The Southwest Wisdom Report by Travel Heart

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

The Southwest Wisdom report Sacred Places & Native Wisdom: Practical advice and etiquette for how to travel the Southwest

- Exert To Download the complete Southwest Wisdom Report Please go to www.Travelheart.net

By Nathalie Bonnard-Grenet Travel Heart, LLC Copyright © 2009, Travel Heart, LLC. www.travelheart.net

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Your connection between nature and wisdom About the Author I am originally from France, and had travelled through Europe and had lived in West Africa for a year before, moving to in the United States in 1999. I now live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with my husband, Xavier, and my daughter, Gabrielle. After many years of working in the corporate world as a landscape designer, I realized I was doing more and more technical design and computer work, and getting less and less outside where I have a very special connection with nature. I began to feel miserable but most importantly, I knew that I was moving away from who I truly am, my purpose, and my passions. A turning point or defining moment happened when… I had to get an emergency surgery, and some complication forced me to stay at the hospital (for the first time in my life) for a week. As soon as I came back to work, I knew I had to change my life. I had to take action and follow my heart. I quit my job, sold my furniture, and hit the road towards the west…not knowing exactly what I was going to do, except reconnect with who I was. This journey enabled me to meet experts in a variety of fields who taught me to trust my own instinct and to live with passion. The day I decided to apply the principles I learned, everything in my life unfolded. After few months of reconnecting with nature and my purpose, I created Travel Heart, which combines my passion for travel and being around stunning landscapes with my desire for continuous learning, personal growth, and deepening inner wisdom. I have since made a commitment to dedicate the rest of my professional life to sharing with others the power of nature and the wisdom of experts, so that they, too, can live with joy and passion and connect with their own wisdom.

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Are you looking for inspiration in your daily life? Do you want to experience and share amazing journeys with like-minded people? Is it a struggle to find new ways to rejuvenate? Do you want to discover new cultures and frontiers?

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

The Content About the author………………………………………………………………………… 2 Table of content………………………………………………………………………….3 What can I do for you?........................................................................................... 4 The Southwest…………………………………………………………………………...5 - Landscape, History, Climate Sacred Places…………………………………………………………………………...6 - 1. Sedona, AZ - 2. The Grand Canyon, AZ - 3. Glen Canyon and Lake Powell, UT - 4.Vermilion Cliffs, AZ - 5. Chaco Canyon, NM - 6. Monument Valley, AZ. - 7. Arches National Park, UT - 8. Bryce Canyon, UT - 9. Canyon de Chelly, NM -10. White Sand, NM Native Wisdom…………………………………………………………………………13 - The Indian Ten Commandments - Dances - Pueblo & Reservation Etiquette - Two Wolves – A Cherokee Parable - Zia Sun Symbol How to travel the Southwest?................................................................................16 Find your inner Wisdom………………………………………………………………...18 Practical Advice………………………………………………………………………….19

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

What can I do for you? Travel Heart organizes for you great trips and journeys throughout the Southwest and beyond. Whether you want to experience the Southwest by yourself or travel with a guide, I am here to help you have the best experience. Travel Heart has some ‘ready to go’ packages; Highlights of the southwest, the most inspiring, the off beaten path, Exploring, the most spiritual, the Native American inspiration…you choose. Travel Heart will work with you to best suit your need. Let me know what you are looking for and I will make it happen. Looking for a one of a kind vacation? Yes I will make it unforgettable. Need a romantic getaway or honeymoon? I know the secret places that will make you feel special. I want you to have the best experience! I created this report as a gift for you. So you can become familiar with the Southwest or get to know it better. The region has so much to offer; it is not just stunning landscapes, you will also discover ancient cultures with lots of history and wisdom. Visiting the Southwest, you will discover the power of nature and the opportunity to reconnect deeply with it. As a result of working with me I promise you will get inspiration for your daily life. You will be able to share great journeys with like-minded people. You will rejuvenate through stunning landscape and a get away from your everyday life. You will discover new cultures and frontiers. I will share with you great destinations and tips. You will have a well-organized trip, adapted to your expectations. You will save time by getting the appropriate and needed information without spending hours of research through books and the Internet. You will experience the best of the Southwest.

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The Southwest Wisdom Report The Southwest

Landscape Contrary to the Southwest's image as a sprawling desert, it is one of the most geographically diverse regions in the United States. Beginning with the high elevations of the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains the landscape descends into dramatic bluffs and mesas before emptying out on the flatlands of the Rio Grande. The dry climate and dramatic red rock landscapes help tie the region together despite the dramatic differences in elevation.

History Human settlement in the Southwest dates back over 12,000 years, and is preserved today by the rock art, cliff dwellings, and other archaeological remains found throughout the region. The Pueblo people (sometimes known as the Anasazi) inhabited the area for well over one thousand years, but disappeared during the 12th or 13th century AD. The Athabascan people (Navajo and Apache) began arriving as early as 1000 AD and to this day remain the largest indigenous group in the area. In the 1500's Spanish explorers arrived and remained a dominant military force for nearly three hundred years. The area became part of Mexico in 1821 after Mexico won its independence from Spain. By the mid-1800's the expanding United States established a presence, and, in 1848, after a war with Mexico, much of the area became United States territory.

