Diva Maverick Mavens

Legendary Women Adventurers Answering the Call to Explore

Exploring the far corners of the globe for ancient women explorers was dangerous. In an age when women were raised to be subservient, women like Alexandra David Neel, an opera singer, made an expedition to Tibet by foot in 1924 disguising herself by coloring her face with cocoa bean powder, charcoal and the grease from a cooking pot in an effort to blend in. What made these women turn away from the norm? Adventurous women of old weren't afraid to explore even if it meant entering into a man's world. Annie Peck went to Peru and constantly had power conflicts because the hired men she employed didn't like having a woman telling them what to do.

The spirit of exploration was upon these women and they went where that impulse took them. There is a calling lodged deep within us and it is calling. Unfortunately, most people can't hear that calling. It's the utterings of the spirit wanting more out of life. The voice is softer in volume than the voices that are pulling you in every direction but the direction the soul is longing for. At the turn of the nineteen century, women were fighting for their independence. Women wanted the right to do what their male counterparts took for granted; they wanted to have adventures and explore the world on their terms.

May French Sheldon, in 1891, led an expedition from Zanzibar to Kilimanjaro while traveling in a hugh wicker basket and wearing french designer clothes. I now understand the popularity of the novel "Auntie Mame" why Mame was always beautifully attired. Women explorers wanted the chance to see the world in a new way and to walk in the footsteps of their predecessors rather than several footsteps behind them. One of the reasons genealogy is so popular today is that few people can resist the urge to find out how their ancestors lived and what kinds of characteristics they share with these people. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology has held this same kind of fascination because it offers us the possibility of examining what life was like and how others searched for the mysteries and answers that all humans are searching for. The need to explore is a search for the esoteric. Exploration is the search for the deeper meanings in life.

In recent times, a new trend among women has surfaced that of traveling solo. Women are finding that they want to explore again and have adventures. They are returning to their families and life the better for taking the time to honor the sacred voice of exploration. Exploration is like meditation but deeper because it doesn't involve the self-centeredness that meditation promotes. Exploration seeks to understand the mysteries of life through travel. Exploration is rather a moving meditation with a focus on the outer rather than the inner. When we understand the meaning of life and the mysteries of how others live and think, we better understand ourselves. Traveling solo rejuvenates the spirit and honors the ancient calling to explore!

 

Angelia Miller, Professional Speaker and Founder of Diva Maverick Mavens and the Adrenaline Living Talk Show...A MeTaphor for Life!

"I am a trailblazer and purveyor of “ALL Things” culturally significant, aesthetically pleasing, and conversationally thrilling. I discover adventurous people, places and things and present their encapsulated stories through words and media."

 

http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/?group=499

 

Fortune Hunters and Explorers

The explorers series has gone well this month and for next week I will be speaking to a fortune hunter for hire Billy Jamieson and a real life Indiana Jones Wade Davis. Billy Jamieson has a background in Amazonian tribal rituals. Bill has led 5 expositions to Ecuador and Peru and National Geographics has called upon his expertise for their documentaries. Bill has amassed a large collection of shrunken heads for the Schuar library and the largest collection of archival photos of the Schuar too.  Bill has taken an interest in other cultures and collected early ethnographic material from the Native cultures of North America, South America, South Pacific, Dayak of Borneo, Naga of the Highlands of India and Batak of Sumatra. Billy Jamieson's interview will be Monday, February 22 at 10 AM CST. 

Wade Davis is an an anthropologist and author of the book "The Wayfarers. Wade has had a long relationship as a National Geographics speaker. His career has lasted over 20 years. Wade has traveled to over 80 countries and believes there is much to learn from sacred of indigenous cultures. Wade will discuss the his travels and the urgency of losing 3500 languages and vanishing cultures in our lifetime. Wade's interview will be Tuesday, February 23 at 10 AM CST and will be in the archives. 

How does one become an explorer? According to the Milbry Polk of Wings World Quest, you begin by indulging your impulses. One of the most powerful statements that Milbry made is that most explorers don't start until late in life around their forties and they don't all have degrees. The professionals that I have interviewed for this series have been but don't allow the excuse of not having a degree stop you from making a difference in the world.

For schedule of guest for this month "click" on the tab above for the Adrenaline Living Talk Show schedule for February. 

