I’m in Sedona now, and is it ever COLD! People here tell me it’s usually only this cold 2-3 days a year, so I must be lucky! There’s ice forming on puddles, and a possibility of snow.
I’m here to sample some of the vortex tours, to decide which vortex guide to use on our trips in 2008. Unfortunately, the guide we’ve used for years is moving, so we need somebody new. We whittled it down to a short list, then I came up to meet the finalists, and see how they ran it in person.
The last tour wrapped up about 6pm. I’d been outside most of the day, and by this time was wearing 2 sweaters, 2 vests, an Alaskan jacket, 2 blankets, hat, gloves, boots, and more, and was so cold my words weren’t forming quite right.
(The good news is that I’m convinced shivering is an effective weight-loss method. I’ve yet to see a scientific study on this, but a good full-body shiver must burn quite a lot of calories, and involve toning many different muscles.) 
Each vortex guide has a unique style, but their overall purpose is to teach you about Sedona’s mysterious energy vortexes, and help you connect with that energy in various ways. People always ask what this feels like, but there’s no simple answer. It depends on the guide, the rituals you use, your receptivity, how you’re feeling that day, and a lot of other factors. Some people claim miraculous visions and healing. Many people feel nothing at all. Most people fall somewhere in between.
On the first vortex tour, the leader did a guided meditation that had me soaring like an eagle around Thunder Mountain. This had a very surprising effect on me — I still don’t understand quite what happened. I left the tour wondering “what is going on with the eagle??” On the next tour, I was told that my spirit guide is a golden eagle. Among other qualities, this is supposed to mean that I can soar like an eagle. I left this tour wondering “what is it about eagles??”
I may or may not ever understand these links to eagles. But at least I accomplished the purpose of testing and selecting vortex guides — cold weather and all!
We do our Sedona hiking trips for women in nicer weather — spring and fall are usually ideal. Warning: If you ever come here in January, remember that even Arizona gets cold, and pack the expedition-weight long-johns!
