Broken Wings
The Woman with Broken Wings - Part I
She thought she had jumped of her own free will, and would soar on golden wings
But she didn’t yet know her wings had been clipped, and she was falling.
Before she could realize her mistake,
A Jaguar-king with golden wings met her mid-air and with his eyes he said,
“My love, you are too beautiful to fall”.
And he caught her in his strong embrace, and brought her gently to the ground.
Then, he collected the fragmented pieces of her soul and delivered them back to her.
And then, with divine strength he said,
“My love, I have caught you, but now you must stand on your own. For I have mountains to move, and I cannot do it alone. There is space for a Queen beside me, on this ancient gilded throne, but the will to take this place lives inside of you alone.”
A single tear fell down his cheek, and then with a flash of golden light, he faded into the distance.
She stood, shakily, and inspected herself. She eyed the bruises on her knees, and lines on her skin, the marks of battles won and lost. She felt the smoothness of her body, the fullness of her breast, and the life that coursed through her aching chest. She noted the ache in her heart, and she sat with it.
She stretched out her wings, and sighed at the crumpled feathers and broken bones. The bright colors covered in dust from her fall. She began digging through the pile of things that had been given back to her, and found her sewing kit. She gathered beautiful fabrics from lives past and the strong sinews of the forest, and she began to sew vibrant patches to mend her broken wings.
She found quiet and peace in her craft. Day by day refining the beautiful tapestry, adding colors and streaming silks that pleased her. She slowly regained her inner strength, stitch by stitch, a slow and gentle healing. And over time, she not only remembered who she was, but she became brighter and more beautiful than ever before.
One day, she stretched out her wings, and noticed that all of the breaks and holes had been fixed. She reveled in the bright, straight feathers, and beautiful streaming colors that trailed behind her. She decided to see if she could fly again, so she climbed to the top of an old oak tree, and jumped.
This time, the wind caught her wings, and she soared upwards towards the sun. Spinning and twirling, free through the sky, basking in the beauty of her own creation.
Down below, the Jaguar King paced angrily through the streets of his kingdom. Fighting and lamenting to all he crossed, tormented by a deep frustration, that would not abate. The great halls of his palace had grown thick with cobwebs, from too many years without use. Gray hairs had begun to sprout on his dark, black beard. He had begun to sense that much time was passing, and he was yet to meet his Queen, and be born a son. He searched the surrounding villages for a woman that was fit to sit beside him, but none seemed to spark his attention. On long nights alone, he would wonder about the beautiful woman with the broken wings that had fallen from the sky. He would toss and turn in his bed, revisiting her gaze over and over. But that was many years ago, he had little hope that he would ever meet her again.
Battles had broken out amongst the dwellers of his kingdom. So many years of ruling without a Queen had disrupted the faith of the people, and they were growing restless.
One Day, the king went for one of his long walks, to contemplate the issues of the kingdom. He walked deep into the forest, following the thin paths made by deers and their fawns. He came upon an ancient oak savannah, with trees so old, their bark could speak the language of soul. He wandered through the trees, begging for their ancient roots to gift him the answers for the questions he was there to seek. Suddenly, he heard a faint voice singing in the distance. He began to follow it, the music a sweet lullaby to his aching soul. He followed the song out into the meadow, and down the hill towards the babbling creek.
As he approached the creek, he saw a glimpse of a woman with the most vibrant, colorful wings He had ever seen. Like a splash of a rainbow amidst the deep green of the grass knoll. He stopped, and gazed longingly at her. She was bathing, her naked body glistening in the warm, afternoon sun. Her skin, a golden hue. She was the most beautiful vision he had ever seen.
As he moved closer, the woman heard him approach, and stopped her singing. She quickly wrapped herself in an white sarong, before turning to greet the visitor. Their eyes met, and a recognition flashed through their souls. She dropped to her knees and exclaimed, “My king, it is to you that I owe my life. Unbeknownst to me, my wings had been clipped, and I was falling through the air. Had you not caught me, I would have certainly met my death. You are worthy of my deepest devotion, for I kneel before you today as a testament to your own strength”.
