August 2018
What does being in the vortex mean to you?
Posey Nelson
When we bought our property here in 2006 and began spending time, the vortex didn't really mean much to me. We'd lived 20 years in Crested Butte, where skiing and nature were our religion! I’d visited Sedona years ago, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, maybe because I was with my three young children, so I wasn't able to really experience it. However I've always sort of been interested in that kind of thing and I've always really believed in the power of the earth and the magic places of the earth. We moved here mainly for the beauty of the mountains and the freedom of the building codes. We've lived here permanently since 2012, and as the years have passed, I've come to believe there really is a huge spiritual vortex here, and that there's sort of a portal to the other dimensions somewhere up above our mountains. It's not hard to believe there would be a true spiritual vortex here because of all the high Rinpoches, Llamas and high masters of religion who live here, or even if they're beyond life, seem to inhabit this area, sorta. The more you explore some of the amazing religions here, like Shumei, or currently with me it's Buddhism, the easier it is to believe there’s definitely a higher spiritual energy here. I envision it as a vortex coming from the crystals in our water, our aquifer, and winding in a fluid line of energy up through the mountains and up into the sky through a portal into another dimension of the highest realms. I haven't had any real proof. When we first moved here, there were a lot of crazy characters around here, like the guy you'd meet at the Laughing Buddha who insisted he was an angel on this plane and would talk about nothing but angels and his angel friends; or hermits who lived in caves here that you'd meet at the Shambhala restaurant and they'd talk your ear off. I think some of those people are leaving, or there aren’t as many of them around that you run into downtown – those people who really, really believe in the vortex, who believe they were brought here from the vortex. But I think a lot of people, especially people who’ve been around here for a long time, do believe there's a higher spiritual energy here. Interdimensional portals and up-flowing vortices aside, one thing I am sure of is that there is plenty of Sacred Earth Energy in our Crestone valleys and Sangre peaks.
Nick Nevares
Having lived in New Orleans for 18 years, I can say that being in one has a variety of benefits for those who interact with and dissect their waking hours and lives as they would their dreams. The synchronicities and lessons for one's higher self are seemingly always in clear focus. The air feels kinetic with the potential energy to breathe life into the intentions of the focused adepts and accidentally clear thoughts of others alike. These energy rich places on earth tend to enjoy the presence of humans as our creative force allows that potential to become reality. As such, when we attempt to leave one, there is a palpable emptiness that we feel when we venture into the regular world, which can only again be satisfied when we begin to create in another hotbed of energetic potential.
I don't think necessarily it has to do with Crestone in particular as a vortex because I've lived in New Orleans, I've lived in a vortex before as well, and it is that palpable feeling of emptiness when you leave. There's a very famous song called Do you know what it means to leave New Orleans? And it's because people feel very empty when they leave. Similarly here, when you leave Crestone you feel very lost, almost like, "Oh my God, what's happening?" And when you come back, similarly to New Orleans, you're able to feel that energy creating through you again. You sort of feel back at home.
Gordon Chu
I've lived here for over 20 years now and I've always known about the vortex, but I never really felt anything different. I just always felt really comfortable here. And it drew me here from Southern Colorado. I lived in San Luis when I first moved here from California, and I've always just been in love with this valley. The energy here - maybe that's what drew me here is the vortex energy. I was attracted to it like a moth to a flame. Other than that, it's been a very, very beautiful place for me to live. I just feel like I'm in harmony here with the surroundings and I don't socialize much, but it's just been a great place to live. No negative energy for me at all. It's always been positive. I've always been drawn to Crestone. It's been the place for me!
Ginny Ducale
Being in the vortex is like being caught in a downward spiral, like I would get lost and sucked in, possibly down; and if that is true, that's the opportunity for me to zero in on myself. To spiral in is to surrender to an inner force that can actually steal my head and through that I can see my inner being. I feel I'm not there very often, but since there's so much in the outer world areas, I feel they are much more fascinating than my inner being is, so the question is, how does one stay inside a vortex of the self? This is the most exciting study and practice I've thought about in a long time. It reminds me of how powerful and fully fulfilling I am. I learned most of it through Sri Aurobindo writings and of course I'm grateful for that. The idea that my whole potential and fulfillment in existence is encapsulated inside of me; like looking into myself is hard when my eyes are focused out. So, to turn the telescope in and see stuff manifesting, it can be at a higher vibration in the vortex; to be in a realm where I can see the eternal self and my complete self and all that holds for me in my relation to the world, and to let all excesses fall away. Now my potential past, present and future are presented to me to behold and unfold. I feel that I've been for years on the back of a bullet speeding way faster than the speed of light, and so now it's almost shaky for me to slow down and get still and centered, but it's very enlightening.
Kelly Sheffield
I feel like Crestone is a spiritual vortex in what I’ve observed, and it's been really interesting to be exposed to all the different cultures in our town. Getting to go to fire ceremonies and spending time at Shumei have been life changing experiences for me, and have given me an opportunity to find out more about myself. I spend a lot of time in the forest here getting to know about what it's like to be a real human, a real human being on planet Earth; instead of the different roles most people are used to playing in modern society. I'm really looking forward to sharing that with my dad when he comes to visit and I'm a little bit nervous about how he's going to react to it because it's hard to describe. But I feel like he's going to do just fine because we're a lot alike, and hopefully I'll be able to see that in him when he comes. And raising children around here has been a really great experience for me because I feel like it's magical for an adult and for a child. I can't imagine what that would be like to grow up here, just really cool. And I feel great about what I'm doing here and it's given me a lot of freedom in my life. And I'm really, really glad that you decided to interview me and I think that's a really special honor. And thank you so much!