New Mexico's Vortexes

Much has been made of the clear, natural light and spectacularly blue skies in New Mexico, which have drawn and inspired artists for decades. But could it be that natural energy centers throughout the Southwest have equally compelled artists?

Often called 'vortexes,' these sites are thought to be spiritual 'power centers,' which enhance and support spiritual practice and healing. Individuals who are sensitive to this energy may feel it all along an energy vortex line that some people say follows the Rio Grande River as it winds through the Rocky Mountains, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos, and several small towns, including Chama.

Georgia O'Keefe's beloved Abiquiu/Ghost Ranch area is also known for its vortex energy. In fact, juniper trees like this one, at Ghost Ranch, supposedly respond to vortexes through their growth patterns. The stronger the energy, the more spiraled their branches become, sometimes to the point of bending them. Vortex enthusiasts also find these unusual energy sites in the Four Corners region, including Mesa Verde, and also in Sedona.