“We have to learn how to ride the waves of our emotions as if we were surfing, instead of floundering and getting swept up in them. Just as it’s important to keep your balance when surfing, you don’t get pulled by the undertow of your emotions when you’re firmly rooted in your center which is your True Self.”
Sit with that for a moment. It is brilliant, words arranged in the right order create such a profound statement. I have always been a somewhat spiritual person, but due to my anxiety and mild OCD, I have always found it difficult to sort and process my emotions in a practical way. I never learned how to accept things at face value, therefore, always believing there were more to the scenario, so much that I would create a scenario which was not present. Sending myself into a frenzy, resulting in bad choices and a lot of emotional turmoil within me. Thankfully, I put some coping mechanisms in place and am now able to sort and process my emotions. Life is much easier this way.
I tapped into some Tibetan Buddhism teachings, embracing these teachings were in fact easy. Individual Buddhists are not all the same. They embrace different spinoffs of the religion because the practices are tailored to the individual needs. This was enlightening to me, as I have a problem with committing to any “one” lifestyle decision. I went on to extract the components which would help and guide me, keeping in mind my objective; better my being to be better for others. Sedona is my Buddha.
At first I was attracted to the brilliant landscape, the red rocks and mesas. It was my very first Sedona sunset, when I realized there was more happening in this Arizona town. Aside from Sedona’s incredible beauty, more importantly, is the unique energy it emits, opening the eyes and awakening the soul and conscience. I felt it all, I welcomed it all. In every hike, my soul and conscience were heightened. There is energy, good vibes and an amazing scent produced by the red rocks. If you get the chance please visit this spiritual mecca.
“Sedona, Arizona is a scenic place with incredible red rock formations and a stark, transfixing beauty that is replicated nowhere else on earth.”
We will remain in Sedona for five days. Todd and I have a routine that works well for us and affords us the time to do all the things we love. We will early rise, catch sunrise on most mornings. We will stay at our favorite resort, off the beaten path and peaceful. Sky Ranch Lodge offers the best views and is an oasis in the sky. There is a beautiful patio offering a private viewing of the sunset. We love this end to the busy day. A glass of wine in hand and watch the mesas burn an everlasting image of beauty in our mind.
Our hikes start early, this is the best time, as the sun is not beating down yet. We hike an average of 4 hours and are usually finished by 11AM. Here are a few of our favorite hikes in Sedona:
- West Fork Trail: Moderate hike. Beautiful hike with canyon walls, streams and shading.
- Soldiers Pass to Brins Mesa: Moderate hike. This hike brings you on top of Brins Mesa for some beautiful views. We add on Jordan’s Pass, gaining an extra 1.5 miles to the hike.
- Boynton Canyon Trail: Moderate hike. 6.1 Miles
“The most prominent electromagnetic vortex site, drawing energies from deep within the earth. From the overlook are open vistas of the isolated buttes and mesas between Secret, Long, and Boynton Canyons. The sweeping views include Deadman’s Pass and Mescal Mountain to the east; Capitol Butte, Chimney Rock, and Courthouse Butte to the south; and Boynton Canyon and the Enchantment Rock.”
- Munds Wagon Trail: Difficult Hike. Most beautiful views and well worth the climb. This is an 8 mile hike.
If you are visiting for the first time, please go visit our friends at The Hike House. They are very informative and offer sage advice. They will take the time to discuss your skill level and recommend appropriate hikes.
We are off the trails rather early, it is so casual here so we hardly go back to the hotel till the days end. Here are some of our free time picks:
- Page Spring Cellars
- Jerome, AZ
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village
- Pink Jeep Tour
- Vortex’s
- Merkin Vinyeards Osteria and Tasting Room
- Alcantara Vineyard
Every day ends with a great dinner, lots of chatter, a swim in the pool and a soak in the hot tub.
Next stop Apache Junction.
Somewhere in America 