DO Try This At Home...

I was attending the opening day of one of my local flea markets, strictly as a potential customer, and my favourite Tarot card reader/organic dry dog food maker was there..yes, it is an interesting combination of careers, but her little bags of doggie treats are proving quite popular...and I know, from personal experience, that she's a good card reader, too..
We were talking about local Farmer's Markets (she reads cards at mine) and selling venues, etc., when she mentioned something that I just had to share. Don't know if you all are aware of this, or if it's done in your area/State/Province/County/Country or not, but until today I was totally unaware.
I live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, as many of you know..it's the central part of the Island, called Cowichan, where I live, and sell in-online, of course, and the location of my weekly Duncan Farmer's Market.
My friend is sending me to the Cowichan Tourist Bureau, because they like to promote local businesses, especially colourful ones that tourists would enjoy, and the promos are FREE!!! Free..that is a biggie..they go to trade shows and give out your cards to those attending from the cruise industry, bus tours, travel agents, etc. etc. And my friend is sending tiny little doggie bag samples..
Pretty hard for me to afford that, but figured I could give them a couple of hats to display..also, they have a roll of 500 free stickers to use on your goods that say "Cowichan Made"..too cool!
This kind of literally International publicity would be impossible for me to afford in real life..but who needs reality when the Tourist Bureau is able and willing?
So, think about this for your own businesses - even online businesses that are locally owned and operated, are of great interest to most Tourism agencies..I think it's a fabulous idea, and hope some of you out there can benefit from it, too.

Had a Reading...

At a craft fair on Saturday, a benefit for youth at risk and sponsored by the locl WAV chapter here (Women Against Violence), I was selling my hats and neckwarmers. I had arranged the day before to have my Tarot cards read; I really liked the fact that the woman doing the readings had old worn cards, copies of the original deck from Medieval times..the real deal...and her demeanor was very open...
I am a bit cautious about the Tarot...I don't do it often, because it can be a very heavy experience emotionally...even good news carries its own burdens.  I had a very bad (read: mediocre) reading when I first came to the Island, and wanted to try a more simpatico reader, if I could find one...
This all took place just before the Fair opened, and I'm so happy I took the chance...
A proper reader asks no questions, and tells you the truth: the cards do not predict or tell the future, and the information you receive is something you already know, but perhaps are feeling unsure or unwilling to face...she had an interesting style of laying out the cards, and what the cards indicated was what I needed to hear. 

I won't bore any reader with details, but having your ideas and dreams fed back to you in  a form that makes sense in your universe is very comforting, even exhilarating...
So glad I did this, and, let's be honest, cheaper and more entertaining by far than a shrink....