Page 21 - 200903 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - March 2009

21 Holy Sedona: Arizona Pilgrims 21 Holy Sedona: Arizona Pilgrims Holy Sedona: Arizona and the energy. The first time when I came here intuition. Holy Sedona: Arizona While there are no official statistics town lures pilgrims of I was only 14, but I knew it was a sacred place." available, Rosemary (The Celtic Lady) town lures pilgrims of Today, Gentry's shop offers everything all faiths from psychic readings and massages to aura McArthur, CEO and founder of the American, all faiths photography and books. She even does readings Canadian and U.K. Association of Psychics & over the phone for people who can't show up in Healers, estimates the industry is up 30 per cent By Jerry Johnston person. from last year. By Jerry Johnston "I think when you come to Sedona, you "Everyone has said that their readings For many, Sedona, Ariz., is a trendy need to be very conscious of what your have gone up incredibly," agrees Dawn Carr, outpost — like Tombstone or Taos; a sunny 'mindset' is," she says. "I believe that whatever founding member of the American Association Southwest town where you can pick up a is in your mind at the time you come here will of Psychics and Mediums, based in Boston. "It's painting and down some good food. be magnified. Many people come here looking surreal." About a third of callers are so-called But for others, Sedona is Mecca, a to be healed." psychic virgins, who are trying clairvoyance for destination for pilgrims. Even before psychic According to people in tune with such the first time, she says. Page Bryant claimed Sedona had four vortexes things, there are four vortex sites in the natural Psychics have also noticed their (sites where the Earth's lines of energy intersect) landscape in Sedona — Bell Rock, Boynton clientele growing more diverse, with many traditional religions were already flourishing Canyon, the Airport Vortex and Red Rock more calls from men and people from industries here. Seekers came to see the glory of creation, Crossing. Over the years, millions have visited across the spectrum. enjoy the tranquility and visit the Chapel of the the sites. Today, taking people to visit them has Those who study consumer behaviour Holy Cross. become a cottage industry for young say it's not unusual for people to turn to The famous chapel is just the flagship of entrepreneurs. Several companies offer tours, psychics during tough economic times. faith in Sedona, of course. If religions were ice some using helicopters. Stuart Vyse, a psychology professor at cream, Sedona would be Baskin Robbins — The interesting thing is most traditional Connecticut College and author of Believing in from the gauzy New Age shops and imported faiths don't see the vortexes as a threat, but — as Magic: The Psychology of Superstition (Oxford Asian faiths to the traditional rituals of Native the Rev. Piotrowski says — they become a University Press, $21.95), says that when faced Americans and more traditional Christians. In reason to fortify their own faith. with uncertainty, people are desperate for short, Sedona is a wonderful magnet for When you live in Sedona you are almost anything that gives them a sense of control -- seekers. forced to think about otherworldly matters. even if it's just an illusion. "We are totally thrilled to be in a place People feel compelled to think about their own "The simple act of doing something that attracts the spiritually hungry," says Pastor beliefs and examine their own deeply held makes you feel that you have some control in an Mary Piotrowski of St. Andrew's Episcopal. convictions. And when they do, many find what uncertain world," he says. "We have a whole bunch of people here — from they were looking for down inside of And while love and relationships were 40 years old or so — who were raised without themselves, not in the surrounding landscape. once at the forefront of fortune seekers' minds, religion. They came to realize something was Bliss becomes a matter of the heart. these days, Calibre said, clients' questions about missing, and the reason they are here is they are A local bumper sticker proclaims "I whether their jobs are in danger, and what to do desperately searching for God. At St. Andrew's found heaven in Sedona, Arizona." if they are, now consume about 70 per cent of we make ourselves open to spiritual seekers. We What the bumper sticker doesn't say is "I session time, versus less than 40 per cent a year have a labyrinth in our parking lot, for instance. found it within myself." [] ago. What church wouldn't feel blessed to be in such "They're asking, 'What's next for me? Recession driving a place?" Recession driving This is the ship going down. Am I going to get Indeed, the seekers come from far and people to psychics a life raft? Am I going to get on the lifeboat?'" wide and from dozens of backgrounds. One people to psychics Carlos Aguilar, 45, says that although he attraction is Sedona's world famous Chapel of used to consult a psychic once or twice a year, the Holy Cross. The idea for the design of the Fortune tellers say more lately he's been calling much more frequently -- Fortune tellers say more chapel came to Marguerite Brunswig Staude clients ask about jobs about once a month. Aguilar last year lost the clients ask about jobs while she was looking at the newly built Empire restaurant he owned for a decade and is now State Building in 1932. She claimed she could unemployed, with mounting debt and creditors almost see a great cross running through the Jill Colvin calling. He says he wants to know whether he'll building. It became an idea for a shrine. Frank Columbia News Service be able to regain his financial footing. Lloyd Wright built a model of it and, after an NEW YORK "I'm just trying to find some kind of earlier version of the chapel was abandoned in reassurance that my life isn't over. Even though Budapest, the Arizona structure was completed After she was laid off from her job at things look really bleak and really bad, it's in 1956. Today the chapel is not only a sacred Tiffany & Co. in New York City and forced to really nice to hear someone say, 'Hang in there. landmark but an internationally beloved piece pack up her cosy apartment and move back to Things are going to be OK.'" of architecture. One believer, who wanted to her family home, Siobhan Lamont said she felt While it's easy to question the value of remain anonymous in order to showcase the lost and confused. She had just ended a long- paying upwards of $100 for advice gleaned chapel, not herself, said, "The people who come term relationship, her brother was sick, and through tarot cards and crystal balls, these here are touched. People ask for tissues after everything seemed in disarray. psychics say they are providing their clients visiting it. Some are moved to relate their life "I was in a desperate state," she says. "It with a valuable service. stories to others. It's a special spot. It's was hard to find the little light at the end of the "It's not that I'm waving a wand and beautiful." tunnel." giving them a job," Calibre says. Instead, he "A special spot" might also describe So Lamont, 23, did something that five tries to help his clients identify forgotten talents how many young people who follow New Age years earlier, she never would have imagined: and interests that could be used as they move ideas see Sedona. They set up shop here and She called a psychic. from one career to the next or alert them to practice alternative forms of healing, feeling, Throughout the country, as the economy symbols that could be significant in the future. worshipping and being. Frommer's guidebook crumbles and the unemployment rate soars, When it came to discussing Lamont's claims "You can hardly throw a smudge stick people like Lamont are increasingly turning to career, for instance, Calibre revealed a card around these parts without hitting a psychic." psychics for hope. featuring a pink triangle with stick figures in Jennifer Gentry, owner of the Sedona Crystal Psychic Derek Calibre, who charges different colours holding hands under a Vortex Metaphysical store, is just one who felt $120 for a one-hour session, says business has rainbow. The image symbolizes community, drawn to Sedona. more than doubled in recent months, up to four mental health and working with society, he told "I've lived here for 51/2 years," she says. or five readings a day. Calibre said that people her. "This could be something that you're "But I've been coming here for more than 20 today are "struggling and worried" and much interested in," he said. years. I was drawn here by the natural beauty more willing to take a chance on psychic (Continued on Page 32)