Sedona Story

By Jo Garner

My first visit to Sedona Mago Retreat was an experience I shall never forget. After many years in the corporate world in which I led organizational cultural change with much confidence and success, I chose to focus on my own cultural change. My body, emotions and spirit were all compromised and I was unclear about the direction for my life. I started practicing Dahn Yoga and was intrigued by a training that was offered at Sedona Mago Retreat called Healer School. I thought I wanted to heal others, so I decided to attend.

As I drove down through Oak Creek Canyon, the beauty of the Sedona area was almost overwhelming. I suddenly felt very emotional about my decision to attend Healer School. I had a lot of fears about my ability pop up that were very unsettling.

I was driving alone and had much time for my active mind to question my decision. I remember turning onto the gravel road that leads into the retreat center and called my husband. As soon as I heard his voice I started crying uncontrollably. I had to pull off to the side of the road and I sat there, listening to the encouraging words of my husband conflicting with the doubt of my own perception of myself.

After a 7 hour drive, I was ready to turn around and go back home. Suddenly, a calm came over me and I was able to continue my journey into the retreat center. When I arrived and looked around, I found my doubt creeping back in and wondered how I would be able to stay in that place for a whole week.

Each day of the training was a new level of understanding for me about who I was and how to heal myself. I learned to care for myself first and then to take what I had learned and share with others.

By the end of the week, when it was time to return home, more tears came. This time the sadness was about leaving this refuge in the middle of the Sedona and the healing power that prevails there. I was aware of a greatness and a power that made me feel one with all of earth’s citizens.

My transformation in this short week was to one who can tap into the power of the universe for healing of self and others. My path since then has been to continue to grow the ability to tap into this universal power and share it with others. Sedona holds a special rebirthing time for me; I hope you get to experience the same.

By Yelena Krasnov

The first time I visited Sedona was in the summer of 2004. After I finished attending Dahn Yoga Healer School at Sedona Mago Retreat, I had an extra day to spend in Arizona and decided to visit Sedona. I had heard many good things about it and could not wait to visit.

Three other people joined me on this trip and we met the night before to plan our journey using maps and a tour guide. It was very hot and we decided to take the hike that went by a creek, but for some reason, when we actually got to Sedona, we went on a long drive to see ancient rock drawings.

When we finally got to our destination, a small trail took us to a steep cliff with little drawings that entertained me for only 5 minutes. After looking at the cliff drawings I was standing to the side while my friend was discussing the drawings with a Park Ranger. It turned out they were not discussing the drawings, but the Ranger was interested in me. When he asked my friend who I was she responded that I am a healer. The ranger was very interested and told her that he has had many dreams where a woman who looks just like me comes and heals him.

When they came over my friend told me the Ranger has had a back problem since childhood and that I should try to heal his crooked back. I was not happy that we wasted our free day looking at little drawings on a wall and on top of it I did not want to heal this man’s back on some tiny trail surrounded by thick bushes. Everyone was waiting for me to try to heal this Ranger so I decided to try.

The Ranger kept telling me more and more about the issue with his back and the more he told me the less I knew what to do. I decided to put one hand on his chest and one on his back not knowing what to expect. Suddenly I felt his bones soften under my touch and I started to slowly push on his back. His back began to straighten as if it was made of clay and after a few minutes the Ranger was standing straight up.

Everyone was mesmerized by what had just happened and they were just staring at us in awe. At this point I remembered what someone had told me earlier, “When people who do not believe in God come to Sedona they begin to believe.”

On our way back, everyone realized that our journey to Sedona had nothing to do with looking at cliff drawings. Its purpose was for me to heal this man’s body.

By Lilie Gjelaj

I was in Sedona on June 17, 2011 for the weekend for a meditation tour. Before heading to Sedona Mago Retreat Center, we stopped at Sedona’s Chapel of the Holy Cross. I sat inside the chapel to meditate when I was immersed in a grateful energy. My whole body and being experienced a gratefulness beyond words. I felt the whole of the Earth’s gratefulness to heaven and its love for humanity. It was so powerful that tears ran down my face as images of my husband, son, father, and family flashed through my mind as if to help me feel the intenseness of heaven’s relationship to earth and the love that abounds all of humanity if we would just open up our hearts to allow it to flow through us. Even the memory of it still brings tears to my eyes and aligns me with those same powerful energies I felt while inside that chapel. Definitely a wonderful place to visit to help feel grounded and loved!

