About Sedona

Sedona, Arizona is about 120 miles north of Phoenix and is an amazing place to visit for those on a spiritual path. There are at least 4 major energy vortexes around Sedona that make the entire area an energy center. For this reason, Sedona has attracted a large number of spiritual organizations and individuals, and has one of the largest concentrations of metaphysical and spiritual centers, stores, shops and groups of any area in the country.

There is perhaps no place on earth that has recorded more multidimensional appearances and unexplained phenomena. In fact, they are so common that they are almost an everyday occurrence in some parts of the valley, and practically everyone in the shops and restaurants talks about them. At least part of the phenomena may be due to the peculiar and beautiful red rock structures which are high in minerals and surround the area. Actually, each vortex is located among the large rocks near town. Doing meditations in this area makes opening your higher sense perceptions much easier..

Sedona is high desert at 4,500 feet elevation. There are plenty of wide open spaces and just to the north is some beautiful alpine country. There is camping, reasonable motel housing, fine restaurants, several nice resorts, and many interesting places to visit.

The Vortex Experience

Many archaeologists believe that thousands of years ago, the native American tribes that inhabited this part of northern Arizona considered Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon sacred sites because ruins of their habitations ring this area. They believe that the Anasazi—the Ancient Ones—lived outside of Sedona and visited this red-rock area for ceremonies on the mesa tops or in the creek. In fact, to this day some Yavapai-Apache Indians make a yearly trip to Oak Creek for a ‘cleansing’ that is similar in style to the annual pilgrimage to the Ganges made by devoted Hindus.

While there are conflicting reports about who first referred to a ‘vortex,’ it appears that this term was coined to describe Sedona’s traditional meditation sites in November 1980 by a channeler named Page Bryant, who travels and lectures nationally. For many years, she lived in Sedona, and in one of her weekly channeling sessions she referred to four well-known meditation sites as ‘the vortexes.’

Since that time, these four areas—Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon—have been identified as Sedona’s principal vortex locations.

Measuring equipment does not detect a significant difference in the electrical and magnetic fields at the various vortexes. This is one reason why skeptics attack the existence of vortexes and mock people who believe in them.

The term ‘vortex’ is somewhat symbolic rather than literal. Most vortex sites do not exhibit a circular flow of energy. Rather, they are areas with an enhanced linear flow of energy—and the ‘electric’ and ‘magnetic’ labels attached to these areas also are more symbolic than literal. What is present at vortexes is a flow of energy in subtle dimensions beyond those used to measure electricity and magnetism.

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We label vortexes according to the direction of energy flow at various sites. Most vortexes have one of two dominate patterns: Up-flow vortexes are locations where the energy is flowing upward, out of the earth, and inflow vortexes are locations where energy is flowing inward, into the planet.

Up-flow vortexes ‘turbo-boost’ spiritual skills associated with ‘going to a higher level’—for example, viewing life’s problems from an elevated plane or a soul perspective. Up-flow vortexes also can stretch your bubble of consciousness, like filling a balloon with air. Blending with clouds, the sky, or the heavens is easier at an up-flow vortex, and what many people refer to as macro-consciousness, is enhanced at an up-flow vortex. Every place labeled a ‘magnetic vortex’ is an area of inflow energy. An area labeled an ‘electric vortex’ is an area with an up-flow energy. Sometimes these labels are used interchangeably to refer to any vortex which further confuses the labeling system.

There are some misconceptions about a third labeling system. Many people refer to vortexes as ‘positive’ or ‘negative.’ Generally, these people use the terms in a yin/yang sense, meaning neither good nor bad, just opposite. However, some observers feel there actually are ‘negative vortexes’ in the sense of meaning bad or evil sites. This is not true; instead, this misconception originated when up-flow vortexes were labeled ‘positive’ because of the tremendous exhilaration they generated. These vortexes made people feel incredibly positive.

The mood generated at a ‘negative vortex’ is in sharp contrast; that is, while an experience at an up-flow vortex is exhilarating, an inflow area produces a more pensive feeling. Because it is coming down on you, rather than buoying you up, the energy at an inflow site feels heavier. Further, if people are used to introspective exploration, they do not realize that when they go inward, the first things they bump into are fears, doubts, and uncertainties As a result, if inflow areas are not understood and prepared for, they often are thought of as negative, or even evil.

No one type of vortex is better than another; what matters, is using the kind of vortex that is best suited to the meditation of interest. It is tragic to see people come to Sedona and go to the wrong kind of vortex for the spiritual skill they want to practice. Trying to heal an inner hurt or searching for a past-life memory at an up-flow vortex is very difficult. One woman described such an experience when she went to Bell Rock, an up-flow vortex area, to erase a hurt from her past. ‘I felt great but I didn’t get a thing accomplished,’ she reported. ‘Every time I tried to go inward, I got a feeling of, ’Oh, who cares? Just blend with the universe!’

