Dan's Papers -April 30, 2010 -Givin' You the Business

When Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls," in his pamphlet Common Sense back in the 1770s he could have been talking about today.

That was evident by the turnout of well over 400 people who journeyed out last Saturday to Montauk's Gurney's Inn Resort, Spa and Conference Center to attend the Second Annual "Psychic and Holistic Living Fair, " the brainchild of Phyllis Lomitola, Gurney's Conference Sales Director. With first hand experience with both psychics and the ideas of holistic living, she teamed with Neil and Andrea Garvey, Long Island Publishers of Creations Magazine, to produce the event.

A national phenomenon, the psychic world is one of the true growth industries in the United States, although there are no annual sales numbers yet due to the complexity of the small, one-person business model. Gurney's Conference Center held 40 tables, manned by representatives of national chains, local businesses and individual psychics. Massages were given on portable tables, exotic oils were marketed, tarot cards were read, and all manner of information about holistic living was handed out.

I stopped at the table of Kathleen Mulligan and Brit Martin, representatives of the SQ-Wellness-Rising Star Healing System, channeled by psychotherapist and healer Derek O'Neil, of Ireland. They were at the event to present the "healing symbol, Prema Agri."

At another table, Denise Cooke, a Registered Nurse/Licensed Massage Therapist explained her specialties of sports massage and trigger point therapy for athletes, musicians and active people. She also gave demonstrations of her skills. Representatives of the Crystal Reflection Store stood at the entrance, pitching five reasons to go on a Crystal Reflections Retreat at Lake Sabago, just outside Manhattan. Nearby was a table about the Emergence of Maitreya, the world teacher who will help you to "discover for yourself the spiritual meaning behind UFOs, flying saucers and crop circles, along with the absolute need to end war and poverty."

The East End Holistic Wellness Center of Riverhead showcased some of their therapies including permanent weight loss, anti-aging strategies, chelation therapy, herbal medicine, vitamin therapy, nutritional counseling as well as intravenous treatments. From Islip was psychic medium Katherine Mitchell promoting her forum "Enlightenment," in which attendees will "experience the tools to awaken the understanding and responsibilities to ourselves and others."

Then there was Jordan S. Walker, a licensed spiritual healer and health coach who experienced a miraculous transformational healing from a chronic degenerative condition that plagued him for more then a decade. He has discovered that he has abilities, one of which is to be able to transfer tremendous amounts of healing energies into people, even over long distances. He provides in-person and long distance "Transformational Spiritual Healing Sessions."

A very busy table was that of psychic medium and author Cindi Sansone-Braff, voted Long Island's Leading Psychic (with John Edwards) by a leading Long Island publication. In addition to her famous tarot card readings, she sold her ultimate relationship book Grant Me a Higher Love, which has already sold 8,000 copies.

Lorraine Recchia touted her "intuitive" angel-readings skills. She builds relationships based on information she channels through "our angels, while focusing on personal empowerment." "Angels are pure light of unconditional love, and along with you, they create miracles," she said.

In practice since 1987 and presenting at the fair was Montauk's own Elizabeth Willoughby of Planetary Reflexology, specializing in feet-hands-ears. Nearby was the table of Melissa Mahoney (also of Montauk) presenting unique jewelry designs of her business Zoe Jade & Co.

Positive energy filled the room during this event. On the finest of Spring days, a steady crowd circulated through the conference room, smiling even as they paid the $5 entry fee. Phyllis Lomitola called the event, "a growing, total success."