People from near and far gathered for a reading, healing and to browse what many local vendors had to offer at the First Spiritualist Church of Onset's fall Holistic Psychic Fair.

The fair was held Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Wareham-New Bedford Elks Lodge where tables of healers and readers filled one part of the lodge and local vendors offering a variety of craft goods and services filled the other.

Treasurer for the Church Larry Becker explained the fair has been going on for many years and serves as a way to connect people.

He added Onset has a long Spiritualist history having once been a popular spot for Spiritualists to gather and the Church has been active since 1903.

The fair, one of the biggest of its kind in the area, draws many people in from all over the world, Becker said.

"This church is actually pretty famous," said Becker. "We've got people from Scotland and England and even as far away as New Zealand to talk to us." 

Becker explained the fair serves as an important fundraiser for the Church but it also allows the Church to continue to strengthen its community by offering people a variety of goods and services that are beneficial to their health.

One of the services he mentioned was medium shifting. Becker said the church teaches people to be medium shifters, helping them connect with a loved one who has passed away. 

"People learn how to connect to their passed loved ones and they usually get a message from the people," said Becker.

Many local vendors set up shop at the fair and were selling items and offering services to help people in a variety of ways. One of these vendors was Roberta Rogers who was selling her hand-knitted hats and offered healings.

"I'm here to teach people how to raise their vibration and give them tools so they can eventually heal themselves," said Rogers.

Rogers added she worked as a nurse for 47 years and is using her knowledge of the body in conjunction with "sound and different vibrational things" to give people the tools they need to heal themselves.

"I'm trying to teach people how to use their energy," said Rogers. "I use crystal balls because we're made of salt and water and the crystal balls can get you to a higher vibration or it can find where you have blocks."