Insect 7 of Petalwing Flitter

Based on: Orchid Mantis, Rosy Maple Moth, Damselfly

Lore: The Petalwing Flitter is regarded throughout the islands of Saṃsāra as a living charm, a physical manifestation of positive emotion and gentle spirits. Common folklore, particularly among gardeners and romantic poets, suggests that these insects are the reincarnated souls of individuals who lived lives of exceptional kindness, or perhaps nature spirits who have chosen a simple, beautiful form to grace the world. Their appearance is universally welcomed and never seen as a pest. To have a Petalwing Flitter enter one’s home is considered a profound blessing, an omen of impending joy, reconciliation, or the blossoming of a new friendship or love. It is believed they are drawn to places where the ambient magical field is suffused with positive emotional energy. For this reason, many households cultivate specific, sweet-smelling flowers in window boxes or small, enclosed patios with the explicit hope of attracting a Flitter. To receive a gentle “nuzzle” from one is said to grant a person a week of serene thoughts and peaceful sleep. Artisans who work with delicate materials, such as painters and jewelers, often seek them out, believing their silent, floating presence helps to steady the hand and inspire creativity. An entire sub-genre of poetry is dedicated to them, comparing their light to a lover’s smile and their flight to a whispered secret.

Appearance: The Petalwing Flitter is a creature of exquisite delicacy, rarely growing larger than a person’s thumbnail. Its body structure mimics the petal-like shape and lobes of an Orchid Mantis, but it possesses none of the mantis’s predatory sharpness. Instead, its form is soft and rounded, covered in a fine, downy fuzz reminiscent of a Rosy Maple Moth. This fuzz is what gives the insect its remarkable coloration, typically a gentle gradient of creamy yellow to a deep, blushing pink, allowing it to perfectly camouflage itself within the petals of a flower. It possesses four wings, as delicate and transparent as those of a Damselfly. The veins within the wings are so fine they are nearly invisible, which creates the stunning illusion that the petal-shaped body is simply floating in the air, untethered, when it hovers. Its eyes are large, multifaceted, and dark, reflecting light with a gentle, non-threatening gleam. From its thorax, it emits a soft, warm, golden-pink light that pulses in a slow, steady rhythm, much like a tiny, content heartbeat. Its six legs are long and slender, able to be tucked completely beneath its body during flight, perfecting its disguise as a wind-drifting petal.

Behavior: The defining characteristic of the Petalwing Flitter is its profoundly gentle and non-aggressive nature. It does not bite or sting and subsists entirely on the nectar of flowers and dew drops that collect on leaves. Its movements are a blend of grace and purpose; when walking upon a plant stem, it moves with the slow, deliberate care of a mantis, but its flight is the quick, nimble, and silent dance of a damselfly. They are keenly sensitive to sound and are particularly attracted to the soft, melodic humming of sentient beings, often drawing near to a person who is quietly singing in a garden. The most sought-after interaction is the “nuzzle,” a behavior where the Flitter will land on a offered finger or hand and gently press its fuzzy body against the skin, its internal light growing warmer and brighter for a moment. This interaction feels like a soft, warm vibration against the skin. They are social creatures among their own kind, and at night they will often gather in small, silent clusters of three to five individuals on the underside of broad leaves, their combined glow creating a beautiful, natural lantern that softly illuminates the surrounding foliage. They are monogamous for their entire, year-long lifespan, and it is common to see mated pairs flying in tandem, their lights pulsing in perfect synchrony.

Wild Environment: Petalwing Flitters are most commonly found in the temperate and subtropical island nations that boast a rich and diverse array of flowering plants. They are an indicator species for a healthy and magically stable environment, thriving in locations where the natural flow of magic is calm, gentle, and pure. Their ideal habitats are ancient forests with sun-dappled clearings, secluded temple gardens where meditation and quiet contemplation are practiced, and the lush, magically-infused canopies of the deep jungles. They have a particular affinity for clean, slow-moving water and are often seen hovering over misty streams and the edges of tranquil ponds at dawn, sipping dew from lotus pads. They build their minuscule nests deep within the protective heads of large, magically-enhanced flowers like Sun-Petal Lilies or Glimmering Roses, weaving together strands of spider silk, pollen, and their own shed fuzz. These nests are nearly impossible to find and are considered sacred by many nature-worshipping communities. While they are a wild creature, they have also adapted remarkably well to the sprawling vertical parks and rooftop gardens found in the floating cities, flitting between skyscrapers on gentle updrafts of air.

