I woke up this morning excited about the trip; uncertain what adventures lay ahead I stuck to my morning routine. Rolling out of bed so early was a true test of human willpower, hurling myself from the warm embrace of my bed to the cold apartment took everything I had. Checking my cell phone for the correct time, I groaned in complete dismay. I was really up at 7:45 a.m.??? To the majority of the world waking at 7:45 a.m. is a late morning-for me, it is like trying to wake the dead. I rubbed the morning sleep from my eyes as best I could and thirstily drank the entire cup of water by my bedside. With a sigh of dismay at leaving my bed, I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Ahhh...there really is nothing like a good hot shower. It awakes the senses and washes away the sins from the day before. Baptizing your own life and soul in preparation for a new day, and a new adventure. The shower was over far to quickly and time was ticking away. A pot of coffee, an omelette and half hour later, I actually felt something close to a human being instead of the sleep-walking neanderthal. I hurriedly packed a lunch, filled my water bottles, and loaded up my backpack. Before I knew it I was already running late and 9:00 a.m. had come and gone.
We had been planning the trip for weeks. Four travelers, strangers in the strange desert land of Arizona. We had been here for a little over a month but barely able to take in the glory around us. Mesa (a suburb of Phoenix) is not much to look at especially when you are surrounded by strip malls and retirement communities. The Superstition Mountains and the McDowell Mountains are captivating, however, making the walk to and from work something to look forward to. Still, it is no comparison to the Red Rock Mountains of Sedona!
Originally, it was going to be an overnight stay, then a desert camping excursion, but because of financial restrictions, a simple day trip would have to suffice. After jumping into the car, we took the scenic route driving up mountains and slowly climbing in elevation. We passed areas of desert shrubs and thousands of Saguaro cacti. They were there in this harsh, dry world standing tall, arms outstretched as if to hold up the sky. Coming from the Great Smoky Mountains, I had never seen anything like these tall desert soldiers until coming to Arizona. They stand so straight and proud in this land of barren sand and sun. Growing despite the heat's best efforts to suck them dry. As we continued to climb towards our destination, the landscape suddenly changed. No longer were we surrounded by cacti and stunted shrubs, but evergreens started to appear slowly covering the view with spots of green.
Besides the scenery, the conversation in the car was as equally diverse and changing. Knowing Sedona was a place of new age thinking and healing, much of our conversation centered around new age thinking but also included music, philosophy, and the power of faith. After nearly three hours of driving (an hour longer than planned) I was awestruck and excited when I saw the first signs of the Red Rocks. My initial excitement did nothing to prepare me for the beauty and incredulity I would later experience.
We arrived at the visitors center for a pit stop and lunch. After water bottle refilling and a light lunch, we were ready to go on our first hike of the day, Bell Rock. Bell Rock is one of the four major vortexes that surround the town of Sedona. According to some research I have done online and from talking to a local new age shopkeeper, the vortexs are either termed masculine or feminine. A Vortex is an area of swirling energy generated by the earth. It is scientifically explained by areas of naturally occurring magnetism and electromagnetism. Each Vortex has a specific energy that pushes energy outward, as labelled by the masculine denotation, or inward as denoted by the feminine label. Bell Rock is considered a masculine vortex with its energy swirling outward.
Honestly, I am not a new age practitioner. I have always seemed attracted to the new age movement, but have never really done much research or devoted much time to the study of it. Still I am a big believer in the power of meditation. Before the trip I had allowed myself the luxury of taking some time to meditate, in order for me to be more sensitive to the vortexs energy and simply more aware to all the details of the adventure. So, indeed, I started my climb of Bell Rock with all my senses alert in order to detect and experience something new and exciting.
Bell Rock does actually look like a large bell. The bottom portion of the formation is very rounded but there are more jagged outcroppings toward the top of the rock. We began our journey by starting up the marked trail winding around the bottom part of Bell Rock. After walking and exploring for a moment, our party split ways. One member wanted to continue upward on a more treacherous hike while the others wanted to just sit and wait.
