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My Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Hey! I got an award!

You like me, you really like me! (I've always wanted to say that.)

Thank you to the beautiful and inspiring Wendy Poling for this nomination...check out her blog.



Very Inspiring Blogger Award Rules




1. Display the award logo on your blog. √

2. Link back to the person who nominated you. √

3. State 7 things about yourself. √ (see below)

4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them. √ (see below)

5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements. √

7 Things about Me

1. I need tons of alone time.

2. I need to have music playing at all times. 

3. I get my best ideas in the shower or while I am driving. I have written brilliant blogs in the shower and when I get out I forget every single word.

4. I did not have a serious relationship for about 9 years...then I met Chris and my life changed. I now love, love. He makes my heart soar and he still has the ability to make me gush and feel all mushy. 

5. I'm pretty intuitive and sometimes it freaks people out. I get "How did you know that?" My answer is "I just know." 

6. I'm highly allergic to cats. I am also allergic to most dogs, down pillows and blankets, cigarette smoke, and MSG. I would also like to add stupidity. 

7. I absolutely love to read.  Charles de Lint is my favorite author. 

And my nominations for the 
Very Inspiring Blogger Award are: 


Andrea Saccone Snyder 
Chandra Merod
Erin Keane
Janice Smith
http://taprootstudio.blogspot.com/
Joan Carver
Kim Comer Jackson
http://nucleusofmynoggin.blogspot.com/
Mette Hummel Gabrielsen
Michelle Hill
http://www.michellehilldesigns.blogspot.com/
Renee Bekking
Shelly Penko
Sigga Dis
Suzanne McRae
Vickie Martin
http://vickiemartin.net/blog-4/
Wendy Winston


*************
Are you facing a huge transition in your life?
Are you ready to release your obstacles and step forward into the life of your choosing?
Are you kind of lost as to where to even begin? 

Book your free 20 minute consultation with me today.

Click here.


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a life coach, tapping facilitator, reverend, creatress, teacher, writer, herbalist, and all out muse. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

This Week in The Spirit Dancer


This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D. and The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron 

Listening to: A mix of songs that make me sway back and forth as I type and/or paint. 

Watching: Smallville, South Park, Doctor Who

Thinking about: 2013-the year of another huge personal transformation.

Learning: How to use water soluble crayons, watercolor blocks, paint, etc. 

Doing: Playing around with watercolors, reading, relaxing, and feeling anxious about the New Year.

Pet Peeves: Is not having enough time off from work a pet peeve? It certainly gets on my nerves. ;)

Happy Thoughts: Painting, reading, learning, going deeper...

Best Quote: "Make your own recovery the first priority in your life." ~ Robin Norwood 

Looking forward to: Everything 2013 has to offer...a new home with Chris, Lifebook 2013 painting class, The Artist's Way Book Club, and becoming a Life Coach! 

Please help me reach my goal! I am making my dream a reality.


Please, please SHARE this campaign...there are only 2 weeks left!


Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 
 ~Amy 
 The Spirit Dancer

Do What Feels Right


YES!

I've been living more with feeling lately...
going with my gut...going with what feels right...
and doing this feels right!

When we listen to our inner being, we are living authentically.

May you always listen to your whispers and do what feels right.


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

Out with the Old, In with the New

It's good to cleanse oneself now and again of 
old negative energies.
This allows us to make room for fresh beginnings.

This ritual from Deborah Blake can help you release the old 
and welcome the new.

Light a white candle and sit a bowl of water in front of it.
Dim the lights.
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself.
Think about what you are letting go.
Swish your hands gently in the water, 
releasing that energy into the water. 

Now...visualize what you want to bring into your life and 
say the following...

I wash my hands of what once was

To make room for the future

Clearing off the past because

The present I would nurture

The old is out, the new is in

Shining bright before me

I open wide and so begin

Endless possibility

Look into the candle light reflecting upon the water.
See your bright future.



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

2013~Full of Fun

Can you believe it? Another year has passed.

2013 is upon us. 

And I have a good feeling. 
For one, I love the #13. 
 Plus, I have felt an energetic shift within my being and I know deep within that this is gonna be 
a year of transformation.

In fact, that is my word for the year 2013...transformation.

It is time again for some big changes in my life.

Chris and I are 
moving into a bigger home. 
This will happen. 
It's been way overdo. I will have my own woman cave, lady's lair, create room...whatever you would like to call it. I call it MINE. 

I will have my own personal space once again. 
By Spring Chris and I will be living in a bigger home where both of us will have our own space. So exciting.


Life Book 2013 
I am going deeper with my creativity. 
January 1, I start an online painting course that 
runs the entire year. 
Yup, you heard me right...
for the whole year. 
The class is called Life Book 2013
Life Book has over 20 incredible art teachers. The premise is you create 2 mixed media art journal pages per month that you bind together at the end of the year...
for your year journal, Life Book 2013.


I am reading and taking part in "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. 
There are 12 chapters in the book. 
I joined a book club and we are going to take a month per chapter.
 I'm getting quite excited about
 journeying through this book. 



