Today I took what seemed to be a very obscure trail. I hadn't heard anyone talk about it. Thanks to Sedona Monthly magazine I learned that it was a quiet trail with spectacular views. I was also intrigued by the fact that the magazine article described the area around the trail's entrance as "industrial". Having spent much of my adult life on the East coast, images that seemed incongruous with Sedona living kept passing through my brain.
Well, my imagination was far too active. This "industrial" area could pass for "suburban" in many parts of the country. Anyway, because the trail head was difficult to find, I got a chance to interact with several of the neighborhood residents. I got directions, warm greetings and dog smiles. Almost everyone I met was walking a dog or two. Even on the trail. Seems like dog heaven to me: low-traffic area with easy access to wilderness and chase-able animals.
I recognized something that didn't catch my attention before. Sedona residents have to be the friendliest hikers I have ever come across. Small town hospitality on the hiking trail. The positive connections with the people and their dogs was a wonderful start to my journey.
This trail starts out pretty humble and evolves into masterful views. There was also a continuing theme of dry stream beds. I passed so many, I couldn't tell which were part of the same stream. As I said yesterday, Sedona is a place where you can feel as well as see the beauty. Yesterday, it was the incredible trees and flowers. Today it was the dry stream beds. I don't know how long it has been since water flowed through these places, but I felt the flowing energy. At one point I had to stop and do Ki Gong. It was a wonderful floating feeling. I have never felt Ki Gong to easily and simply. My movements were so confident it seemed I was watching myself. Beautiful.
With fewer big trees, the sun was blasting me, but there was a little breeze that balanced things out as I walked. Especially, when I got to the top. I don't know what that ridge is called, but it was a picture-perfect view of some of Sedona's notable red rock formation. I sat down in awe, took a deep breath and began to meditate--brain wave vibration. Then I began to chant the Chun Bu Kyung. 81 "Chinese" Characters of Taoist text. Simple, numerical and powerful. I continued to chant as I descended the ridge until I reached a clearing with randomly sprouting Juniper and walls of big boulders. At that point I felt so elated by my surroundings and deep gratitude for this opportunity. I know hard scrabble trees, dry sandy soil and red rocks are not everyone's cup of tea. But I love these things and I feel spoiled with this abundance of beauty. In my excitement, I overdid it a little with the photos...
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