Soul Journeys and Vision Quests in the Vortexes of Sedona, Arizona
Spiritual Destinations
by Gina Alzate
Not so long ago, after promptings from colleagues in my holistic, metaphysical, and spiritual circles, I visited Sedona, Arizona to experience for myself the energy of the vortexes for which it is known worldwide. Sedona is116 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona which takes 2 hours drive on an open road.
When I became a Soul Coach who work with Soul Journeys and Vision Quests as part of our healing modality, I have been reading about places in the world known to have strong energy vortexes designated to align with our particular chakras, the major energy centers of our bodies. Vision Quests are sacred rites of passage meaning quest for vision. Soul Journeys are trance meditations which allows the person to gain insights when a query is asked before embarking on the meditative state. After reading a series of reports on how energy vortexes in Sedona are linked to all the major chakras of the body, I felt compelled to experience it firsthand.
My own quest was to find out if energy vortexes do really exist in Sedona. The second quest was to experience what was it like to enter an energy vortex. Before I embarked on this quest, I wanted to make sure I understood what constitutes energy vortexes. How would I know if I am in one?
What I found in my research was a number of unsubstantiated articles on the topic, hardly scientific but highly faith-based and metaphysical in nature. In my quest for spiritual truths, I am discerning and experience-oriented. My research engages my critical thinking skills and my intuitive abilities. So, I found the whole body of literature on energy vortexes to be inconclusive.
At first glance, Sedona is comforting and easy to the senses. The entire valley was surrounded with beautiful and unique red rock formations. It is a small community where metaphysics is openly explored. It is a haven for creative artists whose beautiful and inspiring works of art can be found throughout the shops in Uptown Sedona and at the Tlaquepaque Market. Several shamanic healers take people on Vision Quests with the Navajo and Hopi Indians who reside 150 miles from the center of Sedona.
A space is only a space until it is given deeper meaning by generations, tying the history of the community to ancestral past. A community exists when residents share common beliefs and lifestyles. To see how well received metaphysical practitioners were in the area spoke volumes on how accepting the people were of esoteric arts and diverse healing modalities. It is a culture striving to be spiritual in nature, celebrating differences in supportive and loving ways.