Size The Petalwing Flitter is classified as a Tiny creature. An adult specimen’s body typically measures between one-half to three-quarters of an inch in length, with a wingspan that can reach up to one and a half inches. Its mass is almost negligible, being lighter than a common feather. This diminutive size allows it to rest upon the most delicate of flower petals without causing them to bend and to pass through dense foliage or window lattices with ease. When held in the palm of a hand, its presence is felt more as a faint warmth than a discernible weight. Its size is a key component of its primary defense mechanism, which is to be overlooked entirely or mistaken for a drifting piece of flora.

Traits

• Magical Bioluminescence: The soft, warm light emitted by a Petalwing Flitter is magical in nature. It is not a chemical reaction but a direct manifestation of the insect’s life force interacting with the ambient magical energy of Saṃsāra. The light’s intensity and color can shift subtly, brightening with contentment or excitement and dimming during rest or in response to fear. This light is intrinsically soothing and contains faint restorative properties; spending a prolonged time in the glow of a Flitter cluster is known to ease troubled minds and promote restful sleep.
• Empathic Resonance: Petalwing Flitters possess a unique form of sensory perception that is attuned to the emotional state of nearby sentient beings. They are drawn toward feelings of tranquility, joy, and affection, while they will actively avoid areas heavy with anger, fear, or sadness. This trait is what leads them to appear in happy homes or near gentle-natured individuals. They can perceive sound, but they are particularly reactive to the emotional intent behind the sound, which is why melodic and heartfelt humming or singing is more effective at attracting them than a simple, mechanically reproduced tune.
• Illusory Flight: The creature’s four wings beat at an incredibly high frequency, and their near-perfect transparency refracts light in a way that renders them almost completely invisible to the naked eye. This creates a powerful illusion that the insect’s petal-shaped body is merely floating on its own, drifting through the air without any visible means of propulsion. This makes it very difficult to track in flight and adds to its ethereal and mystical reputation.
• Benign Presence: The Petalwing Flitter is constitutionally incapable of causing harm. It has no stinger, its mandibles are developed only for sipping nectar, and it lacks any sort of poison or venom. Its magical nature is purely passive and positive. Even when frightened, its only recourse is to flee and hide. This inherent harmlessness is widely understood, and even small children are taught to interact with them gently, knowing the creature poses no threat.

Tags: Magical Beast, Insect, Tiny, Benign, Bioluminescent, Flying, Spirit-Touched, Temperate (Forest, Garden), Tropical (Jungle, Garden), Omen, Pollinator, Empathic, Auspicious, Sacred, Nectarivore, Soothing, Symbolic

Other Information

• Diet: The creature subsists entirely on the nectar of flowering plants and morning dew. It has a preference for flowers that are themselves magically active, as the nectar from these plants helps to fuel its own bioluminescence. It is a pollinator for several rare, magically-infused plants, making it a vital part of its ecosystem.
• Life Cycle: A Petalwing Flitter lives for approximately one standard year. They form a monogamous bond during a springtime mating flight and remain together until one or both perish. The female lays a small clutch of 3-5 luminous eggs deep within the cup of a flower. The eggs are cared for by both parents. Upon hatching, the nymphs resemble smaller, fuzzier versions of the adults but without wings. They spend several months growing before molting into their final winged form.
• Revered Materials: Due to the deep affection felt for the creature, it is considered taboo to harm or capture one. However, the Petalwing Flitter naturally sheds its delicate, glowing fuzz as it grows and molts. This “Glimmer Fuzz” is sometimes collected from flowers and leaves where the creatures are known to rest. The fuzz retains its soft light and calming properties for a time. Alchemists and enchanters use Glimmer Fuzz in the creation of potions that soothe anxiety or in the crafting of gear. When woven into clothing, it can create garments that emit a soft, comforting glow. An item of gear that incorporates Glimmer Fuzz might possess a tier one ability to calm agitated beasts or slightly bolster the wearer’s composure in stressful social situations.

