Among the rolling scents of incense, psychics handed out fortunes while a masseuse performed foot massages at Beads N Botanicals.
On Saturday, the local artisan shop, located at 117 North Broadway Ave. in Urbana, hosted one of many psychic and health fairs where the public is invited to consult a psychic reader or get pampered by a masseuse. A 15-minute session cost $20 with either the psychic or masseuse, and owner Catherine Novak said the turnout was better than ever for the shop.
“We’ve had very good fairs, and this one was better (in turnout) than in March,” Novak said.
Among the psychics, there was Ian Phanes, a stone reader who attains spiritual messages and advice by analyzing the placement of stones.
Phanes tells the inquirer to ask a question in his or her mind while raking through a bag of special stones. The inquirer is asked to pull out stones that feel right and throw them onto a nearby table. From there, Phanes reaches various conclusions based on which stones are chosen and where they end up, with each result having a special meaning.
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He said it is a different approach to psychic readings and leans toward giving advice rather than telling the future.
“It’s a form of spiritual counseling,” Phanes said. “I can be an effective channel for people.”
He added the reading not only consults spiritual matters but emotional and physical issues as well.
Jackie Hickman, tarot card reader, said things had gotten emotional throughout the day.
For example, she said she was able to contact an inquirer’s deceased relative.
“Everybody has been thrilled with the readings,” she said. “It’s a clarification process more than anything.”
Carole Reitz, area resident and customer at the shop, also felt the readings act more to clarify the way things are than to predict future events.
“I like the readings because it gives me a little bit of insight of what I should be doing at the moment,” Reitz said.
Along with the readings, Marlita Hasbargen performed foot massages in the shop.
She said her practice allows energy to start flowing throughout the body.
Besides the fair, Hasbargen comes to the shop four times a month to perform massages and teach classes on spiritual well-being.
Novak said another fair will be held at the shop around September or October.
A similar event called “Beach Party Fridays” will be held on the third Friday of June, July and August.
