It may sounds strange – but one of the things I enjoy most about doing Tarot readings and Reiki healing work at events is – the setting up and the tearing down. It’s quite the process, as today at the Cincinnati Flea at the nearly – completed American Can building in Northside.
A huge open factory space at least 25 feet high, no heat, some light. Maybe 40 vendors, including food, coffee/tea and every kind of selling you can think of – and then some. We walk into this empty space at 9:30 or 10 a m, and by the 11 a m start time, there’s a little city, a village, with streets and walk ways and gathering spaces. Some few folk have learned where the bathrooms are, and that info will filter out to the rest of us over the next hour or so.
A lot of us are walking around looking at each other’s wares prior to outside folk starting to wander in – there was really no door, so there was no line waiting. Some of us have been to previous Fleas together, we’re all polite and helpful to one another – it’s really the nature of this collaborative short-term city-building project. We’re happy with what we’ve achieved, with what we all have brought to this good energy space.
The crowd was big and pretty continuous all day – no sudden drops in energy, as can occur occasionally. And then it was 6 p m, and time to tear down. We’re helping each other again as we pack up bags and boxes and push carts of various configurations, trundling all that we brought back to our cars. I did some Halloween, birthday and Christmas shopping, so I had even more to carry. By 6:40 p m, the city had disappeared, melting into the twilight.
It was a wonderful urban, creative and energetic space while it lasted. Thanks to Lindsay and Nick of The Cincinnati Flea for having the vision and persistence to call it into existence!