GUTTER GAZZETTE

In the heart of our town lies a sanctuary of mystical wonders, Stang & Poppet. A captivating realm that lures with promises of the extraordinary. Our journey takes us to the back room, where we meet Rhapsody, the enigmatic custodian of this enchanting shop. Seated behind a table adorned with a spread of Tarot cards, she’s letting us take a glimpse into her little world of magic and the shop’s unique offerings.

Ingrid: Hi Rhapsody! Could you share a bit about your background? You don’t seem to be local. Where do you come from?
Rhapsody: Well, as you can probably work out from my accent, I’m English, so totally not a local girl. My father was a diplomat, so I travelled around a lot as a child and spent most of my teenage years in Japan.

Ingrid: What drew you to our city after your extensive travels? Is there anything specific that made you stay?
Rhapsody: I came to try and start a business, and to be honest in search of new adventures. And I guess a lot of us in GTA came here as waifs and strays. I like GTA, it feels like home to me. Perhaps because life can be unpredictable here. So I stay here for that, and for the people too. So many good people in this town, for all that it has a bad reputation … and I do feel that I can do something worthwhile for this community!

Ingrid: With our town experiencing recent growth, your unique shop stands out. Would you share more about it? What’s the shop called, and what products and services will it offer?
Rhapsody: The shop is called “Stang & Poppet”. I should probably explain that a little …

Ingrid: Please, do!
Rhapsody: A stang is a tool in traditional witchcraft, basically a forked stick that has some obvious symbolic resemblance to horns. It functions as a kind of portable altar, really. And a poppet is another witch tool – rather like a voodoo doll, but used for healing rather than harming. Honest! You can see examples of a stang and a poppet in the shop window here. At the moment the main offering here would be the Tarot readings though. I am working on bringing in other services and some good products. Products need to be sourced though and I am fussy about only stocking items that are high quality. And I am planning some workshops in due course.

Ingrid: Fascinating! I’ve always found supernatural topics intriguing. Can customers purchase these items from your shop? Additionally, how does one go about using them?
Rhapsody: I was fortunate in that the Craft has always been in our family so I grew up with it. That way, I guess I learned quite a lot through a kind of osmosis! The problem for most is that although there are lots of books available, many are of very poor quality and can misinform. best way to learn is take time to find a good teacher.

Ingrid: I suppose that labels you as our local witch now, right? Are there any misconceptions people might have about your craft that you’d like to dispel? And, of course, should we be worried about any mystical mischief on the horizon?
Rhapsody: Oh yes! People should definitely be worried … just joking about that of course! Haha!

Ingrid: Do you have plans to share your knowledge and teach magic to ordinary folks like myself in the future?
Rhapsody: Nobody is really “ordinary”, Ingrid. We are all remarkable in some way or other, but not everyone has the talent for magic. It’s rather like everyone can write (more or less) but not everyone has the talent to be a good poet.

Ingrid: That makes sense! So, for anyone in need of a touch of magic, they should come your way! Is there anything else you’d like to share or emphasize about yourself or your shop that our readers should know?
Rhapsody: Essentially I am here to help the community in GTA. Sometimes the only magic that people need is a listening ear … and magic has been known to backfire, I certainly know a few tales about that! So is not always an easy answer to problems. The shop will develop over time. As I said, I should bring in other services and items to sell as time passes and I plan to be here for the long term. Honestly I see myself as a servant for the GTA community rather than simply a business owner out to make money.

Ingrid: Thank you for sharing your insights. It’s been a captivating conversation. I eagerly anticipate your future endeavors in the community!
Rhapsody: Thank you, Ingrid! It was such a pleasure spending time with you!