Desert Gateway

An unlikely portal

 Your journey begins 

and somewhere in between,

you've become a queen.  

Who knows what one will find within. 

More to come about the theme of treasure quest riddle answer, key🔑, in Unlikely Portals.  A little artistic taste of where we'll go.  I've waited too late to give the topic it's due, tonight.  It's 8:30pm here in the desert of Las Vegas and that time is obviously not my "best time" for writing.  Hahaha.  By the way, the picture above was taken Thursday, on a beautiful desert road near Red Rock Canyon.  

Embracing the Gifts of Life

When I look at this picture, I see two luminous souls lit up with love for each other.  It's my Mom on the right and her sister, Goldie on the left.  Both have already moved on from the world as we know it, but their powerful presences in my life have not.

I am filled to the brim with love, emotion and adoration, as I stare at this image.  I chose this picture to talk about the powerful act of receiving.  Both of these extraordinary women, in this picture, were taking in, basking, receiving the immense love for each other.  It's the most beautiful thing.  Heart to heart.  So much joy.  Nothing else matters, in that moment.  Goldie's sparkling eyes and sunshine smile, Mom's titanic embrace and the look of pure love on her face.  I've almost lost myself in this moment, caught in time.  What was I talking about?  Receiving.  Receiving love, help, guidance, gifts, answers.  There's an abundance of life's wonders waiting to be embraced by us.

The simple yet powerful act of receiving can sometimes elude us.  Why?  Oh, I believe there are many reasons.  We don't think we deserve it, we're too busy to notice what's being offered, we think it might make us look weak, we'll lose control...  Have no fear, we can easily remedy any of these.  All we have to do is be aware.  Take a moment.  Breathe.  Look around.  Open ourselves to the gifts the world around us, is beaming our way.

In the beginning of the treasure quest I held, I thought it was all about me giving.  I would write treasure filled posts each day, offering riddles to be solved and in the end, send mystery gift packages to the winners.  What I noticed, when I took a moment to see the beauty unfolding, that I was the one receiving a treasure.  I received invaluable feedback about life.  My life.  Life in general.  There's so much more to this topic.  As with most of my posts, they are "to be continued" stories.  I will touch on this again and again until I feel I've explored it with the depth it deserves.

PS...the mystery, magical treasure packages will be in route soon.

To all who find yourself here, reading these words, thank you for being.  It's been an honor to receive you in this sacred place.

Random Photo Journal Post

A dancing photobomb

Today's a full day of exploring (on the inside and out and about).  Instead of feeling rushed as I write, I decided to make this a random photo journal post.  Here are five random glimpses into our time in Las Vegas thus far.  Since today is a New Moon and a Solar Eclipse, a few of the excursions of the day will be within.  I'll be spending sacred time contemplating new intentions for my life (more on this in another post).  We'll also connect with Greg's Sister again for a saunter around town before she leaves the desert to head back East.

The Sun and The Cactus

My writing buddy

Elvis entertains as the Black Panther walks on

Goooollllddddd Bathrooms!  Ha!

Big Love

What better day to contemplate self-worth and letting our heart guide us, than Valentine's Day.  The next few posts will be discussions or writings about the important (to me) riddle answers from the treasure quest.   Yesterday, I wrote a little about the recurring picture themes that were hidden in the treasure hunt - trees, light and a compass (our inner guidance).  I promised I would expound more on trees and light and how they dazzle me and I will soon.  Today, I wanted to write about the riddle answers from day one and two - Confidence and Heart.

Knowing your own self-worth and listening to your heart for guidance.  

Today is a interesting day.  It's loved by many and loathed by maybe as many.  I personally love any reason to celebrate.  I also love inclusion.  For some, the reason they may dislike this heart-full day is because they don't feel included in it.  It is "advertised" as a day about couples.  Those who may consider themselves "single" may feel left out.  Who wants to be left out on a day in your life!?  No one.  

I would like to propose a new way to see Valentine's Day that will delight any and everyone, no matter who you are.  What if Valentine's Day reminded us all to, first, love ourselves immensely and what comes as a result, is abundance of love in EVERY other relationship.  When we know our own self-worth, love ourselves for exactly who we are and who we are becoming, that sweetness can not help but draw to us even more love.  

What if when we saw February 14th on the calendar, we saw a big ole' love fest day that began with filling ourselves with so much love that it overflowed onto the people in our lives.  No matter where you stood in your life, you would feel the love and be a beacon to love to everyone.  It would begin with the cupid arrow into our own heart and flow from there to the loves of our lives.  

I think when we cultivate and nurture the relationship with our own heart this automatically impacts and inspires the relationships we have with others.  I'm sure most have read the quotes and literature that explains that we can only love others to the extent we love ourselves.  And just like other relationships in our lives, it's a journey, we are constantly learning how to love ourselves.  

Confidence and Heart.  Those were the riddle answers in the first two days of the treasure hunt and it is uncanny how well they go together.  Knowing our self-worth comes when we make it a priority to love ourselves, to understand ourselves.    To be un-afraid to revel in our gifts and strengths and to be patient and kind with what we consider our weaknesses.  Our heart has much wisdom for us if we take the sacred time to listen.  When I say heart, I mean the part of us that holds our hopes, dreams, purpose and so much more.  It's place in us, that when we tune into it, it will lead us home.  When I say our heart is our truest guide, I mean it whispers in a powerful way the  unique purpose we are here for.  It lets us know through it's own language, where to go.  

Today, I give myself big love!  Today, I give my friends and family big love!  And today, I definitely will give my darling, Greg, big love.  