Perception of Sight (Vision)

• What is perceived: Light spectrum, rapid motion, and the visible emanations of magical energy.
• Description: The Petalwing Flitter’s large, multifaceted eyes are highly adapted to detect the slightest shifts in light and movement, a crucial trait for avoiding predators and navigating a complex environment. Beyond the normal spectrum of light visible to most creatures, their eyes are uniquely attuned to perceive the flow of raw magical energy. To a Flitter, a place of strong, stable magic appears to have a gentle, shimmering haze, while areas of volatile or corrupt magic may have a discordant, unsettling flicker. The positive emotions of a sentient being can manifest as a soft, warm aura that the Flitter can physically see.
• Positives: This dual-layered sight allows it to easily locate magically-rich flowers that provide the best quality nectar. It can identify safe, tranquil locations from a distance and visually perceive the good nature of an individual. Its hyper-sensitivity to motion makes it exceedingly difficult to catch by surprise.
• Negatives: The sensitivity of its eyes makes it vulnerable to sudden, intense flashes of either natural light or magical energy, which can be blinding and disorienting. Its vision is optimized for light and motion, meaning it has poor resolution for identifying fine details on static, non-magical objects.

Perception of Hearing (Audition)

• What is perceived: Tonal quality and vibrations through air and solid surfaces.
• Description: The creature does not possess ears but instead perceives sound as a series of vibrations through thousands of fine, hair-like setae covering its antennae and legs. It is less about interpreting distinct sounds and more about feeling the quality and harmony of the vibrations. A gentle, melodic hum is perceived as a pleasant, massaging sensation, while a loud, discordant shout is a physically jarring and painful shockwave.
• Positives: This sense allows it to be “charmed” by soft singing or music, as the harmonious vibrations are attractive to it. It can detect the approach of much larger creatures by feeling their footsteps vibrate through a leaf or branch long before they are visible.
• Negatives: It is incapable of distinguishing complex sounds like speech. Sudden, percussive noises are overwhelming and will cause it to flee instantly. Environments with constant, loud background noise, such as an industrial factory, are uninhabitable for it.

Perception of Smell (Olfaction)

• What is perceived: Airborne chemical compounds, primarily related to nectar, pheromones, and environmental purity.
• Description: Olfaction is the Flitter’s primary long-range sense for locating sustenance. Its pair of delicate antennae constantly sample the air, able to distinguish the unique chemical signature of a specific species of flower from hundreds of yards away. It also uses this sense to release and detect pheromones for mating and to identify the scent-marker of its own territory and nest.
• Positives: It is an incredibly efficient forager, wasting little energy in its search for food. This sense allows for silent and effective communication with other Flitters, crucial for mating rituals and avoiding territorial disputes. It can smell the purity of an area, avoiding places with acrid or polluted air.
• Negatives: Strong, overpowering scents, such as those from alchemical labs or heavy perfumes, can effectively “blind” this sense and are highly repellent to it. Its trusting nature means it could theoretically be lured into a trap by an artificially created floral scent.

Perception of Taste (Gustation)

• What is perceived: The chemical composition and magical potency of liquids.
• Description: The Petalwing Flitter tastes its food through chemoreceptors located on its long, slender proboscis and the soles of its feet (tarsi). The moment it touches down on a flower petal or a dewdrop, it can instantly analyze its sugar content, purity, and magical resonance.
• Positives: This immediate feedback ensures it only consumes the highest quality nectar, maximizing its energy intake. It can avoid contaminated water sources or nectar from sick or magically-blighted plants, protecting it from disease and corruption.
• Negatives: This sense is entirely contact-based and has no range. It cannot determine if a food source is viable until it physically touches it, which could put it in a vulnerable position. Its palate is so specialized that it is unable to gain sustenance from anything other than nectar or pure water.

Perception of Touch (Tactition)

• What is perceived: Air pressure, temperature gradients, kinetic contact, and surface textures.
• Description: The fine, downy fuzz that covers the Flitter’s body is a highly sensitive tactile organ. Each filament detects minute shifts in air currents, allowing for incredibly agile and precise flight, even through the most cluttered of spaces. This sense also allows it to perceive ambient temperature and the texture of surfaces it lands on. It is this sense that is most engaged during its affectionate “nuzzle,” where it feels the warmth and texture of a person’s skin.
• Positives: It grants the creature superb spatial awareness, allowing it to perform complex aerial maneuvers without collision. It can sense subtle changes in weather by feeling shifts in barometric pressure. It uses touch to express and receive feelings of safety and contentment with its mate and other creatures it trusts.
• Negatives: The Flitter is exceptionally fragile. A touch that might seem gentle to a larger being could be crushing or damaging to it. Its high sensitivity to temperature makes it vulnerable to sudden frosts or extreme heat.

