Steampunk-newbie vendor offers festival-goers a chance to reflect

“Steampunk Festival-goers are open-minded, non-mainstream people who are willing to try something new,” observed Marie Gray, a reiki and integrated energy therapy practitioner, “and that’s why I’m offering mini sessions to them at the festival this year.”

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Steampunk-newbie vendor offers festival-goers a chance to reflect BY KAREN ENGDAHL, The ShopperAugust 30, 2017 SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – “Steampunk Festival-goers are open-minded, non-mainstream people who are willing to try something new,” observed Marie Gray, a reiki and integrated energy therapy practitioner, “and that’s why I’m offering mini sessions to them at the festival this year.” Gray, a first-time Steampunk vendor, said she is new to Steampunk and was drawn to it by the creative energy she observed. “I needed to take a leap,” she said, “and healing is a great way to meet people.” Steampunk Steampunk vendor, Marie Gray, reads the cards. Photo by Karen Engdahl “I probably won’t be wearing a corset and a top hat, though,” Gray laughed. “I’ll have a cozy space, like someone’s living room, where people can get a 20-minute mini-reiki or mini-integrated energy session [a small fee]. It will be a place for a relaxing, rejuvenating break during the festival.” Gray, who has recently completed training and certification in reiki and IET has a practice based in her Springfield home. “Both reiki and IET are tools for healing,” she said. “Both are helpful in finding your life’s purpose. I think Steampunk people are already headed that way—they’re doing things that make them happy. So many people just go through the motions in life and don’t find what really makes them happy.” IET practice is based on the premise that feelings and sensations are stored in the cells of the body much like facts are stored in the cells of the brain. Negative or traumatic experiences, stress, unexpressed emotion, fear, anger, resentment or self-limiting beliefs can become stuck or suppressed in the body and inhibit or disrupt the life force at a cellular level. As these blocks are cleared, the energy field is re-balanced. Reiki, a form of alternative medicine developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui, has been adapted into varying cultural traditions across the world. Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which a “universal energy” is transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the patient in order to encourage emotional or physical healing. In addition to mini-reiki and IET, Gray is offering goddess cards readings at the Steampunk Festival as well. Gray will do a three-card reading similar to a Tarot reading for a fee. “Reading the cards for someone makes me happy right down to my bones,” she smiled. “People get so excited when something comes into focus with the cards.” For more information about the Festival, visit the website springfieldvtsteampunkfest.com.