The area that comprises what we now call Sedona has always been a special place. The beautiful red rock sculptures were formed millions of years ago through the ebb and flow of ancient seas, sand and wind. Thousands of years ago, the Clovis and other native peoples came to Sedona in search of food, shelter and a peaceful existence. Even then, native peoples considered Sedona a special place and performed their ceremonies under the watchful eye of the red rocks.
People have felt the power of Sedona's vortexes for many years. Richard Dannelley claims that he knew of vortexes many years before 1980. The term "vortex" as applied to the energy spots around Sedona, however, is generally credited to Page Bryant who, in 1980, was told by her teacher "Albion" that there are special places around Sedona where the life force of the earth is especially strong. Page Bryant credited Albion with calling these special areas vortexes, although she is usually given that credit.
Albion tried to describe these forces in the only manner he was familiar with. These terms are: electrical, magnetic and electromagnetic. It's probably best not to take these terms literally, but rather to think of the energy metaphorically. Albion said there are seven vortexes around Sedona: Boynton Canyon, Red Rock Crossing, Bell Rock, Indian Gardens (in Oak Creek Canyon), the hill on which the main Sedona post office is located, the "great ledge northwest of Bell Rock" that Albion called "Apache Leap," and two red rock knolls located at Airport Mesa.
Pete Sanders, Jr. contends that vortexes are not electrical or magnetic at all, but rather are examples of "string theory." He postulates that the "energy" of vortexes is actually sub-atomic "strings" of particles which tie all the universe together and exist in ten dimensions. And while we cannot measure these "strings" with the technology we have today, they in fact do exist and are responsible for the energy we call vortexes.
Over the years, other vortex locations have been identified including: Cathedral Rock, Fay Canyon, near the Chapel of the Holy Cross church, near Schnebly Hill Road at the "Cowpies," the West Fork of Oak Creek, and "Chicken Point." Our theory for why people feel the energy at different locations is because we are all unique individuals - we have unique DNA and unique life experiences - it is understandable that you likely feel the energy at a place different than where I feel the energy.
Today, four locations are considered to be the Sedona vortexes: Boynton Canyon, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Airport Mesa. But that does not mean that you can only experience a vortex at those specific locations. Rather you could experience a vortex at any of the other potential vortexes as well as the four "main vortexes."
For additional information on vortexes, you may want to consider our Hiking the Vortexes book by clicking here.
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Great Sedona Hikes
Last Updated May 27, 2019
Web Page by Bill Bohan (billbo@greatsedonahikes.com)