By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The Laughlin Health Building on campus at Morehead State University hosted the first Mystic Market over the weekend. The market showcased vendors offering handcrafted jewelry, gemstones, and plants as well as services being offered such as tarot reading, psychic readings, and spiritual healing and well-being. Over 30 such vendors were present for the two-day event.
The Mystic Market was promoted by Lori McAllister, from Owingsville, who attended Morehead as an undergraduate. McAllister said that she had been making jewelry, tie dyed items, plantings, and other nature inspired creations and vending periodically over the last twenty years at similar events in the area. Over that time, she said, she’s noticed that a lot of local people are interested in creations that incorporate gemstones, but was surprised that there was not a store that catered to that market in the area.
“Those types of things and crystals especially have become really popular,” McAllister said. “So, I felt there was a need for something like this (the market) to be here. This is the first one, but we plan to do one twice a year, with the next one being in October.”
The October event, she said, would be held at the Carl Perkins Center due to plans for the Laughlin building to be torn down over the summer.
One of the vendors who set up a booth in the Morehead Mystic Market was Two Wolves Metaphysical Store, a business located on Main Street in Grayson, Kentucky. Madame Hania moved to the area from Clearwater, Florida about a year ago, she said, but she has family ties to the area. Hania, who does tarot readings at Two Wolves, said she became interested in the mystical side of life when she realized that so many people needed spiritual guidance.
“People have a lot of different beliefs,” she said. “But we all need to come together and realize that we all need to support one another spiritually. That’s why I do the tarot readings. I use the messages that I receive to offer that help and guidance.”
Hania said that she isn’t the stereotypical fortune teller, but rather tries to help people understand that it is okay to be who you are and to ask questions.
The Morehead Mystic Market and other events of its kind are enjoying a growing popularity, with larger events of the kind well established in larger cities such as Lexington and Cincinnati, Ohio. Many enjoy the spiritual side with psychic readings, where others simply take advantage of the less processed and more natural products like handmade soaps and essential oils. Then there are the handcrafted items that represent a more natural approach to life such as woven clothing items made with all organic materials.
McAllister said that the Morehead Mystic market has a Facebook page and other social media where anyone interested can stay up to date on upcoming events and the vendors that will be present. It is also a good way, she said, to connect with vendors through their own websites to find what interests you.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
