Sedona Story

By Lilie Gjelaj

Chapel of the Holy Cross

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 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)

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!

By Ralph Fourmont

I read in The Call of Sedona that when you come to Sedona and allow your heart to open, your vision or life’s mission will reveal itself, or a vision that you lost long ago. Like many others, I lost sight of my vision many years ago, and yet it was a vision that was muted and blurred at best. Please let me share not the beautiful vision that I now hold in my heart and my brain, but of the wonderful people who have helped me find that vision with great passion and clarity. Let me share with you my new loving family at the “Celebrate the Sedona Spirit” hosted by the Sedona Meditation Center this last Saturday, on November twelfth.

I began attending the Dahn Yoga classes at the Center on Jordan Road about seven weeks ago, and have increased my attendance to enjoy and learn in a myriad of classes since. I’ve enjoyed energy healing, Dahn Yoga, drumming, Tai Chi, modern dancing, a belly dancing class (I thought it was a yoga class, really!), and special visits from different exotic and spiritual cultures. How could I stay away when I feel so loved, so welcome, and I feel for once in a long time that I may be getting closer to opening my heart and letting Heaven’s beautiful loving energy in to heal my bruised and battered soul. Eventually I made more friends at the center and went on hikes and helped out with various events, so I was quick to volunteer for Ilchi Lee’s appearance on the great event at the Performing Arts Center. Why wouldn’t I be excited and honored to meet the person who was responsible for bringing such a loving, peaceful and crucial mission to humanity? I wanted to enjoy life with my new friends.

The state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center is an amazing building, and we were rushing about trying to prepare in time for the wonderful celebration we had planned. We tied balloons in the cold wind to direct the almost 900 people, set up booths, set out food, prepared the stage and performances; trying to hold it all together like a child with a full bag of groceries on a rickety staircase. The new Meditation Center director, HaeJung Jung, was typically beautiful and brilliant, guiding and thoughtful, yet a powerful mother to us all; appointing places and times like the grand conductor of a massive orchestration. People arrived in droves, exceeding our expectation, and still I had a strong sense of family and belonging as my friends from the center manned booths and assisted visitors. I could not be tied down to a booth as the energy began to grow inside and around me; I found I had to keep moving, running errands, helping, and sharing my energy.

The crowd rushed into the theatre at the appointed hour, and I helped find seats for everyone I could. I shared the kindness and love that I received from the instructors and core members at the meditation center, and experienced such a strong sense of belonging and family, wanting to welcome everyone into this joy and onto this path that I was so freely shown. When Mr. Lee appeared in the audience the crowd responded with a heartfelt cheer and welcome of love and respect. The show began with enthusiasm and excitement, one beautiful and thrilling performance after another of explosive sound, color, and richly flowing culture. But I was too intoxicated by the sheer energy of the event to pay much attention, honestly. The powerful and startling drummers from different cultures, the brilliant dancers, the beautiful singers soaring in my ears; I caught breathtaking and unforgettable glimpses, but had to keep moving, attending, assisting, running between the lobby and the audience. The energy was terrific, and I could not stop; I was drunk with love and excitement, a small child in a huge gathering of close relatives. My heart was open, my family was close, and the night was filled with light and sound and an endless stream of joyful people like ten years of Christmas all in a few hours. We were all connected, and I was glowing.

Nervous and apprehensive later, I waited to take the stage for a Brain Wave Vibration demonstration directed by Ilchi Lee himself. I was honored and deeply grateful to be chosen for this small task, and ecstatic to meet our enlightened teacher. In front of all those people, sitting in a lone chair dancing to the music, I was not alone … I felt everyone giving me their energy, their love, their support. I felt we were all in that chair, I felt we were One. As the rhythm increased, though my body shook and jumped I grew peaceful inside, and still … like a cat in the window on a bright snowy night, warm and safe. As I exited the stage, Mr. Lee took my hand and touched my forehead, and I felt the love and compassion of my new family at that moment, as a bright light filled my heart.

The people left that night in a reluctant rush, more caught up and driven by the energy that filled and unified that Center, than by the thought of beating the parking crowd. Everyone was glowing, and wondrous at the vision they had experienced, excited about learning more about this new Meditation Center that had brought such a remarkable event. I was simply happy, honored and very, very proud of my new group of close family and friends. I felt alive!

