In December of 2001, I had the wonderful opportunity to do a five day vision quest in the magnificent energy of Shaman's Dome.

Tyb's Quest Journal: Day 3

The third day of my vision quest brought a vision. It wasn't what I expected. I had awakened at dawn from an endless night of tossing and turning, feeling glad the long night was over. Sleeping on the ground is hard enough without freezing temperatures. I repositioned myself inside the sleeping bag and blankets, and watched the emerging sunrise. I was 'in effect' from 3 days of fasting.

Still early, and still freezing cold. I up sat lightheaded. I rubbed my eyes and gazed at the amazing Sedona landscape from my prayer tie circle deep in the Red Rock National Forest, 300 meters from Shamans Dome. Dawn bathed the silhouetted cliffs in pink. I closed my eyes momentarily. I was not quite awake, but was not asleep.

Vision of Red Feather

Then it happened… I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see a regal looking Native American with jet-black hair. The raven mane was adorned with a small red feather in the back. He pointed to the feather, and I knew that was his name. Red Feather. He had a huge mountain lion with him. A magnificent creature! He kneeled in front of me and pointed to Shamans Dome, and I knew I had to go there. Timeless moments passed, and Red Feather came again. I sensed a great integrity in him, and felt humbled by his presence. Same message…go to the Dome. Suddenly I jolted up. Eyes wide open, as though I had seen a ghost. Which, of course, I had.

Visions do not come easily to me, in fact I had never experienced one. I was not sure at this point if this was one. I had not been asleep. I was cognizant of observing an unusual scene with my eyes closed…and I had felt that tap on my shoulder, and felt his presence.

Both pleased and uncertain of what had just occurred, I sat and stared at the Dome. I gathered my energy.

I stood up, still lightheaded. Little stars burst all around my field of vision … a result of the physical exertion and the fasting. I balanced my stance, and evaluated the walk and climb in front of me. I wondered if I should chance it alone. Red Feather's presence reemerged, as if to tell me it would be okay. He would guide me.

I smiled. The light-headedness was gone. Energy was pulsing through me, as I tied my hiking boots. With appropriate ceremony I opened the prayer tie circle, and exited, not waiting for Yellowbird.

At this point, I should explain that Adam Yellowbird is the protector and facilitator for my vision quest. He is a man of great integrity and humility. A keeper of the Earth, he has an incredible affinity with earth, sky, elements and all life. He conducts quests in the Lakota tradition. This is my third under his tutelage. He kept an anchor fire for me at his camp in Cornville, and made daily visits to check on me.

I headed for the dome without him.

Shaman's Dome

I really don't know how I got to the top so easily. I crunched through frozen grass and snow, down a steep arroyo and up an icy switch back trail, the last 150 feet of which was darn close to vertical. When I reached the top the morning colors were dancing. It was like a peyote dream. Little crystal explosions were popping all around, and I had to sit down. Though winded and a bit lightheaded, I felt remarkably aware.

An icy wind whipped across the top of the dome, but I was well wrapped and the sun was warming despite the frigid gale. I felt a sense of joyous well being. I was totally in the NOW of the moment. The adrenaline energy returned, and I scampered over to the summit of the dome. I found four distinct energy springs, Small electrical (out-flowing) vortexes, spiraling purple light. I parked right on top of one. The vital earth current flowed upward through me. Legs gangling over the edge, I shifted until I fit comfortably in a small dip. It offered a perfect back support, and I closed my eyes. The feeling was delicious. So completely alive, so in spirit, so melded into the dome.

With eyes closed I faced the beaming sun. Everything appeared red. Geometric patterns danced in my head in a vibrant kaleidoscope of color.

I drifted into vision.

Red Feather took my hand and we flew, effortlessly over the valley. What a sensation of euphoria! Visionary dreaming is so real. The joy of flying in that brisk icy air was quite a rush. Even now, I wonder if I was actually out of body. The flying sensation lasted for 10 minutes or so, then the vision shifted. I went higher. I sat at the feet of myself and asked questions. I knew the answers before I heard them. I had the rare experience of knowing I was having a vision, and knowing I was watching it, and still not losing it with that realization. (As is normally the case with dreams). Then more visual. Animals. I saw a rattlesnake on the ground, and then the huge lioness. I was in awe of her. The lion walked into a cave and lay down. An hour passed.