Always up for the challenge, I followed the traiblazer upward towards a higher area. I am a novice rock-climber and the beginning of the ascent was very steep and treacherous. Making rather good progress, I was able to maintain only a short distance between myself and the traiblazer. I was mid-way up the steepest portion when I slipped slightly. I couldn't get a strong foot hold and there was no crevice for my hands. I could not see behind me so there was no way out. I couldn't go back the way I'd come for I might get hurt and here I was stuck on a rock. My limbs splayed every which way searching for some support. My heart began to race and my mind screamed. I could feel a rush of panic in my body and my eyes betrayed my terror to the trailblazer. He was calm and didn't urge me to continue, but just walked on neither encouraging or discouraging. I stayed there for a moment, pondering my direction and trying to calm myself. After this moment of thought, my body seemed to take over. My mind had made a decision, "the only way out of this is up." Testosterone and adrenaline flooded through my veins and I gripped with all my worth, using as much strength as I could muster to clamber upward.
Looking back, I am unsure how I succeeded and conquered my fear. I was stuck and scared but something primitive rose within me and pushed me forward. Was it my inner self that urged me on? Or was it the spiraling vortex that gave me the impetus and the energy to overcome a physical obstacle. Who knows. Regardless...I made it!
After completing that portion of the journey, there was nothing stopping me. I was at the highest summit I could reach in no time. The view was indescribably beautiful. The valley of varying green and gold surrounded by these Red Rock citadels. I sat there awestruck at what my eyes were perceiving and proud of such an accomplishment. Sitting quietly and looking out at the vast terrain surrounding me, I was truly in awe at the wonder and beauty that is our planet. As I pondered things and my journey thus far, I looked over and noticed a single tree atop the summit adjacent to me. It was a short, stunted thing but beautiful and full of life. I wondered how could something make a life atop a secluded rock? I felt as the tree was me somehow. No I wasn't alone but I felt that way looking out on the land. I felt as though I was sitting where no person had sat before and that I was a life, just like the tree, atop a secluded summit. Thinking, breathing and living were my sole responsibility at that moment. I was alone and yet part of something wonderful. Sometimes there is comfort in such a feeling of loneliness. It is humbling but empowering. Here I am World sitting atop this throne looking out...
Ahhh...there really is nothing like a good hot shower. It awakes the senses and washes away the sins from the day before. Baptizing your own life and soul in preparation for a new day, and a new adventure. The shower was over far to quickly and time was ticking away. A pot of coffee, an omelette and half hour later, I actually felt something close to a human being instead of the sleep-walking neanderthal. I hurriedly packed a lunch, filled my water bottles, and loaded up my backpack. Before I knew it I was already running late and 9:00 a.m. had come and gone.
We had been planning the trip for weeks. Four travelers, strangers in the strange desert land of Arizona. We had been here for a little over a month but barely able to take in the glory around us. Mesa (a suburb of Phoenix) is not much to look at especially when you are surrounded by strip malls and retirement communities. The Superstition Mountains and the McDowell Mountains are captivating, however, making the walk to and from work something to look forward to. Still, it is no comparison to the Red Rock Mountains of Sedona!
Originally, it was going to be an overnight stay, then a desert camping excursion, but because of financial restrictions, a simple day trip would have to suffice. After jumping into the car, we took the scenic route driving up mountains and slowly climbing in elevation. We passed areas of desert shrubs and thousands of Saguaro cacti. They were there in this harsh, dry world standing tall, arms outstretched as if to hold up the sky. Coming from the Great Smoky Mountains, I had never seen anything like these tall desert soldiers until coming to Arizona. They stand so straight and proud in this land of barren sand and sun. Growing despite the heat's best efforts to suck them dry. As we continued to climb towards our destination, the landscape suddenly changed. No longer were we surrounded by cacti and stunted shrubs, but evergreens started to appear slowly covering the view with spots of green.