(Photos by Franklin Hughes)

Sedona, AZ: A special evening of rhythm and unity, Celebrate the Sedona Spirit: Collaborative Meditation for Global Healing, will be held at the Sedona Performing Arts Center, behind Red Rock High School, on November 12, 2011 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

It is a free-admission community gathering put on by the newly opened Sedona Meditation Center that expects a crowd of 700 people from in and around Sedona. A host of artists are preparing to bring the spirit of Sedona to the stage in a musical concert, including well-known Taiko drummer, Ken Koshio, Vusi Baba Shibambo who plays the African drums, and Sedona’s Rhythm, a local Korean power drumming performance troop. Lively chorus music will be also be performed by Red Rockapella and A La Mode; Hip Hop group, Light Vibe will give an exciting demonstration to drums, and Shondra Jepperson of Tom and Shondra Entertainment will serve as the host.

Special guest Ilchi Lee will present on the topic of Collaborative Meditation, a group meditation that will rise to new heights in the 700-person auditorium. He will also give a performance and lead a style of collaborative healing that is practiced every Friday at 6:00 pm at the Sedona Meditation Center.

Lee is the author of The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart (BEST Life Media, 2011), his most recent book and his 33rd on the topic meditation, peace and global healing. He is also an educator, mentor, and trailblazer who has devoted himself over the last 30 years to developing the awakened brain and teaching energy principles through numerous mind-body-spirit techniques. For that purpose he founded Sedona Mago Retreat, a place for spiritual awakening located in the wilderness of Arizona’s red rock country.

The Sedona Meditation Center is a special project of Dahn Yoga Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The center has a mission to inspire people to connect to their inner rhythm, to improve well-being and promote peace and happiness in the local community.

Celebrate the Sedona Spirit is a unique event that promises to be one of intimate sharing, dance and song, drumming and uplifted hearts. While the event is free to everyone, the Sedona Meditation Center asks attendees to RSVP by calling 928.282.3600 or emailing info@sedonameditationcenter.org.

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 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 Susan Putman

Sometimes it is hard to be firm about the boundaries we draw for the little ones. In our mind we waver and wonder if it is really so important after all. We dislike beginning the day with a “no” or “our rules are.” It seems somehow to disturb the sunshine and the flow of our morning.

This weekend I was lead by a great Tao master to a tree over looking Oak Creek in Sedona. Its roots raised in a gnarled and twisted net five feet above us as we stood in the cooling water. Embedded in the roots were river stones. The first I noticed was the size of a fist. Then I saw others, more and more of them held fast in thick root fingers. Some larger, some smaller: red, crystalline, white, dark and finally looking at the back of the tree as she leaned out over the creek to reach the sun, large slabs of red rock the size of a thick table. The roots had reached around and under them too, gaining purchase far back into the river bank, holding that strong and beautiful tree to the earth when the creek ran high and rapid.

So too we want our children to be able to withstand the obstacles that will come their way. To have the commonsense to look before crossing a street, to be able to withstand the onslaught of a bully or derision, to be resourceful in the face of overwhelming odds, to be creative when lonely or bored, to know who they are in world of propaganda and great salesmanship.

That kind of strength, that net of roots around the stones of life can only be built by providing the boundaries your baby needs and sticking to them allowing his roots to grow strong and creative, deep into a sound character that will provide right living when you are no longer there.

The ability to accept what we cannot change, is a greater gift to your child than any small inconvenience of repeating a house rule again. The resilience to still find a way to be happy when thwarted is a life long habit and gift only you can give. Children know when you set firm sensible boundaries that they are loved in a way that nurtures their strength. So do set rules and hold them. It is the highest form of love, that the Littles might grow strong character and a network of roots in the riverbank of life.

By Kathy Atencio

I remember the first time I went to Sedona. It was in May 1988. I went there with a friend for a week. Neither one of us had been there before. When we saw the red rocks we were so awe struck. They were so beautiful. One of the first places we went was to Long Canyon. We hiked in to a cave where there was shelter. At that moment a huge thunderstorm moved in. We watched from where we were sitting as the storm came in and blew over us. It rained like it seldom does in the desert. The message we got that day was to never worry, we will always be protected.

We sat in meditation on Devil’s bridge. My understanding is that this large bridge is closed to hikers now because it is in danger of collapsing. How beautiful it was back then to climb on and sit for a while.

I climbed Bell Rock while my friend waited at the bottom. I could feel the energy of the rock that day. I felt the rock was inviting me to climb it and was very happy to have me there. I will never forget that feeling of the rock being alive and having consciousness.

In September 2006, I found Dahn Yoga and then went to Dahn Healer School in November 2006, which was held at Sedona Mago Retreat in the national forest just outside of Sedona. Now it is one of my favorite places to go. I feel at home there. I look forward to many more trips to beautiful Sedona.

This picture I am posting was taken when I went to Dahn Healer School in Nov 2006.

By Ken Dauth

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