Heavy metal adventure team… activate!

I’m in Sedona, Arizona with Leon and Geist of the band Colosseum Thesis. Can you mix Jrock and Aliens? Read on to have your eyes opened.

Sedona is a 2-3 hour scenic drive from Phoenix. The red rock’s known as a haven of spirituality… and alien encounters.

Skull hair clips: gifted by Kreepsville 666
Art Nouveau sunglasses: gifted by Lumete

We blasted metal and Visual Kei on the drive north, which took us through cacti landscapes and rock corridors. Bassist Geist and I strike an alien pose.

It was right before Christmas, so the aliens were wearing Santa hats.

Our first pit stop: the fascinating Center for the New Age.

The store offers vortex tours, aura photography, psychics, palm readers, healing stones and crystals, and more.

A rich selection of books and Buddhas.

No matter what your spiritual leanings are, Sedona is special place. There’s a feeling of re-charging here.

Sedona has a number of “vortexes”, or sites charged healing and awareness.

Not everyone “feels the power.” Nonetheless, Sedona’s an unbeatable place to hike, relax, and take in nature.

We had outstanding French food at Rene in Tlaquepaque, across from the New Age Center.

I could have stayed in the Southwestern courtyard all day. My white dress is Japanese brand Liz Lisa, bought in Hong Kong. Here are photos of the Liz Lisa boutique.

Closeup on the boys’ rings and gloves.

The spinach tofu salad and fresh crepes were out of this world.

Ravioli for my Arizona guide, Leon Lindon (singer, composer, musician, producer, and leader of Colosseum Thesis).

With stomachs satiated, we went on to another spiritual place.

The landscape makes an epic backdrop for photos.

My Liz Lisa ankle boots aren’t really made for climbing.

We ascended the spiral walkway…

… to the Chapel Of The Holy Cross, an architectural marvel completed in 1956.

The Catholic chapel’s windows reflect red rock, and the shape of a cross.

A powerful place for prayer.

Inside, we listened to soft chanting and basked in the light.

I’ve been to ornamented churches around the world, including Prague and Mexico — but none had the energy of this simple Chapel.

As Leon puts it, “Sedona is a place that encourages people to look upward.”

Photos can’t convey the feeling of this place; I hope you’ll come and experience it for yourself.

Thanks to Leon and Geist for the epic road trip. Their band, Colosseum Thesis, is a surprising new visual music act that uses a progressive blend of genres such as rock, neoclassical, and jazz, complete with grandiose theatrical performances. Can’t wait for their debut performances and demo later this year.

Were you surprised by Sedona’s spirituality? Where do you go to regain calm and re-charge?