The City
of Sedona was originally named after the
wife of the postmaster T.C. Schnebly in the
early 1900s, This great city began as a quiet
agricultural community. In the early 1940s
and 1950s production companies in Hollywood
began using Sedona as a movie location, shooting
such classics as Apache and Billy the Kid.
In the 1960s and '70s the beauty of the surroundings
started attracting retirees, artists and
tourists in large numbers and the town experienced
much growth.
Native
American tribes have long regarded the area
around Sedona as sacred, to be used only
for special ceremonies. Around 1980 New Agers
began finding vortexes - specially charged
areas of energy - giving rise to a new and
thriving spiritual industry in the area.
Locations such as Bell Rock, Airport Mesa
and Boynton Canyon attract visitors in large
numbers throughout the year.
Rapid,
poorly controlled growth took the area somewhat
by surprise and the strip malls look out
of place among the red-rock scenery. In recent
years the town has made efforts to blend
in with its surroundings (the Sedona McDonald's
lacks the famous golden arches; instead,
pastel green arcs are painted on a pink stuccoed
wall). Tourist development has been geared
toward the high-end curiously blended with
the psychic.
Nestled
among crimson sandstone formations at the
southern end of Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona
benefits from one of the prettiest locations
in Arizona. Sedona is the foremost New Age
center in the Southwest and one of the most
'important' anywhere.
Nestled among
crimson sandstone formations at the
southern end of Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona
benefits from one of the most
scenic locations in Arizona. Sedona is the
foremost New Age center in the Southwest
and one of the most recognized worldwide.
In the '70s, the
Sedona Area began attracting artists
and tourists in large numbers, but it
wasn't until around 1980, when the New Age community
began touting Sedona's vortexes (points
where the earth's energy is focused)
that the New Age community really started coming to Sedona.
Today, Sedona's New Age Information Center
offers lectures, seminars, psychic readings,
massage healings and vortex information.
Likewise, the Healing Center of Arizona
offers anything from an hour in a sauna
to several days of holistic healing, reasonably
priced vegetarian meals and as much acupressure,
massage, yoga, nutrition counseling, herbology,
tai chi, meditation and psychic channeling
as you can handle. Various other New Age
outfits in town - look for the word 'crystal'
in their names - distribute free maps showing
the vortex sites and sell books, gems and
other New Age goods.
Sedona,
Arizona Information
The
Chapel
The Chapel is reached from Uptown Sedona
by taking 179 south and proceeding to Chapel
Rd. where you go left and drive to the end
of the road. On our visit a guide directed
us up the hill to the parking lot. There
is a steep climb from the parking area so
use caution and wear comfortable shoes. There
is a parking area at the top for the physically
challenged. The Chapel is open from 9am to
5pm daily and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas,
Good Friday and Easter. There is a downstairs
gift shop that is not to be missed- unique
religious articles including a large selection
of unusual crosses and rosaries of native
stones.
Slide
Rock
Located in the Heart of Oak Creek Canyon,
Slide Rock is a Sedona landmark where the
creek flows through a long slippery set of
rocks! Hop in and let the current carry you!
Make sure you wear sturdy shorts over your
swimsuit or you may just end up with "rock
burn" on your legs or a missing bathing
suit.Although the park is often busy
with people, you can easily hike and rock
climb upstream to find peace and seclusion.
There are many spots where you can sit in
the water and let it flow around you, or
find a nearby rock in one of the natural
whirlpool areas and let the water pull all
the stress out of your feet. This is great
fun for the family or friends of all ages.
Vortex
You can drive yourself, go north from Phoenix
for two hours, and you’ll
discover a place of awesome beauty and powerful energy. The strong Arizona sun
and the crisp desert air make Sedona’s dramatic red rock formations seem
even more spectacular, but the real magic is not perceived by any of the five
conventional senses. If you’ve never
been able to feel the force of Nature or sacred
places, then Sedona is an excellent place to
learn how.
