History shows us how, in times of trial and crisis, more people turn to seers and prophets for hope, guidance and reassurance – so one business that looks set to ride out the recession is the psychic fair.

A case in point is Glastonbury's monthly Mystic and Earth Spirit Fayre, run by Graham Robertson for eight years now, who doesn't expect the slump to hit his business in any shape or form.

He's having a busy start to the year – next week's fair at the Assembly Rooms, on Saturday and Sunday, January 31 and February 1, and marking the Celtic Imbolc festival, is fully booked with readers, speakers and stallholders. And he will be holding two or three-day fairs every month in 2009.

"All this economic doom and gloom that's being predicted at the moment – it doesn't affect our business at all," an optimistic Graham told me.

"In fact, it's quite likely to have the opposite effect. People nowadays tend to look for alternatives, whether it be psychic readings, health, fitness or way of life.

"People are looking for answers. Sometimes you have to stop what you're doing, or a way of life that you're leading, to say: 'There must be something better than this!' It's also a time for quite deep reflection."

In any case, traditionally, January is a good month for psychic fairs, equalled only by August Bank Holiday weekends.

This is because many people have put a stressful Christmas behind them and see the new year as the chance for a fresh start.

Among the speakers at next week's fair are astrologers Steve Judd, from Bath, and Lee Petulengro, clairvoyants Julie Cooke, pictured left, and Tracy Poskitt, Somerset medium Hayley Rogers, Devon mystic Mark Lepus and Glastonbury's Peter Woods on past-life regression and ancient Atlantis.

■ Daily entry to the fair is only £1, with £5 for a day pass, or £9 for a weekend pass, to all workshops and talks. For full details, visit www.glastonburyfayres.co.uk