Extra-sensory Perception of Empathic Resonance

• What is perceived: The ambient emotional energy and intent of sentient beings.
• Description: This is the Flitter’s most remarkable sense. It does not read thoughts but perceives the “emotional field” that sentient beings generate. Strong emotions like joy, love, and tranquility are perceived as a pleasant warmth and a harmonious, glowing “color” in its sensory field. Conversely, anger, fear, and malice manifest as a painful, cold, and discordant “static.” It navigates the social world by following these emotional currents.
• Positives: This sense is a near-perfect defense mechanism against malicious intent, as it will instinctively flee from anyone wishing it harm. It is naturally drawn to kind, peaceful individuals and serene locations, reinforcing its role as a symbol of good fortune and harmony.
• Negatives: This sense cannot be deactivated. It is perpetually exposed to the emotional state of its surroundings. A place of intense emotional turmoil, such as a battlefield or a scene of great tragedy, is psychically unbearable and would be fatal if it could not escape. A person with very chaotic, unstable emotions could be confusing and frightening to it, even without malicious intent.

Extra-sensory Perception of Magical Field Acuity

• What is perceived: The texture, flow, density, and purity of the world’s ambient magical field.
• Description: Beyond just seeing magical auras, the Petalwing Flitter can physically feel the very fabric of magic in the world of Saṃsāra. It perceives the great flows of magical power like ocean currents and can sense the subtle eddies and tides that shift with the time of day or season. This sense functions as a sort of internal, infallible compass that guides its migrations and its search for pristine, untouched natural environments.
• Positives: This is its ultimate tool for long-term survival. It allows the Flitter to always find areas where life is abundant and the environment is healthy and in magical balance. This sense makes it the most reliable living indicator of an area’s magical purity.
• Negatives: It is utterly dependent on the presence of a stable magical field to navigate. In a “dead magic” or “null-magic” zone, this sense would be useless, leaving the creature completely disoriented, terrified, and lost. A sudden, violent surge of raw magic could be the equivalent of a psychic tsunami, stunning or even killing it outright.

Ingredients made from this insect:

• Ethereal Glimmer Fuzz: This downy, shimmering, and weightless material is not harvested but gathered. It is the naturally shed fuzz from a growing Petalwing Flitter, collected from the leaves and flower petals where they rest. The relationship this fosters is one of gentle stewardship. Avatars learn that to acquire this ingredient, they must create and maintain pristine, peaceful gardens and habitats that attract the Flitters. The act of gathering the fuzz is meditative and delicate. This ingredient reinforces the idea that the insect is a revered guest whose freely given gifts are more valuable than anything taken by force. It positions avatars as caretakers and guardians of the Flitter’s environment, creating a symbiotic bond built on respect and patience.
• Luminous Gossamer Silk: This resilient, resonant, and almost invisibly thin silk is found only in the abandoned nests of Petalwing Flitters. Harming an active nest is a deep taboo. Avatars who seek this silk must become keen, patient observers of nature, learning to identify Flitter pairs and waiting for their year-long life cycle to conclude and their offspring to depart. The collection of the empty nest is a poignant and respectful act. This ingredient creates a relationship based on an understanding of and reverence for the creature’s entire life process. It teaches a deep appreciation for the cycle of life and death, turning the avatars from potential exploiters into respectful inheritors of what is left behind.
• Pearlescent Tranquility Dew: This sweet, calming, and highly pure substance is not taken from the insect itself, but is a crystallized residue left behind after a Flitter drinks nectar from a magically-active flower. The insect’s own benign magical nature purifies the dew it touches, leaving behind tiny, pearl-like crystals. This affects the relationship by encouraging avatars to be cultivators of beauty. To obtain this ingredient, one must grow the most vibrant, healthy, and magical flora to entice the Flitters to visit and drink. It makes the relationship one of mutualism; the avatar provides a perfect sanctuary and food source, and in return, the Flitter leaves behind a small, magical blessing.
• Ephemeral Fallen Wings: These iridescent, fragile, and silent wings are considered one of the most sacred materials. They are never taken from a living Flitter. They are only ever found where a Flitter has completed its natural life and perished peacefully. Finding an intact wing is an event of great significance and is seen as a profound omen. The relationship this creates is one of deep spiritual reverence. It removes the avatar from the role of a hunter entirely and places them in the role of a pilgrim or mourner. To use a fallen wing in crafting is to honor the gentle life it represents, imbuing the object with a sense of peace and respect for the natural end of all things.
• Captured Harmonic Resonance: This vibrational, inaudible, and soothing ingredient is the most abstract. It is not a physical substance but a magical charge held within a specially prepared crystal or bowl of purified water. The item must be left for days or weeks in a place where Flitters gather, absorbing the gentle, calming vibrations of their collective humming and presence. This fosters a relationship of non-interference and quiet companionship. The avatar must learn to be still, to be present, and to not disturb the creatures in any way to successfully “capture” their peaceful essence. It teaches that the greatest power offered by the Flitters is not in their bodies, but in the serene atmosphere they create.