Inflow vortexes are very different; at these sites, energy flows into the planet, and peoples’ reflections are turned inward. Spiritual skills employing introspection receive ‘turbo-boost’ at an inflow vortex. Inflow energy helps people ‘go within’ more easily. If you want to understand and/or heal something from your past, or search your past-life memory, the ability to do this will be enhanced at an inflow vortex.

Sites labeled as ‘feminine vortexes’ have a pattern of inflow energy. In contrast, our stereotype for the male gender matches the outward, aggressive surge of up-flow energy related to ‘masculine vortexes.’ Out-flow vortexes are places where the Earth releases energy so these areas are energizing.
The energy boost of these vortexes work directly within our body, and indirectly on our minds. As we increase the energy within our body, circuits open up which allow us to experience ‘new’ levels of awareness. Our psychic abilities become awakened.

Bell Rock is one of Sedona’s principal, reasonably accessible up-flow vortexes (electrical, positive, masculine). Bell Rock’s value as a meditation site is enhanced by the ease with which average hikers can climb to various levels. However, never underestimate the potential danger of climbing on these rock surfaces—especially in wet weather. In up-flow areas, it is always wise to be conservative about climbing to extreme heights. The up-flow of energy makes some people feel, literally, like they can soar—and that sensation can override common sense. Besides, higher is not necessarily better; in fact, going too high may ‘space you out’ and interfere with effective meditation. Some feel there is a strong ground-wave circulating around the base of Bell Rock that grows even stronger higher on the rock.

Bell Rock is rather popular with the cosmic adventurer types, who look beyond the Earthly realm. Perhaps the most commonly shared myth about the Bell Rock Vortex is that it is somehow being used by extra-terrestrials as an interdimensional portal or contact point. Bell Rock is one of the primary focal points of the ‘energy grid’ of electromagnetic Earth energy which connects many Power Spots around the planet together. This energy grid, which the Native American Indians sometimes call ’the Web,’ is an electromagnetic field in our biosphere that affects all life forms on the planet. The field of energy can be thought of as the nervous system of the planet, carrying information for the Group Mind of the Human race.

The vortex at Airport Mesa (up-flow, electrical, positive, masculine) is the only place in Sedona where people enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon area. If you are visually oriented, meditating on Airport Mesa can help you capture the feeling of ‘being in the world, but not of it.” At the same time that you see the city and are aware of humanity, you also can feel connected to heaven and beyond. Look for the trail that winds to the left at the base of the small hill. This route provides and easier, safer access to the summit than climbing the rocks. This is a good place to watch the sun set.

Most of Sedona, which is beautifully situated in the bowl of a canyon cut by Oak Creek, is a huge area marked by an inflow of energy. Here, people conveniently and effectively can tap this inflow of energy almost anywhere. One of the best locations for meditation, however, is at Red Rock Crossing—for two reasons. First, the drive down to Red Rock crossing has been described as a ‘descent into the heart of Sedona.’ In fact, the trip has that look. The additional benefit of Red Rock Crossing is the water of Oak Creek. Indeed, when visitors ‘go inward,’ they frequently confront feelings from the past that hurt, and fresh flowing water helps soothe, and even release, these feelings. Also, the water assists in cleansing a mediator's aura, as well as nurturing new beginnings. All of these effects are extremely helpful for introspective meditations.

One of the strongest up-flow (electrical, positive, masculine) vortex areas is Cathedral Rock which is renowned for exciting the exceptional, spiritually initiated resolution of complicated, sometimes serious problems. However, the power flowing from this rock also helps people channel a breakthrough for soothing even the most mundane of earthly disturbances. This vortex cycles energy through our bodies, cleansing, energizing, and balancing our personal energy field. Do not attempt to climb on Cathedral Rock unless you are an experienced hiker with some climbing experience because the rock tends to be crumbly sandstone and flakes off. There is a standing wave pattern of energy all around Cathedral Rock so it is not necessary to climb all the way to the basalt intrusions or spires to receive the benefit of the vortex energy.

Boynton Canyon is a ‘twilight zone’ or ‘in-between’ place. There are many reports of mysterious things going on in this canyon. There is a feeling of enchantment there in which the waking world seems to merge with the reflections of the dream world. This canyon blends both magnetic and electrical effects. The primary focal point of the electrical energy is a rock spire near the mouth of the canyon, which locals have named the ‘Kachina Woman.’

Of the 4 major vortexes Bell Rock & Boynton Canyon have generated the most stories and draw the most attention. However, the myths surrounding these two vortexes often fall in two distinct categories. The mythology of Boynton Canyon revolves around the long standing legend of the Earth Goddess who is said to live there. People who feel that they are drawn to Boynton Canyon above all others, tend to be ‘Earth people’…those who feel a strong connection to the Earth.

The value to those on a spiritual path of any of the vortexes is to meditate in the vortex areas. Merging with the vortex energies and allowing them to flow through you, directing them to open you and assist in releasing specific issues is most helpful. At the end of all meditations be sure to be grounded and call your energy back.

References:
Scientific Vortex Information by Pete A. Sanders Jr.
Sedona Power Spot Vortex by Richard Dannelley

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