Vortex Visions

Wendi Friend

How exactly did Dorothy get transported to Oz? Where did that portal come from that delivered Alice to her wonderland? Although their authors of fiction are the obvious first choice of answers, the tales do have something in common. Dorothy's tornado and Alice's doorway to wonder are both vortexes. We know the storylines of Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland are borne from fiction, but does the same hold true for the vortex?

There are two main definitions for vortexes. On one hand, there's a simple and scientific definition. In the world of hard facts and proof, a vortex is defined as a swirling mass of substance such as air, water, or fire. Examples of these vortexes could be cited as tornadoes, whirlpools, and volcanoes. These vortexes are based on fact and science. But since the early 1920s, another definition of vortex has swirled to the surface of consciousness.

Steeped in New Age concepts, soaked in mystery, and bubbling with controversy; the new definition of vortex points to supernatural events, spiritual super-centers, and unexplained phenomena. Examples of this type of vortex can be found at Stonehenge, the Giza pyramids, and in sites of former civilizations such as the Incas in Peru. There are also several vortex sites in the United States, the most popular and abundant of which are located in Sedona, Arizona.

Spiritual vortexes are said to be cross-points between energy fields in the earth's grid system, or intersecting ley lines. Where the ley lines intersect, in certain areas, the result is said to be a "hot spot" of energy that can produce a wide range of effects along the lines of spiritual healing, psychic enhancement, and anomalies in plant life such as two species of trees growing together as one. Of course, there are other theories circling vortexes and ley lines as well, including that ley lines are what UFOs travel along, much the way we drive our cars along highways. It has also been suggested that vortexes can be portals into other realms, much like Alice's wonderland or Dorothy's Oz. To some, these vortexes are doorways into other dimensions. This type of vortex is where it's said that swirling masses of electromagnetic energy come to the surface, similar to the way lava is expelled from a volcano.

Spiritual vortexes have been compared to magnets. A magnet can bring together metallic objects. In the same way, a vortex is said to assist in aligning spiritual properties, bringing together the pieces and parts of our spiritual make up to create balance and harmony in the body. The Chakra system is believed to consist of mini personal vortexes in the human body - energy centers that power our life force. Visiting a physical vortex is said to help align these personal vortexes for enhanced health as well as spiritual and emotional balance.

Some of the terms used to describe these spiritual vortexes sound extremely scientific: earth's grids, ley lines, geomancy, and electromagnetic fields. If one didn't know better, they'd think they were experiencing scientific proof. But there's more to it than meets the eye. Let's start with ley lines.

Ley lines are an invisible grid said to permeate the planet. These can almost be compared to the types of earth grids we see in geography on maps. However, the earth grids in maps are used for simple measurement and coordinates, and are not suggesting any physical force. Ley lines, on the contrary, do claim physical force by way of flowing energy. Words used to define ley lines are words like imaginary, alleged, and hypothetical.

Geomancy is another scientific-sounding word, but unfortunately, has absolutely no foundation in science. Geomancy is a form of divination, a way of scrying for energy using pendulums and dowsing rods, among other tools. While these tools are widely accepted in the metaphysical community, they're often rejected by science.

Then, of course, there's the electromagnetic field factor. Now here's one area on which the science and metaphysical communities can and do agree. Electromagnetic fields are real. However, the effects of those fields are understood in completely different ways by scientists and metaphysics. What's important to remember is that electromagnetic fields CAN produce a reaction, but the experience isn't necessarily paranormal or metaphysical as much as it is medical. Electromagnetic fields have been known to cause reactions in the human brain that have hallucinogenic effects. Then again, who's to say a hallucination can't be interpreted as a spiritual experience?

Many of us don't require proof to believe in things such as the vortex and its hidden powers. But, there is another caution that comes along with the popularity of vortex sites for spiritual quests. Nope, I'm not going to caution you to beware of hidden doors leading to other worlds. I'm not going to advise how to communicate with a faerie or elemental should you bump into one. I won't caution to keep your soul tethered tightly to your body in the event of unplanned astral travel, but I will offer caution about one serious concern. Tourist traps!

Because vortexes have become extremely powerful as a draw to the metaphysical community, so has the tourist trade at vortex sites - and tourist traps in the metaphysical realm are quite different from other tourist traps. Everywhere you turn in vortex areas is a psychic wanting to predict your future, a healer wanting to align your chakras or give you acupuncture, a seer who wants to give you a personal tour, a vendor who wants to sell you his crystals, and a medium who wants to give you a message from your long lost Uncle Bernie. There's nothing wrong with seeking out this type of assistance when it's needed, but use common sense, trust your intuition, and don't be too quick to part with a buck!

Vortexes will always be magical places to many, regardless of what science proves or disproves. They may not whisk you away on yellow brick roads to sing and dance with the lollipop guild, or to wonderlands for tea with the Mad Hatter, but they certainly offer a chance to cross over into peaceful spiritual dimensions and awe-inspiring landscapes such as thosevortex spots in and around Sedona, Arizona.

Additional Sedona Area Information
Map & Directions Oak Creek Trail
Oak Creek Canyon Map & Directions
Oak Creek Canyon Photos By Koopsen
Oak Creek Canyon Vista Point
Sedona Aerial Photos By Koopsen
Sedona Winter Photos By Koopsen
Verde Canyon Railroad

The Wonder Of Sedona & Oak Creek