Sedona Story

By Michela Mangiaracina

The red rocks, Oak Creek, the top of a Reiki table—these are places many might say were good places to experience the Sedona spirit. Being there makes you feel good and connected to the best part of you.

One unexpected Sedona joint that instigates a peaceful, joyful feeling is Señor Bob’s Hot Dogs. A small store next to the Krazy Kyote Welcome Center, Señor Bob’s offers organic hot dogs with a buffet of fresh toppings including chili, cheese, and sauerkraut.

But the best part is the owner, Craig Nimtz. He always has a warm peacefulness and a ready smile that permeates the simple eatery. His presence seems to embody what many people come to Sedona searching for. They don’t have far to look—it’s even in Sedona’s hot dog joints.

Have you ever been to Señor Bob’s? What was your experience like?

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.

Shaeri's Self-Published Book

by Dylan Reese Marshall

SHAERI RICHARDS

I first met Shaeri at a table read for the Paul Boyce mocumentary “The Sweat Lodge”…we did the movie and it was an amazing experience.

Shaeri is a woman of many talents and many skills.

She is, without a doubt, a beautiful soul.

Shaeri and her delightful dog, Muzzie

I am blessed to have a  connection with her.

It had been awhile since we had sat together and held palaver…and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you.

Enjoy this learned woman’s insight into Loving yourself…

The Unparalleled Beauty Of The Red Rocks

It’s in two parts for your listening pleasure!

Many Blessings of Light and Love to you ALL!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Open links in a new tab on your browser so you can listen and read the latest articles.

Franklin Hughes has recently posted two wonderful pieces.  Check them out!

Heart of Sedona- Shaeri Richards Part One

Heart of Sedona- Shaeri Richards Part Two

ROSE MOON

Hello my dear friends,

This is a two part interview with an amazing artist and dear friend Rose Moon.

Her website is:  http://www.rosemoon.net/

The photos here are only a taste of the voluminous amount of work that this woman has done over the years.

Rose is a wonderful person and I am so happy that I can count her as one of my friends.

I hope you enjoy hearing what Rose has to say, as much as I.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rose Moon Part One

Rose Moon Part Two

The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart, by Ilchi Lee

Review by: Dylan R. Marshall

Many people have been to Sedona, and many more will come. The draw of its visual majesty is undeniable. Sedona is, and always will be a source of Awe and Inspiration.

Mr. Lee knows all of these things…and more.

He uses plain and straightforward language, and his personal experiences, to take you by the hand and share his Joy, Passion, and Discovery of this spiritual refuge.

‘The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart’ is quite possibly the most deeply passionate book ever written about the Red Rocks.

Ilchi Lee playing his flute

Mr. Lee takes us there by sharing himself:

“I was born in December 1950, amidst the fires of the Korean War. When I was young, I was unusually softhearted and physically weak. I encountered many difficulties because I couldn’t focus well on my studies at school…demanding questions like, “Why am I here?” wouldn’t leave me alone, so I couldn’t focus on what I was supposed to be learning.”

He speaks of a transformative experience:

“…at age 14, I was involved in a tragic accident. I went to go swimming in the reservoir with a friend and he drowned. Because of the shock and grief I felt, I was sick in bed for nearly a month afterward and experienced acute fear and anxiety about death.”

He comments on his indignation with Life:

“God, if you put me on this world without bothering to get my permission, shouldn’t you at least tell me why I should live?”…I felt a resentment that wasn’t directed toward anyone in particular and I was bursting with questions that had no answers.”

He shares his frustrating early searches for those answers:

“…I started wandering about in search of someone who could give me the answer to the issues of life and death, or at least offer some clues! I looked for and found books about philosophy and the spiritual world, and every time I had a chance, I would seek out people who were said to have performed ascetic practices in the mountains…But I couldn’t find anything that resonated within me…”

Moak Mountian in Korea

He speaks of his enlightenment:

“I had reached that moment where I had to give up on “life and death”- whether I wanted to or not. As I resigned myself to my fate, I said, “O Heaven…Please do as you see fit”…And that’s when something amazing happened…”

“…I had come to have faith that if I gave my sincere devotion to an extreme situation, a strength other than my own would come and guide me, lifting me up.”

“…music of the universe reverberated in my heart and the breath of nature went in and out through my skin.”

The Amazing Bell Rock, Sedona Arizona

He talks of his discovery of Sedona:

“In early 1996, I was reading a newspaper…I saw a photo that immediately grabbed my attention…The red rocks were so real they felt like they might jump out of the paper at me.”