Lord Who Made a Wall of Riches

It is recorded in the old parchments that there was an Avatar, a man of high station and much owning, whose name was spoken as Valerius. His skyscraper was the tallest tower of stone and steel in that metropolis, and the gardens upon its high levels were a thing of great expense. The water for his fountains was pulled from the deep ocean and made pure by elemental magic, and the flowers that grew there were brought on fast air ships from seventy-two of the island countries. Valerius had much, and so his soul had a great hunger for more. His heart was a locked box where he kept account of all his possessions.

In a lower place of the city, where the sun had to find its way between the tall buildings, was a small place open to the sky. In this place lived a woman, whose name was Elara. She was an Avatar of no station and her possessions were few. She had a small garden on her balcony, not with rare flowers from far lands, but with common blossoms that grew with happiness in the local earth. Her work was with her hands, and her songs were quiet sounds from her throat, sounds of contentment that mixed with the air.

And to her garden, they came. The Petalwing Flitters, the small insects of beautiful appearance, they arrived to her small place. They performed their travel upon the air like petals of flowers with no stem. Their light was a warm light, and they gathered in a great many number, so her small garden at night had the shine of a hundred soft lanterns.

Valerius, from his high tower, did perceive this thing with seeing-glass of great power. He saw the shine and the floating, and the hunger in his soul made a noise. He must have this thing. The beauty of these insects must belong to his high garden, to show all others the greatness of his owning.

So he went down from his tower. He went to the low place of Elara. He saw the beasts of the air, and they were of correct appearance. He said with his mouth, “Woman of the low place, I will make a transaction for these things. I will give a great many coins of gold for all of them, so they may live in my garden of high expense.”

But the woman Elara, she of the dirt-hands, gave a head-shake. She made words saying, “These Petalwing Flitters are not a possession. They are not a thing for a transaction. They arrive where they feel the correctness of the place. Their home is the feeling of peace. You cannot make a purchase of a feeling.”

The words of the woman were a nonsense to Valerius. All things had a price. So his feelings became hot. He returned to his high tower and he commanded his workers. A new garden was constructed. Great expense was made. The rarest flowers, those that held magic in their scent, were planted in soil that was made rich with potions. Fountains were made to give the sound of soft humming. All was done with calculation to make a place of perfect peace, a place for the floating petals.

The garden was a great achievement of cost and effort. But the floating petals, they did not arrive to that place. Not one. The garden was silent of their warm light.

The hunger of Valerius became an anger. If the beasts would not come by pleasing, they would come by force. Cages were made of metal which shines, with doors of thin crystal. Men of the hunt, who were skilled in taking things, were given much coin. They went to the low garden of Elara with nets of fine thread. They did capture a great many of the Flitters.

The beasts were put in the cages of gold within the garden of Valerius. For a short time, they flew inside their small prisons. But the light they made was not a warm light. It was a small light, a sad light of fear. The feeling of the place was wrong. The air was heavy with the anger and the hunger of the Lord. And so, one by one, the Flitters did cease their living. Their bodies became dust, and their wings became a memory. The garden of Valerius remained dark.

The anger in his heart was now a great fire. He decided a thing. If his garden, the most correct and expensive of all gardens, could not have the light of the Flitters, then no garden would. He went down from his tower, with a purpose of destruction. His heart was a stone of anger. He would go to the low place and put his hands to the small garden of Elara and make it a ruin.

