You are probably wondering what can be so sacred about a place called Death Valley. With over 3.3 million miles of desert, mountains, dormant volcanoes and dry lakebeds, this area is alive with the past, as well as, with the new and exciting energy of the present.

For the purposes of this article, we've condensed some of 3.3 million miles into a couple of extraordinary locations you might consider visiting. One of our favorites is called the "Racetrack". Few tourists venture into this area because it is desolate and can be difficult to get to without a high clearance vehicle. Driving a washboard dirt road for about 45 minutes, the first unusual thing you'll come upon is an intersection called Teakettle Junction. This place got its name because for years, the only indication of an intersection was a distinguished looking teakettle that lay abandoned underneath a creosote bush. Today that creosote bush has been replaced with a post and many teakettles donated by visitors that have passed through the area.

Approximately 5 miles from the junction lies a major feature of the valley, The Racetrack Playa (playa: a desert basin that temporarily becomes a shallow lake after a heavy rain). Mud cracks cover most of the surface of the Racetrack, which rests against a steep, 850-foot high mountain primarily composed of carbonate rock and dolomite. The dolomite rock and stone are strewn over the Racetrack's surface. This condition is not unique, but the phenomena of their interaction with the playa definitely is!

These simple rocks are what make the racetrack an interesting place. When conditions are just right, the rocks mysteriously sail across the playa. Rocks and stones move across the surface, leaving a distinct track in the mud. Some of these tracks are ten to hundreds of feet long. Geologist have investigated the phenomena and published detailed information on their research. Most theorize that the wind, combined with a wet playa, create a condition in which rocks actually hydroplane across the soft surface of the mud, leaving scarred trails.

Death Valley and the Racetrack are less than 3 hours from our home and have become a prime weekend getaway for us. We get to experience some of the most peaceful and tranquil energy on the planet in this region. For years, we've noticed the type of people drawn to the area; because of the rugged terrain and difficult driving conditions, only the truely dedicated venture into this territory. The people showing up are people who know what this place has to offer.

On one of our many excursions, we were at the Racetrack spending the day, when over the hill came an old VW van. As the bus came into viewwe saw a small group of young men & women ages 10 to 16 years, accompianied by a couple adults, get out of the van. Our immediate thought was, "How did that VW Van make it over the mountain?" Sitting on the hillside, we observed them hiking out to the middle of this dry lake bed where a lone island stands. The group proceeded to sit quietly and meditate, then stood up and went into a series of Tai Chi movements, creating a vortex of accelerated energy. Watching these young people so intently focused was both amazing and joyful. To this day, that experience at the Racetrack Playa still remains a vivid picture of joy for us.

Although it may be a bit of a drive for some, Death Valley is a vacation destination where you can experience time standing still. The Valley, estimated to be millions of years old, can give you a sensation of the past, present and future all existing at the same time. If you allow yourself to open up to the elements, you can hear voices being carried on the wind. The silence can be deafening, yet if you listen to your heart beat you can hear, and often feel, the ghosts of the past in the abandoned castle, deserted homesteads, empty mines and ghost towns that have been long forgotten.

In contrast to the windswept expanse of the playa, the valley offers tracings of human existence in a desolate environment. One such place is a Ghost town called Rhyolite. Not long ago this place thrived as silver-mining town. Deserted now, only remnants of the past are visible through empty schools, banks, and railroad stations. Just outside the town, an artist has made himself a home and placed several pieces of his work surrounding the landscape. Suspended in time, these eerie sculptures adorn the desert floor miles from any major metropolitan area. Even more amazing, these pieces of art have been here for years and no one has defaced or destroyed them, not even the harsh elements of the desert.

The valley's desert terrain has taught us some of the most profound lessons of our lives. One such lesson ocurred last Christmas Eve while driving on a lonely dark road through the valley at night. With no moon to illuminate the desert floor, the stars above provided the only light that could be seen. While driving, we noticed a feeling of being "closed in" by the density of the darkness; a sensation that felt much like going through a very narrow tunnel. Yet outside we knew from previous daylight drives that the only thing surrounding our car was flat, void landscape. This feeling of being closed-in was just the illusion of darkness. As we approached a small area that had a street light, immediately we noticed how that one, small light illuminated such a vast area. Seeing the light, a peaceful reassuring feeling replaced the lost empty sensation we felt from the dark. It was the perfect Christmas gift: the sudden understanding of the importance of the "balance" between two energies.

Death Valley is a land of paradox and contrast. It is harsh, stony, empty, isolated, baron landscape with abrupt mountain sides and heat so overpowering that at times just breathing is an accomplishment. Yet these things are not necessarily undesirable. A land stripped of ornament, freed of superficial objects can revitalize one's perspective. Furthermore, beneath Death Valley's unremitting hostile veneer exists a wealth of beauty. The wild flowers in the Spring, snow capped mountains in the winter, rock formations and canyons unlike any in the world, within hours you can go from below sea level to the highest peak in the United States. Death Valley offers an opportunity to reconnect to oneself, to Spirit and to Mother Earth all by just giving intent and showing up.