Love, Light and Trees

Trees and Light.  Tree Light.  Light-filled trees.  It lights me up!  There were three picture themes through-out the ten day treasure challenge.  The final riddle was to find one object hidden within every post.

Wearing the final riddle answer.

The compass was in every treasure hunt post, sometimes in plain view and sometimes hidden.

The compass rose found throughout the treasure quest symbolizes the constant support of our inner guidance system when navigating the adventure of our lives.  I'm wearing it on my heart in the picture above, which points to how I feel our heart plays an important part in guiding us through life.  This will be an in-depth contemplation in the near future.

There were two other picture themes I consciously chose for each post.  Trees and some source of light.  Light streaming through tree branches, dappled on leaves, hanging from trees...it all thrills me!  On a daily basis, I find myself drawn to the magic that these two create together.

Sunlight through a crystal in a tree

Full moonlight through stained glass hanging in a tree

Such delights!

Flower Power!

Love light!

There's much more to say on this subject but I'm running out of time.  I have a date with Greg's sister at Fremont Street in Downtown Vegas.  We'll just have to continue this tree-ific conversation.

And the winners are!!!!!!

WoweeewoweeeeeeeeeWOW!  I celebrate you.  All of you who romped along beside me, in this quest escapade - those of you who bravely solved the riddles and those who were the silent yet potent observers.  You are all magnificent.  I celebrate us!  One way I like to celebrate is to give creative, magical gifts to others.  Before I announce the three fellow explorers, who will receive mystery magical packages, I want to give you the answers to each daily riddle.

1. Self-Worth, Self-Confidence, belief in oneself
2. Heart - Our heart as our guide in this grand adventure of life.  
3. Receive - Remembering to receive from life.  Gifts, feedback, love and so much more
4. Key - There was a key hidden in an enigmatic portal picture.  Keys to life are all around us. 
5. Imagination - Many guessed other amazing answers such as intuition, inspiration and intention.
6. Leap, Stretch, Play were hidden words.  A few ways to grow outside of comfort zones.
7. Sparky - A spunky, playful Prairie Dog showed up in the Harry Potter World pic.
8. The magic starts in your thoughts - Everything begins as a thought!
9. "Sister Tree, you teach me...to let go, to let my colors show and I am beautiful" lyrics in a song by Ash Wahl
10. Compass - our inner guidance system - our heart, our feelings, our intuition

There are MANY wonderful themes within this quest we went on together, that pertain to an amazing adventurous life, in my opinion.  These themes will be pondered in the next week of blog posts, including a post tomorrow revealing "extra credit" answers in depth.

Without further adieu!!!!!!  The winners of the magical, mystery treasure quest are...

• D Rose Jones - Not only did she answer every riddle but she was the first to solve the final riddle!  
• Katie Gavin - Katie also solved every riddle, was the second to solve the final riddle AND the only one to attempt the extra credit!
• Lisa Brisson - Lisa solved four riddles with answers that related the the quest to things in her life.  

Congratulations Adventuresses!!!!  Soon, you will receive a "treasure chest" of ✨ten magical items✨.  I will let you know when it is on it's way to you.  It will be just a few days from now.  

I also decided a few other trailblazers deserved a treasure sent to them.  Each of these explorers, listed in bold, will receive an honorable mention treasure in the mail (send me a message of what address you would like your mystery treasure to be sent).  

• Erin Nourie - Erin answered three of the riddles and she gave great insight in her answers.
• Aeryn North - Aeryn responded to three of the riddles(answered two and attempted the third) AND she's the only international quester (in a magical place called, the United Kingdom)!
• Deborah Swann - Answered with her own creative flair three of the riddles.  
• Ash Wahl - Ash answered three of the riddles, she was a muse of one of the riddles AND her birthday was our last quest day!
• Beckie Baxter-Calvert - Beckie answered four riddles, was the muse of one of the riddles AND her birthday was the same day she was a muse.  
• Phyllis Owens - Phyllis jumped in on the last few quest days as an amazing cheerleader.  She inspired me through her support on many of my magical journeys AND her birthday was the last day of our quest!

Alicia Inshiradu, Tristen Patriz and Debbie Garrett Hyde, I salute you in joining in with one or two of the riddles!!!  You rock!

Thank you for being a part of my treasure quest team.  I honor and celebrate you all!  Those who played and those who followed along.  Mwwwwwaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

Magical Jackpot Day!

The last day of our treasure quest is here!!!  What a trip!  As I mentioned in previous posts, this ten day adventure has been such a delight and has offered many jewels of wisdom for me, along the way.  I hope that my fellow explorers have enjoyed themselves as well.  Thank you for coming along!  💖

There has been three consistent themes in each day of our ten day treasure hunt.  One of the themes has been an object, sometimes in plain view and sometimes hidden.

⭐The riddle to solve the entire quest is to discover what essential object has been present throughout our journey. ⭐

Find the object (sometimes in plain view, sometimes hidden) that is in all 10 days of the treasure quest posts - Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9 and today's picture.

In the picture above, I've hidden many images but only one of them will you find in all ten treasure quest posts.  Good luck Wayfarers!!!

There are treasures in every day of our life if we are open to them.  It's been a pleasure to play around with this idea and even more fun that I'll be sending a magical jackpot to three of you!!!  xoxo

As a reminder, here are who the winner's will be:

the person who solved the most individual post riddles 

the first person to solve the final riddle on February 11th

and a mystery champion - how they are selected will be revealed at the end.

Extra credit:  I mentioned there are three themes in every single treasure quest post.  If you really want a challenge, discover what three I am referring to.  This task is much more difficult.