Climate The region experiences the full range of climate extremes from 100-125 °F (38-52 °C) in the summer down to sub-zero in the northernmost regions in the winter. The dry, cold conditions in the northern mountainous regions make for excellent skiing, while the desert heat is perfect for those looking to escape winter's bite. Average temperature

Winter temperatures fluctuate between 20’s and 50’s (Fahrenheit) - (-6 Celsius and 10 Celsius) Summer temperatures fluctuate between 75 and 90’s (Fahrenheit) – (23Celsius and 32 Celsius)

http://wikitravel.org/en/Southwest_%28United_States_of_America%29

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Sacred places How do you define "Sacred Places"? Sacred places are as varied as the human sense of the sacred and as various as the world's many spiritual traditions. To me sacred places are places that touch me, inspire me; they are powerful, evocative, and magical sites. - Powerful by the way they touch us; when confronted by them, emotions emerge. . - Evocative of the beauty, the serenity, and the spirits. - Magical because in front of such beauty, you reconnect with nature and with your true self. These places are magical and have deeply inspired me. When looking at pictures of those places, you can imagine the beauty you will face. But the dizzying and intense feelings that you sense when confronted with the immensity and power of nature are hard to describe. When visiting the Southwest, I recommend these sacred places. I am giving you here a list of ten of some of the most beautiful and sacred places of the Southwest. Of course there are many more which are as beautiful as these sites; also, as another gift to you, I will send you my newsletter to discover the Southwest more in depth. Whether you want to join one of our trips or travel by yourself you'll find plenty of tips, ideas, and information for a fabulous journey!

1. Sedona, AZ Located in central Arizona and about two hours south of the Grand Canyon, Sedona is one of the jewels of the United States. Travelers discovering this city for the first time are really amazed. Sedona is nestled in Oak Creek Canyon. Its richness resides in the red landscapes and high energy of its vortexes. The rock formations shift their color shades from red coral to pink, golden brown, and burgundy depending on the time of the day. Colors are striking due to iron in the sandstone and limestone rock. (…) To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Go to Travelheart.net

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

2. The Grand Canyon, AZ The Grand Canyon is evocative of grandiose landscapes and history (principally geological) and it reveals many treasures and mysteries. The Grand Canyon never ceases to impress, inspire and amaze. It is an amazing experience to be on the brink of this abyss. (…) To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Please go to Travelheart.net

4. Vermilion Cliffs, AZ As soon as I saw pictures of this area, I began to do some research, gathered info, and planned to go there to experience it by myself. Well, far from being disappointed, I kept going from great landscape discovery to stunning and breathtaking places.

To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Please go to Travelheart.net

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Native Wisdom “Being Indian is an attitude, a state of mind, a way of being in harmony with all things and all beings. It is allowing the heart to be the distributor of energy on this planet; to allow feelings and sensitivities to determine where energy goes; bringing aliveness up from the Earth and from the Sky, putting it in and giving it out from the heart” ~Brooke Medicine Eagle~

I am very touched by this definition. To me the native wisdom is the wisdom that comes from nature and by observing, nature, including earth, sky, plants, animals and humans, and from what we see, let’s take it to elevate our heart and spirit in order to be in alignment with who we are, which is what I call our inner wisdom. Following our hearts, our intuition, being in harmony with our surroundings, give us the opportunity to discover who we really are and to live the life we want the life that we are meant to live. When you travel and stop before these stunning landscapes, take the time to acknowledge the feelings that are coming up, and dive within you to acknowledge your own power and wisdom. To best describe the native wisdom I gathered a few quotes and thoughts, may they touch your heart, inspire you and encourage you. May they help you for your inner reflection and guide your quest to find your inner wisdom.

The Indian Ten Commandments

Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect Remain close to the Great Spirit Show great respect for your fellow beings Work together for the benefit of all Mankind Give assistance and kindness wherever needed Do what you know to be right Look after the well-being of Mind and Body Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good Be truthful and honest at all times Take full responsibility for your actions From: Pearls of Wisdom Sapphyr.net

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life... "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. "One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego. "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. "This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed." Author Unknown

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Zia Sun Symbol

How to travel the Southwest? To enjoy it the most, and to receive the best of it, travel with an open mind and an open heart. My first advice to you will be: don’t take it for granted! Visiting the Southwest is something really extraordinary and an amazing privilege. The scale of the landscape is impossible to voice. Of course I can use words like immense, vast, grandiose. But to me it would merely give you an idea of the scale. (…) To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Please go to Travelheart.net

Find your inner wisdom Easy to say? If you travel with an open mind and open heart, you already made the first step. My favorite quote from Dr. Wayne Dyer that I always keep in mind is: ‘Be open to everything, and attached to nothing’. This sentence allowed me to see different perspectives, and to see the opportunities that came my way. Share your thoughts while traveling, use this time to be authentic. This is how landscapes are inspiring. In front of such marvels, decide what’s important in your life, and leave whatever you don’t want anymore there. Be inspired by the beauty and the harmony of the nature surrounding you; decide what you want to be, and how you want to live your life. ‘Don’t die with your music inside’ – Dr. Wayne Dyer

(…) To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Please go to Travelheart.net

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The Southwest Wisdom Report

Practical advice: Now that you have filled your mind with places to go, and have prepared it in the spirit of the Southwest, let’s get down to earth and be practical. The Southwest can be challenging in various aspects. If you travel during the hottest months you need to know that temperatures vary between 80’s and 100’s in summertime (average) See ‘climate’ at the beginning of this report. Some seasons are very busy, and you will need to make early hotel reservations. For instance renownedhiking places are most busy in October, because it’s the best season for that, not too cold yet, and the hottest temperatures have dropped. Many places are in high altitude, some as high as 8000 feet (2440m). It is sometimes hard to realize it because you are on a plateau, but it could be challenging for some. (…) To download the complete “Southwest Wisdom Report “ Please go to Travelheart.net