By Barbarita de Jesus Tomaszewska

The mystical beauty of Sedona is a luminous place to be for any celebration. There I feel a harmony and spiritual connection with God and with nature. I always enjoy going to Sedona, a place I visit often throughout the year. There are four beautiful seasons experienced in Sedona; each highlighted by the radiating appearance of its own beauty. Summertime brings sunshine that illuminates the deep blue sky. In the winter I saw Sedona with the exquisite snow on the red rocks, draping the trees like a wedding dress worn by a new bride. Spring blooms from winter, blanketing the fields with wildflowers. In the fall the leaves change to orange and yellow, the color of gold. During the rainy monsoon season I witnessed vibrant rainbows arching across the beautiful skies of Sedona.

Sedona’s main attraction is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks, for which she is famous. The formations of colorful layers of rocks appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop for everything from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails. The famous rocks: Bell Rock, Thunder Mountain, Coffee Pot, Sugar Loaf Hill and Cathedral Rock are transcendental. Through the year, people from around the world come to celebrate their honeymoons and much more. This is evident by just walking through the streets of Sedona. One can hear a variety of languages#mdash;too many to count. Sedona is also a haven for artists and art lovers. All the colors of Sedona inspire the art that fills the walls of the many local galleries. Everybody seems happy and glowing because of the majestic beauty of Sedona. Likewise, Sedona is a wonderful place for growing a spiritual and personal relationship with God. His presence is felt wherever you go. As someone said: “God created the Grand Canyon, but He lives in Sedona.” For these reasons, I would like to live there too. The bright side is that I’m living nearby, so I am able to enjoy the beauty of Sedona more often.

One year, just after Christmas I spent three days at my friend’s cabin in Sedona. The place was quite solitary, deserted with a variety of beautiful cacti. From the cabin I saw Cathedral Rock, and further down was Oak Creek flowing with crystalline water. There was no cellphone signal, no radio, no TV, no connection with the outside world. It was amazing. Just God and me … and the javelinas. In the mornings I was able to see delightful sunrises. Each morning, birds rose with the sun singing marvelous melodies glorifying the Creator. I enjoyed the divine music. In the evenings I was delighted with the sunsets. One afternoon, I cherished the full moon rising behind the red rocks and meditated on the beauty of God. It was breathtaking. I do not need any words to praise God when watching His Creation for I believe His Creation speaks for itself. I treasure that time in my friend’s cabin and every time I have spent in Sedona since.

On September 14, 2011, I was celebrating my 33rd anniversary of my Consecration. After the morning Thanksgiving Mass, I went to Sedona to continue the celebration. When I arrived there, I parked my car, and went for a walk on Main Street. I visited galleries, shops, and especially jewelry stores. After a while it started to rain, and I went to a tavern for a glass of local, delicious beer. Later, I drove up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. I stayed in the chapel for a while, prayed, and I was delighted in the beauty of God looking around the chapel through the windows. Outside it was raining cats and dogs, and there were puddles in the road. I decided to head back to Flagstaff. While I was driving north on highway 89A, colorful rainbows came up one after another. The colors were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. There were two rainbows at the same time. I’ve always seen a rainbow in the sky, far away from me, but this time I was inside of the rainbow. While I was driving home, a rainbow was up from one side of the road to the other side, and I was inside of the arc, like in a colorful glowing tunnel. Sometimes I was in one rainbow, other times I was inside of two beautiful rainbows. That was amazing. Seems like time stopped, and I was in another dimension. It was like from the Bible: the alliance between God and me. It was the sign of the covenant that God makes between Himself and me forever from the day of my Baptism when I was 6 days old. Even this day I was sad and crying, missing my family, as all of them are in Heaven. Somehow, through the rainbow I was connected with God and with them. It was a divine connection. What a glorious day! Without rain there are no rainbows. Every time, when I am driving to Sedona on 89A, with joy, I remember the two rainbows that I saw on September 14, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

I invite you to visit the mystical beauty of Sedona. There you will experience the many seasons of Red Rock Country and connect with God.

These miraculous things could only happen here, in this spiritual place because God lives in Sedona.

By Mike Casto

Alchemy: a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation or combination.

In 2004, I thought I had been to Sedona. My wife and I had passed through on our way to the Grand Canyon a few years before. Honestly, the only thing I remember is Uptown and I specifically remember thinking, “It’s a tourist trap. What’s all the hype about?” I was soon to discover, though, that there’s a huge difference between “driving through” and “being in” Sedona; between seeing it pass by on the other side of a window and walking in its energy, experiencing it firsthand and intimately.

