How long have I known of the city by the name of Phoenix? Most of my life, I'd guess. And when did I first notice that the name of the city and the name of the bird that rises from the ashes are actually the same thing? Just the other day.
Doing a bit of research, I see it was named that way because there was once a thriving Pueblo nation there, and when the settlers decided to name the small town that sprung up from the long-abandoned Pueblo area, they named it Phoenix because it rose from the ashes of that former civilization.
The decision to leave for Phoenix was made with help from my guides. I asked them if I should stick around in Sedona for another day or two, or if I should get on the road. The answer was loud and clear. It was time to move on.
It's only a two-hour drive, but a big temperature difference. At least 15 degrees Fahrenheit. That was nice because I kept feeling a chill that I couldn't quite shake in Sedona. And even though it's not even a 10th as beautiful as Sedona, there's something great about Phoenix. And some of it might be the fact that they don't have such intense vortexes (if any.) What I felt when I traveled to Cottonwood yesterday was magnified today. I felt so much better when I was an hour and a half away from Sedona.
Perhaps it's a bit too intense for me? At the same time, now that I know, I'm sure I could put some more focus and intention into mitigating the adverse effects the next time I go there. And there's no doubt I'll be going back! I have my new incredible friend, Zack, to visit!
I've also always been a big fan of palm trees, so it was a thrill to finally see some on this trip! This was the first time, which surprised me. I was quite sure I'd see them in New Mexico, Texas, or northern Arizona. But now I know I'll be seeing them for a long time as I stay in this area before moving on to San Diego, Mexico, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. I've also been surprised at how green it is here. There's actually green grass, different types of birds, and a lushness I've not seen in a long time -- Probably since summer in Chicago!
I spent the rest of my day catching up on scripts for RIGHTEOUS. Joseba is illustrating the last few pages of chapter 14 and I needed to get those scripts ready for him. It's hard to believe he's going to be moving on to Chapter 15 soon! That will be over 350 pages of total creation! Wow!
I also chatted with Michelle Belmont (the actor and writer I met in Albuquerque) about her upcoming involvement on RIGHTEOUS. She has been reading it and we'll be having our first official writer's meeting on December 5! I'm excited.
Oh, and today Lawrence Asare from Africa posted this on my Facebook page:
RIGHTEOUS, I call it the Miracle Book. It seriously helped me find this inner peace within and the feeling is something I never felt before. All the way from Ghana West Africa. It was just unbelievable. I'll recommend the book to you all. Through the writer Xane Daniel, the story makes wonders. Try it.......
This was a guy who was miserable when he first read RIGHTEOUS. He was suffering and struggling because he couldn't find work in Ghana. He had low self esteem, he couldn't provide for himself, and he was not enjoying life at all. After reading it, he contacted me and explained that it completely changed him. He now didn't worry about getting a job and instead spent his time helping others. That's what really made him happy. And his life turned around. He was happy and self confident for the first time. He credited it all to the comic.
Anyone who reads RIGHTEOUS receives a Soul Essence Activation -- I've imbued the pages with it. Lawrence is not the only one who has received the benefits.
I also have a client who is going to be working with me regularly (rather than the one-off sessions that are so common) so I've given her some homework to assemble a series of lists of people that she has or has not forgiven. We'll be diving into those lists when next we meet!
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Until tomorrow, goodnight Phoenix!