Sedona Story

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

Photo courtesy of Jordan Diamond

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 Tonya Whelan

Yolessa and I asked people on the street “What Does Energy Mean To You?”

Here are some of the answers we received.

By Tonya Whelan

A woman told Yolessa and me about her experience the day at Oak Creek Canyon had recently inspired her by helping her to find solutions to major issues in her daily life.

As she left she told us that a little meditation and yoga also helps.

By Christine Marostica

I was a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1995, and that was year I first saw Sedona. I came down from Flagstaff into a world that was so natural and beautifully stunning. I felt empowered to believe in myself as I played upon the red rocks. From within myself I could sense that life was now waiting for me. Life called to me in Sedona to become a healer. Just like everyone else, I had absorbed the pure Sedona energy and life has been a wonderful journey since. As I took in the magical vistas, back in 1995 my life had really then just begun. Sedona’s magic is that it brings you to life.

By Dylan R. Marshall

Nikki and Steve on Bell Rock, where they were married 21 years ago today!

I was hiking up Bell Rock with two dear friends, Michelle and Paul night before last. The sun was setting, and Bell Rock was stunning as always.

Seated on the stones was a couple enjoying the sunset and the energy of Bell Rock. Michelle went over and asked if they wanted their picture taken. They did, and the four of us began to talk.

Nikki and Steve have been married 21 years today!

And the big moment took place …

on Bell Rock!

Their story is truly delightful … with lots of extra bits.

By Loretta Jane Hido

[This post is an excerpt. To read the full story, click here.]

I took it really hard… It is a hard thing to watch someone you love
and respect and admire wither away to nothing and then you watch them suffer and die…WOW…What a wake up call!

So, being a middle child and being so hurt inside and confused and upset (like…WHY do bad things happen to good people??) I gave 30 days notice at the job I had been at for years…
I bought a big map of the United States of America.
I am going on a road trip and I am going to see the places and things I have always read about or heard about in the United States…
and I am going to LIVE and I am going to heal and take a journey…

I highlight places like:
Mount Rushmore
Yellowstone
Salt Lake City
Reno
Tahoe
Las Vegas
Grand Canyon
Phoenix
Four Corners
Branson

Off I go…My Dads passing “made” me live…

I leave my small home town of McKean, Pa (near Erie, Pa)
and went from Pa all the way to California and down and
around…
Going 10,000+ miles and hitting 21 states…
Driving, photographing, hiking, thinking and healing…

While driving from Las Vegas heading to Phoenix
I took a turn off the beaten path and went on 89 South
headed toward Prescott when I saw a little sign saying
“Sedona”…? Hmmmmm…Didn’t I once hear about someone
saying IF you are ever in Arizona to stop in Sedona?
Hmmmmmmmmm? Why ? What is there I thought?
So, I made a U-turn and headed toward Sedona…
I didn’t know why…I didn’t know what was there…
Heck, it isn’t even ON my map???

Oh well, off I go…Up and over the mountain and thru
Jerome…it is dark, the roads are scary…I see nothing
but stars as I drive up and over and down into
Cottonwood and I venture up into Sedona on 89…
It is dark, almost 11pm, I see nothing in Sedona…
It is dark, small quiet town…Hmmm….? What is here?
Well, I see nothing…but…I do see Hwy 179 leads to
the Interstate and I can get back on track and head
South on Interstate 17 to Phoenix..

I stop at the gas station at the “Y” on 89 to fill up….
I get in my bronco and NO brakes!! I can push the
pedal right to the floor! Holy Moly!
I HAVE to stop here…I HAVE to stay the night here…
I HAVE NO BRAKES!!!???

So, as I am looking under the bronco and looking at the
tires and such an elderly man comes from no where and
asks me if I am having a problem with the car?
I say to him, well, it appears that I have no brakes!
So, he checks the bronco out for me and says…
“You’re not going anywhere tonite “…you have no brakes
…
So I ask…where am I ? And is there anywhere to stay here?!
He laughs and makes a few phone calls and he gets me a place
to stay at a bed n breakfast here in town…
He has me follow him and tells me how to handle the brakes and
such and that in the morning he’ll get me to the tire place and get
me settled up with new brakes…and he’ll make sure I am taken
care of!
I asked him IF he worked at the gas station? He said NO, he is just
a local.
So, I follow him to where I will spend the night.
The next morning he came and got me and we went to the tire place
and he made sure the guys took good care of me and my bronco
got fixed up right.
I stayed for breakfast then at the bed n breakfast and I was in AWE
with what I have just woken up to in Sedona!

I am like…where am I ?
I ended up getting my brakes fixed and stayed a few days here in this
beauty…
I hiked. I had my vortex experience! I KNEW this was my new home!
This is where I would heal….This felt good. This felt right.
This is where I was meant to be. This is where the universe and God has stopped me….!!

I finished my trip across the United States…21 states, 10,000+ miles.
I left Pennsylvania in October of 1996…left my Mother all my sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews and friends…my whole life…
to start anew and to heal here in Sedona, Arizona…
I have been here since 1996 and my spiritual journey has never ended.
Every day I wake up and just think to myself…WOW…what a
place to be…Mother Nature at her best…! Gods country…

And it only took me 10,000+ miles on my journey to get here…

By Tonya Whelan

Yolessa and I found one woman who had a particularly lovely experience to share with us at Bell Rock, and a way to help her deal with the death of a beloved pet.

By Tonya Whelan

People come to Bell Rock for so many reasons: the beauty, the energy, to experience the vortex, and to soak up the landscape. Here are a few things that people there told us when Yolessa and I last visited this popular vortex in the Village of Oak Creek on the outskirts of Sedona.

By Tonya Whelan

Yolessa and I found many people around Bell Rock in the Village of Oak Creek who came to be inspired and to share the wonderful energy of this Vortex.