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Many
people visit Sedona to explore its metaphysical dimensions, especially
its vortexes.
Page
Bryant coined the name “vortex” in 1980 for areas in Sedona that
have highly concentrated energies conducive to prayer, meditation and
healing.
Although
the idea of a vortex in Sedona is relatively new, Sedona has been known
as a sacred place long before that time. For hundreds of years, Native
Americans have performed ceremony in Sedona, and some tribes continue to
this day. “Sedona as a
whole is a vortex, with the energy spread throughout it like a bowl,”
says adventure guide and author Dennis Andres in his book "What
Is a Vortex."
Nonetheless,
the term “vortex” has taken hold because it helps to explain
people’s experiences of well being at the sites that Bryant
identified. Some scientists, such as Pete Sanders, Jr., believe that
scientific string theory can help explain what happens at vortexes in
dimensions beyond ordinary perception. In
his book "Scientific
Vortex Information" he says,
“Even though we cannot measure those dimensions yet, you can still
experience them because you exist in them.
…and so do the vortex sites.
What is happening at the vortex sites is energy flow in those
deeper dimensions. You have
the inner ability to measure, feel, find and tap that energy.”
What
is the definition of “vortex”?
The term vortex
refers to its less common definition:
“A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that
surrounds it.”
In other words, a vortex is a site where the
energy of an area is concentrated.
Because Sedona as a whole is known to be a spiritual power spot,
a vortex site in Sedona is a place where one can feel Sedona’s
spiritual energy most strongly. Page Bryant, a medium, came up with the
term while she was investigating sacred locations in the area.
What
are the commonly identified vortexes in Sedona?
The commonly
identified vortex areas are
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Airport
Mesa. Closest to the Uptown area of
Sedona, it offers panoramic views.
-
Bell
Rock. Adjoining the Village of Oak
Creek, it has an easily identifiable bell- shape formation.
-
Boynton
Canyon. Still a site for annual Native
American ceremonies, this vortex is off Dry Creek Road in West
Sedona and offers the longest hike of the four main vortex
sites—up to three hours round trip.
-
Cathedral
Rock. Located on Lower Red Rock Loop
Road, it is the most photographed site in Sedona.
The cathedral-like structure rises above Oak Creek.
“We consider
these four areas just a fraction of the energy sources and sites that
you can tap in Sedona,” says Sanders. Other special places to connect
with the sacred energy of Sedona include The Chapel of the Holy Cross,
Schnebly Hill, West Fork and the Amitabha Stupa.
Are
all vortexes the same?
Opinions differ. Some people say that all vortexes are equal in their ability
to amplify energies; others will tell you that there are different
qualities at different sites. Pete
Sanders identifies some sites as upflow vortexes (where energy rises out
of the earth); others as inflow vortexes (where energy flows into the
earth)
Upflow vortexes,
such as mountains, mesas and pyramidal-type typography, are useful when
one wishes to view life from a higher plane, to develop a more universal
perspective or to send a prayer or affirmation out into the world.
According to Sanders, upflow vortex sites make people feel positive,
exhilarated and rejuvenated. “They literally unwind you and help you
tap that universal oneness and harmony,” he says. Bell Rock is an
example of an upflow vortex.
Inflow vortexes,
such as valleys, canyons and caves, are good for introspection and
spiritual problem solving. “If
you want to understand and/or heal something from your past or go inward
for past-life memory, those skills will be enhanced in an inflow
vortex,” says Sanders. Boynton Canyon is an example of an inflow
vortex. According to Sanders, most of Sedona (excluding cliffs and
mesas) is a huge inflow area because it lies in a valley cut by Oak
Creek.
How
do I find the vortex spot when I get to the site?
There is no
“x” that marks the spot. The
entire area is considered to be a vortex.
This makes it much more accessible.
A visitor can decide to linger at the base, take a gentle walk or
climb to the apex.
How
will I experience a vortex?
Each person will
experience a vortex differently. Possibilities
include
After working
with nearly 5,000 people, Andres has observed that Sedona encourages all
kinds of shifts and that vortexes are real.
“But unless you trust your own ability to sense,” says
Andres, “it may be difficult to tell what, if anything, is really
happening.”
Why
doesn’t everyone feel the same effect?
Everyone is
different and so are their experiences.
While one person might see colors or energetic swirls, another
might simply feel more supported and uplifted.
What
can I do at a vortex?
Sitting quietly
and experiencing what the site has to offer is the simplest and most
direct way to interact with a vortex.
Meditations, breathing exercises, ceremonies and visualizations
are additional ways to experience Sedona’s vortexes. In their books
Andres and Sanders offer suggestions that have helped people explore the
vortexes’ unfamiliar energies.
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