As we move into the splendor of May and June, my thoughts waft in the direction of spring planting. Pardon the metaphor, but Mad About Business is excited about having seeded readers' minds with lots of new ideas about business for Alaska. Please come by the Alaska Wellness Magazine booth at the Women's Fair to see what we as a community have sprouting. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you personally, to learn about your business. If you advertise in Alaska Wellness Magazine, your business could appear as a feature in this column. If not an advertiser, then why not? See you at the Fair. . .

THE MAGIC OF PALM READING

Last year, one of my young friends gifted me with a palm reading by Angela Wade. I was thrilled, not only because of my friend's thoughtfulness, but because this was a first for me. Years of study had never placed me in the proximity of a palm reader. I was aware that palmistry dated as far back as all the other metaphysical arts and, in recent history, was intimately associated with the Romani. Upon meeting Angela, I knew I was in the hands of a deeply gifted reader.

Palmistry helps people to make decisions. It gives them direction and provides instant answers to pressing questions. As no two hands are alike, neither is the same hand exactly as it was even six months previously. The hand is a mirror of the spiritual and physical DNA with which we are born. This mirror reflects not only our past and present, but also the immediate future. My reading was one of the most enlightening and practical I have ever received. In fact, I called Angela some weeks after the reading to compliment her on her accuracy.

Angela began her work in England. When she moved to the states, she was asked by a talent agent to provide "entertainment" for a party, and the rest is history. For years, Angela has been part of the Three Baron's Fair and other Renaissance events. Angela is available evenings and weekends for readings, parties, and fairs. You may reach Angela at 337-0945, her cell 223-3298, or wadefat@alaska.net.

COACHING FOR SUCCESS BY LAURA BAIN

I am amazed at the creativity that abounds in Alaska. If you want to develop a niche, have the vision and skill, the sky is the limit. Such is the case with Laura Bain, consultant, mediator, and coach extraordinaire. Her professional qualifications only begin with tenure at the Alaska Dispute Settlement Association, where she works to promote conflict resolution and mediation in the peacekeeping process. Laura is also trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and has a 22-year history in Alaska specializing in business, financial, and management consulting for start-up companies. Laura is also completing her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology!

Out of her experiences with metaphysics and business, Laura has developed a uniquely flexible program. She coaches her clients in personal life skills and business. She works one-on-one in an ongoing basis to help clients define personal goals, determine blocks to attaining those goals, and create plans to manifest those goals into reality. The beauty of all this is that once the plan is in place, Laura supports her clients all the way. Since her life and skills are continuously evolving, she brings her own rich experiences into the coaching process.

One of the most difficult situations any of us has is how to apply our spirituality to the job. Remember the co-worker or the boss who drives you crazy? Laura is eminently qualified to help with that. As part and parcel of her coaching, she emphasizes the spiritual nature of business and the opportunity for spiritual growth in that dynamic. She also coordinates a monthly group, Spirituality in Business and the Workplace, the goal of which is to explore topics germane to the application of spirituality on the job.

Laura is passionate in finding ways to promote growth, peace, and spirituality in our lives. She is a remarkable woman with a cutting-edge vision. Her joy in how she lives her life and her work are not lip service, for Laura walks in beauty. I found her to be warm, enthusiastic, and disarmingly charming.

You may reach Laura Bain at Solutions Consulting, Meditation Solutions, and Solutions Coaching, 243-3324, 441-9422, or lbain@gci.net.

If you are an Alaska Wellness Advertiser and would like to be featured in this column, please call Jan Carolyn Hardy at 248-5933 or contact her at NewRealities@alaska.com.