Sedona, Arizona
Hey there, Sedona, let me cut you a deal . . . I may have to steal your soul.
“Sedona,” Houndmouth
The reddest rocks. A thrum of energy. Whispers of the mystic.
Sedona crackles with magic. You feel it as you cross into Red Rock territory, as you watch the sun paint masterpieces onto the ruddy sandstone formations. At full sun, the rocks glow brilliant orange; in the shadows of a sunset, they take on softer pink and purple hues.
Within the red rocks lies an energy force that attracts people from all over the world—the healing power of the famous Sedona vortices. [1] A vortex is a place in nature that has a concentrated energy field of cosmic forces, spiritual awakening, uplifting restoration, and divine connection. All of Sedona is considered a vortex in which the earth comes alive, but there are certain spots within Sedona that are considered more healing and more transformative than others.
In essence, Sedona embodies the catchphrase, “good vibes only.”
We had time for only a quick visit to this metaphysical paradise: Sedona was a two-and-a-half hour drive north from where we were staying in Carefree. The drive brought back memories of when I came here as a little girl, experiencing the red rocks as only a child can–with curiosity and playfulness.
As an adult, I have far greater appreciation for the spirituality this place offers. I subscribe to a belief in vibes and the law of attraction (as “millennial” as that sounds). If you put out strong positive vibes to the Universe, she will bless you with good things. On the other hand, if you’re walking around giving off negative vibes, you might attract more negativity in your life. Armed with these beliefs, I plunged into Sedona, ready to experience the healing powers of its swirling centers of energy.
Our first stop in Sedona was Red Rock State Park. [Sadly, we could not go hiking because I recently tore the PCL ligament in my right knee, and at the time of visiting, I was still too unstable to walk more than about half a mile. But we didn’t let my silly knee prevent us from experiencing the wonder.]
We drove through Red Rock park and happened upon an amazing off-road parking area that gave us truly unbeatable views of Cathedral Rock, which is probably one of Sedona’s most well-known landmarks.
Cathedral Rock is a vortex. We spent a lot of time drinking in our first views of red, red Sedona, before heading to our next vortex: the Airport Mesa.
The Airport Mesa vortex is a perfect stop for people with very little time, an injured knee, and a craving for the enchanting. The hike to the top of this overlook is more of a scramble than anything else, and Matt admittedly had to pull me up the rocks at some points, but the top provides an incredibly satisfying view.
The Airport Mesa gives you a 360-degree panorama of Sedona. Did we feel a tingling in the napes of our necks, alerting us to the energy of the vortex? Perhaps.
Clearer than that, though, was the fun we had dancing across the bright orange sandstone underfoot, while gaping at the rusty red formations all around us.
After gently lowering myself down the Airport Mesa, we had one final vortex to visit—the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This one was easiest, and seriously good for people on a time crunch. The Chapel, a Roman Catholic church built into the rock mesas, is accessible from a neighborhood right off the main strip in town. The Chapel’s mantra is, “Though Catholic in faith, as a work of art the Chapel has a universal appeal. Its doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed, that God may come to life in the souls of all men and be a living reality.”
Satisfied with our tour of the most accessible Sedona vortices, we headed to Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village to do some shopping. The village sits on the banks of the Oak Creek river and offers distinctive Southwest shopping: blown glass, Southwestern fine art, architecture, leathers, gifts, art galleries, bakeries, coffee shops, wellness boutiques, palm readers, and indigenous healers.
We enjoyed prickly pear lemonades and cactus-shaped cookies as we walked under the sycamore trees lining the cobblestone paths, and listened to guitarists play Spanish tunes against the stucco walls.
After that, we headed to dinner, opting to save money and eat at the Wildflower Café, whose Yelp review promised beautiful views of the red rocks. Wildflower Café is basically a Southwestern version of Panera (with delicious pasta options, if I may add). With heaps of spaghetti before us, we popped onto the outdoor patio just in time to watch the sun set across the rocks. The show lasted about an hour—long enough for us to grab ice cream next door at Marble Slab.
On our way home that night, through the pitch-black desert of Arizona, Matt and I had fun pointing out the stars and planets that we could see so clearly in the blackness of a desert night. I used the SkyView app on my phone to locate Jupiter and Venus, and we saw a few shooting stars as we drove. The desert is both spooky and serene after sunset.
To sum it up, one day in Sedona is not enough. Had we more time, I would have done the Pink Jeep tours for a unique excursion into Red Rock State Park, or treated myself to a facial at Mii amo Spa. Luckily, I think that the vortices will call me back to Sedona one day. I can just feel it.
[1] You will sound infinitely cooler and smarter if you know that the plural of vortex is “vortices.”