I will become a successful Life Coach. 
I have training in February. After that I can start accepting clients and begin the transition out of my day job and into what I really want to do with my life. I have such an innate desire to help people. I am ready now. 
I'm so excited about this 
I created an Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds. 
Have you checked it out? 
I offer some great perks 
including free advertising and free life coach sessions. 
Hop on over there and donate if you can. 
If you can't donate (I understand), you could help me out by sharing my campaign. 
The more folks who see it, 
the better chance I have of reaching my goal. 
I have 3 weeks left. 


I'm most excited about what 2013 will bring. 

I'm feeling optimistic. 

I'm thinking it will be a great year for everyone.

What do you wish to do in the coming year? 
Tell me about it, I would love to know.



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

Oracle of the Week~Faery~Nautilus Princess


Nautilus Princess
Nautilus Princess by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith

~Powerful Personal Growth~

Guidebook by Lucy Cavendish


"I know I am strong, but most people think of me 
as gentle, kind, and good. 
Now that I am to be the ruler, 
what if they see me as power-hungry, 
dominating, greedy, or controlling? 
Whatever the thoughts of those around me, 
there will be change as I change, 
and I will continue to hold fast to my nautilus, 
as it ever reminds me to grow in ways that are 
in tune with my purpose, my integrity, and what I feel is right.
 I vow to be steadfast and true, 
despite the challenges that are heading my way. 
I vow not to misuse my power. 
But use it I will, and as a result I, 
like you, will grow in ways that are 
in tune with my true self and true purpose."

***********************

The Nautilus Princess teaches us that 
you can be powerful and still be a good person. 

Do not be afraid of your power.  

This is a time of responsibility and rapid growth. 
Step up and deal with this new abundance in healthy ways. 
It is time to take yourself and your potential seriously.


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

This Week in The Spirit Dancer


This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: The Artist's Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron with Mark Bryan

For 2013, I joined a book club for The Artist's Way...I'm starting the 1st chapter this week. 

Listening to: Delerium, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Florence + the Machine

Watching: Doctor Who

Thinking about: The importance of time with friends and family. 

Learning: I need my own woman cave...as soon as possible

Doing: Headed to South Carolina today to spend the Holiday with Chris's family. 

Pet Peeves: Drama Queens. 

Happy Thoughts: Reflecting back on 2012 and feeling good.

Best Quote: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ~Les Brown 

Looking forward to: Today! On the road right now to Chris's Grandma's house...hanging out with his family...relaxing...enjoying life.  


Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 
 ~Amy 
 The Spirit Dancer

Yule~The Winter Solstice~and The End of the World as we know it!

Merry Yule to all! 
Happy End of the World!

Yule Affirmation: I am the light that dawns at the edge of the world. I am the silent seed that sleeps in the soil. I hold within me the potential of all that I may yet be. I am the Winter's dream. I am the sun reborn. I am the spirt of light set free. Blessed Be.

Significance: It is the end of the waning half of the year and the beginning of the waxing half. The winter solstice is the longest night of the year and the rebirth of the sun. 

Magical Energies: hope, innocence, peace, purity, rebirth, renewal

Symbols: bells, evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, pine cones, wreaths, Yule logs

Colors: gold, green, red, white

Trees: fir, holly, oak, pine, rowan 

Flowers: poinsettia

Herbs & Oils: allspice, cinnamon, frankincense, ginger, mistletoe, myrrh, nutmeg, rosemary

Stones: amber, garnet, ruby

Animals: bear, fox, robin, stag, wren

Beverages: egg nog, mulled cider or mulled wine, wassail

Foods: chestnuts, gingerbread, ham, potatoes, winter vegetables, yule log cake

Yule information taken from Wheel of the Year classes at Avalon in Orlando, FL 2001.

****************************
As for the end of the world...
I feel that it is...I feel that it is the end of the world as we know it.
I feel a shift in the universe.
And I feel fine. 



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

Gifts Prayer

What do you want to bring into your life 
in the coming year?
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Light a red candle and say the following...
You can re-word it to suit your needs if you would like.

As I slip into the silence of winter

I ask for these gifts for the year ahead

Prosperity and abundance

For me and my community

Health and well-being 

For me and for the land

Balance and productivity

For body and spirit

Love given willingly

And peace most blessed

For me and all the world

In perfect love and perfect trust

~Deborah Blake
Witches' Calendar 2012


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

Continuous Inspiration

Back in July I was hit hard with the crafty creative bug.


I've been creating necklaces and candles for 11 years...
off and on that is.

There have been breaks. Big breaks, little breaks. I would get distracted with other things, work, other hobbies, life.


And then I had a moment. 
The bad kind. The kind of moment that throws you on the bed staring at the ceiling wallering in complete patheticness
Thoughts running through my brain, 
"Amy, why aren't you vending? Why aren't you selling your crafts? What happened? This is one of the many reasons you moved to Asheville....and you have vended once in 3 years!"