He arrived at her balcony. He raised his hand to begin the destruction. But his eyes did see the woman. She performed no action of work. She was sitting on a small stool. A sound came from her throat, a pleasing sound without words. Her face showed a great peace. Her soul was not a locked box, but an open field. And as he watched, a single Petalwing Flitter, one of the few that had not been captured, did travel upon the air and sat on her open hand. Its shine was a great shine, a light of trust and affection that was brighter than any jewel.

And seeing this, the fire of anger in Valerius did not find more wood. The stone in his heart felt a crack. He looked at the woman who owned nothing, and her richness was a great richness. He looked at his own soul, which owned all things, and the emptiness in it was a great emptiness.

He did not perform the destruction. He lowered his hand. He returned to his high place of owning, to his perfect, dark garden. He sat on a bench of stone. A long sitting was done. For many days he did nothing, only sitting. Then, he put his hands to a single flower. Not to command it, but to remove a dead leaf. The work was a small work. He pulled a weed from the rich soil. He did this not for the garden’s value, but for the work itself.

He did this for many suns. The hunger and the anger in his soul began to be a quiet thing. And one evening, as the sky became dark, a small light entered the garden. A single Petalwing Flitter, hesitant and shy, had arrived. It did not land on him. It did not perform a great show. It sat on a flower far from him, and its light was a small light, but it was a warm light. It was not a victory for his owning. It was a start of things.

Moral: A hand that is open may receive a gift. A hand that is closed can only hold what it has already taken.

Recipes:

• Elixir of the Quiet Mind 72
  • Ingredients:
    • One dram of Pearlescent Tranquility Dew
    • A pinch of Ethereal Glimmer Fuzz
    • A cup of spring water gathered before sunrise
    • Three stamens from a Moonlight Bloom flower
    • One unblemished, clear quartz crystal
  • Preparation: Pour the spring water into a ceramic bowl. Do not use metal. Place the quartz crystal into the center of the bowl. Gently heat the water using a low, controlled elemental fire source until it is warm to the touch; it must not simmer or boil. Remove from the heat. Gently stir the water three times clockwise with a glass rod, then three times counter-clockwise. Add the Moonlight Bloom stamens and allow them to steep until they lose their color. Carefully strain the water into a new bowl. While the water is still warm, whisper a word of peace or gratitude and add the Pearlescent Tranquility Dew, watching it dissolve completely. Finally, let the Ethereal Glimmer Fuzz fall from your fingers onto the surface of the elixir, allowing it to settle on its own. Decant into a vial and seal until use.
• Weaver’s Charm of the Gentle Glow 14
  • Ingredients:
    • One unbroken strand of Luminous Gossamer Silk
    • A spool of thread spun from a willing creature (e.g., sheered wool, harvested cotton)
    • A bowl of water that has sat under a full moon for one entire night
    • Three drops of pure, liquid silver
    • The light from a single, steady candle
  • Preparation: Set up the workspace in a room illuminated only by the single candle. Unspool the mundane thread and the Luminous Gossamer Silk side-by-side. Tie one end of the silk to one end of the thread with a knot of intention. Begin to slowly twist the two strands together by hand, creating a new, singular thread. As you twist, focus on the candlelight, letting your thoughts be clear and calm. Once the entire length has been twisted into one, dip the newly created thread into the bowl of moonlight-infused water. While it is submerged, add the three drops of silver, which will plate the thread in a microscopic, magical sheen. Slowly pull the thread from the water and allow it to air dry in the darkness before spooling it for use in an enchantment.
• Incense of Reverent Passage 98
  • Ingredients:
    • One whole, naturally found Ephemeral Fallen Wing
    • A small block of dried sandalwood
    • A handful of dried lavender blossoms
    • Three beads of frankincense resin
    • A marble mortar and pestle
  • Preparation: This preparation is a ritual of transference, not consumption. In a quiet, consecrated space, grind the sandalwood, lavender, and frankincense into a fine, homogenous powder using the marble mortar and pestle. Form the powder into a neat, flattened pile on a wooden tray. Take the Ephemeral Fallen Wing and hold it by its base. Do not let your skin touch the main, iridescent part of the wing. Gently, and with a mind full of respect for the creature’s passed life, brush the surface of the incense powder with the wing seven times. Do not break or crush the wing. Its purpose is to impart its essence, its memory of peace, into the incense base. Once the transference is complete, store the wing safely in a cedar box. The incense powder is now charged and can be burned to release its calming, sacred aroma.