Festival takes on a spiritual aura

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Renee Fite

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October 6, 2008

By RENEE FITE The Tahlequah Daily Press Mon Oct 06, 2008, 09:38 AM CDT

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Nancy James sees alternative medicine as a spiritual calling.

James, a registered nurse for 29 years, sees the advantages of natural healing. She makes and sells natural soaps and essential oils, and has Clear Creek Wellness Center in Hulbert.

“It’s easier on people, makes them feel better and is less invasive,” James said.

The four essential oils she blends can work as an insect repellent, for anti-aging, eczema and rheumatism/joint pain. When she started making soaps, she gave them to family members to try out. After a couple of weeks, one woman’s eczema she’d had for years was healed.

“I’ve always been interested in healing and helping people,” she said.

James was among several participants at the Festival of Spirit and Art, held Saturday and Sunday at the Cherokee County Community Building. Herbal soaps, hand-painted silk scarves, jewelry, paintings, puppies, kaftans and crystals were among the available items.

The more unique opportunities included healing disciplines like spiritual massage, palm reading, tarot card reading, BioTherapy and psychic energy cleansing.

Lucid Dreaming sponsored the event, and Leith Haines said it came about from a desire to do a fundraiser.

“Sometimes there’s not enough to do in town, unlike today,” Haines said.

So she wondered, how do you market Tahlequah?

“We have artists and an interest in spirituality, so we thought we’d put them together,” she said. “The funds help charities and we’ve adopted dogs, so we’ve done something good and are having fun.”

Brandy Evans came to the festival to talk with the Humane Society of Cherokee County about doing volunteer work.

“There’s some beautiful jewelry here; you don’t see much talent like this at all the craft fairs,” Evans said. “The clothing is very unique and the belly dancers really have some talent.”

Adorable pooches were walked and toted around the fair, hoping to catch the eye and heart of a potential owner. Three were adopted by the afternoon.

Cousins Cathy Leigh Lamb and Kimberly Towry shared a booth for their jewelry and silk scarves.

“It’s functional, wearable art,” Lamb said of her hand-painted silk scarves. “It combines my love of printmaking with water color.”

Irises, dragons, peacock feathers and the Illinois River adorn the soft and pretty accessories, along with little blessings, quotes and scriptures.

Towry learned beadmaking from her mother, Judy, who travels the world buying individual beads.

“She’s from Maryland, and my parents met here at college,” she said, laughing. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for NSU.”

Both Towry had fine-beaded jewelry available for sale.

“It’s a great way to spend time when not at our booth, and it’s for good causes,” Towry said.

As the cousins headed toward the silent auction items, Lamb added, “it’s an interesting combination of different groups and causes.”

Belly dancers Clara (Robinson) Corn and Traci Clark entertained many of the visitors who watched their smooth swaying motions, accompanied by a drum beat or recorded music.

Corn also had wands covered in fabric, coins and shells; jewels representing air, fire, water and earth colors and energy; and hand-painted shoes.

Lessons and performances can be scheduled from Corn at shimmering_shimmy@yahoo.com.

Debbie Duvall came to show her support for her friends at Lucid Dreams and sell her baskets, husband Murv Jacobs’ paintings and Frankoma plates and the couple’s books.

“The people here are really interesting and different,” Duvall said. “This is great.”

The Festival of Spirit and Art continues today at the Community Building.

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