Page 13 - the Noise July 2016

arizona adventures: sedona vortexes
M any locals and visitors alike have heard the word “vortex” but aren’t really sure what it means. The term was reportedly coined by Page Bryant in 1980, though some dispute that claim. Many credit author Dick Sutphen with recognizing the mysterious powers of certain areas around Sedona. In 1978, his book Past Lives, Future Loves was a bestseller. In it, he discussed the mysterious powers of two of Sedona’s well-known vortex areas — Airport Mesa and Bell Rock. After attending one of his lectures, Ms. Bryant began discussing the phe- nomenon and added Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon to the list of power spots. These four areas are still considered to be the strongest and most easily
accessed vortexes.
So what is a vortex? Descriptions provided by Ms. Bryant in the 1980’s are still in wide use today. The term describes a flow of energy in a spiral pattern either emanating up from the ground or down from the cosmos. Ms. Bryant described three basic types of vortexes — electrical, magnetic, or electro-magnetic. The energy of an electrical vortex is considered male or positive energy, and spins from the ground up. The magnetic vortex is female or negative, and spins from the cosmos down. Electro-magnetic vortexes have the presence of both. In addition, the female/negative energies work on the inner and subconscious parts of the human mind, while the male/positive forces work on the physical body.
Sometimes the rock formations themselves can help identify which side of the power line a particular site sits. Bell Rock, for example, is considered to be a male vortex. Its protruding dome shape climbs up from the ground indicating its electrical essence. Hiking and/or meditating on Bell Rock can be invigorating and give the seeker a burst of renewed energy. Airport Mesa is also classified as an electrical vortex.
Cathedral Rock can be a bit perplexing. While it also has towering spires that reach for the sky, this formation is considered feminine. The strongest part of the vortex is actually in the saddle on the north-westerly side of the rock. The feminine vortexes receive energy from the cosmos that sink into the earth. This
story & photo by cindy cole
makes them very grounding and introspective. The “negative” aspect in the description of these vortexes relates to their ability to absorb negative energies that seekers may want to release. It is said that visiting a feminine vortex can help with self-realization, decision-making, and finding inner peace.
Boynton Canyon is the only electro-magnetic vortex among the top four. If nothing else it contains some of the most interesting individual rock forma- tions in the group. There are two significant sandstone mounds that stand out in the heart of the canyon. One is a tall spire that culminates in what looks like a face and is known as Kachina Woman. The other is a dome formation — kind of a miniature of Bell Rock — that is, at least locally, known as Warrior Rock. A trip into Boynton Canyon can result in an incredible feeling of balance and well-being.
So what is it really that makes these places so special? That can be a tough question to answer. While many report having had experiences — ranging from a general sense of relaxation to profound spiritual realizations — others pass through the various vortexes taking in only the great views and natural beauty of the area. But there is a history showing the Indigenous People of the area, who were here long before the tourists and seekers arrived, held Sedona and the lands surrounding the city to be sacred.
In the 1970’s, two Yavapai Nation elders spoke with an Arizona State Uni- versity anthropologist in an effort to preserve the oral history of their people. Mike Harrison (1886-1983) and John Williams (1904-1983) sat down with Sig- rid Khera to record their knowledge as it had been passed down to them from generation to generation. The transcriptions became a book called Oral History of the Yavapai.
In the Yavapai stories, Sedona is the place of emergence of Kamalpukwia or First Woman. “We came out at Sedona,” say the elders, “the middle of the world. This is our home. We call Sedona Wipuk. We call it after the rocks and the mountains there. All Yavapai come from Sedona. But in time they spread out.”
13 • {online at thenoise.us} JULY 2016 | the best of arizona | the nöísẽ