“End of trail,” read the sign at the top of Cathedral Rock. I exhaled a sigh of relief and felt my whole body relax. I was done. I’d been running for the last four months and needed a break.
I’d run into Sedona along the Munds Wagon Trail, stopping only at Circle K for a half gallon of milk to carry up Cathedral Rock, where the plan had been to watch the sunset.
That was it. End of plan.
I sat against the red sandstone, sculpted over millions of years by erosion and geological processes, and took in the panoramic view.
Native American tribes, particularly the Yavapai and Apache, have long considered the area to be sacred and believe that vortexes like those at Cathedral Rock hold powerful healing energy. This was a place where the earth’s energy is said to be particularly strong and conducive to healing, meditation, and spiritual experiences. And after the sunset, I had the entire peak to myself.
I considered hiking back down, looking for a place to camp… instead, I surrendered to the rhythm of the universe. I watched as stars emerged, illuminating the night sky. The moon ascended and descended, marking the passage of time with silent grace.
At dawn, the tranquility was broken by the arrival of fellow hikers. We exchanged quiet nods and respectfully awaited the arrival of the sun.
In those moments, as the sun broke above the horizon, I realized that I wasn’t going anywhere. I needed a vacation from myself.
#ineedavacation