{"id":516,"date":"2009-05-04T15:52:14","date_gmt":"2009-05-04T19:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=516"},"modified":"2009-05-04T15:52:14","modified_gmt":"2009-05-04T19:52:14","slug":"oneonta-spiritual-arts-fair-the-aftermath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=516","title":{"rendered":"Oneonta Spiritual Arts Fair: The Aftermath"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you all know, this past Saturday I attended the 5th Annual Spiritual Arts Fair in Oneonta, NY.<\/p>\n

When we arrived, we paid our $3 per person entrance fee and got our hands stamped so we could come and go. Once inside I made a beeline for the primary reason I wanted to make the trip.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>And I found her, Llewellyn author Deborah Blake<\/a>. She had a small table set up where she was selling, and signing, her books, including her latest \u201cThe Goddess is in the Details\u201d. She was also doing mini-Tarot readings and had a small selection of the jewelry she makes on display. It was so wonderful to meet the author. What can I say? If you read her books, you really do know her. She is just as warm, friendly, and funny as her writing. I was as happy as a fan girl to buy a copy of \u201cThe Goddess is in the Details\u201d and have her sign it to me!<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>While Jim was taking pictures of us, Barbara Ellen from AURA\u2019 bout You!<\/a> asked if he would mind taking some pictures of her set up. In return, she took an energy field photo of me and interpreted the results. She was pleasantly surprised to learn that not only would I email her the photos Jim took, but that I ran a website and would be writing about all of this! Barbara was such an entertaining lady. From my photo she told me I was friendly, open, social, that I have bright ideas, and that I\u2019m optimistic. This is just hitting the high points; she gave me a complete form detailing my results and how they were interpreted. Barbara also mentioned she does hand readings based off your fingerprints, which sounded interesting. Although I hate seeing photos of myself, I am happy to have such a unique souvenir from the event.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>The room was packed with vendors and after a very short period, we found our arms filled with goodies. It was then we decided to make a trip to the car and unload our loot and take a long look at the workshop schedule to see what all we wanted to do.<\/p>\n

This took some real time and consideration because there were over twenty workshops taking place! So many that I couldn\u2019t even consider seeing any of the 13 readers and\/or healers working at the event. After some time a battle plan was made and a schedule was set. Then, the afternoon took an unexpected turn.<\/p>\n

With the difficult workshop decisions made, we went out for lunch. It was while leaving the restaurant that Jim realized the car keys were not in any of his pockets. Yep, upon walking back to our car we could easily see our keys sitting in the cup holder with all our doors securely locked.<\/p>\n

First off, my insurance company offers 24-hour roadside assistance for just such occasions. If only I didn\u2019t have all that information in the glove compartment! Next, the nice folks at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta<\/a> (the location of the Fair) let us have a wire coat hanger to mangle and shove into our car in an attempt to press the unlock button. That wasn\u2019t working. I then went back into the Fair and cried to Deborah Blake who sprung into action and started grabbing people associated with the event and asking, \u201cDo you know how to break into a car?\u201d Everyone can rest easy knowing that the Spiritual Arts Fair community is lacking a criminal element. However, Deborah directed me to Andrew, the spouse of the henna artist at the Fair, who said he had some tools and would take a look.<\/p>\n

With Andrew\u2019s assistance, and odd assortment of tools, including brake line, we got into our car. Jim isn\u2019t a hugging sort of guy, but I think he was sorely tempted to give this fellow a big ol\u2019 bear hug. After double-checking with him that his wife was the henna artist, Jim and I decided it was time for me to get my first henna tattoo.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>We went to Jessica Halter\u2019s, better known as The Henna Lady, table to tell her of our success thanks to her husband. I then went about selecting an image to be put on my hand with henna. Moments later I had a beautiful flower design on my hand for only $5! Jim offered her a twenty-dollar bill, and she went to give us change. We then asked if she was sure<\/em> it was only $5, I mean her husband saved us, and she was quite certain it was only $5. What a classy lady! I love my henna tattoo! On a side note, I want to say how impressed I am that not only is she a skilled artist and a kind soul, but she is insured. Insured! How responsible and professional! I have told my husband that I want to have a party where she gives everyone henna body art!<\/p>\n

I finished getting my tattoo just in time to make it to the first workshop I wanted to attend, which was the Shadow Chasers Paranormal Investigators and Research. Immediately following that it was a discussion of Hindu Astrology with Philip Hosely. Right after that, it was Zen Mediation with a representative of The Three Treasures Zen Center of Oneonta! I told you there were many workshops! Jim and I agree that the Zen Meditation workshop was the best of the three we attended. Oddly, it had the smallest turn out. If you were at the Fair and didn\u2019t go to the Zen Meditation workshop, you missed out.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a>After all of that we said our good-byes to Deborah Blake and Jessica Halter, expressing again that her husband kicks ass, and made the drive home. Exhausted we grabbed some take out and crashed. It was a good day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"