Sedona and the Vortex

The region known as the Verde Valley, including Sedona, Ariz., is just off Highway 17 on the well-worn path north to the Grand Canyon. You may think the stunning red rock formations are enough to draw visitors to this section of the country, but there's more.

Sedona has something very few places on earth can claim: the mysterious and not-so-easy-to-explain vortex. So what exactly is a vortex? It's a place of extraordinary concentrations of electromagnetic activity coming from inside the earth. The vortex, believers assert, is a place of healing, insight and empowerment. Others say this unique brand of energy can stimulate mental or creative activity. Not coincidentally, Sedona is home to a large number of artists. The area claims at least four major vortices.

Before you scoff and attribute this to a bunch of nutty baby boomers, consider this. The New Age movement was not the first to recognize the significance of these rare "power points." In fact, centuries before the New Age concept, Native Americans considered the special earth energy around red rock country to be sacred ground. Whether you believe or not, vortices add appeal to an area certainly worth exploring. Taking to the open road is the best way to view the formations and search for power points. Around every curve, you'll want to pull over and grab the camera.

As you ponder the natural megaliths poised dramatically against the horizon, it's hard to dismiss the spiritual aspect of these rock creations. More than just sheer size or resplendent color, they appear otherworldly. It's as if someone has devised an elaborate movie set depicting an alien planet and plopped you down right in the middle of it. Apparently, filmmakers over the years have felt the same way. Approximately 65 major motion pictures have been filmed in the area, in particular, Western movies.