By Roseanne Jennings
Sedona, AZ — The tourism sector is evolving rapidly, with travelers seeking new attractions and experiences every time. Among the recent travel trends is wellness tourism, which showcases retreats and activities that promote holistic healing. Findings from The Hilton Trends Report in 2023 reveals that 50% of travelers are in search of authentic experiences that address their physical and mental wellness beyond spas and fitness centers.
It is in this light that Sedona’s vortexes emerge as a healing destination for tourists visiting Arizona. More than just unique geological wonders, the town’s vortex sites can help travelers tap into their spiritual energy and experience self-discovery and transformation. Below, we look at the historical context behind vortex healing and highlight top vortex sites to visit in Sedona.
The history and context of Sedona’s vortexes
Sedona being a hotspot for vortex sites carrying psychic energy can be tied to the area’s Native history and conception as a ‘sacred land.’ Environmental and anthropological research notes that in American Indian spirituality, it is believed that inanimate objects, such as geographic areas, can be regarded as sacred when inhabited by a spirit. Since Sedona’s canyons hold spiritual significance as sites for indigenous ceremonies, vortex sites are believed to channel meditation, clairvoyance, and healing energy.
Beyond research, books that explore authentic experiences in Sedona and the larger Arizona area can provide context to the ‘power vortexes’ surrounding the red-rock country. Readers interested in the tours and pilgrimages focused on vortex healing can go and check out Everand’s selection of travel audiobooks. The digital library includes not only guides, maps, and photography collections by well-known travel writers like Richard Grant but, more specifically, relevant titles on Sedona’s historic sights and sceneries.
For example, the digital subscription provides access to Frommer’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon by journalists Gregory McNamee and Amy Silverman. The ebook, which is available for preview online, includes a chapter on taking a vortex tour in Sedona as an off-beat travel experience for spiritual believers. The next section focuses on the top vortex sites to visit and get started on vortex healing.
Vortex sites to visit in Sedona
With hundreds of vortexes to be found in Sedona, a travel guide on the online media website Thrillist recommends the ‘big four’ known as the main vortex sites where one can escape to a higher consciousness.
These include Airport Mesa, which is near the center of the town and is typically the most crowded vortex site. The upward flow in this area is described to be masculine, with the electric energy particularly beneficial for travelers looking to boost their emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness. Meanwhile, Bell Rock is also viewed as an up-flow site with masculine and electric energy and is characterized by a recognizable formation with a loop of about 1.8 miles.
As the only one of the main vortex sites to have inflow energy, Cathedral Rock’s beginner-friendly hiking trails encourage travelers to slow down and be introspective. Unlike the first two sites, the energy flowing through this vortex is regarded as feminine, thus facilitating rest and relaxation. Lastly, the Boynton Canyon vortex is considered to contain both feminine and masculine energy, thus being an electromagnetic field and the most sacred site out of all four.
As wellness travelers in search of spiritual experiences take interest in Sedona’s vortex sites, local businesses and government bodies such as the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce are expected to develop tourism strategies to better promote Sedona. These can range from collaborating with influential travel bloggers for marketing and advertising to improving transportation and traffic conditions for potential tourists.
Article written by Roseanne Jennings
