Enter The Vortex
A story about subtle energies, exploring the bubbles beneath the surface and clearing the way for new opportunities and growth.
Summary:
This is Part 2 of the Sedona Story. Read Part 1 here.
Sonya encounters strange things.
The Universe works in mysterious ways.
When in doubt, reach out to a friend.
Trust that everything that happens in your life conspires in your favor.
Our highest and greatest potential awaits us.
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“When are you leaving?” asks Tamara.
I take a deep breath and answer, “I don’t know yet. I’m letting the Universe show me when I need to leave. I haven’t had a sign, but I’ll let you know when I do find out.” This is how Tamara and I talk to one another; we are soul sisters.
I patiently await my intuition to speak to me. Patience.
Are you ready yet?
On Wednesday afternoon, a truth in my gut says it is time to go. It feels so right; the stars have finally aligned and it’s go time. Staring at my suitcase, I jog through a mental list of all the items I might need for my trip:
Hiking gear.
Osprey bag.
Yoga clothes.
Normal clothes.
Socks.
Shoes.
Hair ties.
Crystals.
Books.
Computer.
Chargers.
Phone.
Sunscreen.
Sunhat.
Check. Check. Check. Check. Check!
On Thursday morning, my car is fully loaded and I feel even more confident about this solo adventure. I am driving to a new destination all by myself. What a grown-up thing to do!
Meditation, sanctuary, healing, peace, and growth, here I come! Why I was so nervous about the whole thing to begin with? The worst that can happen is that I can drive back home straight to my own sanctuary, right?
Right. It’s only for a week.
The wheels on the car go round and round.
Four hundred and seventy-seven effortless miles later (and a brief stop to see my nieces and sister), I pull up to the condo in Sedona. It feels comfortable; warm, cozy, and inviting. The condo, belonging to Emily and her husband, has this energetic vibe that screams ‘rest here and don’t leave until you’ve done exactly that! No exceptions!’ I am grateful for her invitation to stay at her home while they are out of town.
I wish I could tell you that I had concrete plans for my week-long stay in Sedona, but the truth is that I had no idea what I was going to do. I am a planner when it comes to business, but when it comes to travel and pleasure, I love winging it.
Maybe I will enjoy a couple of hikes, meditate in the vortex, visit a shaman, or discover a secret cove? Whatever is yet to come, I trust that it will end up being perfect.
That first night, I barely sleep a lick. As someone who is sensitive to subtle spiritual energies, I knew that this was going to happen. It is seldom an exception. Sleep does not come to me naturally when I am in new places. Despite tossing and turning throughout the night and morning, I feel strangely energized.
It must be the vortex energies.
I drive out to Cathedral Rock, a popular hiking spot with well-known vortex energies, in the morning. The rocks were big, red, and bold. It looks daunting but manageable. The sign hints at a 0.75-mile hike with a steep 600-foot increase in elevation. Hiking this trail is more of an understatement; this was more like climbing boulders or slinking across rocks on your butt. There is no graciousness in climbing Cathedral Rock. You do it however it needs to be done.
A woman passes on my right as she makes her way down the mountain toward me. “When you get to the very top, make sure you hang a sharp left. There aren’t many people in that corner, but it’s shaded and has a great breeze,” she shares with a smile.
She is absolutely right.
The view is expansive, captivating, and freeing. I imagine myself as an eagle, soaring up into the skies and observing us tiny little humans from an elevated vantage point. What a relief to be at the top of the world, I think to myself. What a relief.
After descending Cathedral Rock, I check in with my body and am hungry for more hiking. That’s when I drive over to Bell Rock for a second whiff of the vortex energies. This hike is much easier than the first (no steep incline) and it is gorgeous and equally breathtaking.
By the afternoon, I decide that two hikes in one day is more than successful.
As I lay down in the guest room to rest, I cozy up under the blanket and seek refuge under the skylight. It is still bright outside, but the heat has taken its toll on my body and I just want to relax. With eyes closed, I begin to drift away into sleepy-land.
Footsteps appear through the living room of the condo.
Hang on a second. I’m by myself, I think. I’m the only one here and Emily is across the country.
