Photo credit: JasonRogersFooDogGiraffeBee

This month, our guest spiritual contributor from Sedona, Greg Drambour, shares some of his personal experiences and muses on his relationship with the red rocks of Arizona.  If you’re local (or from nearby southern Utah like me, or one of our Four Corners area neighbors) I have a feeling you’ll totally relate to the pop-culture impetus of Greg’s post.

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A few nights ago I was watching the movie Forrest Gump (tenth time!) and a rush of gratitude went through me during the scene where he is running through Monument Valley. The rocks there resemble many of the red rock formations here in Sedona. In that moment, I just felt so grateful to be part of this amazing place called Sedona. Suddenly, that beautiful feeling opened a door inside to many realizations about myself and my work here in the Magic Kingdom. I thought I would share them!

My relationship with the Grandfather and Grandmother Rock People (as I refer to them in the Native American tradition) really started when I moved to Sedona seven years ago. But when I look back over the years, I notice whenever I had the chance I was always scaling and scrambling over some rocks. It just made me feel good to be close to them. I felt they were friends.
At first here in Sedona my relationship to the Rock People grew without me noticing it. Every day, I would find some new boulder field or dry creek bed to explore. I felt at home among the rocks. I just kept following my heart and discovering incredible places. I saw how in a few tight situations the rocks saved me. People will ask what do you mean, “Saved you?” I can’t explain that in words, only that I always seem to be guided over them to the safest route or one boulder was exactly where I needed it to be. It was a feeling that they were supporting me. I started thanking them for this help on hikes and climbs. I would stop and talk to them, asking how they were. And soon I began to hear them speak to me. My trust deepened that they would support me on tricky scrambles or boulder-hopping. The Rock People are strong and solid. They have much wisdom they want to offer you if you are open to listening.
On Sedona Vortex experiences, I always feel their support of the mission here in Sedona. I honor their wisdom during Experiences by asking for guidance; they always see the big picture. If I accidentally kick a small rock, I bend down and apologize, asking if it wants to return to its original location or begin a new journey. I always tell clients when we are boulder dancing, “Don’t worry, you are in my personal power and I’ve never had anyone fall.” Perhaps what I really mean is the Grandfather and Grandmother Rock People honor my intent of trust and faith and will not let you stumble or fall. I have never had a client fall nor have I fallen myself in all these years.

When I saw that scene of the Red Rocks in Forrest Gump, I heard myself whispering, “That’s my place, my place.” I felt so honored to be in a relationship with these grand rock formations. To have a place in my life which I am deeply committed too and that commitment is honored. My gratitude for these feelings is overwhelming. I have waited so many years to be able to have these rich feelings and to open myself and take these relationships to a deeper level. Perhaps most of all I am grateful to be who I am. I know many of you, know what I mean. And if you don’t, come to Sedona and I will do whatever I can to guide you back to yourself on a Sedona retreat.

If you show your heart, my friends, if you acknowledge that everything has life, if you trust—you can experience these deep feelings of gratitude and honor.

So on this day in the Magic Kingdom, “I humbly thank all the Rock People and the Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks for becoming my friend. I am honored to be kin to you, to be your grandson and brother. My heart is full. I am standing before you. I go, you go. A Ho. A Ho.”

*Dedicated to my beloved, Shyheart.
Greg (the guide)
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Photo credit: cogdogblog on flickr

Have you ever gone on vacation and experienced a great spa treatment, exhilarating hike or profound relaxation?  If you’re like me, you’ve said, “I could totally LIVE here.  I feel so good.  I am going to continue _________ (hiking, relaxing, taking care of my skin/body/health) when I get home.”  And I’ll bet you felt this way especially after visiting Sedona, Prescott, the Grand Canyon, Scottsdale or Flagstaff.  But when you got home, that commitment to living like you’re on vacation got put on the back burner, didn’t it?  Yep, me too.

Today, our guest contributor Greg Drambour has a solution for making your “commitment to self” last well after your bags are unpacked.

Finding Out What You’re Willing To Do In Arizona

My clients on Sedona retreats know this question all to well! Any healing, whether emotional or physical, requires two components for success: One, do you have a desire to heal? Two, what are you willing to do about it? What you are willing to do about it when you are here with me on retreat is one thing but what you are willing to do when you get home each and every day is another thing entirely! That’s why I encourage clients to enroll in my 4-week follow-up program after they return home.

