Can you Feel a Sedona Vortex?

There’s a spiritual haven in the United States that saves you from having to go to ayahuasca quests in Peru or yoga retreats in India. It’s just as otherworldly as faraway lands on other continents, yet only a five-hour flight from my home state of Maryland. I was flying to Tempe, Arizona for my graduation but figured it was only right to stop by Sedona the day before as a pre-graduation treat. Better yet, a visit to one of Sedona’s famous energy vortexes would at least dissipate the nerves I was feeling for my big day. Well, the scenery of this land did just that without even stepping foot into a vortex.  Sedona’s massive red rock formations greeted my boyfriend Carlos and me in its bold stance. Each formation features grooves and dents, canyons, and buttes. The vertical dents create horizontal “S” and “Z” patterns and my gaze dances across its wavy surface. Its height variations dip and rise against the skyline while its rusty red tone demands awe and attention. This raw nature’s unrefined beauty extends for miles along Sedona, bestowing its otherworldly spirit amongst the entire city. At least that raw red visual experience is what most visitors witness on their trips to Sedona.

My visit features an added layer of natural wonder that transforms the earth-toned landscape into a winter-white oasis; snow. We arrive at the hotel during twilight and I step out of our cramped Kia and am ecompassed by a boundless indigo sky. The eerie parking lot is surrounded by steep mountains and red canyons that emit a quiet presence amidst its giant form. I slowly turn to soak in the enigmatic atmosphere I had never experienced before. As I settle into my hotel room, I receive a weather warning notification on my phone; a snow squall storm that produces heavy snow and strong winds. As I peek out of the window, I worry that the snowfall will cloud my Sedona experience. I stare with worry and watch the thick white snowflakes cascade onto the pavement. The mountains are no longer visible against the night sky, and I imagine how different the landscape would look in the morning. However, we dont let the snow scare us indoors. Instead, we drive to the nearest restaurant down the road.

The following sunrise, my worries flee once I glimpse out of our window towards the white mountains. This heavy amount of snowfall isnt common in the area, and I feel lucky enough to come during Sedona’s change of scenery. The low clouds hover over the snow-covered mountains and seemingly merge with them. As we step out of our hotel, I take in the sight of the hazy white skyline and am enthralled by this surreal change in scenery. We drive down the deserted road, foot barely pressing the gas pedal so we can grasp our new surroundings. Neither of us speaks. We scan around, jaws open in awe and wonder, and gawk at the mystical vista of low-hanging clouds on canyon tops as blackbirds glide about.     

On our way to Airport Mesa Vortex, the scenery continues. The array of mountains and canyons proceed in an endless white and red maze making the trip hypnotic. I question if I’m really in the US or on another planet. This landscape is nothing I’d ever seen on the East Coast. Sure, we have lots of greenery and glistening beaches down south but not this kind of landscape that has me questioning if I have stepped into Narnia. The entrance to Airport Mesa features a low rugged hill of red rock glistening wet from light snowfall from which we eagerly spring on forward. “Wait, let me make sure it’s not too slippery,” Carlos states, his eagerness obvious by the quickness of his speech. I wait downhill as he disappears up the trail. Meanwhile, I chuckle at how obvious tourists we are, yet charmed at Carlos’s protectiveness. Faster than I can blush he comes down with a thumbs up “It’s good, let’s go”.

Carlos sprints upwards while I drag my heavy snow boots up the hill, meticulously placing my feet on flat surfaces to prevent an embarrassing fall. Finally, at the end of the hill, a narrow trail leads us to an unforgettable opening on the edge of a cliff above a valley. As I wander forward, gawking again as I had done on the drive here, I can’t believe that such a short hike leads to such a grand sight. I even feel a bit of guilt not having to hike as hard for such scenery. In awe, I stop in the middle of the opening, front, and center to a picturesque view of snowy mountains engulfed in fog. “Carlos…,” I utter as I glanced at him, eyes wide in amazement. I mean to say “wow” afterward but my ability to articulate diminishes. “I Know…,” he responded as he kept his gaze fixed on the mountains.

The upsurge of inspiration I feel is spiritual in itself and reminds me that I’m standing amidst a vortex. No tingles? Rainbow orbs floating around? I ask myself as I stand there intently waiting for any sort of mystical sensation. Those expectations leave my mind as quickly as they arise seeing that I was in one of the most mystical landscapes I had ever visited. As if a short little hike couldn’t get any more magical, snowfall starts and thickens minute by minute. I laugh as I attempt to take a selfie, squinting as the snowfall dusts my face. The mountains become less visible as my surroundings whitened. As my surroundings cloud, so does my grounded state and I settle into thought.

I think about travelers before me who left their whole lives to explore the West. Those who would divorce themselves from society even for just a short while to experience individualism and freedom. I connect to that appeal and indulge in feeling like the only person to exist on that cliff. Nature mirrors my uncertain view of my future with its hazy sky. I feel seen by nature, but more importantly myself. It’s time to exhale and enjoy my presence in this vast void. I can carry this sense of freedom with me even when I return to the city. The white snow represents my blank slate, and I am ready to start the next chapter of my life with this newfound air of unlimitedness with me.

Was that a spiritual moment, or did I just feel what nature can do to one’s psyche in a transformative matter? Nature offers exhilaration and non-judgment. A space to reflect and rejuvenate. I didn’t feel any vortex tingles but better yet, a jolt of inspiration, and that in itself can change one’s life.