Leo in Bloom Magazine

Intro for “Flying Free”

You often hear about being accepting of your inner and outer self. When the movie Wicked came out I saw it in the theaters. It struck inspiration about Elphaba and her own journey.

FLYING FREE

A time to connect to your true self starts today. I got to see that during the Wicked screening. Many of my friends and me went to see it the other day thanks to our friends at AALIVE. The movie showed how one can connect to their truest self.

You can see Elphaba struggle to do this throughout the story. She loves learning but has a tough time connecting with people. In the first part of the two-part movie, Elphaba truly gets in touch with her inner self. It is here where she learns to fly.

The outward theme is her flying to the west. And that is symbolic of this ending for her. She realizes a change in her and begins anew. While Oz and its people are against her, Elphaba is connected to her true self. For she will not abide by anyone’s standards or rules. There is a confidence and a conviction that cannot be broken.

So find something inside that lets you ascend into the sky. 

Originally published on Sarah’s blog, Sarah Spells to Speak:

Editor’s note: Sarah Ackerman will be familiar to our readers as a past contributor to Leo in Bloom. Since July 2021 she has been a blogger. Her website, Sarah Spells to Speak: Words from a woman without spoken language, features her poetry and descriptions of her experiences with apraxia and as an emerging communicator, as well as sensitive reflections on her inner self and observations of the world around her. Her final post in 2024 has a positive message about self-connection. (Hmm . . . seems like the Land of Oz influenced a few of us in this issue!) — Nick

About Sarah Ackerman

Sarah Ackerman is a nonspeaker with autism and apraxia who has been Spelling to Communicate since 2017. She is an advocate for her fellow nonspeakers as a member of the Spellers and Allies Advocacy Network, a branch of the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC), as well as Spellers Empowering Education for Nonspeakers (SEEN). Sarah has contributed to articles, blogs, panel discussions, and webinars to ensure nonspeakers are represented and have access to effective communication. Sarah has a passion for books and being immersed in discussions. Many of her projects center around empowering autistics and women. Sarah cares deeply about nonspeakers and hopes to help others find and express their voices.