People come to Sedona and have powerful experiences. Then they get back to their life and within a few days or weeks their world overwhelms them and that wonderful feeling is lost. My follow-up program helps to keep the momentum going and to anchor those insights you received here in on your Sedona retreat.

As I am nearing my 29th sobriety anniversary, I have taken some time to look back over the last 29 years. I have noticed two important things: One, when I was in a “doing” place, I was moving forward very fast in my personal growth. And two, when I was working with a coach, mentor, therapist or one of the Holy Men, I was also moving forward at an accelerated rate. I’m with Tony Robbins–we all needs coaches! If not me, then I encourage you to seek someone out. Work with someone for 4 weeks and see if it makes a difference. See if you move forward, even a few inches.  Also, check in with that person every few months at the very least—it’s a win-win!

Sometimes, we have to take small steps into what we are willing to do. As long as it’s not too many small steps that go on forever as way to put off the big step!

Doing equals victory! I have complete confidence in the power of your human spirit and your ability to accomplish the impossible. I have seen it happen too many times, not to believe it.  The act of having faith in this inner power can create miracles.  Don’t underestimate the simple power of faith.  Pick a goal and have faith in it happening.  The impossible being accomplished from faith is just not written about in books, brothers and sisters!  But you have to try to see it work!

So, get into a “doing” place-even its 5 minutes a day but each and every day–see what happens. I think you will be surprised. This column is my “doing”!

A Ho,
Greg

Photo credit: harlequeen on flickr.com

Today, another post from guest blogger Gregory Drambour.

A Sedona Vortex Experience
The Day Of The Cougar

A few months ago, it was my honor to guide a very gifted writer on a Sedona Vortex Experience to the Healing Tree Vortex. As we headed down the trail, I felt something behind me. I turned around and saw a little cougar sitting about 30 feet away (clairvoyantly). I thought I would keep walking and see what she did. I felt her following us and so I stopped and let her catch up! I told my client what I was seeing and she was very open to these kind of happenings. The cougar stopped very close to us and sat back on her haunches and looked up at us and cocked her head. She had this beautiful vulnerability about her; her face was full of innocence. She seemed very present. I greeted her and invited her to join our journey. She followed right along with this! It was so amazing.

As we got deeper into the journey I noticed she edged closer to my client, brushing up against her once in a while. I asked the client is she felt and saw the cougar–”Oh yes!” What came up that day for this wonderful client was taking a closer look at some inner child issues. She had forgotten that special little girl that existed inside her, an issue that comes up on manySedona retreats.

We stopped at the Place of The Fairy People, which is just short of the Healing Tree. This is a very special place that always brings instant joy to my heart. There are dozens of little fairies that live under a Grandmother Juniper Tree. The Fairy People immediately tried to make friends with my client. I felt her resisting it and got a clairvoyant-hit that she should shape shift into her little girl. Well, what followed was an enormous breakthrough. You can read about it in her testimonial. I was truly honored to be there to witness it. As we were getting ready to leave, my client turned to me said,

“Where’s the cougar?”

Something suddenly dawned on me! I responded, “The cougar was your little girl!” Emotion overwhelmed me and I felt the tears trying to come. Once again, I was so deeply grateful to do this work. The little girl inside my client knew she was resistant to connect with her, to let her live again. So she shape-shifted into a cougar so she could get close to her adult-self; so she could get her adult-self use to her child-like innocence and openness.

A Ho, Old One, A Ho. Thank you, thank you.
Greg

Dear Arizona Travel:
I would like to come to Sedona in August. I am totally burned out and need some guidance and a healing retreat. Can you help?

-Jenni from Long Island, NY

ChristinaToo says:
Hi, Jenny. The following Sedona retreats providers can be found on our website, Sedona.net. Any one of them would be an excellent resource for you.

