This site likes frames
Tapping into the Spirit
ABOVE the expected scent of
incense sticks and sound of mellow pan pipe music is a curious
sound - a buzzing, rather like an electric razor.It comes from
behind a stand selling books with titles such as 'Free
Yourself' and 'Telling the Difference Between Love and Addiction'.
Barnsley Metrodome's sports hall has become a forum for healers
both spiritual and physical of every persuasion imaginable. There
are almost 100 stands.A woman in a wheelchair next to me buys a
crystal. The vendor tells her it is for "arthritis and
sleeping".I follow the buzzing again. It leads to a woman on
a couch below a sign advertising Sue O'Grady Permanent Cosmetics.A
woman in a white therapist's gown is holding a tattoo pen. A young
family of three are among bemused onlookers.As the therapist
approaches the horizontal client, the young wife winces and turns
away. Her son asks what the lady is doing. The husband merely
watches.
The client on the couch does not flinch as a dark line is etched
on her lower eyelid.Being of a squeamish nature myself, I
investigate a perspex 'Tardis' with flashing thermometer. It turns
out to be an aromatherapy steam tub.In the corner one particular
stall is causing a lot of interest. On it photographs of visitors
are displayed, each cloaked in a halo of bright pink, orange or
red. This, it turns out, is Aura Photography.Customers sit in
front of a box-type camera and place each hand on metal finger
plates (to pick up the vibration of the soul through a reading of
magnetic energy from the acupuncture points). They then receive an
analysis of the instant photo for £15, £20 or £25. A computer
is used for the better paying customers.I listen in to the
diagnoses of three women. Woman one has a lot of "dark around
the head" and "fog", says Aura Photographer Joya
Sarkar from Co
Durham in a thick foreign accent. She is told to nurture herself.
Woman two needs some repair work - her aura is green and dark on
the right, red on the left. "White and violet are more the
colours we want to get into," explains Joya. Dianne Bentley,
from Sheffield, fares better with a large aura showing
all the colours of the spectrum - "quite
unusual.""I've seen this on telly but I've never had it
done before," says Dianne. "I've never had my fortune
told or anything like that. I decided to go for
this because it's not harmful. I did it out of curiosity more than
anything. I hoped mine would be a good colour - and I'm glad it's
purple because I like purple."Around the hall people are
lying on the floor or on couches having hands applied, heads
massaged or even lighted candles in their ears. They seem
oblivious to the crowds filing past.Therapist Karen Jane, from
Barnsley, explains the principles of ear candles.
"Candles are an ancient therapy of the Hopi Indians - the
oldest settlement of Indians in America. The candles consist of
cotton - they should be flax but flax is hard to get hold of - and
are still made to a traditional recipe of herbs."The method
is used for loosening ear wax and relieving sinusitis, migraine
and tinnitus, she adds. Smoke travels down the auditory canal and
comes back up the candle bringing wax with it. "Sounds
disgusting," Karen admits. "You can hear the crackling
of the candle burning. It's an unusual sensation but not
unpleasant."Angela Johnson is a Zen Tarot reader. The
difference between a Zen reader and your average Tarot card reader
is that the cards are based on Buddhist
visions and teachings, she explains. A medium who "came"
into spiritualism at the age of 13, Angela, from Wakefield,
doesn't give people bad news. "I ask the spirit to be
positive."Client Cara Mallinson, 30, from Barnsley, has had a
Tarot reading previously. "This one was very different. The
last one was two years ago and things were different then. I came
to the fair because I wanted another reading. It's
answered some questions."I pass a stall with some
tempting-looking fruit cake and accept a sample.
This is the famous Linda Kearns Cake packed with natural
phyto-oestrogens to help menopausal women. It comes in raisin,
tropical, cherry, cranberry and date and walnut varieties - and
tastes delicious."It's good for PMT, too," says Andrea
Widdowson, from Fosters bakery in Barnsley. "We've had a lot
of men trying it because it reduces cholesterol.""And it
puts a spring in their step," adds her colleague with a
twinkle in her eye."A lot of men send their wives to buy some
for them."Reiki, reflexology, crystal therapy, iridology, Tai
Chi, Shiatsu, Feng Shui... there are many more unexplored
stalls.The fair is a first for Marie Platts, from Sheffield, who
has been organising
antiques fairs since 1989. "This has been much harder
work," she says. "It's difficult finding vendors because
there are many more antique dealers than there are therapists. You
have to look around to get the right sort of
people.""I'm learning from today myself," she adds.
"There are therapies here I've
never heard of - but they've been around for centuries."She
has had Indian head massage and Shiatsu in the past. Is she going
to try anything new today? She laughs. "I've got far too much
to do." She breaks off to collect yet more entrance
fees.lAnother fair is being held at the Barnsley Metrodome on
March 16 and 17.lPictured, from left, Aurora Treatment specialist
Jane McCann with patient
Julie Evans; Zen Tarot reader Angela Johnson; and Aura
Photographer Joya Sarkhar, right, with Alison Crossland.
|
|