He shares his first experiences with a Sedona guide:

“This guide…came to me one day and said, “There’s a saying, ‘When you come to Sedona, you have to set aside all of your personal thoughts and desires. If you don’t, you can’t receive Sedona’s energy and furthermore you could pollute Sedona.’ That’s why, you have to clear your mind and prepare yourself before you come.”

He tells us the most Important Question:

“…though I had had many names and titles, there had always been only one question behind everything I had done. That question was, “Who am I?”…”

He explains the role of the Earth:

“…the Earth is also an organic life form; it has an energy system similar to that of the human body. Vortexes perform a similar role for the Earth as chakras do in the human body…The vortex energy of Sedona has the power to correct the energy imbalance in the human chakras.”

He Illuminates the Pathway towards Self-Realization:

“…You have to know that the sense of being that seems to extend infinitely without beginning or end is not an illusion…you are then able to embrace all moments of life with confidence…”

He shares his Sedona epiphany:

“As I looked at the dazzling beauty of Sedona’s Earth and sky awash with the morning sun, my heart skipped a beat, and it occurred to me that this just might be the place that I had been searching for for so long.”

And this is only a mere fraction of this amazing book…

‘The Call of Sedona- Journey of the Heart’ is a rich, interwoven tapestry of personal experiences, philosophical reflections, and celebration of the harmonious energy of the Red Rocks. It delves into the infinite possibilities that will manifest themselves when you meditate on the bucolic serenity of Sedona.

It is poignant and engaging at every turn.

‘The Call of Sedona’ is a Love Letter written not only about Sedona, but also about a Deep and Abiding love and concern for all humanity.

Thank you so much Mr. Lee!

Greetings and Salutations to All!

I wanted to share a message with you concerning the Holidays.

Often, we become so immersed in stress because of the season, that we forget the what and the why of the season.

Many Blessings of Light, Love, and Joy to ALL!

Dylan

By Frank Hughes

Every Halloween, Sedona residents large and small converge on the strip of State Route 89A that passes through Uptown Sedona. Creating a swirling medley of colors, they come as devils and angels, madmen and firemen, and of course, cats.

I spent the afternoon and evening in one of my favorite ways, behind my camera. During the afternoon I captured the many costumed guests at the grand opening of the Sedona Meditation Center on Jordan Road. Formerly the Sedona Mago Healing Center, the Sedona Meditation Center is a non-profit that provides a place where, according to their website, “individuals and groups can join in meditation and renew their connection to themselves, and nature.” In the evening I hit the streets. Here are a few of my favorite Halloween photos.

By Bette Castoria

My first visit to Sedona was in the summer of 1990. It was just a day trip. My mother, six sisters, and I were having a reunion in Scottsdale. After our dad died in 1987, we regularly got together to spend a long weekend of shopping, eating, and visiting. MaryAnn, my oldest sister, was living in Scottsdale at the time and she was in charge of our agenda. She planned a day trip to Sedona for an afternoon of shopping, followed by an evening dinner in the nearby town of Jerome. I had heard stories of the ‘spiritual’ town of Sedona—that it was one of the power center sites of the harmonic convergence in 1987. That was interesting to me, but I was too busy working and raising my daughter to take much stock in such things. I was immediately struck by the beauty of the landscape as we approached Sedona. In contrast to the Arizona high desert, which is very beautiful, the massive red rock cliffs of Sedona situated at the base of Oak Creek Canyon was spectacular. I could see why it was considered a special place. We had a delightful afternoon there—many purchases were made.

My second visit to Sedona was under much different circumstances. It was in November of 2005. I was driving out there with 2 women I had met at a Dahn Yoga workshop in Albuquerque. We were going to the Sedona Mago Retreat Center for a week long workshop called Healer School. I was very excited and nervous to be going to this workshop. At the age of 51, I was beginning to explore the spiritual side of my life. I had joined a Dahn Yoga Center 8 months before and my life was changing rapidly. I mean I was going to Sedona for ‘healer school’ not for ‘shopping’.

Again I was struck by the beautiful landscape as we drove in from the high pines of Flagstaff, down through the winding Oak Creek Canyon, and into the large red rock formations of Sedona. The town itself was impeccably groomed and clean. It seemed bigger and more populated.

Our first stop was at Bell Rock. We wanted to see the famous vortex that Ilchi Lee, the founder of Dahn Yoga, climbed so many times. We hiked around the base of Bell Rock but could not conceive scaling it’s steep cliffs to the top. The retreat center itself was not in the town of Sedona. We drove further south and then 16 miles on a bumpy dirt road to the remote location.

