I'm in Love! I'm in Love! I'm in Love!

Dear Sedona,

Where did you come from? How could we have not met until just now? Where have you been all my life? I'm so glad I found you. You complete me.

Love, xoxo,
Rayma

I didn't know what the hell I was doing when I randomly picked Sedona to visit on my way to New Mexico. All I had heard is that it was pretty and had great shopping. As you can tell, day two went a lot better than day one. I don't even like shopping that much, so why the heck did I pick it above all other locations? With this next statement, it is evident that I'm a Sedonian... I went to Sedona because I was supposed to go to Sedona, because the universe wanted me there, because the red rock was softly beating my name. Yep, I'm a convert.

For those of you who don't know, Sedona is the new age capital of America. For those of you who don't know what new age is, well, let's just say it has a lot to do with psychics, alternative medicines, auras, that kind of stuff. Now, you might thing Rayma has gone a bit crazy here, but bare with me.

Yesterday began a little like Thursday, slightly uncomfortable and awkward. I got my cup of coffee, then headed over to the bagel place for some sort of concoction of egg, cheese, and bread substances. Then I went to Wildflower Bread Company to pick up my lunch for the tour. I got an unusual, but tasty, roasted sweet potato sandwich.

Soon, it was time for the outing, a vortex jeep tour led by the Lonely Planet recommended Earth Wisdom Jeep Tours. I checked into the tour, and being a few minutes early, I sat down next to a smiley faced, kind-eyed woman who would be joining me on the tour. I learned that her name was Nancy and that she was also traveling alone. We quickly bonded over our common fears of appearing in public alone. Also joining us was an older couple who didn't really look like they liked each other, and their friend. The friend looked disgusted at the red-dusted seats of the jeep, insisting they be cleaned. I peeped in with, "From the looks of it, you might end up getting a little dirty." She didn't say anything else.

Steve, our tour guide, was a groovy, spiritual, cool type of guy who was really sensitive to people's energy. I guess I had some good energy, because he hinted that he wanted me to sit in front beside him. We had to pick up some other riders at a nearby hotel, and I began to get a sense for what this was all about when going to pick these people up. Steve kept talking about how everyone was going through there own stuff today, it's important to respect where everyone is in there life and what they are trying to accomplish in the vortexes, people might break down or have breakthroughs today, one of the guys we were going to pick up is celebrating his birthday, the day he was born, man, that's heavy, the stars and the moon aligned that day. Then Steve asked us all if there were any skeptics of the vortex. I said I didn't even know what a vortex is, so I don't know. So here it is people, as best I can describe it, a vortex is that swirly pattern you see from tornadoes, dust devils, and swirly water that sucks you down like this picture on the right. Well, in Sedona, vortexes aren't created by elements, but by spiritual energy emanating from the red rocks (scientifically proven, says Steve). There are special places in and around Sedona where these spiritual vortexes are located, but the energy is kinda everywhere, says Steve. It all has to do with the red rocks. The rocks are red because of iron, the core of our planet is made of iron magma and stuff, there is a vortex that spirals from these red rocks on the surface to the core of our planet which helps us connect us to our spiritual selves. Yea, I think.

Our first stop was this really pretty place with a look out and big red rocks all around. I was trying to let the vortex energy in; Steve said the best way is just to lay down on the rocks, empty your mind, and let it take over, man. On my search to find just the right spot with great energy, I saw this really cool cactus, so I leaned in close to take a photo. When I got back up, I saw (and felt) dozens of cactus spines in my leg and crotch! This was obviously a test of whether I was going to let that get in the way of my spiritual conquests. I pulled them out and found a great place to lay down, it was really calling to me, ya know? In a few moments my mind went blank (not hard to do), my heart was open to whatever the other world had in store for me, and I waited. Softly at first I began to feel something, like the faint beat of the earth's heart below me pulsing in my fingertips, then like a song with rounds came the tingle of electricity. It was not scary, nor was I surprised, it was so subtle and gentle. A few stabs from some left over cactus needles and the urge to pee got me up from my trance and I found a suitable location to release. Nancy was still lost in a meditative trance. We didn't say much as we went off to the next location.

The second spot was more beautiful than the first. Steve said it was his favorite place in all Sedona and that not too many people know of it. Steve lit some juniper root around birthday boy and I parked myself on the edge of a ledge and allowed myself to return to that meditative state. I could sense Steve's presence as he walked a few meters to my left and suddenly there was beautiful, Native American flute music echoing throughout the canyon. I felt completely blissful and at ease, every concern and worry I had were gone seeming so insignificant and far away. I'm not sure how much time had passed before he stopped playing, but when he did I began to hear the sniffles of someone behind me. The woman worried about getting dirty was crying. I got up and began walking back to the car, so did she. I mentioned that the music was beautiful, and in between sobs, she agreed. The entire ride to the next location this woman was water works in the back of the jeep, don't get me wrong, I'm so glad she had some kind of break through, but it seemed a bit melodramatic.

