According to visitsedona.com, “Sedona has the ability to transform lives.” Having visited recently with my mom and sisters, I don’t know that my life has been transformed, however, we did experience a bit of transcendence.
Now hold on, before you assume that we were running around naked, chanting around a bonfire, or sitting on mats in true yogi form, lets define transcendence. It’s just a word that means beyond the normal, or average ordinary experience.
Girls Trip! 
Oak Creek Canyon
The Descent into Transcendence
While driving through Oak Creek Canyon, into Sedona, I remember being so inspired that I was actually talking to myself, out loud…alone… in my car. The drop into the canyon is unexpected,and the scenery dramatically changes from the generally flat, desert terrain of the Colorado plateau to the steep red rock canyons. The creek is shaded with lush cottonwood, maple, and willow trees, which are a rare treat for us South westerners. This makes for a “beyond normal” experience, while the curving road offers opportunities for discoveries around every bend.
Paddle boarding, Hiking, and Biking
Sedona is like Disney World for outdoor enthusiasts. There is no way you could do it all in a weekend. My sister booked the perfect house for us to stay that comfortably fit all of us. There was even a trail that began right in our driveway.
Our first day, we decided to look for nearby paddleboarding, which actually ended up being about a 30-45 minute drive. Well worth it for us because this was a big reason for our get together. This area is hard to find, so check out this site for more info.
From desert to jungle? Paddle boarding is scarce, but we found it. 
Paddling under the Toozigoot Bridge
The second day of our trip, we wanted to hit Slide Rock State Park, which is one of Travel Channel’s top ten swimming holes. It was so crowded we couldn’t park anywhere within a mile walking distance to the entrance. We decided instead on a hike recommended by our house hosts called “The Crack.” The info we found claimed it was only about a 3.5 mile hike one way, but it still took us at least an hour and a half to get there. The swimming hole was absolutely breathtaking!
We also managed to find the time to do a loop on our bikes on the Bell Rock Pathway .
Finding Transcendence in the Vortex
All of us are constantly searching for our needs to be met in various ways. While preparing to become a teacher, I studied Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how it applies to children and adults. I love the the way this theory neatly organizes and explains human behavior. I’d like to think that our girls trip was so fulfilling because it met our needs at every level. Of course our sense of belonging being the biggest chunk. What is even more interesting, is that Maslow later added transcendence to the top of the pyramid. He explained, ” A person is motivated by values which transcend beyond the personal self.”
Having never heard of such things as vortexes, (vortices?) we had no idea that our girls trip would be smack dab in the center of one. Maybe there is a little truth to Sedona’s claim to changing lives. Turns out, we were filling each other’s need to laugh, connect, and support each other. We transcended our every day lives by being together.
Vortex or not, we were inspired by the beauty of the earth and the connections of our hearts. We were recharged by challenging ourselves in physical adventures, or relaxing on our deck together. We were uplifted by each other’s love and support, and the majestic views. If you get the chance to go, don’t expect to be transformed. Instead, look for opportunities of transcendence.