“With amazing creativity, we can design our lives and become the driver of our destiny. No matter what difficulties we may find ourselves in, we are able to change them and create them anew according to our choice.”
-The Call of Sedona
As I was booking transportation and accommodations for a retreat to Sedona, I decided to arrive a day early to explore the hiking and natural landscape. I heard that Sedona has a special spiritual energy and magnetism and I wanted to make sure that I had a chance to soak it up. I closed my eyes and an image of me sitting on a red rock meditating a sunset appeared in my imagination. I took this as a sign that I should bring my tent, sleeping bag, and backpack and spend a night in the wilderness. Although I was searching on the internet for the best trail to explore and camp, the days grew closer to departure, and I still didn’t have a plan as there were hundreds of amazing trails in the Sedona area wilderness to choose from.
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In the process of packing, I paused and asked the Universe what I should read for spiritual growth on this 10-Day trip. I ventured off for a morning walk in Balboa Park and when I returned to the front door of my building, I noticed a package on the steps. I brought it inside and delivered it to the appropriate apartment number and ended up taking the back set of stairs, which I rarely ever do. Coming up on the second level, I noticed that the book share shelf had been recently flooded with books as if someone just relinquished their whole collection. To my amazement, it was filled with books of my interest: everything from yoga, photography, artist communities, women's literature, veganism, fasting, enlightened entrepreneur, spirituality and even a book about Sedona! I also found authors that I have been meaning to read like Maya Angelou, Desmond Tutu, Caroline Miss, and Don Miguel Ruiz!
I started reading The Call of Sedona on my flight to Phoenix and felt particularly called to camp near the Bell Rock. This mountain of a rock formation is one for the four major vortexes in the Sedona region. A vortex is believed to be a special spot on the earth where energy is either entering into the earth or projecting out of the earth’s plane. It is believed that the vortex energy moves in a spiral, moving up or down. Vortexes are found at sacred sites throughout the world, such as the Great Pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, Stonehenge, etc.
At around 3pm, I left my suitcase at the hotel in Sedona and I caught a ride to the Bell Rock Trailhead, where I began walking. I soon reached the base of this rock formation mountain and realized that I needed to shed some weight in order to do some bouldering, scrambling, and rock climbing up to the top. I looked around and found some secluded shrub to ditch my backpack, tent, etc. until I made it back down. A childlike curiosity spread throughout my being as I began exploring ways to get up, climbed and hugged trees, took many photos and soaked in the gorgeous vistas.
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I was reminded of a passage from the book, The Call of Sedona by Ilchi Lee,
"In order to have an exchange with Bell Rock, we have to first open our hearts...
The pure, childlike yearning to feel Bell Rock and become one with it, has to fill our heart fully."
I reached the top, at least a false vista, just at sunset. It was breathtaking! Watching the sunset activates both the pituitary and pineal glands which are related to our higher chakras. I wanted to stand there longer, but I knew that I needed to head back down in the little light that was left. I started climbing down, but I couldn’t remember exactly which way I came from. I had already spent so much time exploring all around the rock at different levels. I started following a path and then it dropped off about 15 feet, so I went back up and tried another one. The same occurrence happened.
Suddenly, it was so dark that I couldn’t see where to place my hands. I paused as a hint of panic started rising up through me and I realized that I had to choose to either risk my life or a major injury by trying to climb down a cliff in the dark without equipment, or sleep up here near the top of the mountain without any equipment either. I knew that I could call for emergency help with my cell phone, but that would require an expensive helicopter rescue.
I already knew what the answer was. I was meant to stay the night up here on Bell Rock.
Suddenly, it was so dark that I couldn’t see where to place my hands. I paused as a hint of panic started rising up through me and I realized that I had to choose to either risk my life or a major injury by trying to climb down a cliff in the dark without equipment, or sleep up here near the top of the mountain without any equipment either. I knew that I could call for emergency help with my cell phone, but that would require an expensive helicopter rescue.
I already knew what the answer was. I was meant to stay the night up here on Bell Rock.
“Whatever path brought you here
There is a reason why you came,
Though you may not know it now.
So, please open your ears and listen
Listen to the message that Sedona has for you.
The old juniper standing tall in the golden sunset just might reveal it to you.”
-The Call of Sedona
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"If you connect with Bell Rock, you can send energy to it, and you can also receive energy from it."
-The Call of Sedona, Ilchi Lee
Sukhasana, Cross-Legged Sitting Posture
As a huge fan of Bear Grylls and his show, Man Vs. Wild, I asked myself, “What would Bear Grylls do?” I decided that he would build a shelter. So, I found a nearby crevice in the cliff and gathered medium rocks to surround me. I sat in the yoga position of Sukhasana also known as “easy sitting pose” and began to meditate.