Every year, in September, there’s an event held in Sedona called Tai Chi Alchemy. You’d think that it’s a Tai Chi event and, in fact, some Tai Chi does happen there every year. The event, though, isn’t really about Tai Chi. It’s really about the Alchemy and, for me, that meant so much more than Tai Chi or even the amazing community of practitioners who attend the event each year.

In December, 2004, I met a man named Stephen Watson, “Stephe” for short. We met at a martial arts event in Miami, Florida. Stephe and I hit it off immediately. He’s a Tai Chi instructor and also teaches other martial arts. I have been training in martial arts pretty much all my life but had always considered Tai Chi to be “boring” and, at best, something I’d get around to when I was “old.” Almost from the moment I met Stephe, though, he started sharing Tai Chi with me and he started talking about this event in Sedona. He rarely even mentioned the name of the event. He just said, “You’ve got to go to Sedona.”

I said, “Why would I want to do that? I don’t train in Tai Chi. The event is several hundred dollars, plus travel and lodging. Why would I want to spend that kind of time and money for something I’m not directly involved with?”

He said, “You’ve gotta go. It’ll change your life.” Incredibly prophetic.

Over the next 6 months we talked regularly via phone or e-mail but we also saw each other in person about once a month. Several times it was by accident. We would just happen to be in the same area at the same time and we’d hook up. We randomly encountered each other in San Francisco, New York and Colorado. We also visited each other; he lived in Connecticut and I lived in Kentucky. Every time we talked, whether in person or on the phone or via e-mail, he’d bring up Sedona.

Finally, after all Stephe’s cajoling, I ponied up the money for the travel, lodging and event. First, the event was amazing. It was so much more than I could ever have expected. It’s indescribable and I would highly recommend the event to anyone. Google it; it’s easy enough to find information. It’s organized each year by an incredible man named Rick Barrett and his family.

So in 2005 I spent a long weekend in Sedona, basically attending Tai Chi Alchemy (TCA). At one point, though, the group went out to Bell Rock and we all went our separate ways to do a hike. While on that hike, I thought, “So this is what people mean when they say ‘home.’” Prior to that moment I had never associated the concept of “home” with a geographical location.

In 2006, I spent a week in Sedona. I thought I was just doing it so I could hang out with some of the TCA folk who stayed after. I had an incredible experience at Bell Rock, though, and I e-mailed my wife about it. When she read the e-mail she was in a business meeting. She said she read the words but literally couldn’t wrap her head around what they meant because she was in such a different space.

In 2007, my wife, Margaret, came out to Sedona with me. She figured she’d at least be in the same geographical region and might be able to actually share some of the experience with me. We rented a house for two weeks. Our second day here, Margaret said, “So, when are we moving here?”

In 2008, we rented a house near Chapel of the Holy Cross for a month. We were hooked. We weren’t sure how we would manage it but we knew, without a doubt, that we were ready to live in Sedona. It called to both of our souls like nowhere else we’d ever been and we’re both very well traveled.

In the spring of 2009 we moved here. We lived in Rimrock for about four months, then in Oak Creek Canyon. After returning from some extended traveling we rented a house in Village of Oak Creek. Through our windows we can see Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

People ask me if I ever take the amazing scenery for granted. I say, “No. Every day I go outside and I have at least one moment when I just stop and say, ‘Wow!’”

I’m generally not a person people would describe as “woo woo” or “new age.” Most people would describe me as being very intelligent, level-headed and practical. However, in Sedona I have walked with ghosts, flowed like water down Bell Rock and seen a UFO driving down the street. I routinely give rides to strangers, something I almost never did before moving here. I have found sheer, unadulterated wonder in the flight of a raven, the running gate of javelina and the awesome power of an elk. I have watched breathless as a large mule deer buck ran across the road in front of my car and felt the reverent peacefulness of the Buddhist stupas amidst the red rocks. I’ve stood meditating on a ledge half the width of my foot and marvelled at the sound of an unseen flautist; apparently sourceless music drifting through a cave when I was sure I was alone.

“Believe as a child believes and the magic will find you.” — Theresa Langdon

I think Sedona is a huge catalyst that makes this phenomon incredibly easy to bring into being.

By Franklin Hughes

I saw this wise saying a few days ago and it made me do a lot of reflecting. And I found that putting these thoughts down in writing helps me un-jumble them, maybe somewhat like a diary.