She gripped the earth, in a deep prayer for all that is. Then, she stood and said,
“But, many years have passed since that day, and I am no servant. I have a life, fulfilling work and a Community that I serve happily in my village. I must be courted, and wed to serve faithfully in your kingdom.” With this she bowed, and then lifting her gaze, she met his eyes.
“My love”, he said, “I thought I would never see you again. I had given up hope that a women with both your beauty and strength existed in these lands. I will make you my wife, and you will become a queen, and you will serve your village amongst all others in the kingdom.”
With that, he bowed deeply. And took his leave of the woman.
He returned to his palace with a lightness in his heart that he had never felt before. In the coming weeks, he set about having the great halls of the palace cleaned and
Shined until they glimmered. Cobwebs were swept out, and windows shut for decades were opened. Sun and air filled the palace walls, and a warmth spread through the once barren rooms. As soon as he could, he sent for the woman in her village, so she could be brought to her new home.
Upon her arrival she was showered with fruits and gifts. The ribbons of her wings were replaced with the finest silks, and her body was scrubbed and oiled with perfumes from far off lands. The king would come to her each day, with flowers and poetry, or long walks through the palace grounds, sharing the story of his family. He felt his heart soften and open through their time together, the anger he had carried for all those years melted away in her eyes. Before long, they fell deeply in love, and yearned for each other….
TO BE CONTINUED
The Woman with Broken Wings - Part II
Their love grew strong and deep, like the ancient roots of the trees that surrounded the kingdom. The Jaguar King and the woman with the vibrant wings became inseparable companions, ruling side by side with a harmony that brought prosperity and peace to their land. The people marveled at the transformation that had taken place, as the once restless kingdom found solace in the unity of their king and queen. The Jaguar King found peace in her presence, and she found strength in his unwavering support.
As the years passed, the woman's wings continued to flourish, each feather a testament to the strength she had found within herself, and the wisdom gained from her own healing journey. She had embraced her role as queen with grace and determination, guiding the kingdom with wisdom and compassion. The scars of her past had become a source of inspiration, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, one can rise and become more beautiful than ever before.
The King admired her resilience and her ability to mend not only her broken wings but also the lives of those around her. He marveled at the vibrant tapestries she created, each stitch a mark of devotion to her determination and creativity.
The Jaguar King had also undergone a profound transformation. His anger had transformed into a fierce protectiveness for his kingdom and his queen. He had learned the value of patience and collaboration, seeking counsel from his queen and the wise elders of the land. The once dormant palace had become a hub of activity, a place where ideas and innovations flowed freely, guided by the shared vision of a harmonious realm.
One day, as they stood on the palace balcony overlooking their kingdom, the Woman with Broken Wings shared a dream she had been nurturing. She spoke of a sanctuary nestled in the heart of the kingdom, a place where people could heal, connect with nature, and find their own inner strength. The King's eyes lit up with recognition, for he had seen the need for such a place in his own kingdom.
With their hearts aligned, they set out to turn the dream into reality. They gathered skilled artisans, healers, and thinkers from all corners of the kingdom. Together, they built a sanctuary of healing, a refuge where people could find solace in the embrace of nature, just as the Woman with Broken Wings had found healing in the arms of the Jaguar King.
The sanctuary flourished, becoming a haven for those seeking transformation and renewal. The Woman with Broken Wings and the King stood side by side, guiding the sanctuary with love and wisdom, their unity a beacon of hope for their people.
Their love story became a legend, a symbol of the healing power of connection, both with oneself and with another. Together, they created a kingdom where healing is a collective endeavor, where the scars of the past are celebrated as symbols of resilience. The Woman with Broken Wings and the Jaguar King ruled their kingdom with love and compassion, ensuring that the lessons they had learned were passed down through generations.
And as their reign continued, their love story became a part of the kingdom's mythology, a tale told to generations to come, of a woman who fell from the sky with broken wings, and a king who caught her, not just with his arms, but with his heart. And so, their tale continues to inspire those who hear it, reminding us all that even in our moments of brokenness, we have the power to mend ourselves and create a future of healing and unity.
As the sun sets over the kingdom, casting a warm golden glow, the legacy of the Woman with Broken Wings and the Jaguar King lives on, a testament to the strength that can be found in the embrace of love and nature.
THE END