The Heart-Shaped Rock

2/15/2018

The Heart-Shaped Rock

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During summer 2013, my best friend m!nx!e trekked to Sedona with her sister. For my birthday that September, m!nx!e created a travel brochure just for me that artfully pictured Sedona landscapes and chronicled their adventures there. I was intrigued by the way m!nx!e described their hike in Boynton Canyon vortex, during which a kindhearted hiker appeared out of nowhere and gave them some exceptional heart-shaped rocks.

"He told us that we take the energy back with us and that it will always be with us," m!nx!e wrote, explaining the concept of Sedona’s potent vortex energy.

Enclosed with the brochure she created for me, m!nx!e gifted me with a red rock she picked up during her hike in Boynton Canyon. She'd taken the stone home and asked her husband stuART to whittle it into a heart shape for me.

For several months, that rock sat vibrating on my desk as I wrestled with the vicissitudes of life in America's capital city. All the while, I was clueless about the rock's energy and spiritual significance.

During that six months, a series of events compelled me to move to Sedona. When I announced that intent, m!nxie told me, "I hoped the positive energy I sent in the form of the rock would take root for you while you were still on Capitol Hill. But I guess you do have to open yourself to it. And maybe the energy just isn’t transferable. Or maybe you just had to journey through all that other stuff first."

In retrospect, if "all that other stuff" hadn't happened, I probably would not have opened my mind to other possibilities elsewhere. And as the details of my relocation fell magically in place, the heart-shaped stone played a mystical part.

Five years have passed since m!nx!e picked up that rock for me in Sedona's Boynton Canyon, where I frequently hiked while living in Sedona. Since then, I've relocated several times and currently reside with my life partner in beautiful Tucson ~ where the sun shines 350+ days out of the year. In May 2018, he and I took a road trip to Sedona and hiked in Boynton Canyon, where our paths crossed with m!nxie's kindhearted hiker.

His name is Robert Sechrengost and he is actually a bit of a celebrity in Sedona. (I previously met Robert when I lived there in 2014/2015.) Since 2010, Robert (born in 1952) has been handing out his heart-shaped rocks to hikers and playing his Native American flute atop Sedona's red rock vortex spires.

As we reached Boynton Canyon Vista trailhead, we could hear Robert playing his flute. When we reached the summit, we found a safe perch on the rocky ledge, cradled within the exposed, brawny roots of a twisted Juniper tree. We both watched in awe as Robert balanced cross-legged atop the rock formation known as "Kachina Woman" and played his melodious flute tunes. Later, Robert scrambled down from the formation and gifted us both with a heart rock that, as he explains it, "embodies the energy of the vortex and represents unconditional love."

Yet again, I find joy and inspiration from these heart-shaped "milestones" that likewise inspired Happiness on the Rocks.

❤ v!ctor!a colette ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

17 Comments

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JANICE SANTA

4/26/2019 11:20:36 pm

I was gifted one of those marvelous I heart shaped rocks by Robert and it changed my outlook on the world

Cena Lanier

12/29/2019 09:33:16 pm

I received one of these today and for me it meant so much. Unbeknownst to him, I collect heart rocks as I find them from different trails or trips I have taken. I'm always watching the ground and creeks for them. And there he came from out of nowhere to give me a rock shaped like a heart with a beautiful message.

Peter Broome

1/17/2020 11:12:48 am

I have one of Robert's hearts on my desk /\ Those spires he plays on are magical...

Susan Demma

2/23/2021 08:33:33 pm

I'm wondering how to find Robert...we are going in May and this is one of our bucket list things to do...we mised him the last time, and Im trying to get info. on how to find hime? So hoping to get the all girls trip a heart. ty

Nancy Armendariz

10/8/2021 04:09:56 pm

Yesterday, my husband, daughter and myself were at the end of this challenging hike (don’t hike much). At the end this incredibly nice man gave us each this rock and told us the exact same thing. Made my day and will forever cherish the incredible gesture.

Susan M Demma

10/8/2021 08:46:18 pm

I was absolutely blessed in September 2021, as I met Robert and told him how I have been looking for him for a few years, I went to the spot he plays, and much to my dismay he was not there...my heart sank...as my husband and I were leaving, I ran right into Robert on the trail, and he immediately handed me a heart, as well as my husband. I was beyond ecstatic and thankful, as he described this as a universal love connection from heart to heart and that we were all connected....love this man and all that he stands for in Sedona, I will forever be grateful.

Lucia Logue

1/14/2022 06:01:50 pm

I was in Sedona for the first time in Oct 2021. My friends and I of course wanted to experience a vortexes s energy. We climbed a little ways up and could go no further. ( 66 years old, not a hiker,). I started to pick my way back down, and slipped and started to fall. I threw my arm to grab at anything to catch myself. I grabbed a large ro ck, that had a small ledge. On the small ledge was a perfect heart shaped Rock. I was so astounded and thrilled

Amy K Vaughn link

3/30/2022 05:51:21 am

I was in Sedona last week with my partner. I had done some research about the vortexes and learned about Robert playing his flute and handing out the heart-shaped rocks. We got to Kachina Woman, experiencing the beauty and energy of the vortex. On our descent, my partner found one of the heart-shaped red rocks near one of the twisted juniper trees.