A noise. I opened my eyes to see Yellowbird's green truck whining up the steep rocky track. He stopped thirty meters from my vision quest site. I stood and waved, then called to him. He saw me and I motioned for him to climb up the Dome. He did.

Thirty minutes later he arrived. I shared my vision and spoke of the energy fountains. We built stone cairns denoting the energy spirals. We connected one to Ayers Rock, where he had been earlier in the year. We connected the others to Machu Picchu, Enchanted Rock and Mount Shasta.

We then made the precarious walk along the outer dome rim to the 'CAVE'.

At last Shamans Cave. It was everything I anticipated, and more, much more. The symmetry was beautiful. An arched semicircular entrance, a colonnaded buttress on the eastern side with a stunning 360 degree circular window. Not a cave it the traditional sense, it is carved out of sandstone. The floors and walls are wind polished quartz. It is a shrine, 40 feet deep, 70 feet long, 25 feet high.

As we walked into the magical entrance, I felt an immediate energy shift. My eyes were immediately drawn to a pictograph on the cave wall. I walked forty feet to the back wall, and saw with a wave of validation, that it was the face of a lion! The Lioness of my vision!

Interdimensional Portal

A condensed energy sphere pulsated inside just below the pictograph. A lateral portal flowed through the amazing circular window. An electromagnetic ley energy was focused inside the center aperture of the cave, like the fulcrum point of an hourglass. Three separate lines of energy met at the center. The entire cave holds an inter-dimensional portal, which can be opened with the appropriate intent.

Yellowbird and I did a pipe ceremony and circled with white sage. He sang a vision song of the Lakota tradition, made offerings, and we positioned for prayer and meditation. Two hours later, we knew it was time to leave. I knew I would return.

Day Four

Another cold night, but beautiful night, I watched billions of stars in the clear night for an hour. Meteors streaked occasionally across the black velvet fabric of sky. My sleep was embellished with dreams.

Transition Team

The sunrise was another study in pink and violet. After full sunrise, I was joined by Rainbow Spirit Woman. She lives in the Dakotas and is a guardian of the Earth. A degreed attorney, she works only now in spirit callings, working as a channeler, healer and facilitator. She came to the vision quest to assist in a 'transition', that she felt compelled to do. She brought prayer ties, and prayed at the entrance of the National Forest over a mile away the last two days. Her presence was a gift.

After her arrival, I exited the prayer ties, and we trekked easily to Shamans Cave. It was day four of my fast. The Dome and cave were vibrant, it was December 20th, potent eve of the Winter Solstice. Blessings were offered and permission received to enter the Cave. There was a small stone fireplace built in an earthen covering of the cave. We gathered a few pieces of dried wood and built a small fire. The aroma of burning cedar filled the cave. We offered blessings with prayer and sage.

Shamans Cave-Transitional Portal

After the appropriate ceremony, we went into meditation. The vibration grew higher and higher over the next half-hour. Then in the whiteness, two light beings appeared. The energy was overpowering. Tears welled in my eyes and my heart and spirit were laid open. I absorbed every vibration of the sacred moment. I was in awe of the holy light beings present. An energetic transformation and implant of knowledge was given. A light code was received. A separate entourage made adjustments to my knee, nervous system and sensory capacities. The experience was very clear, very personal, and empowering. Rainbow Spirit Woman and I received the experience simultaneously, and she vocally channeled what we both sensed. Our combined upper chakra energies of the male and female helped open a special portal that allowed an activation to occur. Despite a cold gusting wind and temperatures in the 40's, the cave felt warm. After ninety minutes, I felt compelled to pass in and out of the magical circular window, symbolic ritual, through the 18-inch thick sandstone walls. The window was amazing. It faced easterly, directly onto an electromagnetic vortex called the 'Seven Chimneys'. The window is a rebirth portal. The womb of the Goddess.

After my last passing through the window, I knew my quest was complete.