I've included a clip of Wade Davis at Ted. I will have him on the Adrenaline Living Talk Show for an hour:

 

 

Pen Hadow Adventurer and Explorer

Pen Hadow has successfully trekked both poles and the first to trek from Canada to the South Pole. Pen spent over 73 days living in the extreme weather conditions of the Arctic with temperatures dipping as low as -104 F below zero. Pen and his team trekked more than 269 miles in the Arctic on expedition to monitor the effects of climate change on sea ice.  

The Explorers Dee Caffari First to Sail Non Stop Around the World

Dee Caffari is the first woman to sail non-stop around the world against the currents and winds. She sailed with little sleep, sometimes barely two hours. Dee Caffari is a Brit who received her Yachtmaster credentials from UKSA. Dee began her career with Formula as a Skipper and then went on to manage their fleet. Facts via Wikipedia.

Here is Dee explaining in her own words what tole the 3,000 mile non-stop journey took on her physically and mentally proving that you can do anything you set your mind to if you want something bad enough.

The Explorers Anousheh Ansari the First Woman Tourist

Anousheh Ansari is the first woman tourist in space and blogger from space. Ansari was born in Iran but later moved to the states as a teen. Ansari is an engineer and is the co-founder and chairperson of Prodea Systems. The Russian space program allows tourists to become passengers on their spaceships a program NASA has been contemplating for the many years now. The pricetag to become a space tourist is about three million dollars. Ansari said, "I hope to inspire everyone—especially young people, women, and young girls all over the world, and in Middle Eastern countries that do not provide women with the same opportunities as men—to not give up their dreams and to pursue them...It may seem impossible to them at times. But I believe they can realize their dreams if they keep it in their hearts, nurture it, and look for opportunities and make those opportunities happen." Facts and quote from Wikipedia.

See Ansari's live broadcast from space and judge for yourself it's inspiring for all women.

The Russian Cosmonauts greeting Ansari.

Ansari answering blog questions from space.

The Explorer Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart has always been an enigma for many people. Everyone has a different theory as to how she met her demise. Well, how her life ended will not be the focus of this article. I want to celebrate and rejoice in her entrepreneurial, adventurous spirit. According the the dictionary meaning the word explorer is defined as a person who investigate unknown regions. For Earhart, international aviation was that unknown territory. Earhart lived only thirty-nine years but with those thirty-nine years she lived so much more fully than the average person. Today we still talk about her spirit to transverse the unknown, her curiosity and her child-like faith that took her to parts of the planet that few others had every seen.

Few people don't realize that although Amelia grew up in a wealthy family her money was placed in a trust fund and Amelia didn't have access to it for several years. Amelia went to high school and later a two year college where she soon dropped out. How did Amelia get into aviation well, the story goes that Amelia went to an air field and fell in love with flying. A pilot was trying to have some fun with her and flew directly over her expecting to run but Amelia stood her ground and didn't flinch. In that single moment I knew all I needed to know about her character.

Amelia became determined to become a pilot so she worked as a trucker, stenographer, and a photographer to get enough money to take flight lessons and the rest as they say was history.

Some facts about Amelia that you might not have heard are that she was an editor for Cosmopolitan magazine for two years, she had a line of clothing, and luggage. Amelia was a seamstress who often sewed her own garmets. Everyone wanted to be like, dress like and look like Amelia. Amelia's famous bob was imitated by women around the world, most women in aviation cut their hair short for practical reasons. She was an author and spy. Amelia was a smart marketing machine who sat on the boards of many organizations. She was intelligent, resourceful, adventurous, a champion for women aviators, and had an uncanny business savvy. She didn't have the word "no" written in her vocabulary.

Amelia's adventures are legendary. She broke records for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, the North American continent, flew in the Powder Puff Derby an all female air flight contest among many other solo flights she took.  

A new movie is coming out about this amazing woman and her contributions to aviation, business, government, fashion and she literary world. Source Wikipedia.

 

 

The Explorers

I'll be adding a new series called the explorers to Diva Maverick Mavens. Watching incredible people living an incredible life of adventure and exploring new and sometimes forbidden places is inspiring. Are explorers different from other people? In the videos, I have added to the website about explorers the only difference I have taken note of is that they are willing to take the challenge. Are you willing to take the challenge? Are you ready to swim the Arctic ocean or explore regions of the planet that no one has ever gone before, be one of the first civilians to explore space or traverse the depths of the oceans in search of new life forms. Explorers are extra-ordinary individuals and their stories deserve to be told.