Sedona, Arizona is a place that is fabled to be full of magical energy.  I have heard for many years of people who venture to Sedona for various reasons.  It is a place that attracts those who believe in the invisible realm and the powers of positive energy.  Some visit for healing, some for guidance, and others for pure curiosity.  Sedona is known as a place that has many energy vortexes, allegedly because of high concentration of Iron ore and sandstone in the rocks.  This is said to create both positive and negative magnetic energy and alleged to be helpful for both healing and spiritual development.   I was given an opportunity to see  Sedona by a generous friend who invited me to Arizona and who was willing to drive there from Mesa for the day.

I was both elated and curious.  The drive yielded a full open horizon and various rock formations on the way. During a travel stop on the way, my IPHONE5 fell in the toilet.  I was unable to save it and although I am normally attached at the hip to my phone, I was actually quite relaxed to not have to check email continually.

My first view of Sedona was a scenic stop.  I was astounded by the rich deep red tones of the rocks and the sheer size of the formations set against open blue sky. On instinct I looked and then thought about taking photos but I could not stop myself from glancing a few more times as if the formations would go away and I should get my last chance to commit them to memory. After viewing a few more scenic spots and taking more photos, we stopped for a short hike.

One of the things that really struck me about Sedona and Arizona in general was the juxtaposition of wilderness and society. Just outside the outskirts of towns lie mountains and wildlife straight out of an old time Western with scenes one would expect to see in a movie.  After gawking over and over at the sky, mountains, cacti, abundant orange and lemon trees, and the never ending horizon, I had to remind myself that the postcard scenes I witnessed were in fact real as opposed to a Hollywood set.  The sheer physical beauty of the land was a feast for the eyes.

In the town of Sedona were many restaurants, curio shops, coffee joints, and quaint stores with expensive and sparkling silver and native jewelry, replete with prices dedicated to rich tourists.  There were also various seers, psychics, and healers ready to offer services. Of amusing note was the noticeable “Enjoy your journey” upon leaving places of business. Yet just outside of the town are many hiking spots containing signs with warnings about potential dangers upon the trails in addition to polite requests about trying not to disturb animal life in its natural habitat. To see such wilderness just outside one’s doorstep is a reminder that there are still places left in the world that are not completely touched and overrun by the amenities of society. It was also a reminder that there are still places where one can truly be alone; both an exciting and a dangerous proposition.

I absolutely loved Sedona.  Was it magic? Magnetic energy? The company of a good friend?  The first vacation or more than two days off in five years?  No phone? The great Mexican food? The unbelievable view from every point in town and on the road?  Who knows, but I am looking forward eagerly to my next visit.

Here is a helpful website for more information about Sedona:
http://www.sedonaretreats.com/vortex.html

Photos by Katja Davidoff