The urge to vend was strong. The urge to craft was stronger.

I just laid there all sad and mopey.

Chris asked me what was wrong...I let it all out...

I finished with, "All I really need to vend is a tent, 
but I don't have a tent."

He said, "Well, then...get one."

Oh. Yes. Okay. Why was I letting something so silly hold me back? Ha. I don't know, but once he said that...I was like 
HELL YEAH, I WILL GET A TENT. 

Vending here I come!

I researched the markets around here and felt connected to

I got a tent and started vending. The Paris of the South Flea Market welcomed me with open arms and smiles.
I was having a fantastic time, I met some great people...but doing a show every single Saturday drained my energy.

I decided to take a break from vending and 
focus my energies elsewhere. 

I had signed up for Kelly Rae Robert's Flying Lessons course

When the class started in September, 
I threw myself in head first. 
I got up early every single morning to 
read the class lesson and take notes. 
Everyday I learned new things about having a creative biz. 

A fantastic bonus of the class is a Facebook group of everyone enrolled in the course.
At first, I was so completely overwhelmed by this...
over 600 super talented, artsy women!

How would I ever connect with so many? 

The class ended, but my daily browsing of 
our Facebook page hasn't. 

And something quite unexpected has happened.

I feel connected with these women. I now know some of them. 
I pop on and see their faces and 
know their names.
I know their artwork.
I know their goals, inspirations, and dreams.
It is amazing to be part of such a wonderful group of women who are truly in support of each other. 
They have become part of my daily life.

As a result of Kelly Rae's course and my Flying Sisters, I have reopened an Etsy shop, revamped my blog, signed up for a painting class, I'm in an "Artist Way" book club, I swap ATCs (artist trading cards, I act like I know the lingo), 

and most importantly...

the inspiration just keeps flowing.

I have now been on a continuous streak of creating 
and I'm not going to stop.

And through all of this I have realized my calling. 
I know what I want to be when I grow up.

Becoming a Life Coach is the next step.

I have felt a shift in me.

There is no turning back. I am on a roll. I'm going to keep creating candles. I'm going to keep working on my creative biz.
By Spring of 2013 I will be a Life Coach.

I am inspired and I'm not quitting. 

Check out my campaign on Indiegogo...

Please help if you can! 27 days left to meet my goal!


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

Oracle of the Week~Goddess~Pele

Pele
Awakening


Illustrated by Hrana Janto 


I surge I pulse I throb

I am never still

I am perpetual vibration

a rhythmic beat

the constant hum that you hear

I am always moving

way down in the deeps

with fiery vitality

in places you can only feel

When necessary

with dramatic, fierce, volcanic eruptions

I wake you up

With lava and fire

I say "pat attention"

*********************************

Pele (pronounced pay'lay) is the volcano Goddess of the Polynesian peoples of Hawaii. 

When Pele shows up it is time for an awakening. 

It is time to come into full consciousness. 

Wake up to your potential and power!

Pay attention to all that life is telling you. 

Pele says when you nuture awakening, 
your life becomes creative rather than reactive 
-an infinitely more powerful place to be!


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer

This Week in The Spirit Dancer


This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: Your blogs!

Listening to: A variety of chick voices. 

Watching: Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, Smallville

Thinking about: Yule time, the Holidays...I'm completely in the spirit this year. We have presents under the tree...I made some Holiday cards...and this Friday is Yule Love It!

Learning: To just go with what feels right and not what my to-do list says. 

Doing: Creating more candles, blogging, plotting 2013, and working on Campaign Amy, Project Life Coach
All is well in my world. 

Pet Peeves: Micro-managing, ocd crazed, workalcoholics.

Happy Thoughts: Relaxing during the Holidays. 

Best Quote: Me---"I inspired someone today." Chris---"Good baby, 'cause that's gonna be your job."

Looking forward to: The Yule party on Friday...which leads to a 4 day weekend


Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 
 ~Amy 
 The Spirit Dancer

Cool Craft Market-Handmade In America


Last night I volunteered to help out with the 
VIP Preview Party for the Cool Craft Market this weekend for Handmade In America.

I had an amazing time.

There was that part of me that was saying, "Amy, you've been up since 5am...you should just go home and go to bed."

But I felt I needed to go.

On I went. They had yummy small bites from Storm next door, a nice band, and 25 local vendors.

The best part of the evening was chatting one-on-one with talented women crafters. I found some new local favorites...

Anita M. Walling creates pots for your senses and your soul.

Jude Lally caught my eye with her wondrous witch dolls. 
They are magical. 

Ryan-Ashley Anderson's business is called Fray Knot.
I asked her for a business card and she handed my a pencil with her business name and a quote that sang to my heart, "creativity is rising up within you. I can feel it."

If you live in Asheville, or near...go check out the Cool Craft Market this weekend...you have today until 5pm.
Tomorrow, Sunday 11-4.

Handmade In America is located on 
125 South Lexington, Suite 101.

Support handmade. Buy local!


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Spirit Dancer