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 Tonya Whelan

Sedona has a long St. Patrick’s Day tradition since one of the original settling families, the Johnsons, were Irish.

As part of this year’s parade and entertainment held on March 3rd, the Johnson family had a small reunion.

Sedona residents came out in force to enjoy the marching groups that included a number of armed services groups past and present and community groups such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, and the Sedona Korean American Association.

Dogs and kids were also everywhere, making the day a real family gathering.

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 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.

By Ralph Fourmont

Like many other people who are fed up with media chaos, I quit watching television when I moved to Sedona in September. Unplugging ‘the boob tube’ was the smartest thing I’ve done in years: my life has become richer in many ways. The constant input of negative messages and bad information really dampened my own consciousness, and I feel alive again! I read again, write again, and even have intelligent (finally!) and meaningful conversations with my new friends, on a daily basis! One brilliant book I read recently is The Call of Sedona by Ilchi Lee.

After three months I decided that I would watch a movie with a friend, a DVD with no commercial brainwashing! We chose to watch August Rush … what a great decision; this movie goes hand-in-hand with The Call of Sedona, proving that a great movie (quite rare, really) can compliment a great book! The synergetic effect of the two really left me with a renewed rush of inspiration and hope for our society and myself.

In this movie, an orphaned young boy stays true to his inner self as he maneuvers through a painful cast of individuals who are hostile and skeptical about his ability to hear music everywhere in the world. True to life, he gets help where he needs it, however, and overcomes all obstacles to realize his dreams and bring his family together. The movie mirrors Lee’s book in describing the extra senses we can use to ‘read’ the world and realize our goals. There is energy everywhere, Lee details, in the voice of the birds, in the wind, in the trees and plants, in the sea and air, which can tell us how the earth feels and what’s going on around the earth. Lee constantly points out that we can “find our rhythm” —our personal rhythm—inside, and also discover, through the meditative practices described in the book, the powerful vortex of energy within our souls.

August, the prodigious young musician in the movie, hears his family’s music in the wind, in the night, and hears music in every sound on the earth about him. He refuses to believe those around him who try to make him doubt himself and ostracize him, and leaves the comfort of his stagnant existence. He sets out into the world, following the music, and overcomes his fears and doubts to realize glory.

I found it interesting that there is not one bird in the movie, as birds are key in spreading news, but that is evidence that all writers can forget an important element of a telling. Hemingway talked about this; he called it the ‘tip of the iceberg’ writing: we can describe only the surface elements of a story, as long as we know what’s underneath. If we don’t know, then there’s a hole in the story. That’s why Lee’s book compliments the movie; it fills the holes that the writer perhaps doesn’t understand: the powerful extra-sensory perceptions, the underlying psychology, and the great vortex of energy within us all. Too many people in our human societies live as zombies, bodies without a purpose, without understanding, led by bad information to lead pointless and hedonistic lives. The movie definitely covered ‘finding your rhythm,’ for sure!

Try watching August Rush while reading The Call of Sedona. Then practice the powerful meditations at the end of the book, and help realize your own dreams. My life has changed drastically over the past year, and I have found Sedona and a host of friends and teachers. I am delighting in the energy and rhythm of the dream I’ve discovered, a dream that was lost over the painful years of wandering through an unguided life. Instead of throwing our lives away chasing material gain and stagnant comfort, discover the rhythm that is yours, ride the powerful vortex of energy within. Realize your own dream, and your soul will sing within your heart.

By Franklin Hughes

Ah, we’ve had our first snowfall in Sedona; makes it a very magical time of year. It’s so nice to live in an area where we get the four seasons, but not too much of any one (except for summer). But, even in the summer, we still can open our windows at night and enjoy a perfect temperature for sleeping.

The title of this little story, “I didn’t ask to be born, but I’m glad I was”, is actually the title of a book I recently read, authored by Bill Cosby.

After reading it, the true Sedona spiritual / esoteric way of thinking about things got me thinking about my life (although I didn’t ask to be born) and how glad I am to be living here in Sedona (but I’m glad I was).

My “I didn’t ask to be born” happened in a little paper factory town in Pennsylvania. It had (and still has) a log house where George Washington was supposed to have slept (it’s close to Valley Forge). Although I’m not exactly young, I can’t personally substantiate that.

