Tag: Maya Angelou

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Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

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When my children were young, I loved to surprise them with scavenger hunts. While they played outside, I wrote creative clues and hid them. Each clue led to the next clue and the next, until at last they discovered the hidden prize.

It was fun to hand the kids the first folded slip of paper and then watch, with delight, as they searched and reasoned their way through the clues to the prize.

A few days ago, I enjoyed figuring things out as I realized I was on a unique scavenger hunt of my own, arranged by the Divine, a scavenger hunt for a queen.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

The Scavenger Hunt for a Queen Begins

Preparing to leave the house to run errands, I picked up a store catalog that arrived the day before in the mail. I intended to toss it in the trash, since I had no intention of shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond that day. On a whim, or perhaps because of a Divine nudge, I opened the catalog at random and glanced at a page.

An image immediately caught my eye. The cute mug featured a gold crown with a pink heart and the words, “Queen of Everything”.

I smiled. Queen is my symbol this year, specifically the queen chess piece. Anytime the chess piece or a crown or the word queen pops up, it’s a gentle soul reminder for me. Since I’d be near Bed Bath & Beyond, I made a mental note to stop by and check out that mug, IF I had time.

I didn’t yet realize that the scavenger hunt for a queen had begun.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

An Enchanted Clue

One of my errands involved exchanging a shirt at JC Penney. Customer service is located upstairs, meaning I got to ride the escalator to the second floor. Parked near the base of the escalator, a large poster type sign snagged my attention. The words read:

Enchanted

Disney Fine Jewelry

Let your happily ever after begin at JC PENNEY

I walked past, with a laugh, and then circled back around. Enchantment is my word for this year. Ever, Ever After is my song. My awareness raised, I paused to consider the meaning of these synchronicities. I believe everything happens for a reason, even turning to a random page in a catalog and walking right by a large “sign”.

Within 30 minutes I’d seen a representation of my symbol, my word and my song for this year. Enchantment was underway.

I browsed for a moment, at the fine jewelry counter. Not surprisingly, the jewelry in the Enchanted line sparkled with silver, gold and diamonds, in lavish fairy tale themes. I felt the stirring within that let me know something bigger than running errands was unfolding.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

Do What You Love

Upstairs, as I quickly made the exchange, I allowed wonder and curiosity to expand. Thoughtful, I almost missed the next clue, as I walked to the down escalator. Arranged on a narrow table, next to the low wall overlooking the escalators, the framed print caught my eye.

The gold and silver words, within the simple gold frame, read:

Do What You Love

Is it crazy to get teary eyed, while on the top floor of JC PENNEY? Oh, I knew now that something magical was happening. Standing there, snapping a quick photo of this clue, I first thought the words, “scavenger hunt”. Clues were leading me to an as yet unknown prize. I opened wide to Divine guidance. Did I want to play? Yes! Yes I did.

The kingdom I am building this year has as its foundation that very desire expressed on the print. Doing what I love is central to my being at this point on my journey. I am shifting and growing as what I love shapes me and guides me, step by step. I didn’t need to purchase this little framed print. Clue received, I excitedly acknowledged the scavenger hunt for a queen.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

The Rest of the Clues

In rapid succession, the rest of the clues arrived. Purchasing that Queen of Everything mug now became a priority.

Pulling into the parking lot, at Bed Bath & Beyond, the last word in the company name suddenly struck me. Beyond carries much meaning for me. My life is lived on the edges, beyond fear, beyond limiting beliefs and beyond playing small. This blog is called Cindy Goes Beyond to remind me of my daily intention to live an extraordinary life. How appropriate to discover the queen mug in this store.

At home, as I brewed a cup of peppermint tea, I checked Instagram. Two posts popped up in my feed. One featured a single image, without words. The second one featured words only. Both resonated with me, encouraged me, made me smile.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

These two clues suggested that the scavenger hunt for a queen truly was intended for me. The simple crown graphic signaled “pay attention”. The post following it contained words I needed to receive. Good things are coming. All that I am doing, all that I am building, all that I am dreaming of, felt blessed with those words. Keeping going, Queen, good things are coming.