I was overcome with emotion upon seeing the rock. I couldn't believe that we found one and was so grateful. We found a second one the next day on a completely different hike and left it for another hiker in a lesser known vortex.

Deena

5/16/2022 02:56:13 pm

Hello Robert! The Universe had us cross paths at the end of my Boynton Canyon hike, March 2022. Lucky me and my 2 friends. You gifted us with the red rock hearts. I feel Mother Earth when I hold and think of the heart. Namaste.

Anne-Lise Botting Lilliebjerg

7/3/2022 01:29:24 pm

Thank you for your story! Because of it, I turned Boynton from a “possible” to a “definite” on my list during a very short trip to Sedona with my high school BFsF. I knew we would see Robert. Sure enough - we met up within the first 10 minutes of our walk that day and Robert turned and walked with us for a little bit and continued to talk. One of my favorite memories from this trip. :)

Allison

3/20/2023 06:19:57 pm

I had the joy of meeting Robert 3 years ago - what a beautiful soul & experience. Do you recall if he plays on certain days/times? I'd love to make sure I don't miss him for my trip in April!

Emily

5/7/2023 08:14:53 pm

We just returned from a beautiful trip to Sedona and ran into Robert in the boynton Canyon vortex. I honestly have to say my encounter with Robert made our trip. He handed me a heart shaped rock that sits next to my bed and reminds me to believe that the universe is filled with good energy if we open up our hearts to receive it. Very grateful to meet Robert that special moment in time.

Joy

5/30/2023 09:27:48 pm

My dearest friend and I visited Sedona 5/23. The concierge at our hotel recommended Boynton Canyon for our first hike. We knew nothing about Robert. We were both so grateful to receive red rock hearts and hear his message of love. Then we listened to Reiki from his flute as we descended the canyon. Reading more about Robert and his message after we returned to our hotel, we feel so blessed by the chance encounter that was a highlight of our trip. Spread love!

Carol esch

4/16/2024 03:37:35 pm

I received a heart shaped rock in February a few years ago. I thought I remembered a woman gave it to me. Amazingly it was on the day I found out my great granddaughters father had died. I put it in a frame with Brian’s picture and gave it to his mother. It will be passed to his daughter one day

Ellen Kerstein

9/30/2024 11:35:00 am

We were in Sedona in April of 2019 and were blessed by coming across Robert and each receiving a precious heart-shaped red rock. My husband has been carrying his lucky rock in his pocket and recently confided that he had lost it. He is dismayed, and I would love to replace it as a gift for his 75th birthday on October 7. Do you know if there is anyway I could get another one? We live in MA.

Thank you for any help you can give me
Ellen

9/30/2024 11:43:45 am

We were in Sedona in 2019 and were blessed to meet Robert and receive a precious red rock heart. My husband hfs carried his lucky rock in his pocket but sadlyb lost it recently lost it I would love to give him a replacement as a gift for his 75th birthday on October 7. Do you know if there is a way I can make this happen? We live in MA. Thank you for any help you can give me.
Ellen,

Eddie Tarkany

11/8/2024 06:54:51 pm

I also received a heart shaped rock from Robert back in January of 2022. I was in the Phoenix area on a work trip and had a day off and decided to go to Sedona. I absolutely love the outdoors and was very excited to check out Sedona and the beautiful scenery that day. However, when I arrived I was met with huge crowds, full parking lots and “Instagram girls” at every trailhead. I was instantly bummed out and was never able to get a chance to explore some of the best trails the area has to offer. After some driving I found a spot on the side of the road in the Cococina National Forest that looked like I could park and go check out a random piece of land. I was excited to be away from the crowds and just wanted to sit and take it all in for a moment. I made it to the top of a big hill and on my way back down I ran into Robert. He was by himself chipping away at rocks. Being from South Alabama, I had no clue about this man or him being a “local celebrity”. Something drew me to him, and him to me, and we talked for a few minutes. I think he could tell I was frustrated and having needed something inspirational in my life. He gifted me with a heart shaped rock, which I treasure to this day. I think about that day often, and as many have stated, he just appeared out of nowhere. He wasn’t there when I went up, but was waiting on me when I came down. I truly have thought this guy was some sort of angel for years. I look at this rock all the time and just now, 3 years later decided to google the “heart shaped rock guy”. To see his story and know that we crossed paths at a time in my life I really needed him makes it that much more special now. To anyone who crosses his path, know that you are lucky and that your life was truly intervened with that day

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The Heart-Shaped Rock

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