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 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 Sumeet Dhillon

I have visited Sedona and Mago Garden (Sedona Mago Retreat) in particular only a handful of times, and each revisit matched with a change in my life at that time. It seems as I changed I became more and more aware of Sedona. As I opened to my body, my mind, and my spirit, and my hopes and dreams, when I went to Sedona, I could feel the same life energy vibrating in me, in the land around me. Sedona was a place where I saw the sky and the heavens, truly saw life and the earth in its purest form. As I think about it my heart swells with a desire to go again and connect to that beautiful land.

(Photo by Frank Hughes)

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 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 Del Lawrence

 

I went to Sedona to visit with my daughter during the spring time; she had recently moved from New York and I was curious to find out where Sedona was located and what the place was like. I had only heard of Sedona in passing Geography. I arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport after travelling from Toronto, Canada, travel time 3 hours travelling from Toronto Central time zone to Arizona Mountain time zone, there was 3 hours’ time difference to which I had to get used to. My first visit to Sedona was for a 3 day weekend. I stayed at the beautiful Sedona Mago Retreat Centre, to see the red bricks that were similar in colour to the rocks of Sedona, with the backdrop of pristine wilderness and huge red rocks was amazing. I have never seen a place like this before. The quietness that existed—it is as if amidst that quiet environment, my mind, body and spirit became very relaxed.

On a couple of occasions we journeyed from the Centre, travelling along the pristine red dirt rocky road, and for miles there were no buildings, only desert land, cactus and scattered vegetation, passing all this on our way into the town of Sedona for supper at a fine dining restaurant.

The next day I woke up early and joined the group in meditation and prayer. At the retreat centre, I was introduced to a form of relaxation therapy in the form of special massage techniques and this was very relaxing and for the entire day, I felt very relaxed and had a calming spirit.

My daughter and I visited one of the national parks and I was most impressed with the preservation of the environment and the natural habitat. The formation of the rocks was a sight to behold, they had their definite shape as if they were carved by God and they were just sitting there as if they were wonders of the universe. I began to ask questions as to why Sedona was so beautiful and why those huge rocks. I have never see such wonder, such perfect shapes. The closest that I have come to seeing such wonder was when I visited Alberta, Canada and there were huge rocks but they were natural colour. The mystical energy of Sedona was amazing. I think of Sedona as the Garden of Adam and Eve. There was this rock called “Bell Rock” because it shaped like a bell, we tried climbing it, the sun was too hot and the rock was so hot that it could be used for sauna. There were markers in the park and this was placed there should visitors need to find their way back. The rocks were like between God and man the unspoken word of something eternal. The wilderness reminded me of watching the John Wayne cowboy movies; the background in the films looks like Sedona, especially when driving on the road to the Mago Retreat Centre.

When we visited the town, the many shops along the way, with so much to sell, the various artistry, psychic readings, Sedona jewelry were all very tempting. The people were amazing and all so ready to assist. I ended up buying a beautiful piece of crystal which I currently have displayed in my office on my credenza.

As I looked around, I noticed that there were several churches, almost on every corner. I wondered why so many churches? The houses and the landscape all blend so beautiful amidst the red rocks. There were only low rise residential homes and condominiums. This gave Sedona that vacationing community feel.
I wondered about the soil, water minerals from all those rocks and the effects on mankind. The flow of the water in the rivers, how clean was it. I thought to myself that since there were lots of cactus plants that there had to be lots of water underground. Driving back to Sky Harbour, the travelling route was amazing, great roads and very scenic route.

I would not mind visiting Sedona more often. There is no ocean nearby and I love the ocean, but because of all the other wonderful attributes, Sedona is absolutely wonderful for a relaxed and stress free lifestyle. I think of Sedona as that beautiful gift to mankind—“An American Gem.”

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.

By Frank Hughes

In ancient China and Korea, Taoist scholars studied the basic fundamentals of nature. They understood that everything comes from the “unnamable,” the principles of Tao that show themselves in the principles of Yin and Yang (e.g. day and night, heaven and earth, etc.).

They observed this pattern in nature and named it the Five Elements or Five Energies. They are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water (the Air element is only found in western paradigms). They believed these 5 energies to be the energetic building blocks from which all things are made. Everything is made up of some combination of these elements whether it be plants, music, people, art and so on.

I thought that I’d look at these 5 Elements as they pertain to the nature of the Sedona area and to people around the world.

WOOD

Sedona has some of the most beautiful wood in the world. Some say the vortex energies add to this classic, twisty, beauty. These photos were taken along Broken Arrow Trail. For a person, wood is good when you want to add the energy of growth and vitality to your life. Wood heralds the beginning of life, the buds in springtime, sensuality, and fecundity.

In Oriental medicine, wood is represented by anger and its corresponding organs are the liver and gallbladder. Wood-type people are normally outgoing and socially conscious.

FIRE

Ah, fire can be a tricky one around the Sedona area. It can be as beautiful as the sun we see here in an evening sunset or destructive as a forest fire. Luckily our photo here of fire is from an outdoor Tao ceremony at Sedona Mago Retreat; it’s a spiritually healing fire.

Fire is associated with the qualities of dynamism, strength, and persistence. The fire element or energy provides warmth, enthusiasm, and creativity. Fire is responsible for that passionate resonance when you follow your life’s calling.

EARTH

Hmmmmm, earth is quite obvious in Sedona; we see its bared beauty every day. I wanted to show “earth” in a more simple way than the majestic red rocks here, so I chose a stone Buddha head that came from the Tibetan area. The second photo is of one of many carefully built stone columns that you find at Cathedral Rock, down by the stream.

Earth energy is grounding, stabilizing, and balancing. Of course the earth energy here in Sedona has a lot of metal in it also, the iron oxide that has turned the rocks that beautiful rusty red. Earth is associated with the qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, practicality, and stability. “Earth” people are normally warm, kind, and supportive.

METAL

Aside from the iron in our rocks, Sedona doesn’t have too much metal around. One nice example is the beautiful sculpture-castings that adorn the city (my favorite is the man and little child by the crosswalk). What I chose to show is the classic art-deco style tractor found in the old packing shed near the apple orchard at Slide Rock (I love the energy of that old tractor).

Metal is actually yin or feminine energy and its motion is inward (each energy has a yin or yang side to its energy, although I haven’t discussed them all here). The metal energy is the breath of life (one can see why it’s feminine). The qualities associated with it are persistence, strength, and determination. Metal people are self-reliant, and prefer to handle their problems alone.

WATER

One of the things that make Sedona so wonderful is the availability of water. We can see it in the picture here of Oak Creek, that stimulating flowing of life-giving water through the canyon and valley. But then we also can see it in the beautiful snowfalls that we receive in the winter. This image is what I can see from my kitchen window on a snowy morning.

Water energy is downward and its motion is stillness and conserving. Taoist thought says water is representative of intelligence, wisdom, stillness, and flexibility. In some ways water can be fluid and weak, but it can also wield a great power when it floods and overwhelms us. Water-type people can be a bit reserved, yet are often very creative. They can appear cool, yet have the capacity to deeply reflect. Water is also feminine in character.


I had the pleasure of finding out more about the Five Energies (Elements) in a seminar that was given a while ago here in Sedona. If you want to know more about the organs associated with each element, whether they are Yin or Yang, and what element you are, you can contact the person that taught me so much, Banya Lim, who is an acupuncturist and energy healer at the Sedona Mago Healing Center on Jordan Rd.