Sedona Story

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 Tonya Whelan

Sakima Bluestar tells us her story, and enacts a tale from the past.

Profile By Diana James

Gently & powerfully, song reaches into the depths of my heart, echoing off the ancient walls of red rock canyons. Coyotes call while birds soar overhead. Ocean waves dance with the wind and thunder. Whales move in silent power & grace beneath the surface, while the far-away cry of an eagle is heard. A feeling of profound connected-ness to all that is, permeates my being as the music ends, and the simple prayer is heard, ‘Peace to your journey, love & light to your path, one in spirit, journey well’. This whole experience of sound & Spirit, is produced by one man sitting quietly, in the center of a musical vortex & colorful imagery, playing his own hand-crafted bamboo flutes.

The story of my friend & brother of the heart Jesse, is a story of Spirit, finding joyous expression in the life-paths of individual human beings, who have actualized their dreams. As a native chamorru of the Mariana Islands, Jesse lived his early years on a tropical territory of the U.S. in the orthern pacific. Jesse remembers playing in his village bamboo grove as a child at the age of 4, and being treated by his native elders with herbal & natural medicines whenever he was ill. It was then, he began to hear the melodies within, that ‘danced in his heart’.

Jesse has lived and ventured in America, traveling through every state since 1976. The great vastness of the land, moved him to continue. Then in the red canyons of Sedona Arizona, Jesse felt he was finally home. His move to Sedona in June of 91, led to such profound experiences suddenly unfolding. That summer, yet to read or write music, his first time playing flutes,echoed in the heart of Boynton Canyon. In 92 with Sedona bamboo, he began making & naming his flutes to reflect, the inherent peace of the heart.

Then somehow, Jesse discovered wildlife calls and nature sounds through his flutes. Also, to sing in his native language, Chamorru. By 93, presenting his flute concerts locally in Sedona.

Then in 1994, began sharing throughout the U.S. & Internationally, his Heartfelt Presentation: with bamboo flutes, story, poetry & nature voices. In Jan. of 95, he was invited to share at a Yoga for World Peace Conference in Jerusalem, Israel. In 1996 through 2002, he toured several times in Austria, Germany & Switzerland. As he continues to present heart to heart, somehow he is able to play & create native american style flutes, from bamboo growing wild in Sedona.

Jesse has not trained nor understands technical music theory. Melodies from the heart, touchs his audiences in unique ways. Each flute has its name & song. Emanating through his hand-crafted flutes, are the wildlife calls of: doves, quails, loons, hawk, owl, seagulls, dolphins, whales, coyotes, wolf, elk & more. We attended Jesse’s flute concert in the Spring of 97, at a book store in Sedona. Looking out at red rock panoramas along with the music, evoking the ancient memories of gentle times living in creative harmony with nature & each other. I wiIl never forget my first experience with Jesse’s Art, and I’ve heard him play & sing many times since.

We ended up staying in Sedona, spending most of our time early on in Jesse’s home. He led us on countless walks on the land to secret & sacred places, always bringing one of his flutes along. We’d get to the top of an arduous climb, and he would disappear! Then we’d hear his enchanting music, echoing off majestic canyons, weaving songs of the land itself. For me, Jesse’s music is a bridge to many cultures, times & places. Yet, always centered Here & Now. I’ve experienced something different, every time I’ve entered the sacred space he creates.

E-mail: kalu@sedona.net
Phone: 928-204-1867
Click here to visit Jesse Kalu’s website.