Frightened, I remain very still in a lucid state. The footsteps get closer and closer, but I still can’t bring myself to open my eyes. That’s how tired I am. As the figure reaches the side of the bed, I roll over to discover that nobody is there.
But, I already knew that.
Odd, I think to myself as I doze off to sleep again.
This is the part where I share with you, dear reader, that I’ve seen plenty of ghosts and spirits in my day, having been born special and growing up in a monastery. The Asian culture is full of mystical energies that visit on their own accord. We grow up with childhood stories about the ghosts who will come and snatch you if you don’t finish your food. Or, a ghost will come and whisper your name if you are still not asleep. Without proper protection, spirits can come and pay you a visit. That is why we light incense and pray for our ancestors and deities to shine their light upon us.
I grew up sensitive; not just emotionally but also spiritually. I have the gift of seeing, as some call it. Clairvoyance. Seeing. Extrasensory perception. Cognition. You just learn how to work with it; kind of like wearing glasses. I communicate with star beings, spirit guides and higher energies. I’ll tell you more about that another time.
The following day, I decide to give myself a break and visit downtown Sedona to do some touristy stuff. Having already visited two other crystal shops in the local vicinity, I felt like there was something more that I could experience. Something more unique.
Perhaps I would accidentally meet a shaman, get a psychic reading, or delve into the Sedona mysteries? Randomly driving through town, I feel a gentle energetic tug in my arm and turn the steering wheel. I pull into the driveway for the Peace Place Gifts & Reiki Center.
Another crystal store? I think. Cool, I can always use more rocks!
The gift store is quiet and serene, full of gemstones, books, and spiritual tools. I see pendulums, dream weavers, unity bracelets, and more. When my eyes rest upon a set of chakra tuning forks tucked away in the corner of the store, I immediately get giddy.
Chakra tuning forks generate frequencies that assist in clear obstacles and re-opening your soul’s purpose. They are useful, fun, and symbolic for spiritual practitioners. I have never seen a full set of tuning forks before, but have heard wonderful things about them. I perform chakra clearings the old-fashioned energetic way with my clients, so tuning forks are a new delight.
Hmmm. The crown chakra and the root chakra, I say to myself silently. One to open and one to ground.
Each chakra governs a different aspect of our life. It holds truths to our potential, as well as revealing to us any obstacles blocking them.
Holding one fork in hand and the mallet in the other, I gently strike the fork to create a vibration. The subtle tone rings through my ears but I don’t feel anything overly spiritual or out of the world. And with that, I get up and wander off to discover new toys.
After taking 3 short steps, I begin to feel a weird sensation on the top of my head. It feels strange and buzzy, like a zapping/pulling sensation from inside my head that goes up to…
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, no, no, no, no.
A wave of energy pulsates through my body in an upward motion and soars up into my head, passing through my skull. In that instant, I feel my soul leave my body without advanced notice.
I am frozen.
Physically immobilized, I am unable to move my arms or legs. The only ability I have is to move my eyes and blink.
I stand still in a panic wondering what to do with my body. I have never experienced anything like this before. I have never been trained to leave my body while at a gift store. I do not have a protocol to restore what is happening to me. No, this is not a seizure. I am conscious and aware.
Off to the other side of the store, I can hear children laughing with one another while adults casually yell at them to not touch anything. Nobody seemed to notice that I am stuck. It is just my luck that I am facing a wall of books; easily passing it off as if I am reading.
What do I do? Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
It felt like an eternity before I calm my inner voice and tell myself to relax. After gathering my thoughts, I attempt to force myself back into my body. I jerk my arm to force a sensation and the remaining energies come back into me making me whole again. It takes a few more seconds for me to become mobile again.
What the fuck. Like seriously, what the fuck.
Shaken by the experience, I immediately leave the store without saying goodbye, climb into my car, lock the doors, and cry my eyes out.
Sedona, I think I’ve had enough of you for now.
What is it that you want from me?
What is it that you want me to know?
What haunts you begs for your attention.
The following night, I wake up to one nightmare after another. I continue to say my usual prayers and ask the Universe to protect me from whatever is trying to say hello to me from the other side.
