Sedona Story

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 Eun Young Lee

Last July, I climbed Bell Rock.

I didn’t go all the way to the top, but I did some breathing and meditation about halfway up. My tired, weary body and mind were at peace in no time, and before I knew it, I could feel my awareness expanding from myself to the world, from myself to the earth.

I automatically felt a desire to share this tranquility with the world and with other people, and deep in my heart, I was able to feel the pain and hurt that humanity has now. And I prayed with all my heart for peace to come to humanity without delay. I offered a desperate prayer as I imagined people meeting each other, soul to soul, and healing the world, and imagined the earth rejoicing.

When you go up Bell Rock in Sedona, you can feel all souls. You can feel that we are all one, you can feel the earth’s love, and you can also feel that we are the hope of this world. That’s why I say that Bell Rock in Sedona is a place where you can feel hope and find your dream.

By Ilchi Lee

Whatever the path that brought you here
There is a reason why you came,
Though you may not realize it now.
Therefore, please open your ears.
Listen to the message that Sedona has for you.
The old juniper standing tall in the golden sunset just might tell you the reason.

Whatever fork in the road of life you stand at now
There is a question in your heart,
Though you may not realize it now.
Therefore, please open your ears.
Listen to the message that Sedona has for you.
The red rock that resembles the face of a Native American just might help you remember that question.

Whatever the question growing in your heart
You can find the answer to that question within yourself,
Though you may not realize it now.
So, please open your ears.

Listen to the message that Sedona has for you.
The rushing water of Oak Creek, shimmering under a full moon, just might give you the answer.

When the long howl of a coyote weaves its way through a night sky brimming with stars
When the afternoon monsoon shakes Thunder Mountain with thunder and lightning
There is a message from Sedona that calls to you with a roar far greater.

There is a world all living creatures have dreamed of together ever since the Earth came to be.
There is a world dreamed of by Mago, Mother Earth, and human beings, the heavens and the Earth, the mountains and the sea.
The old juniper tree, the red rocks, and the rushing water of Oak Creek share a dream.
Oh, friend who has come to Sedona, take this dream with you.

This dream is the reason why you have come to this place, and it just might be your question and your answer.
This dream just might awaken the greatest things within you.
A new Heaven, a new Earth, a new people, and a new life path,
A world of peace in which all life is harmonious in a sacred Heaven and an abundant Earth.
Though you may not realize it now, you are a being that has come to the Earth to turn this dream into a reality.