I needed a get-away, but I didn’t have the time (or budget) for a full out international trip. After a little research, I decided to stay home and visit a place that was nearby – Sedona. For years I’ve heard stories about the amazing healing properties of this small town in the heart of Arizona. I was curious and wanted to learn more.
I learned, in fact, that Sedona is renowned for its vortexes. These are areas of intense energy, and are acclaimed for their properties that guide mediation, prayer and healing. They were termed the “vortexes” in the 1980s but the area has been held in high esteem for much longer.
Sedona has always been a sacred place; Native Americans have been performing their traditional ceremonies there as far back as they go. There are two heritage sites that are great to visit, and are believed to be the dwellings of the ancestors of the Hopi Tribe. I recommend visiting Palatki and Honanki where you can tour around the fragile remains of these ancient residences and see the pictographs scattered across the rock walls.
I spent a week in Sedona in total. I started my week with a Sedona Jeep Tour to get a feel for the land and overall topography. It was such fun! The tour group operates with pink Jeeps and the tour I went on took me to the outback of the area and we got to stop and explore ancient ruins. It was absolutely fantastic. Our tour guide was a genius about the area’s geology and history. He filled us in on all of the stories and local lore we could dream of, and then more.
For the rest of the week, I hiked around the red landscape; it’s a hiker’s mecca. There are well over 100 hiking paths and a number of vortexes to experience along the way. We stopped at some of the better-known spots including the Airport Mesa (stunning views all around us), Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock (an impressive tower of sandstone with two spires on top), and the Sedona Vortex (one of the more powerful spots to take in the earth’s energy).
I also spend a good couple of days strolling around uptown Sedona. There are some really great restaurants and I loved visiting all of the local galleries and shops. The fact that the area is so well known for its spiritual energy, it has attracted a significant community of artists. In fact, the Sedona Art Center began as a small, rather insignificant Gallery to an place that artists travel to to work, teach and exhibit their work. And it’s grown its presence so much, in fact, that it has gained international acclaim as a representative of Southwestern art.
Carol has enjoyed a lifetime of travel experiences, both as a solo traveler and with groups. She currently writes about her travels with YMT Vacations.
Leave a Reply