My childhood was a pretty normal one. I learned to ride my bike there. As you can see in the picture, I was really proud of it, but we still had the “training wheels” on it. Not being the bravest kid on the block, it took me a while to get rid of them (to my father’s consternation). Anyway, it moved me up from riding with a leg in my wagon, wearing out the knee of my pants.

At 17, I decided to go into the Navy as my grades in school were pretty bad. As you can see in the photo, they like to cut off all your hair, but I must admit that the service was probably the best thing to help me mature.

The last photo of me here is one that was taken as we crossed the Indian Ocean on our way to Vietnam in 1964. I just had to stick it in because it’s one of the few that make me look better than I really do. Now at my age, I’m approaching that Walter Matthau look of when he was in Grumpy Old Men (no photos please).

Anyway, to get back to real life, I’ve been fortunate enough to live in many places, Upstate NY, Atlanta, and even Europe, before moving to Sedona. I’ve had some trials in my life like losing a wife, but overall it’s been pretty decent to me. I don’t know if I believe in Guardian Angels or not, but things have always seemed to “fall into place” for me. Guess that I’m pretty lucky.

Being here in Sedona, I’ve come to realize that there is so much spiritually or soulfully, that I continue to learn daily. Things I felt impossible or even imaginary before, I try to be open to. Things continue to fall into place in my life.

Although I didn’t ask to be born, I’m happy that I was…

P.S. I find it enjoyable to be able to sit down and write a little blurb every once-in-a-while. I’m sure that you have some nice stories yourself, why don’t you share them with others right here on sedonastory.com. It’s really easy to do, and I’m sure that many people would like to hear about your experiences. The lady that keeps this site clicking is so nice and a joy to work with. But she needs more stories like what you can write.

Let’s see something from you soon…

Franklin…

I love coffee. I love caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, espresso, American coffee, Turkish coffee, Greek coffee, even the fake coffee you get from machines. I especially love it with a little cow’s milk (cold or steamed) and no sugar. I don’t need to have it every day of my life, but I truly enjoy it when I do. It takes me several hours to drink caffeinated coffee—yes, I drink it hot or cold—because I carefully dose myself on the stimulant according to what my body wants at the time.

Although I have the means of making coffee at home or at work, I’m luck to be living in the Village of Oak Creek, a part of Sedona somewhat separated from the rest by a section of road that is primarily red rocks with outlook turnoffs. From our cozy hamlet whose main road is AZ State Route 179, we can see stately Bell Rock watching over us from almost every section.

On the strip of Route 179 that passes through the Village of Oak Creek, which is about two miles long, there are four quality coffee shops. These shops are not just the diners and cafe`s and gas station that serve coffee, but bonafide coffee shops with barristas and flavor shots, and pastries and other edibles.

I’d like to provide you with a virtual tour of these four coffee houses. Each is an asset to our village and has its own character and merits.

1. Posse Grounds Coffeehouse

This coffeehouse is the furthest from the center of Sedona, but it’s close to the Hilton hotel and one of the local golf courses. My favorite part of this coffeehouse is its cozy sitting area in the back that is equipped with couches and a bookshelf with books you can read while you are there. It’s also in the same shopping center as the Sedona Library Annex, and sells a few books and natural products in addition to its food and beverages.

2. Red Rock Coffee

I frequent this cafe the most because it’s across the street from where I work and because it has a cool atmosphere. Like Posse Grounds, it has a lot of tall windows that let in the bright Sedona light and spectacular views. The staff and customers are very friendly and it’s been great to see the place grow and find its groove from when it opened sometime last year. Maybe because it’s the most familiar to me, but it feels like the “place to be” in terms of hanging out with friends or your laptop.

3. Desert Flour Bakery

As the name implies, Desert Flour Bakery has the best baked goods of all of the coffeehouses in the Village. Their raspberry cheesecake is especially scrumptious, and they make cakes to order. Many of our office birthday cakes come from there. They even have something called a red rock doughnut, a specialty doughnut named after the area. Yes, their coffee is good too. But Desert Flour also serves other tasty food, including a full dinner menu. It’s atmosphere is more eclectic and it’s been around longer than the other two places I’ve written about so far.

4. Bike & Bean

Bike & Bean offers bike rentals, repairs, and tours in addition to my favorite espresso in the Village. My preference could be purely psychological, as the owner told me it was from Messina, Sicily before I tasted it. But my favorite part is the aftertaste. It has a special flavor even when it gets cold. It’s close to Bell Rock and many local bike trails.

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.