Finally we reached the climax of the tour, a native sacred wheel ceremony. We pulled up to a man-made circle resembling a wheel. It has spokes in it, and a center to burn juniper root. Steve let birthday boy light the juniper root, and then we were instructed to one-by-one circle around the wheel and find a place on the wheel that we gravitated towards. Ladies went first, and we each felt our way out to our places. When everyone had circled and found their most righteous place, Steve went around and told us what these places meant for us. Birthday boy was to the east, he was a turtle. He would have long life, he was brave and strong. Next was me in the south; I was the coyote. I needed to take more chances, have more fun, stop being so serious (me, not fun?). He said that I had the ability, if needed, to communicate with my ancestors in times of trouble. Next were Nancy and the weepy lady; there were south-west and they were the bear. They were going through pivotal changes in there life. They needed to stop being mother bears, and start taking care of themselves. Weepy lady eagerly agreed. To the northwest were the couple that hated each other; they were ravens. They were shape-shifters, who could be many different people. They have a lot of magic, but (adds Steve), might need to rediscover that magic. Bride of birthday boy was to the north, she was the white buffalo. White buffaloes are magical creatures who are only born once every few hundred years (just so happens, there are, coincidentally, a few alive today). The white buffalo represents a unique light which brings peace wherever she goes.

After our "readings" we returned to Sedona. Nancy asks if I would like to join her for dinner, I eagerly accept. Like a true hippie, Steve needs a ride. Of course I take him, he's a cool dude. He talks about the group, the bad energy he was getting from the couple, but he feels it went well over all. I'm driving to take him to his car which is being worked on, and he's talking about how hungry he is, so I suggest we grab lunch. He's supper excited about this idea and he guides me to a Mexican restaurant that serves prickly pear margaritas.

We talk about life, how he met his girlfriend of eight years, and he asks about my journey. I tell him about how I used to not even care about the environment; this blows his mind- "You?" he says. I tell him about how I didn't care about recycling, my impact, how much I drove, if I littered, etc. "What? You didn't recycle? No way?" I told him for a long time I didn't know what I was put on this earth to do, I had no direction. I ended up taking an environmental studies class, which changed everything. I found out how great my impact was and I thought, "Nobody knows this! They need to know this! When they find out what they're doing, they'll change too!" But when I told people, they didn't react like I did. I was confused because they were indifferent. From that point on I made it my mission to get people to care. It's hard to do. You've got to be gentle, put it in a way they can understand. Don't make them feel guilty. Don't make caring a hippie thing or a tree-hugger thing or a leftest thing or a California thing, make it a human thing, a relateable thing, a sensible thing, an economic thing. I've gotten it wrong plenty of times before, gotten my blood all hot, but each time I learn and try to figure out how I could have made that person understand and how I'm going to make the next person understand. You gotta work with people, try to understand where they're coming from, figure out a reason that they can understand, and you gotta try to understand them too. It's a tough one, and I don't exactly know if there's a job out there that renders to this calling, but I just do it.

After a delicious prickly pear margarita and an enchilada that is good (but not as good as my grandma Lita's), I take him back to his car. He's talking about how we're so alike, maybe I was his sister in a past life. We were both in the military, both our birthdays are in March, he worked for the forest service and I'm going to work for the forest service, we both love Guns N' Roses (a sure sign), yep, definitely related in a past life.

After I drop him off, I head over to Amitabha Stupa, a Buddhist shrine, to continue my spiritual journey. I arrive the same time as two other cars, whom evidentially know each other. They smile at me and volunteer that they are here fore a tribal sacred wheel ceremony, I smile, it must be popular. They look at me as if they're wondering why I don't inquire further. They walk ahead of me, and I take my time, trying to feel the energy of the land. Spiritual flags guide me up the path towards the stupas. Finally I reach it, not knowing what a stupa is, I didn't know what to expect, but it is just what I was looking for. I walk around it clockwise, marveling in its beauty. Many people have left small tokens as gifts for the stupa. Behind it is what I think is a Buddha. I spend the rest of the afternoon here, loosing track of time.

When I head back to my car, I see that Nancy has called me. We agree to a time for dinner, before sunset, and I head back to my room for a shower. I find that I have red, dusty boogers, and the shower is the most amazing thing in the world. Nancy picks me up and we head up to the airport restaurant which reportedly has an amazing sunset. Not so. The view is blocked by the runway and wire fences, and the wind is blowing Nancy's salad off the table. We go inside, sacrificing our sunset, but the company makes up for anything the dinner is lacking. I feel that Nancy is an old friend and that we were meant to meet in Sedona.

Following the meal, I convince Nancy to accompany me to Center for the New Age. I leave early tomorrow, and I really want to have my fortune read before I leave. The center is filled with every fantastical, spiritual knick-knack you can think of, from crystals to dragons, from gem stones to tarot cards. They offer a menu of services, including aura readings. I ask if I can have a reading and they hand me a white three-ringed binder with a biography of each of the 15 psychic readers they have. They tell me to choose one that I'm feeling. I choose Anyanka; something about the way she looks at me through the photo tells me she's the one. 15 minutes is $35 (yikes!) and the prices go up from there. I ask for 15 minutes and Anyanka guides me to her office. A laptop sits to the left back corner, a round table is in the center, and I sit down beside her at the table. She asks if there is anything specific I would like to know or are concerned about. Nothing, I say. She lays down a circle of tarot cards and begins my reading, month by month for the year. The things she says about my character and tendencies are eerily true. She tells me what to expect for the next four months of my life (15 minutes = four months). The information if fluid and her intuition seems spot on. I'm excited for the future (I guess she's told me exactly what I want to hear). Towards the end of the reading, her phone announces 'message from so-and-so'. She wraps things up, I give her my money quite satisfied with the reading, and head back to Nancy. "What did she say?" squealed Nancy. I proceed to retell the reading, hoping that by doing so, it would still come true.

Nancy took me back to my room and we hugged and promised to keep in touch. Too tired for anything else, I got into bed, hoping for some stellar, vortex dreams, and completely blissful reflecting upon the day. Sedona, your red rock vortex, iron magma core has penetrated my soul eternally.

Photos soon to come.