A Once-Forgotten Property Magically Transformed
Sedona Mago’s story reads like a love letter to the land: a once-forgotten property in the red-rock desert magically transformed into a sanctuary devoted to healing, meditation, and reverence for the Earth.
A Vision for A Happier, Healthier World
Ilch Lee, founder of the Sedona Mago Center for Well-being and Retreat, was led to Sedona in the 1990s to realize his dream of spreading his vision for a happier, healthier world. He left his career in Pathology for what he believed was a new life’s purpose to introduce others to the principles of the Sun Tao, the Korean tradition of Tao, and the mind-body connection.
Lee traveled West to share his training with students in the United States after establishing several meditation schools in South Korea. It’s difficult to overcome language and cultural differences; however, Lee found strength and enlightenment in Sedona’s landscape.
For many, Sedona inspires a deep connection with the earth and conjures awe-inspiring feelings that lead to personal reflection. It’s a place where the juniper trees contrast with the deep red soil, and the awe-inspiring Red Rock mountains extend earth's landscape to the heavenly blue sky. After spending long hours hiking and meditating in this region, Lee’s love for Sedona heightened. He recognized that the five elemental energies often associated with feng shui (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) exist in Sedona’s forests, iron-rich soil, desert sun, and clear water creeks. This led him to incorporate his training and practices in an outdoor setting, among the breathtaking views of Sedona, and where the vortex energy was high.
To him, even the syllables in the word Sedona had a special meaning. Se, sounds like the Korean word Sae, meaning “new,” do means “Tao” or “enlightenment”, and na means “birthing out”. Sedona is a place where a new Tao is born.
A vision in the red rocks
Ilchi Lee’s own meditation experiences in the region led to an even deeper connection with Sedona’s vortex energy. He was excited to experience a vision during one of his Bell Rock meditations. An elderly man seemed to be guiding him to a property that was crystal clear in his vision. After asking several people, Lee was led to the former property of Lester Levenson, who was the creator of “The Sedona Method.” Lee discovered that Levenson had died several years prior from old age, and his once thriving healing retreat had fallen into disarray. The property was in much need of love and restoration. Where others might have seen only buildings in disarray and overgrown paths, he saw a place that held a strong, almost insistent purpose. Inspired by a deep feeling of connection, he had a vision to restore the land. Its proximity to healing vortex energy and its spectacular Red Rock landscape offered natural beauty, peace, and seclusion.
Under his guidance, the Tao Fellowship, a 501(c)(3) non-denominational non-profit organization founded by Lee, whose mission is to share a love for the earth and humanity, purchased the land. What followed was a years‑long process of renewal driven by donations, volunteer spirit, and a shared belief that the site would serve generations of seekers.
Reviving a spiritual destination
Over time, Lee discovered that Sedona was like a friend and a personal guide. He found strength in the land, which helped him overcome obstacles and make decisions that would have an even greater impact in the years to come. He turned to the rocks and trees for inspiration, “which have lived so much longer than human beings, and borrowed strength from the moon and stars, which were awake in the dead of night, when the world was fast asleep.”
Buildings were repaired, meeting rooms and simple accommodations were created, and the property was gradually reshaped into a retreat campus that honored both the vast desert landscape and the quieter, more intimate spaces people need for reflection.
Nestled between the Secret Mountain and the Verde River, Sedona Mago, like the Verde Valley, is a fusion of cultures and history. It is located roughly at the center of an acute triangle in the western Verde Valley known as Tuzigoot, Palatki, and Honanki.
Every aspect of the property is designed to harmonize with the surrounding Red Rocks, supporting a powerful sense of grounding and connection. Winding paths were created throughout the property, embracing the red soil and rocks that characterize the region. Landscaping projects led to herb and vegetable gardens, where healing sage, rosemary, and other botanicals adorn trails and the property's healing lake. The landmarks and mediation spaces were intentionally planned to help guests relax and restore. Over time, the once‑abandoned property became known as “Sedona Mago,” a place people come to from all over the world for rest, insight, and renewal.
Lee says, Sedona is a place where he developed the Earth Citizen spirit as a philosophy, and where he heard the message of “Mago.”
The name carries the heart of the Center’s story. In Korean, Mago refers to the unconditional love and spirit of Mother Earth—a primordial, nurturing presence that holds all beings. By using this name, Lee not only instills personal growth but also a broader commitment to loving humanity and the planet.
Sedona Mago describes its mission as inviting people to awaken to the unconditional love that is their true nature, and it's from this state that we recognize sacredness in people, animals, and the land itself. This orientation shows up in the Center’s emphasis on eco‑conscious stewardship, sustainable practices, and a vow to care for its 173‑acre sanctuary as a living partner rather than just a backdrop.
A sanctuary for healing and practice
“With every step that I take on this red and sacred earth, I am filled with deep gratitude and affection.” Ilchi Lee
Sedona Mago invites visitors to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover their natural state of balance. Guests are encouraged to walk the labyrinths, sit in outdoor meditation spaces, and follow the natural trails that lead to distant views of the Red Rocks towering against the vibrant blue sky. The sacred land and its spectacular views trigger feelings of awe and inspiration, and instill an inner quiet and deep connection to nature.
Reviews and first‑hand accounts often describe Sedona Mago as a place of deep peace, emotional release, and perspective shifts. Some visitors say it’s the “soul’s home,” and others claim it's a place to return to whenever they need to reset themselves or remember what matters most. The life-changing teachings, sacred land, and nurturing staff create a haven for inner growth and transformation. The meals, embracing Mother Nature's fruits and vegetables, are nutritious and easily digestible. Many who visit Sedona Mago agree that the land itself participates in their healing.
There is no better gift, more than twenty-seven years later, than affirmations from guests visiting from other states and countries, whose testimonials confirm that Sedona Mago is, in fact, creating a happier, healthier world. Lee says, “If you need a dream, or if you need to rediscover a dream that you’ve lost, come to this sacred land.”