Symbols & Meaning

After doing vision quests for three consecutive years each December, the previous two for 5 days each, I had at last had a vision. It hadn't come easily. Gifts of spirit rarely do. I am still 'downloading' much of what was given. I obtained three new guides. I know that learning is a journey, and I am not sure that we ever truly 'arrive'. There is always more, and always responsibility to treat the gifts of awareness and knowledge with great respect. The Goddess, represented by the Lioness teaches that ego, greed, and 'masculine' power struggles cannot mix with love, service and humility…which are traits of true strength. Gifts of spirit are never 'taken away' but they are often lost because they simply cannot exist when negative traits resurface.

The metaphoric meaning of Jesus on the cross, is his choosing lesson over power. He could have led an army. Which choice took greater strength?

When Yellowbird joined me in the afternoon. He came carrying a gift. Despite snow on the grounds and fluffy snow blowing in from the west on gray clouds, a rattlesnake had come out of hibernation and slithered under his truck tires. He recognized the symbol and gift. The snake represents transition, and he presented the rattles to me, wrapped in cloth, cured in sage and cedar, at the Sweat Lodge ceremony that evening, the ceremony to ritually end the vision quest. In the native vinacular …AHO !

Now, to change directions slightly…just a few comments regarding Sedona

My Take on the Sedona Vortex

Energy centers are crystalline in many respects, and amplify the energies brought into them.

There is no doubt that the earth energies around Sedona are magnificent and powerful, but Sedona was never meant to be a metropolis. The native Americans recognized the natural energy cathedral it was, and it was respected accordingly. Villages were kept in outlying areas, but few lived inside the principle vortex itself. Shamen recognized, understood and worked appropriately with the amplifiers and portals of Sedona.

One Major Vortex - Hundreds of Fountains

My take on Sedona is that there is one enormous vortex, circulating above the area. This vortex has a pulsating diameter of between 18 and 35 miles, depending on lunar, solar and telluric energy cycles. Within this diameter are literally hundreds of energy fountain vortexes. Not just the eight shown on the Vortex 'Tourist' maps. The vortex fountains all contribute to the mega vortex of Sedona, which has a counter clockwise spin, and is principally an outward flow vortex, although there are dozens of areas with lateral energy flows and inward (magnetic) pulls within the Sedona energy field diameter. Many of the more potent vortex sites are also succinct interdimensional light portals and stargates. These are both functions of the 'Light' Grid, whereas vortexes and tellurics relate to the Gravitational and Electromagnetic Grids. (This will be covered in my book, hopefully to be published within the year)

The 'Sedona vortexes' printed on maps and offered on tours are; Boynton Canyon, Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Red Rock Crossing, Oak Creek Canyon, Coffee Pot Rock and Court House Butte. I have visited all of these. These will be covered in a separate article. I will interject that the energy site I feel to be the most pristine within the township itself is not listed. This is the 'Chapel of the Holy Cross', a site that reflects pristine, sacred energy.

Closing Comments & Contact- Shamans Dome

One cannot quantitatively compare vortex sites. Power sites within the umbrella of a central vortex, such as Sedona, Glastonbury and Titicaca, are often tuned to specific chakras in order to work in specialized focal sequence.

My quest site 'beneath the umbrella' was Shaman's Dome and Cave. While both a remote and 'protected', it is meant to be utilized. It is not 'off limits, or secret. The only requirement is respect of place, and knowledge of purpose. Opening or 'fine-tuning' in to the portal is a different matter. That is a process of intent, preparation and prayer.

I was taken there just once, before sunrise. I departed days later, in a heightened state. After three years, I achieved a vision. And a portal was opened! I remain humbly grateful for that experience. Especially to Yellowbird and Rainbow. It did not come easily to an old bear like me. I have since learned that 'Red Feather' has served as guide to at least two other writers (Both published) regarding earth energies. That was a wonderful validation for me, always the doubter.

He is with me still.

Regarding directions, I could not re-find my way there without a guide. It is off the western side of Highway 89A, between Cornville and Sedona, in the National Forest. The road is an earthen track, with several forks. The last stretch is quite steep, dotted with potholes and boulders. A four-wheel drive is prudent. Interested seekers can receive more information from Sedona resident Adam Yellowbird at (775) 781-1502.

And so it is….Blessings,
Tyberonn © Feb 2 2002

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