My Shelter for the Night
At first, I directed my concentration to the light of the full moon rising from behind Courthouse Butte. Ayurveda teaches that the full moon period is when a woman is at her strongest. Tapping into the feminine energy of the full moon is an opportunity to become fully open, receptive to everything surrounding around us. As I watched the constellations of the Big Dipper, Orion, and a glittering galaxy in the distance, I was reminded by mother nature and the world outside of our planet, that I am merely a piece of a much larger puzzle.
Feminine Strength of the Full Moon
Then I listened to the sounds of coyotes barking and howling in the distance. Just before I left home, my friend Alexis gave me a quartz crystal to use as protection, so I pulled it out of my pocket and set it in front of me. I imagined a white halo of protective light covering my being.
Red is the color of our root chakra, symbolic of grounding and the physical element of earth. As I sat on this red rock, I repeated the mantra, I am peace. I am safe, grounded, and protected. The more I repeated this affirmation throughout the night, the stronger I felt.
Red is the color of our root chakra, symbolic of grounding and the physical element of earth. As I sat on this red rock, I repeated the mantra, I am peace. I am safe, grounded, and protected. The more I repeated this affirmation throughout the night, the stronger I felt.
“With amazing creativity, we can design our lives and become the driver of our destiny. No matter what difficulties we may find ourselves in, we are able to change them and create them anew according to our choice.”
-The Call of Sedona
A part of me knew that I was fulfilling one of my secret dreams to spend the night alone in the wilderness: from years spent as a flight attendant watching LOST, to episodes of Man Vs. Wild and all of the hiking and backpacking experiences up to this point. I knew that all of my previous adventures had prepared me for this moment. I remembered going three days in Cambodia with practically nothing because the airlines lost my pack. That was a valuable lesson in traveling light and our ability to adapt to having very little. Further, I remembered hiking for two hours in the dark with deer, buffalo, and other creatures staring at my brother and I on the Trans-Catalina Trail. Then I recalled how cold it was on the Everest Base Camp Trail as I recalled some of the Ice Man’s breathing techniques to warm me up.
As I sat in the dark, shivering, I began to count all of my blessings. I was so grateful that I did not fall and get hurt on this rock. I expressed gratitude for all of my memories and wisdom, belongings back at home, dreams and goals, people in my life, and opportunities to come. I knew that as soon as the morning light approached, I would be able to find my way back down to my stuff.
Mindful Meditation Coloring by Me, Hannah Faulkner
From Yoga Kitties: A Stress Relieving Adult Coloring Book by Dawn Collins
From Yoga Kitties: A Stress Relieving Adult Coloring Book by Dawn Collins
I recollected what I had recently learned in a Restorative Yoga Teacher Training in which props like blocks, blankets, and pillows in a yoga class or home setting can aid in calming our parasympathetic nervous system as our body feels supported and held, as in the golden womb of the Universe. As I sat on Bell Rock, I began to pile the rocks on top of my legs to help me feel supported and comforted in this rugged terrain. This raw connection with rock made me feel like I was being held by Mother Earth.
Watercolor and Mixed Media Painting of Bell Rock by Me, Hannah Faulkner
After four hours of meditation, I decided to try to sleep. I leaned my head to the side of the cliff as I curled my knees up in a fetal position. I covered the rocks over me like a blanket and fell asleep for about 10-15 minutes. Then I would get so uncomfortable that I would have to switch over to the other side and move each rock one by one. I would occasionally have to stand up and shake out my hands and feet and they would go numb. I continued in this pattern for the next eight hours until I saw the first crack of light peaking over the horizon.
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Warmth and joy filled my heart as I sun gazed to soak up its energy. Native Americans called Sedona the Land of Light.
“Energy is the medium that constantly exchanges information between the physical body and the world of consciousness. Energy is what connects the body and the mind.”
Although it took me an hour to make it back to my pack, I am so grateful for this experience! I hope this story inspires you to listen to your intuition, repeat your affirmations, find your inner strength, tap into your childlike wonder, and reach for the light!
“Energy is the medium that constantly exchanges information between the physical body and the world of consciousness. Energy is what connects the body and the mind.”
Although it took me an hour to make it back to my pack, I am so grateful for this experience! I hope this story inspires you to listen to your intuition, repeat your affirmations, find your inner strength, tap into your childlike wonder, and reach for the light!
