I just finished a meditation retreat at Sedona Mago Retreat Center in Arizona. It was an amazing experience. About four years ago, my friends and I took a tour of Sedona Mago Retreat. After the tour, I promised myself that I would return one day. I’m so grateful to experience the retreat center.

Before I went to Sedona Mago Retreat Center, I went to Bell Rock. I wanted to climb Bell Rock and feel the energy of the vortex. When I was there four years ago, my friend and I didn’t climb very far up the mountain, so I was open to climbing higher.

I met another climber, Marvin, and I asked him if I could join him to climb up Bell Rock. I felt more empowered to climb with another human being. We encouraged each other when the climbing became difficult. Several times, I didn’t know if I could climb higher. The rocks were steep and slippery. We made it very close to the top – because it’s impossible to climb up the columns unless you have climbing equipment.

I am proud of myself for climbing Bell Rock. After our climb, we sat quietly and meditated. I could feel the spirits in the powerful wind. I even saw a vision of a Native American man standing behind my new friend, Marvin.

After climbing Bell Rock, I went to the retreat center. My goal for the retreat was to go deeper within myself and rejuvenate my soul. I also wanted to learn more about Taoism.

My most favorite experience during the retreat was the sun meditation. As a group, we gathered each morning at 5:00 AM to greet the sun. We did Qigong exercises as we waited for the sun. Then as the sun peeked over the mountain, we held three Qigong poses to open the Chakras (third eye, heart, and solar plexus). On the last sun meditation for the weekend, I received a special gift from the sun. As I closed my eyes and held the Qigong pose for the heart Chakra, I told the sun, “I love you, Sun. You know I love you!” Then in front of my eyes, I saw a pink heart shining toward me.

The sun reminds us of our bright consciousness. We can live in pure joy – just like the sun. When we are joyful, our faces shine bright.

The Sedona Mago Retreat center is based on Taoism. Tao originated 3,000 years ago in China. The main goals of Tao are self-awakening and freedom. We can learn to be present and free from the past and the future – which are illusions. When we have zero consciousness, then we obtain selflessness, freedom from attachments, master over our emotions, and free from the concept of “me.”

If we can have nonattachment, then we can awaken to our true identity – which is limitless. When we connect to the source of life (cosmic law), we see our true purpose. Clarity and creativity come from the cosmic mind (from inside).

The Native American people believe our spiritual parents are Heavenly Father and Mother Earth. Nature, Earth, and the Universe co-exist in harmony. It only humans who have disharmony.

All human beings want health, happiness, and peace. We need to recover our true value. When we see that we are beautiful and creative beings, our self-confidence and compassion increase. Compassion is our unattached love and our true nature.

We need to travel inside to see our potential. We can create our dream – for ourselves and the world. We need to let go of the old consciousness of separateness and create a new consciousness of enlightenment and oneness.

A clear goal is needed to obtain our dreams. We have a choice, we can either wander or travel. If we travel, then we need to focus. If we have no destination, then our brains do not work. However, if we work with the divine intelligence in our brains, then we become aware and are on the path to finding our true purpose in life.

There is a treasure inside every human being which is the Chakras (energy vortexes). They are unchanging and can be utilized for a better life. The Chakras form a pyramid in the human energy system (6th sense). Energy is the universal language. It is crucial to unify and integrate all the Chakras. See the world in energetic terms.

The main Chakra to focus on is the solar plexus Chakra. According to Taoism, we have energy inside us like the sun. It’s important to awaken this energy center. Many Qigong exercises can help us awaken our solar plexus.

In Taoism, the Chakra’s are grouped into three energy centers:

• Lower Chakras (root, sacral, solar plexus) – They support the physical body and improve health and immunity.
• Middle Chakras (heart and throat) – This is where our true nature resides and our soul’s growth.
• Upper Chakras (third eye and crown) – This is where we obtain enlightenment and spiritual completion.

We can use the Chakras and our brains to manage our lives. Taoism has three brain management rules:

• Self Confidence – Set the goal and then achieve it. Wake up your brain and pay attention to divine intelligence.
• Good news makes a good brain – Tell your brain good news: You are brave, bright, strong, and wise. Your brain will accept the message (no judgment). You have a super brain.
• If you choose it, it will happen – Go until it happens. Keep going. Don’t give up.

The retreat ended with a vision of hope for humanity and the Earth. As Earth citizens, we can reconnect to our original divinity. We can connect by returning to nature and understanding our relationship with Heaven and Earth.

Namaste, world.