Besides the scenery, the conversation in the car was as equally diverse and changing. Knowing Sedona was a place of new age thinking and healing, much of our conversation centered around new age thinking but also included music, philosophy, and the power of faith. After nearly three hours of driving (an hour longer than planned) I was awestruck and excited when I saw the first signs of the Red Rocks. My initial excitement did nothing to prepare me for the beauty and incredulity I would later experience.
We arrived at the visitors center for a pit stop and lunch. After water bottle refilling and a light lunch, we were ready to go on our first hike of the day, Bell Rock. Bell Rock is one of the four major vortexes that surround the town of Sedona. According to some research I have done online and from talking to a local new age shopkeeper, the vortexs are either termed masculine or feminine. A Vortex is an area of swirling energy generated by the earth. It is scientifically explained by areas of naturally occurring magnetism and electromagnetism. Each Vortex has a specific energy that pushes energy outward, as labelled by the masculine denotation, or inward as denoted by the feminine label. Bell Rock is considered a masculine vortex with its energy swirling outward.
Honestly, I am not a new age practitioner. I have always seemed attracted to the new age movement, but have never really done much research or devoted much time to the study of it. Still I am a big believer in the power of meditation. Before the trip I had allowed myself the luxury of taking some time to meditate, in order for me to be more sensitive to the vortexs energy and simply more aware to all the details of the adventure. So, indeed, I started my climb of Bell Rock with all my senses alert in order to detect and experience something new and exciting.
Bell Rock does actually look like a large bell. The bottom portion of the formation is very rounded but there are more jagged outcroppings toward the top of the rock. We began our journey by starting up the marked trail winding around the bottom part of Bell Rock. After walking and exploring for a moment, our party split ways. One member wanted to continue upward on a more treacherous hike while the others wanted to just sit and wait.
Always up for the challenge, I followed the traiblazer upward towards a higher area. I am a novice rock-climber and the beginning of the ascent was very steep and treacherous. Making rather good progress, I was able to maintain only a short distance between myself and the traiblazer. I was mid-way up the steepest portion when I slipped slightly. I couldn't get a strong foot hold and there was no crevice for my hands. I could not see behind me so there was no way out. I couldn't go back the way I'd come for I might get hurt and here I was stuck on a rock. My limbs splayed every which way searching for some support. My heart began to race and my mind screamed. I could feel a rush of panic in my body and my eyes betrayed my terror to the trailblazer. He was calm and didn't urge me to continue, but just walked on neither encouraging or discouraging. I stayed there for a moment, pondering my direction and trying to calm myself. After this moment of thought, my body seemed to take over. My mind had made a decision, "the only way out of this is up." Testosterone and adrenaline flooded through my veins and I gripped with all my worth, using as much strength as I could muster to clamber upward.
Looking back, I am unsure how I succeeded and conquered my fear. I was stuck and scared but something primitive rose within me and pushed me forward. Was it my inner self that urged me on? Or was it the spiraling vortex that gave me the impetus and the energy to overcome a physical obstacle. Who knows. Regardless...I made it!
After completing that portion of the journey, there was nothing stopping me. I was at the highest summit I could reach in no time. The view was indescribably beautiful. The valley of varying green and gold surrounded by these Red Rock citadels. I sat there awestruck at what my eyes were perceiving and proud of such an accomplishment. Sitting quietly and looking out at the vast terrain surrounding me, I was truly in awe at the wonder and beauty that is our planet. As I pondered things and my journey thus far, I looked over and noticed a single tree atop the summit adjacent to me. It was a short, stunted thing but beautiful and full of life. I wondered how could something make a life atop a secluded rock? I felt as the tree was me somehow. No I wasn't alone but I felt that way looking out on the land. I felt as though I was sitting where no person had sat before and that I was a life, just like the tree, atop a secluded summit. Thinking, breathing and living were my sole responsibility at that moment. I was alone and yet part of something wonderful. Sometimes there is comfort in such a feeling of loneliness. It is humbling but empowering. Here I am World sitting atop this throne looking out...
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