East Bay Slimes

25% off - original price $20

BEAST OF THE BARRENS // You notice the unnatural absence of wildlife: no fish swim in the stream, no birds sing in the trees. The winged goat drinks with a forked tongue, only abstractly concerned with your presence. The ripples flow as far as you can see, never fading. You cup the water in your hands—ice-cold—and swallow, soothing the coarseness in your parched throat. Over the hill, a scorched one-room house lies abandoned, 2 of its walls in ruins. The goat rears up, front hooves curled, & stretches its wings out to their full breadth. It opens its mouth and wails, a protracted, shrill sound, indistinguishable from the cry of a human infant, only stopping when you retreat. The winged goat doesn't follow; instead, it snorts & lies down inside the burnt house, surrounded by portraits of a large family, glass frames stained brown from smoke.
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The Jersey Devil legend originated in the early 18th century when a New Jersey Pine Barrens resident, Mother Leeds, reportedly cursed her 13th child, who transformed into a creature with hooves, a goat's head, bat wings, & a forked tail. Residing in the misty wetlands, it's often heard emitting blood-curdling screams in the night. Some believe it to be a harbinger of doom, while others consider it a benign or even misunderstood creature, a protector of the lands. Some argue that the Leeds family's association with astrology & dissenting religious beliefs contributed to the negative depiction of the "Leeds Devil". Skeptics suggest the numerous reported sightings are hoaxes, yet the Devil remains a subject of fascination & intrigue.

In some ways, the legend reflects the land, which boasts unique plant life, including orchids & rare pygmy pitch pines that depend on the frequent fires of the Barrens to reproduce. The area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil made it an undesirable place for many; its residents -- outsiders, fugitives, poachers, moonshiners, & runaways -- were shunned as "pineys" by others. Despite being misunderstood, like the Jersey Devil, they continued to exist, living off of the land. Perhaps the Devil is a metaphor for the fear of the unknown, and the adaptability of nature.

🖐️ sand avalanche (6 oz coated pigmented clear sand slime + 2 oz thick & glossy slime)
👃 pine barrens, cedar swamp, cool water tinged with blood, charred wood, and an unsettling sharpness
+a plethora of charms to represent the horror and mystery of the jersey devil and decorate your own scene: snow-covered pine tree, realistic skull and worm, bat, spider, moon, fire, animal prints, rats, devils, bat glitters, red shards, and a tiny human