• SpiritQuest Sedona – A holistic approach to help you expand your consciousness and radically transform your life. Combining ancient wisdom with modern modalities, you’ll experience private one-on-one sessions with Sedona’s very best spiritual guides, intuitives and healers.
• Angel Valley Spiritual Retreat Center – This all-inclusive spiritual retreat center is located on 70 acres, surrounded by the Coconino National Forest, outlined by Oak Creek, with creekside guesthouses, cabins, and tipis. This Arizona retreat center uses uniquely empowering earth energies and a wide variety of healing services to connect within.
• Sedona Soul Counseling – Embark upon what Sedona Soul Counseling calls “SpiriTravel,” in Sedona or around the globe, and experience soul activation through nature walks and hikes; swimming with dolphins or manatees; or playing with wolves or wild horses.
• Sedona Soul Adventures – Amazing spiritual retreats and transformational soul adventures with Sedona’s master healers, intuitives, artists and spiritual guides.  One-of-a-kind personal spiritual retreats will open your heart and change your life.
• Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo Spa – the ultimate in luxury accommodations and spa experiences.  Choose from three, four and seven-day spa journeys and dozens of healing treatments and activities.

You can find more information about these providers on our website at:
Sedona Psychic, Spiritual & Vortex Guide and Sedona Spas, Alternative Healing and Retreats and Sedona Retreats and Lodging.

Take care of yourself,
-Christina

All of life begins and ends with the movement of energy through our bodies, auric fields, the environment, and in our relationships. The quality and types of energetic flow affect us on every level, at all times. Awareness of this energy can be defined as “energy consciousness”.

Everyday, we experience variations of energy such as changes in time, emotion, memory, sense of identity, cognitive processes, perception of the world, use of the body, and interaction with the world through our awareness or state of consciousness. Furthermore, the pattern that is revealed within the energy of consciousness is self-reflexive (influences itself) and self-organizing. Geometrically speaking, it forms a spiral vortex which continuously flows back upon and refreshes itself. So, our understanding of the energy we work with in our lives affects ourselves, our relationships and everything around us on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels in distinctive ways.

As spiritual souls it is especially important to understand how and why energy creates particular feelings and experiences for us. Then, we can begin to learn to raise our awareness and manifest the best uses of energy to heal and transform ourselves, those around us and our environment.
The “Explorations in Energy Consciousness” retreat will offer numerous in-depth workshops designed to integrate new ways of thinking about energy that many of us have not mapped out yet in the ordinary experiences of our lives. Some of the types of energy workshops include: earth energies and vortexes; angelic energies; intuitive and telepathic development; energetic healing modalities; the energy of soulmate relationships; and ancestor energy.

Expert teachers, healers, and psychics will be presenting workshops and activities all week long.
Jaap van Etten, PhD is a scientist whose interest is in the connection between human energy systems and earth energies. He can read energies and is a healer who also works extensively with crystal skulls. Jeanne Michaels, MA is a healer who uses many methodologies. She channels dolphin energy; archangels and light beings. She also works with crystal skull and the energetics of water. Michael Redsky was gifted his spiritual knowledge from a near death experience, ways taught to him by the Old Ones and his elders. He uses traditional Native American methods for curing and spirit communication. He is also a flutist and drummer. Margo Callaghan is a healer who practices Usui Reiki and Integrated Energy and uses Egyptian Healing Rods. She is also and intuitive artist who paint’s the essence of spirit on canvas. Dr. Patti Diamond is an author and spiritual medium who specializes in the energy of Soulmate Relationships. She is also the director of the Diamondlight International Spiritual Oneness Center. Monica Ocean is trained clairvoyant from Berkley Psychic Institute who telepaths spirit. She does hands on healing, aura cleansing, past life and astral work, meditation and hatha yoga.

The retreat will be held at Angel Valley Spiritual Retreat Center. Angel Valley is located on 70 private acres 20-minutes from Sedona and is surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest. Oak Creek runs through Angel Valley year round. 20 different vortexes have been identified at Angel Valley, along with lines and labyrinths creating a unique energetic environment to support this journey of self-discovery, healing. The price of the retreat is $1600 for the week which includes accommodations at Angel Valley, food, workshops, and activities. $1160 includes everything except accommodations. $165 is the price for day without lodging, but includes food, workshops, and activities. A $270 deposit holds your space.

For more information or to sign up. Go to http://www.internationalspiritualexperience.com or call Gina at 479-754-8273, email: treeoc333@yahoo.com