I am a religious person and have never had a particular interest in things metaphysical, meditative, or spiritual. However, as Sedona is known for its swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing and meditation, I thought this would be a good tour to take for purely historical and cultural reasons. I was right and I was wrong. I was right about the historical and cultural part. I was wrong in believing that I would maintain some neutral distance and not be affected by the spiritual component of the experience. It was a pleasant surprise.
There were six in our group, and we were lucky enough to have a jeep and tour guide to ourselves. Robert was our knowledgeable tour guide who spoke to the history and geology of the area, the science of the electromagnetic energy and, as a Zen Buddhist and someone who spent time on the Hopi reservation, the spiritual meanings of the vortices. He led us in both a small scientific experiment (fun!) and a meditative, prayerful event (calming and thought-provoking). He plays the Native American flute beautifully.
I know this may sound a little too touchy-feely for some, but please trust me that it wasn't. It gave me much to think about and I never felt that organized religion was denigrated in any way. Robert was a fantastic guide, able to answer all our questions and generous with his Buddhism knowledge. He's funny and has an interesting back-story to tell. Ask him about it. Corny as it sounds, I came away lightened and invigorated, and perhaps a little more at peace with some of the "stuff" swirling around my life right now.