Whatever I am here to learn or uncover, please make this as painless as possible. I am open to limitless possibilities, but please protect me with your divine grace. I welcome all the cosmic lessons you want to gift me, but please be gentle.
Grasping at the few remaining hours of the night, I close my eyes and try to catch some rest so that I can actually try to enjoy Sedona.
Step, step, step. The footsteps appear again.
I am in a sleep trance. I intuitively sense the movement from within the apartment even though I am asleep.
Closer. Closer.
Step, step, step.
A cat jumps off the bed. That’s weird, Minxie (my cat) is at home and not here, I think to myself.
And without warning, I am shocked yet again.
My eardrums vibrate like maniacs on a disco dance floor. Sonic booms inside my head send electric shocks throughout my body. The pulses feel like morse code inside my eardrums. I can not fathom what is going on because this is not normal.
What the fuck… This can’t be real. What in the world?
Panicked, I force myself to wake up. I discover that I am very much alone, again. I am in my body, with all my limbs and my senses. I am thoroughly confused.
Sedona, what do you want from me?
When in doubt, ask a friend.
“I’ve been having some intense energetic experiences here in Sedona,” I write to Emily in a text message. “Have you ever experienced anything like this?”
Emily writes back to me right away, “You’re tapping into the very active energy grid there. Yes, I’ve had some experiences that were similar, because the veil is so thin there. I put up a boundary with the spirits. Look up cat spirit animal. There’s a message there.”
I google “the veil” and come to the conclusion that it refers to the curtain between the human world and the spiritual world. Apparently this curtain is very thin here in Sedona and that’s why people flock here to experience the vortex. Being sensitive comes at a price, especially if you are in a new place and have never experienced these types of energies.
Exhausted and frustrated, I try to meditate and communicate with my spirit guides and star family for answers, but I come up empty-handed. It’s hard to meditate under duress.
Where’s a shaman when you need one?
The Healing Journey
Julie, the Founder of Healing Soul Transformation, arrives at the condo with a large bag over her shoulder. She introduces herself, offering a sweet smile, and invites me to get straight to business. I tell her about everything that’s happened to me so, scratching my head with question after question.
“I normally know what to do in these situations, but I’m at a loss. I do energy healing, multidimensional travel, and all sorts of things, but this is just fucking crazy. Pardon my french,” I say to Julie. “I just want to know what’s going on. Obviously, something is trying to get my attention, so I’m listening now. What do we need to do?”
When it comes to dealing with life and learning lessons, I hate leaving stones unturned. I knew it was a matter of time before I would find peaceful resolutions to these energetic disturbances.
Whatever is hidden under the surface will always come up eventually. The question is whether we want to do it gracefully or not.
Laying on the bed in the guest room, Julie opens up her bag and pulls out her tools. She begins a shamanic ceremony with crystals, a singing bowl, a flute, and music.
She picks up her shamanic drum and holds it over my body while striking it with fierce intention. The sensations reverberate throughout my body and seep deep into my core. I can feel it dispelling spiritual energy, beliefs, and patterns that no longer serve me, shattering the weariness and fatigue that has plagued me for days.
In a calming voice, Julie guides me into a relaxed state. We journey to a peaceful place that is green and luscious and I sink in deeper into a trance-like state where I can openly communicate with my spirit guides and higher self. I journey to places in different timelines to uncover any obstacles that have been holding me back.
Layer upon layer, I communicate with my guides to uncover truths from this lifetime and also previous lifetimes. They show me places, stories, people, relationships, and emotions. They show me karmic events that have held me back, showing me how to heal the past.
In an instant, I know that there is a big block in my root chakra. I pray over this chakra and with Julie striking the drum over my pelvic area. A flood of red overflows inside my mind’s eye while I lay still on the bed with eyes closed.
Each chakra in our body has a representing color. Red is the color of the root chakra. I am in awe of how this blockage is suddenly cleared.
We continue to journey back into more layers of what needs to be energetically cleansed. The footsteps remain a mystery, but the more important questions are:
Why am I here in Sedona?
What does Sedona want me to learn?
What do I need to do here in this sacred land?
