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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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