The Prize

The clues in all scavenger hunts lead to a prize. For my children, simple treasures such as a favorite snack or a small toy like silly putty or a dollar bill were their rewards for unraveling the clues and searching diligently.

What was my reward, in this scavenger hunt for a queen?

I sipped my tea, in my new mug, and allowed the answer to my question to arrive as a string of thoughts. I felt watchful anticipation and the warmth of Divine delight, as I reasoned things out.

Is the life I desire the prize? No, that’s not it. The “prize” is deeper than that, bigger than that, and not easily defined. I am the prize, or rather, who I am, who I am becoming, is the prize. The clues given to me, on this enchanting scavenger hunt, all point to me recognizing who I am and what I am here to do. Remember who you are, they seem to say.

I am the Queen of my own life, the Queen of Everything that I touch, the Queen of the Kingdom I am building.

The region near my heart expanded as I received this prize, the gift of knowing absolutely who I am.

One of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes came to mind, as a final confirmation that I interpreted the clues correctly. On this scavenger hunt for a queen, I am well on my way to my throne. I held my head high, took a deep breath and adjusted my invisible crown.

Scavenger Hunt for a Queen

Pick up the soundtrack to Enchanted, featuring the song Ever, Ever After HERE. Or watch the charming music video HERE.

And check the JC Penney Enchanted Fine Jewelry line.

 

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Day 148: Read and Reflect on Caged Bird Poem

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Maya Angelou left her earthly body behind today, at the age of 86. She also left behind a great body of work including seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry and a list of plays, movies and television shows spanning 50 years. Her story, of starting at the bottom of the heap, as she described her early life, and learning to thrive, has inspired so many.

Today, listening to the news of her death, I heard part of her famous poem, “Caged Bird” and was moved to tears. I realized, first of all, that although I’ve heard snippets of the poem, I’ve never read the whole thing. And secondly, I was impacted by the words that I heard because my symbol for this year of moving beyond is the uncaged bird. Not a caged bird. Not just a bird. But a bird that has escaped her cage and taken flight, soaring higher and higher, reveling in her freedom. For my first today, I read Dr. Angelou’s poem and reflected on it.

Here is the complete poem:

Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps on the back of the wind

and floats downstream till the current ends

and dips his wings in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage

can seldom see through his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with fearful trill

of the things unknown but longed for still

and his tune is heard on the distant hill

for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill

of things unknown but longed for still

 and his tune is heard on the distant hill

for the caged bird sings of freedom.

What a beautiful poem. It is hard for me to believe I’ve never read it before now, and yet, this was the perfect time, during my journey, to become aware of it. The uncaged bird has been a significant and powerful symbol for me. I know why the caged bird sings also. She longs for freedom, and yet, limited in her ability to fly, bound by fear, she remains caged. I realized several years ago, as I felt myself caged by limitations and fears, that I was the one who built my own cage, bar by bar. I was the one who placed myself within this small, cramped space and yet longed for something more. Fortunately for me, and for all of us, the door to that cage is unlocked. It only required a desire strong enough to test the door for me to gain my freedom. Finding my own voice, opening my throat to sing, was the beginning of my exhilarating flight.

I love the poem’s imagery of the bird daring to claim the sky and naming the sky as his own. The expansiveness of the sky is unlimited, open, full of the breezes of opportunity and abundance. I, too, love being there, soaring, stretching, becoming all that I am meant to be. It takes courage from within to step out into the unknown and leave a cage that feels safe and familiar, no matter how confining. It’s scary to take that leap of faith that hurls you into the air, where you must fly or plummet. I have not regretted those steps or that leap. Nor would I return to my cage. I have grown too much. I would no longer fit within those constricting bars. For that, I am grateful.

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