SEEKONK -- Over 200 people attended the psychic fair held Sunday afternoon by the Circle of Salgion, Church of Wicca, which caters to witches.
In 1995 the the church became a legally recognized church in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a nonprofit organization.
Sunday’s event was run by the Rev. Cheryl Sulyma-Masson. "The Church’s foundation is an earth based religion who believes that everything in the universe is part of the Divine. We are part of the whole of the earth. God and Goddess are equal and we teach respect for each other as well as the earth," she explains.
Sulyma-Masson’s husband Dylan Masson is also involved in the church and has founded his own coven. It takes three years of work within the church to be considered to lead a coven.Such work entails many hours of volunteer work, such as in hospitals or counseling people in need.
Masson stated, "We are here raising money at this fair for a spiritual center. The land we are interested in has wetland and we do not want to disturb any partof nature. Part of our teachings is to be environmentally sound."
There are a number of traditions within the culture of wicca. Followers have a written curriculum and practice full-moon magic in which members form a circle to bring energy toward a desired goal by chanting, drumming, dancing or visualization of the desired outcome.
They also hold public meetings eight times a year at the American Legion Hall.They also honor their own special events that are only for members.
Part of Sunday’s fair focused ononesuchyearly celebration known as Beltane, which represents the marriage of God and Goddess as well as bringing fertility to the land.
Members gather around a maypole, which represent fertility and the joining of different worlds, and direct spells into it while they dance around it.
The fair also included a number of other interesting vendors. An auric photographer named Benu was photographing people with a special camera to capture a picture of the energy surrounding the body. He then gives a reading of the energy the person exudes.
Several items associated with the occult were offered for sale, including special candles incense, books on witchcraft, magical swords and wands
Rachel Moniz and Wendy Gervasi of Celestial Spirit wereon hand to give tarot card readings to the curious.
Moniz and Gervasi stated, "It is important forthe individual to be focused on a specific area for a good reading. Notnecessary but very helpful!"