Then, like a pillowy wave of truth, it washes over me. My star family tells me that I was brought to Sedona to experience the vortex energies. I was led here to experience these phantom sounds, plagued by sleepless nights, and forced to find a solution to unlock the next chapter in my life.
I was led here to this specific moment with Julie, to clear any energetic and cosmic obstacles holding me back from my greatest potential. My spirit team shows me that Julie is who I was supposed to meet. She holds the right frequency, the right tools, and the proper energy to lead me through this journey.
There are details too personal to share in this post. But, let’s just say that I awakened to new gifts, insights, and heightened sensitivities. I could not have done this without Julie’s help. I could not have opened this new chapter had I not been led to Sedona.
This encounter is no coincidence: the Universe made sure that this event would happen no matter what because it is for my highest and greatest good.
The bubbles beneath the surface
The Universe is a mystery and works in ways we can not understand. Some people bemoan the fact that the Universe can be cruel and unforgiving, but I beg to differ.
The Universe works in its own unique way. It follows a constant truth that we can only recognize if we are willing to trust what it has to offer. It is constantly working to show you the experiences, people, resources, tools, and the lessons you need so that you can become the person you are meant to be. This is why it is so important to pay attention to signs from the Universe.
That said, the Universe might not always make sense. Sometimes it can feel downright vengeful.
You might go through a painful breakup or divorce that forces you to work on yourself so that you can meet the love of your life.
You might lose your job, only to re-discover old passions and find a job that you actually love that pays you more.
You might go through bankruptcy in order to learn the money lessons you need to learn to truly create a life of sustainable financial wealth.
You might have a shakeup in your life that forces you to examine old habits that no longer serve you. Why are you holding on to them anyway?
You might feel as though you are losing control with no sense of direction, but the fact is that there is a reason. It’s just not up to us to know now.
When you start paying attention, you’ll notice that things happen FOR you for your greatest potential. The Universe is always sending you signs to help you get closer to where you need to be in life. Are you paying attention? Are you open to the life lessons it has to offer?
I believe that the Universe conspires in your favor.
Events that happen to you, happen for you.
What this means is that the Universe is always actively clearing the path for new growth. In order to achieve new levels, we must make room for new beginnings.
How can we do this if we are constantly holding on to old, outdated beliefs and thoughts that hold us back? How can we possibly expand our minds if we don’t clear our proverbial secret closet?
Oftentimes, we keep patterns, behaviors, and thoughts locked away in our psyche because they may have once served a purpose. But, just because it worked for you then does not mean it will work for you for eternity. How does that logic even work?
When you trust the Universe and shed the things that no longer serve you, you make room for new things to come into your life.
When you grab ahold of its hand and say ‘Hell yes!’ to new opportunities and adventures, you discover new aspects of yourself that you knew are possible.
When you release what is holding you back, your life begins to change for the better.
This is how the Universe works.
I fundamentally believe that everything that has happened to me, happened for me, so that I could uplevel into a new phase in my life. Truth be told, new chapters have begun to open and things are flowing into my life easily and effortlessly.
I know with 100% certainty that my faith in the Universe will lead me to where I need to be. There are no coincidences, only truths.
When will you begin to trust what happens for you?
Join me as we step into the vortex. Your energies and new chapters await…
To learn more about Julie the shaman, you can learn more about her on her website at Healing Soul Transformation. She is graceful, wise, and gentle. You can also find her on Instagram, Youtube, or reach her via email. She lives in Sedona, so you will have to go there to meet her.
I also recently relaunched my spiritual business, Digital Empath where I offer Beyond Quantum Healing Hypnosis sessions that also assist people in journeying to discover their highest potential. If you are curious about it, you can learn more about that at my website. I do them in-person or over Zoom.
I have an open door policy, so if you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please just holler out at me.
Xo, Sonya
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Deep. The energies you speak of, I always thought of them as dreams. And the people I see during those times, so real, some passed many years ago, some never known, must bring something to me intentionally.....could that be?
You write as you speak and not many have such talent. I try to picture you in my thoughts walking, sweating, breathing, looking and thinking as you walk those Sedona rocks. Must have been one hell of an experience.
Thank you.