(Dear Diary…)

In Sanskrit, the word karma literally means “action”. In Buddhism however, karma mainly refers to one’s intention or motivation while doing an action. And I’m Baptist, so where does that leave me? Well, another answer then would be: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A person reaps what he sows.” (Gal. 6:7)

However, I don’t want this to be a piece centered on karma, so I guess that I could change the title to: “How you treat me is your bag (or doings, or responsibility), how I react is mine…”

And I guess that the main thing that got me thinking is the “how I react” part. Sometimes, I take things so personally. The guy that cuts me off while I’m driving because he didn’t see me (or is one of us in the older generation that can only turn his head ten or fifteen degrees to look). The lady with the grocery cart that just stands there in the middle of the aisle (beep, beep, honk, honk). The turmoil we go through with those close to us. Boy, I got to lighten up some.

What that above saying made me realize in just a few words is that I should not worry or be bothered so much by their actions, but be more conscious about mine. They have their own “life-circumstances” that colors their intentions or motivations, that’s their present-life karma. I’m not responsible for what they do, they are. I’m responsible for how I react to it and I don’t do such a good job sometimes.

I’m (slowly) learning to be happier or accepting of myself. What’s there is there …. By accepting myself better, I won’t reflect my feeling on what others inherently make me feel when they interact.

One of the things that I’m doing is getting out more in the sunshine here in Sedona instead of being “captured” by my computer. I’m also going to the Sedona Meditation Center and enjoying the classes there that get my body moving (rocking and rolling).

One other thing that I’m learning is to concentrate more on my breathing. I went to a lecture at the library a few weeks ago, given by the author of “The Call of Sedona” where he spoke on the utter importance of breathing (aside from keeping you alive). Not just breathing, but how you breathe. This is another thing that we all could learn better, whether it be at the Meditation Center, or at any of the yoga studios in Sedona.
Want to read a few paragraphs on breathing, click here: http://www.ilchi.com/tag/abdominal-breathing/

So, I’m practicing watching my breathing, concentrating on every breath, both in and out for 30 minutes a day. I know that I breathe shallowly, someone just reminded me of it last night. So, soon I hope to start to breathe more deeply without having to think about it. Keep myself kicking-around for a few more years…
I don’t want to feel like this little manga character… Life here in Sedona is pretty sweet, I want to enjoy it more… Ready to join me?

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
(Unknown source)

By Franklin Hughes

One of the best places to watch the sunset in Sedona is at Schnebly Hill. I caught the setting sun and early twilight with my camera. I hope you enjoy its beauty as much as I did in real life.

By Susan Barrington of the Sedona Community Center

One mitzvah leads to another. Those are words from a song that echoed from the sanctuary at St. John Vianney church on Sunday, November 13th, marking the start of the Fifth Annual Mitzvah Day of Sedona and the Verde Valley.

The Hebrew word mitzvah, means ‘commandment’ or more commonly translates to ‘good deeds.’ Mitzvah Day is an annual celebration of intergenerational, interfaith spirit-led community engagement.

Our goals for year five were simple: Register five hundred local volunteers and complete fifty community projects. We successfully enrolled in excess of five hundred participants by noon yesterday. We also developed a request list of fifty-four projects.

The only glitch in the day was a wee bit of weather. Not all of the work was able to be completed as scheduled because of the rain. But all who attended in spite of the meterologists’ reports were warmed by the shared spirit of good humor, flexibility and fellowship.

Mitzvah Day’s schedule was traditional. The community gathered late morning at our host site, St. John Vianney. The gathering ceremony included a greeting, songs and an interfaith blessing, this year offered by Rabbi Magal, Father JC Ortiz, Pastor Frank Robinson and Pastor Laura Aronson.

The volunteer projects, including work at nonprofit organizations and neighbors-in-need sites, were scheduled from 1 until 4 throughout the Verde Valley.

Participants re-gathered at SJV for a closing celebration, which included musical entertainment by the Cactus Cats, food and refreshments as provided by the Sedona Community Center and served by members of the Boys and Girls Club, and the sharing of mitzvah stories.

The Sedona Community Center organized this year’s event, which was co-chaired by Rabbi Alicia Magal of the Jewish Community of Sedona & the Verde Valley and Susan Barrington, SCC’s Executive Director. Mitzvah Day 2011 was made possible by SCC’s Communities for All Ages grant that was fueled locally by donations and in-kind services from local faith communities, businesses and individuals.

One of the important stories shared at the closing gathering by a volunteer who had spent the afternoon working at the Sedona Food Bank included the announcement that indeed many of the shelves at that important community institution are bare.

