds the sealed-up "riddance" among the rhyme, rune and all the other charming little goodies, they will destroy the bad thing for you. For example, in my house we heat with wood, so I will put the riddance I receive from my partner into the fire. You could put the thing through a shredder, bury it in the ground, feed it to a hyena in the zoo, compost it, grind it up in the garbage disposal or drop it off the top of a tall building. Whatever you do, honor your partner by not opening her "riddance," and by destroying it totally!

Swapbot folks have extraordinary powers of generosity and care. Suspend your disbelief, participate in this swap, receive good blessings and cleanse your mind of something bad.

I hope this silly swap will have some powers of good for all of us who participate.
[Edit 01/21/08 -- after the sign-up deadline passes, as best I can, I will prune the participants of any doubtful swappers.]

As always, hearts for extra special treats or exceptionally glorious rhymes & runes.