Arizona Adventures: Sedona Edition

I've returned from my nine-day Southwestern national park adventure with an exhausted, time-zone-altered, sunburned body; a cellphone camera bearing over 250 photos; increased understanding of Native American culture and life, past and present; a diminished bucket list; newfound confidence and renewed desire to explore the world; cherished memories; and many stories to share.

My trip began with a flight into Phoenix, AZ, where I was picked up by shuttle from the airport and delivered to a hotel featuring a suite as large as my apartment. I seriously thought there must have been some mistake at the front desk, but I wasn't about to correct it. I had a taste of the rock-star life (or what I imagine it to be like) as I lounged poolside, worked out in the fitness center, and later ordered room service (feeling like a real adult here). Life was good but destined to change. I met up with my escorted tour group that evening, and the following morning we were off on our trek to the Grand Canyon at 8 a.m.

Room service!

Along the way, after hearing numerous jokes and intriguing stories about Sedona's famous vortexes (spiritual energy centers) from my tour director, I was ready for something otherworldly...after first indulging in some authentic Southwestern cuisine, of course (it was lunchtime). I hit up a Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating, speedy service, and good food in large portions (what more could you want?) as I took in my surroundings and plotted my next move. 

Once fueled up, I walked back down the sidewalk in the direction of a crystal shop offering psychic readings. I was cautiously interested and drawn inside with a magnetic pull. I briefly browsed through the shop's amazing assortment of crystals (who knew there were so many colors, shapes, and sizes, one for every possible ailment or affliction?), decided the vibes were all good, and boldly walked to the counter to order a 20-minute psychic reading. Not more than two minutes later, I was escorted into a back room and seated across from my psychic, a stunningly beautiful woman with a warm, soothing presence and soft-spoken voice. She offered me a legal pad and pen to jot notes and allowed me to record the session on my phone, which I hadn't expected but later appreciated. 

Getting started, she pulled out a deck of tarot cards and asked me to choose ten from the pile. My evangelical-Christian-indoctrinated spirit inwardly squirmed and offered up a silent prayer for God to please NOT strike me dead for what I was about to do. But as she spoke, I relaxed. I didn't know what to expect; in fact, I think I was probably more skeptical than anything else, expecting to be ripped off, but still open to the experience. What I found exceeded my hesitant expectations: this woman was good. I mean, she knew stuff, as in stuff that I hadn't told her. (I told her only my name and birthdate when asked. Nothing else.) 

She informed me that solo adventures (without being told that's what I was on) would help me come into my own; it was important for me to harness and express my creativity (which I'm attempting to do here) and avoid complacency and comfortability in my life decisions; and spoke of this being a period of transition and new adventures for me: "Out with the old and in with the new." She was spot on with everything she said about my life and relationships, leading me to conclude that she's either clairvoyant or a really good, intuitive guesser. Either way, I was royally impressed.

Sedona's Bell Rock

I left the shop, and Sedona itself, mind blown, encouraged, inspired, and later just as amazed as I was during the initial reading when I listened to my recording of the session, which told me that I hadn't been just caught up in that moment. I realize now that I've become skeptical of just about everything, including religion, relationships, motives, feelings, maybe for justifiable reasons. I think I've needed to believe in something, and I know I needed to know that I'm on a beneficial life path, one that will bring me personal and spiritual growth, now and in the future.