Sedona Mago Retreat Center is like a sparkling jewel in the desert. The vast variety of nature that gathers there paints a rich visual texture that delights the eye. It is a beautiful contrast of arid desert, and lush gardens, surrounded by mountains and rock formations ever changing in color, and framed by an endless deep blue sky by day, and blazing starlight by night. Exploring the grounds on the first night, I discovered the ‘Healing Garden’. A tranquil lake with a meditation walking path around it, several quiet sitting places, a delightful secret herb garden, and peaceful energy radiating from the center. I knew I was in a very special place.

The quality of the training I received during my week stay was the most rigorous I had ever experienced both physically and emotionally. In juxtaposition to the calm surroundings, quiet living (no TV, radio, or computer), simple but delicious food, my body was put through intense training such as stretching, tapping, dancing, walking, running, and hiking. The mind was exercised also through deep meditation and contemplation. We learned healing techniques to release stagnant and stuck energy in our physical and spiritual bodies. Being in a place like Sedona Mago Retreat Center while purifying your body and mind allows you to relax and deeply heal in the times of rest. I slept a deep and restorative sleep every night, waking up feeling strong and healthy for the next day of training.

My stay in Sedona was the beginning of my awakening. I started to realize that there was so much more to me than I had previously realized. I gained a sense of purpose and lost a lot of self-doubt and self-judgement. I left that beautiful spot in the Arizona desert with new hope for my life. I keep a piece of Sedona in my heart now. I have returned countless times to renew and grow further. It’s feels like I’m home when I’m there but the outside world always calls me back. That’s where my work needs to be done.

By Alina Pikula

I came to Sedona to find peace. I wanted to experience quiet meditation and visit me inside of me.

When I saw the red rock I was overwhelmed with its beauty and power. I couldn’t wait to touch it with my feet.

Bell Rock was magnificent and proudly welcomed me. I needed to ask permission to enter. It felt right.

I climbed up gently but with strength. Some passages were not too easy. The challenge was welcomed.

I sat to rest and feel the wind in my ears. Almost right away I felt like a fly. I circled above and then flew inside of Bell Rock. There was a cave. Just a cave, but the light was bright. Something sparkled. I looked around with curiosity and a man walked in. I only saw his blue eyes. He talked to me through his eyes.

He told me to trust myself and never give up. After that he left. I will never forget the feeling. A feeling of quietness and happiness. When I opened my eyes I was still sitting on a red rock with the wind playing with my hair.

Even today I feel eyes of that man and can create the feeling that he left me. To me that was real.

I came back to Sedona several times and I believe one day I will stay there for good.

By Nicholas Fiorito

I have visited Sedona almost 10 times over the course of my spiritual journey. Every time has been absolutely amazing, but my most recent trip was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

The Meditation Tour through Sedona Mago Retreat I staffed in June of 2011 was absolutely incredible. I had the opportunity to go to many of the most famous vortexes in Sedona, including Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. The energy was spectacular, and to actually feel the difference between them was also something very new to me.

When I am in Sedona I always experience a lot of “spiritual energy.” The environment itself seems to infuse my mind with so much light it is almost hard to process. This last trip, however, I had an absolutely astounding experience. One night, unable to sleep in bed, I felt so much energy surging through me that my body and mind began to go into what would normally be categorized as a “panic attack,” but it wasn’t that, and I knew it. The energy inside me was stirring up all manner of things from my unconscious. My heightened state of perception made it seem as though my brain had cracked open and I was staring at its contents under a magnifying glass.

I saw all my worries, fears, doubts, and memories. Each one I acknowledged in turn, and then dismissed. My heart was racing, I was sweating, the fear of deathn the most pervasive and basic of all fearsn was pulsing through my veins. I realized I was letting go of all my attachments—all the imperceptible, but nevertheless weighty, entities that burdened my soul. I kept “saying goodbye.” Goodbye thoughts, memories, fears. Goodbye everything. The last things to which I needed to bid farewell were my loved ones. I saw my parents, family, people I loved and cherished so deeply. I said goodbye to them, as though I would never see them again. And finally I said goodbye to myself and to the Earth.

At that final moment, having extinguished every last bit of “self,” I was overcome with a feeling that can only be described as unconditional love, but that term is too over-used and thus not appropriate. I became the Love that infused all things. It was incredible, and my heart no longer beat with fear of losing the things I loved, but now pulsed with a passion that embraced all life and all things. It was a transformative moment I shall never forget.

The next day I felt reborn. I slept for just a few hours after that experience, unable to really rest. Nevertheless I was incredibly energized. I was born anew, and given a clean slate in my life. I continue to live this way, and always come back to my yoga and spiritual practice to return to this empty state of pure love.