Sunday, March 04, 2007

A spiritual time in Sedona, Arizona

By the time I visited this lovely desert haven, my Italian ex boyfriend, Mik and I had mutually decided that after close to 5 years it just wasn't going to work out. It's hard to move on from someone you are so used to and who knows you at your best and worst. And here I was just shy of turning 30 and for the 2nd time in my young life having another relationship of 3+ years end. That said, Mik and I were still on good terms and meanwhile, he had very generously (and without my being consulted!) invited his childhood friend, Neno, from Italy to live with us for a few months. After about 1 month of this very crowded setting Mik and I decided we needed some fresh air and took a free couple days at a timeshare resort in Sedona, Arizona. Like I said: we were still on amicable terms and we definitely already knew how to travel well together. (We also both needed a break from taking care of Neno - whew!) So this was to be our last trip together before I moved out.

I came to love Sedona's awesome beauty. I HIGHLY recommend it - the Spring is perfect! Summer, I hear, the heat is almost unbearable to be outdoors, and I know that it snows in the winter. We were there during perfect weather. It was right up our alley (neither of us like cold vacations). One of the big draws to Sedona are the natural red tones in the region. Driving and exiting the freeway, heading west after a couple bends in the road you suddenly spot the majestic red hillsides. You can imagine how picturesque it can be at sunset. Everything is red!

We stayed free at the Hyatt Pinon Point timeshare. Wow - what a great place! Definitely the nicest timeshare we had stayed in. It was set up like an upscale condo - complete with large kitchen (we saved money by driving to a nearby store and mostly cooking inside the whole time), living room, 2 TVs, great stereo system, fireplace, huge bathroom with huge shower, separate large round jacuzzi bath with jets, tile flooring, patio and balcony with great view if you were on the 2nd or 3rd floor like us. We didn't go but there was also a gym and the pool with 2 Jacuzzis were beautiful and modern.

As nice as our housing was, the real treat was being outside in Mother Nature. Another big draw of the majestic red mountains is the fact that for whatever reason Sedona is a major vortex capital in the world. A vortex is the funnel shape created by the motion of spiraling energy. The vortexes in Sedona are swirling centers of subtle energy coming out from the surface of the earth. They characterize Sedona as a spiritual power center. The energy of the vortexes interacts with whom or what a person is in their inner self. Some strengthen your female or male side. Very interesting stuff! It resonates with and strengthens the Inner Being of each person who comes within about a quarter to a half mile of it. This resonance occurs because the vortex energy is very similar to the subtle energy operating in the energy centers inside each person. We were able to get a map to the several that are in Sedona. Some are longer hikes than others. But the interesting fact was that as we approached closer and closer to a Vortex, the Juniper trees that dotted the region would actually twist due to the spiral-like energy. Sedona is now a center for Spiritual Awareness and Evolution. Mik and I eat up this stuff! There were New Age shops in the very quaint main street where we bought some cool crystals - I really believed mine worked by the way (but that will need to be another blog).

One memory I won't forget was during one hike when he was in front of me about 10 feet as we walked the trail ledge of a cliff. Suddenly I saw Mik in mid-stride with his left leg swinging in the air - do a strange, exaggerated leap forward. "RATTLE SNAKE!!" And indeed it was! It was nearing sunset and it was coming out from under some rocks where it had probably been sleeping during the day in the shade. Mik had almost placed his left foot on the rock on top of it when he saw it and thus did the dramatic hop forward! (See web photo album for picture.) The ironic thing is that since I had met Mik he has been intrigued with seeing a California Rattlesnake. Well, here was his final opportunity! And thus, Mik and I enjoyed a couple otherwise peaceful and spiritual days hiking beautiful trails and meditating at the couple vortex sites we reached. I definitely plan to go back! Click on webalbum above and watch slideshow!

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