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and the Food Bank needs help. Our partner NPO is in dire need of both food and financial donations. This organization is preparing the holiday food boxes they will distribute to individuals and families-in-need for the approaching holidays. The FoodBank is responding to a greater need than ever before and so we ask for the community’s mitzvahs to continue.

So take a moment to clean out the shelves of your pantry at home. Or add a few non-perishables to your shopping cart this week. Bundle up the extras and deliver them to the Sedona FoodBank or to one of their donation points around town.

As Mitzvah Day now represents the advent of the holiday season in our community, let’s make a collective commitment to maintain the spirit of extension that was so evident yesterday. While we resume our hectic lives and insurmountable to-do lists, let’s remember to include acts of kindness toward those less fortunate around us.

Let us continue to become a community that takes care of our own as we take care of each other. May the contagious spirit of community engagement become a daily feature of the way Sedona does business, and life, as usual.

After all, once mitzvah leads to another.

SCC’s social services include home-delivered Meals on Wheels delivered by a devoted fleet of volunteer drivers. This meal program also includes our unique Breakfast Club program at no cost. In addition to food, our volunteers deliver compassion and respect.

Our Community Lunch is served at the center Monday through Friday at noon. This program is made possible by our generous, award-winning kitchen staff and our civic-minded Restaurant Partners. Guests are greeted and served by volunteers. $3 for seniors, $6 for those under the age of 60.

Our Transportation program gives senior adults “door-to-door” service to the store, bank and doctor Wednesday and Friday between 9 and 2. We are also available to transport folks to and from our Community Lunch on those days. Our professional drivers are the most kind and caring in the business.

Our Telecare program provides daily telephone calls to individuals in need of a wellness check seven days a week. This vital service is available free-of-charge to all Sedona-area residents and is provided by concerned volunteers.

For more information, to volunteer or to make reservations for our classes, events or social services, call 282-2834. We are located at the corner of Harmony Drive and Melody Lane in West Sedona.

Lunch Menu:

Monday: Pork chops, red cabbage, succotash, w/w roll, lemon pudding

Tuesday: Country fried steak, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, w/w bread, peaches

Wednesday: Roast turkey & stuffing, sweet taters, green bean casserole, w/w roll, pumpkin pie

Thursday: Closed Thanksgiving Day

Friday: Closed

By Jennifer Underwood

In 2001, I visited Arizona after a devastating failure in my life. My friend lived in Mesa. I never saw Sedona but learned of it. On one boring afternoon, she decided to show me a picture of Sedona, it was the famous Bell Rock. She felt compelled to give it to me, and made me take it. For years, I hung onto it, not understanding why. In 2006, two people mentioned Sedona to me and told me their stories. I wanted to go, but knew I could never afford it. I started using Law of Attraction to help me and for five long years, I miserably tried to bring a way for me to get to Sedona. I wanted it so badly, my resistance could not be broken. I tried everything I could think of to get there, but nothing. I find it odd that that I kept that picture of it and pulled it out eerily one day in 2006 after I started thinking about it.

I researched and fell in love with real estate in Sedona and knew the town frontwards and backwards from internet research. Every time I want anything in my life to this day, my higher self shows me a Kia Sedona van on the road right in front of me as some sort of sign. I used to draw Sedona, the name, everywhere I went, on the beach, etc.

I had a past life vision in 2007 of myself as a female Indian around the time Sedona was made an official town. I saw myself lying on the desert ground dying for some reason, and an Indian Chief came by on a horse. I only saw it from my point of view. I saw a beautiful blue sky with a few white clouds pass by his head as he looked at me and quietly went on his way. I had other visions of sheer terror and running, so I have no idea what kind of life I may have lived in Sedona in the past.

I know it has affected me so deeply that every time I imagine this impossible dream of stepping foot on the ground for the first time, I feel almost orgasmic thinking of that moment—smelling the air, wanting to be a part of a town that has been calling me for years.

I even talked to a Sedona local that told me “Sedona wants you.” Well, even so, if thats the case, the laws that be will not let me go there no matter what. I broke my back and my spirit trying to get to Sedona and consider it a sad thing now. I am numb to anything with the word Sedona, although it does get me deep down, It still hurts.

I have never had a place affect me as much as Sedona has. I have never been there, but in my fantasies of it, I clearly could feel its energy, and understand how it would feel to be there.

By Ilchi Lee

Hope has the power to save even a person who is dying. I came to Sedona in search of hope, looking for a place that could give me hope. This is where I found it. The environment and energy in Sedona gave me strength and encouragement. You might wonder, why did it give me that? I think it’s because I wanted hope. I was able to feel it because that’s what I wanted.