By Julie BUTCHER

Though Saturday, June 10 started out gloomy and drizzly a steady spirited stream showed up to attend the Metaphysical and Artisan Faire at the Center for Spiritual Living-La Crescenta at Dunsmore Avenue and Santa Carlotta street.

Booths lined all available spaces on the church grounds beginning with a vegan taco stand at the entrance to the Faire. Vendors displayed goods, clothing, jewelry, spiritual items, educational products of countless ilk representing “many various and differing modalities,” Lady Aquamarine, Irene Novac, explained between back-to-back tarot readings. Novac is also certified in the delivery of Reiki, a “healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can [reportedly] channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being.” The word Reiki comes from the Japanese, literally meaning “universal life energy.”

Along the church’s breezeway, in the “Tree Area,” in the sanctuary and Chaffee Hall, practitioners of metaphysics shared practical exhibits and offered their services, many at reduced or demonstration rates. Anthony Rodriguez Walking Crow, of the Hands2Health Wellness Center, was set up in the Church’s bookstore; he calls himself a “transformational energy healing practitioner and medicine man.” Rodriguez explained that metaphysical is “that which cannot be explained. It is transformative and healing, if you are open to it.” At the Faire, he offered “transformational energy and drum clearing and healings along with subtle energy body readings to learn how your emotions are related to the subtle energy points (chakras) in your body, and how you can change direction of your body, mind & spirit.” He grows his own sage for the smudge sticks he sells, noted the “crow medicine alchemist.”

Sifu (“master” or “teacher” in Mandarin) Alan Lamb teaches Wing Chun Kung-Fu, which he says is “the only martial arts ever developed by a woman,” along with Chi Gung Energy Healing and Chinese face-reading in his Glendale studio.

“It’s not about kicking – although Wing Chun offers the best striking techniques – it’s about developing exercises that prepare the body for any eventuality so that if you are attacked, your muscles are ready to respond,” explained Lamb.

He is a committed proponent of teaching self-defense, particularly for women, as a tool of empowerment and building self-confidence.

Jessica Miller is a master practitioner of Reiki with a focus on “teaching students the art of Reiki healing, but equally about empowering the individual students to believe in themselves, their ability to think about Reiki logically, and their ability to make positive change in the world.”

“Unlike most forms of holistic healing and medicine, Reiki is about both table sessions and giving individuals tools to make their lives, and the lives of the people around them, better in a myriad of ways,” Miller said. “My teaching style emphasizes professionalism; combined with a deep belief in the power of casu al, everyday Reiki to solve problems and transform lives.”

Miller spent the day offering spot Reiki “treatments” and delighting all with color-changing crystals as well as her books documenting the years she has spent studying in Japan.

Anahit is an artist who “channels” spirits into her paintings. Without any art training, she said, “The angels are teaching me how to paint.”

While the Just Buddha T-shirt stand did a brisk business selling shirts adorned with positive, inspirational messages, Mark McRae explained their motto, “To change the world, one shirt at a time.”

“When you wear the purple ‘Be Courage’ shirt to chemotherapy,” McRae said, “other people see it – we hear testimonials all the time about our shirts radiating love and support and change in the world. These shirts work like magic!”

Jennifer Phillips and Angel She-She were two of the psychics and mediums providing guidance and readings at the event.

Herbalists and alchemists; aromatherapists and astrologers; holistic health advocate Adrienne Wade from Seeds of Love; Rita Marshall from dōTerra International, selling essential oils and nutritional products – all added to the unique scent of the Faire air.

Diana Donaldson of Quantum Alternative Hope showed off her new biofeedback apparatus. Kären Bagnard’s “More than Mermaids” prints; Sally Hayes, an “intuitive bodyworker and Tibetan bowl sound healer”; Christine Phan of Cedar & Rose’s crystals and herbs fused with energy work; animal communicator Karen Muranko; life coach Jennifer Elizabeth Masters; and Himal Gurung and his line of Peace Nepal Garments were among the many metaphysical crafts and practitioners highlighted at the family- and animal-friendly event.

La Crescenta has been home to the Center for Spiritual Living community since just after World War II. The Church calls itself a “loving spiritual community that offers opportunity for personal growth and joyful self-expression. We are passionately dedicated to welcoming a diversity of people, activities and ideas. We open our hearts and minds to the expression of compassion and the experience of personal growth as we live and practice Science of Mind Principles.”

Services at the church start at 10 a.m. every Sunday, following a short meditation at
9:30 a.m., at 4845 Dunsmore Ave.

  Julie BUTCHER