The Witchy Bibliophile: My Story
Alistair Smith (They/Fae) is a queer disabled small business owner living in Southeast Kansas (SEK). Fae is an enneagram one with a two wing. They are the founder of Q Space - a local not for profit and community of support for LGBTQIAP+ people in SEK and have recently started The Witchy Bibliophile, where they upcycles, forages, and grows witchy items for your magical needs. Alistair is your go to eclectic green witch and aspiring herbalist.
“If I’m not digestible to you, you can choke.”
Alistair started making bookmarks out of tarot cards in January of 2021 after their rescue dog, Zoe, ate part of their tarot deck. They wanted to do something creative with the leftover cards and being a self-proclaimed bibliophile, fae decided to make bookmarks. After sharing with friends and on social media, they realized people actually wanted tarot bookmarks too. Thus, the Witchy Bibliophile was born.
The year 2020 brought many challenges for individuals and the world, but it also brought many opportunities for introspection and growth. In 2020 they began cultivating faer love for plants which led to gardening, hiking, and foraging.
Ethical foraging is a large part of Alistair’s creation process. When the earth offers some extra magic, they add that to each of her products. From herbs for bath soaks to shells and rocks for spell jars to pine cones to infuse with cinnamon - the earth has much to offer if we ask.
2020 was also the year that Alistair began exploring their spirituality through witchcraft. Connecting with the earth and their own intuition gave them a sense of peace and harmony, but also confidence in their own power. Fae practices through ritual, spells, and meditation.
Alistair has been making most of their own personal care products since 2015. There was a time they made pretty much everything from makeup to shampoo. They realized through experimentation what works well and what doesn’t and what they should leave to other people who do it better. You can find homemade bath soaks, lip balm, sugar scrubs, and massage oils in the shop section.
What People Are Saying
“Lovely bookmark — just as I expected. Thanks so much!”
“Came in beautifully packaged, in a timely manner, and completely intact.”
“I subscribe to a monthly box of magic from this lovely person. Differences from other subscriptions I have had— feels homey, local, surprising. Careful, lovely details. Artful. Some of my fave things— Breathe Chest Rub (intoxicating scent, like a kiss from Nature); beautiful tarot bookmarks (double meaning to “reading”); local little gifts from the planet. I’m a fan!’
“Love! The cards chosen for me were SO spot on, I gasped when I opened the envelope. Thank you so much!”
“Arrived at just the right time and could not have been more perfectly selected. Thank you so much! Have already recommended to my friends!”
“While my tarot card bookmark purchase was small, it was made with love and shipped with care. Highly recommend.”
“Buy the lip balm! I have the lavender in each purse, by my bedside table, in my lunchbox and in both cars. You don't want to be without it. It's healing properties are amazing. I have trouble with chapped lips when I hike and it is a must have. It has helped heal up cold sores as well. The grapefruit lip balm has a wonderful citrus scent. You could use if for your lips or just to have around for aromatherapy!”
“Love this !!!! It is definitely an amazing product. Will be buying more !!”
“The Soul Soothing Sugar Scrub is amazing! I have very dry skin, and many sugar scrubs make my skin drier after use. This one is so moisturizing that I don’t have to put lotion on after my shower or bath. My skin feels so smooth and soft after using it. Best sugar scrub I’ve ever used!”
“The color coordination is perfect. I'm tempted to buy all the bookmarks.”
“I have endometriosis and Ali whipped up a Bloody Good bath soak for me during a particularly bad flare up. It was incredible that for the hour I sat in the bath, it’s like my symptoms took a pause. It’s one of the only things that’s ever provided me relief. Every time I am reaching my limit with a flare up I use some in a bath and the relief is delightful.”
“Ali is so thoughtful with every product. I cannot stop purchasing bookmarks and their chapstick is my absolute favorite. I always know I’m going to get not just a quality product but also something made with intention and care.”
The Witchy Bibliophile is a proud member of the following organizations
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Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce
We are a community of members that create, identify, and enhance business opportunities for LGBTQ+ and allied organizations through advocacy, promotion, and facilitation of the success of the LGBTQ+ business community and our allies to foster a more inclusive and vibrant economy in Kansas City and across the Mid-America region.
Our guiding principles are equality, inclusion, economics, and education.
https://www.midamericalgbt.org/
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The American Herbalist Guild
The American Herbalists Guild promotes clinical herbalism as a viable profession rooted in ethics, competency, diversity, and freedom of practice. The American Herbalists Guild supports access to herbal medicine for all and advocates excellence in herbal education.
The American Herbalists Guild envisions a world where herbal medicine is accessible to all as a core component of health care. We envision a culture of vocational empowerment for aspiring and practicing clinical herbalists, as well as other members of the herbal profession including educators, herbal product makers, herbal business owners, growers, wildcrafters, and formulators.
https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/
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Indie Business Network
Launched in 2000 by attorney, author, award-winning home-based business advocate, and Certified Entrepreneur Mentor Donna Maria, the Indie Business Network provides entrepreneurial training and coaching to American Makers and Creative Entrepreneurs.
We Empower American Makers. Period.
The Indie Business Network was founded to help you build an online audience of customers and clients who will buy from you over and over again.
Our #1 priority is to help you leverage the amazing products you created to build a buying target audience, a loyal community of fans, and a brand that will serve as the platform for a lifetime of sales opportunities.
https://indiebusinessnetwork.com/
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United Plant Savers
United Plant Savers’ mission is to protect native medicinal plants, fungi, and their habitats while ensuring renewable populations for use by generations to come.
Medicinal species are readily available and are harvested and cultivated with practices that protect native plants, fungi, and their habitats and that embody the principles of reciprocity, right livelihood, and biocultural diversity.
The work of United Plant Savers involves research, education, and conservation of native medicinal plants and their habitats. We hope that you will join us in this worthwhile and important mission. UpS is a 501 (C)3 non-profit organization.
https://unitedplantsavers.org/
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Pittsburg Area Young Professionals
Pittsburg Area Young Professionals is designed to engage an emerging group of leaders committed to personal growth and career development while serving Pittsburg and the surrounding area.
The Pittsburg Area Young Professionals are open to employees, business owners, entrepreneurs and any others between the ages of 21-55, who want to expand their professional growth, meet new people and enhance the community through their volunteer efforts.
https://pittsburgareayp.net/
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Kansas Native Plant Society
KNPS encourages awareness and appreciation of the native plants of Kansas in their habitats and in our landscapes by promoting education, stewardship, and scientific knowledge.
We are botanists, naturalists, gardeners, landscapers, farmers, ranchers, students, horticulturists, and more.
We are people with a passion for the native plants found in our Kansas landscapes.