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What's with the January Haters?


What is up with the January haters?
When did January become an evil evil month?

In the last couple of weeks I started to notice 
a January negative vibe...
and I don't get it.

People are complaining about January...
"I'm cold"
"I'm sick"
"You mean I should get up and do something? 
Can't I still have the laziness of December?"

I LOVE January. I really really do.
I fall in love with new beginnings and a clean slate. 

It's a do-over, a fresh start.

I love the plotting and planning of what I will accomplish this year. I love thinking about what could make my life better, 
what can I do to make myself a better human being?

I love the quiet. I love the calmness.

It's fun and exciting finding a new rhythm to my life....
adding new adventures, new paths, new classes, new things to balance out my life.

Sure, it's darker outside, more bleak, more rain, 
maybe even snow and sleet...
we may have cold days where it seems you forgot to get dressed because the wind whips right through that skirt and striped socks and chills one deep down to the bone.

But, it doesn't last.

Out of the darkness there is light.

I embrace the darkness. 
I take advantage of this quiet time of reflection. 
I take advantage of having more alone time right now.

I relish in the quiet.

...and I keep my immune system up through the winter months. 
My secret is elderberry syrup.
I'm a huge fan of elderberry syrup and 
whenever folks start talking about sickness...
I start taking drops of it daily.
It truly helps.
I made a batch myself and I love it. 
You can check it out here

Maybe I also enjoy January 'cause it's my birthday month.
I make a rule to never ever work on my birthday. 
It's my day to celebrate me.
This year I had a fabulous day going to the movies and checking out a couple of Asheville breweries with my boyfriend.

New beginnings, reflection, and birthday fun.
I still love January even though it has a bad reputation.


Rejoice January Haters...today is the last day.
Tomorrow we can all move into February.



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

Oracle of the Week~Faery~Snow Angel

Snow Angel
The signs are with you already!

Artwork by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith  Guidebook by Lucy Cavendish

This fairy is serious. Look at her. She is staring at me. 
She has attitude. Look at that hand on her hip.

She says, "Look. Look around. There are signs everywhere. I don't have to tell you anything...just look around. Open your eyes. You have received the signs. Stop hesitating. Let go of your fear and see. You have to truly believe we are always with you." 

Okay, okay
I get it!
Thank you Snow Angel.
I will let go and trust the universe. 


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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

Hmm...what am I wishing for? 
This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron...reading chapter 2 in preparation for February. I love this book club I'm in. We are taking 1 chapter per month. It's working out great. 

Listening to: Various...The White Stripes, Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Muse, Air, The Black Keys, The Fratellis

Watching: Almost done with "Smallville" season 5..."Supernatural" was finally really enjoyable this past week...total nerd episode...loved it. 

Thinking about: Painting, my birthday, my life coaching trip coming up...

Learning: I need female support and companionship. 

Doing: The usual. Blogging, creating, chatting, thinking, doing.

Pet Peeves: Over emotional-long-poor me-exhausting blogs. 

Happy Thoughts: Chocolate red velvet cake. 

Best Quote: "Reach inside your soul today, grab your fairy dust and sprinkle it around the world." ~Kellie Kuecha 

Who I Admire: Julia Cameron. She is a freakin' genius. Her book is changing my life. Morning pages are the best therapy I've ever encountered. I am happily addicted to my morning pages. It is releasing all the negativity that has been stored inside. Stuff I thought was long gone! Morning pages has a way of bringing out all the gunk and junk and allowing release. I feel so much more "together"...more balanced...more alive. Thank you Julia Cameron. You are truly amazing. 

Looking forward to: My birthday tomorrow...I'm not working...thinking of taking in Tarantino's latest flick and going to some breweries. 


...and today is my mom's birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom!
Wish we were celebrating our Birthdays together!

My Mom-Spanish Mill Florida-2008


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

Upcoming Events

Feeling groovy...feeling inspired...feeling crafty.

I got a couple of shows up my sleeves for 

First off is a local artist craft show 

It's the Saturday prior to VD. 
You know...Valentine's Day...
February 9
10am-3pm

75% of the vendor fees goes to the Francine Delany New School for Children building fund.

I'll have my usual wares...spiritual necklaces, intention candles, and I think I may create some VD items. 
Maybe some bracelets to do with love...or some greeting cards.
I'll see what mood strikes me.


And for the 2nd show, break out your fishnets and corsets!
I will be selling pin up wares at 
I haven't been this excited about a show 
since VAGINAfest back in my Orlando days. 
I love burlesque. I love sexy. 
I love any excuse to break out my fishnets!
They contacted me through my Etsy shop and 
I am just over the moon happy about that. 
Would I like to vend? 
I didn't really need to even think about it. 
Sign me up!
I'll have pin up greeting cards, pin up cigar box purses, and 
all things pin ups. 
I have some ideas whirling around my brain right now. 
I'm also really happy ABSFest is in May...
so I have plenty of time to create sexy wares.


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

My Personal Transformation Bracelet

Transformation

Most of you know I have some big things going on in my life right now...and I chose a "word for the year". 

Just one word...but it's a long big one. 

TRANSFORMATION 

I saw in my Fly Sista group some of them getting necklaces 
with their personal word. 
Well, I wear a different necklace almost every day depending on my mood...something special I have created just for me. 
So, I couldn't add another necklace...I decided I needed a bracelet. 
I looked at my supply and 
didn't have all the letters for "transformation". 
I went to three different craft stores and 
just couldn't find what I envisioned. 
Finally, I hopped on the internet and found some cool black and white letter beads on Fire Mountain Gems.

I LOVE these beads. 
I can wear them every single day 
and it will match whatever I'm wearing.
Plus when I look down when I'm typing, writing, driving, etc...
I see my word proudly displayed across my wrist.


I added four round wood beads. 
Four, representing the four elements. 
I used hematite beads in between to keep me 
grounded on my 2013 journey. 
And the cherry on top of my sundae...a fairy!
She was originally on a necklace I created for me, but she didn't seem right on it...I had been saving her for something...something special...and now I figured out where she belonged.
On the back of her it has the words, "forget me not". 

I'm wearing this bracelet every day. 

I love it, it's such an 
incredible reminder of what is in store for me. 
It's a reminder of what we manifest can come to fruition. 

If any of you would like your word created into a bracelet, 
let me know! I would love to make you one. 


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

Oracle of the Week~Faery~Amara the Menehune

Amara the Menehune
Aloha Healing

Artwork by Jasmine Beckett-Griffith  Guidebook by Lucy Cavendish


From Lucy Cavendish:
Amara represents the spirit of the tropics:
she is warm, sensual, sweet, and laden with gifts for you.
She eats fruits and flowers, and dances 
and sings the songs of her ancestors. 
She is laughter, and fresh-flowing water, and hope, and warmth. 
She is at home in the world outside, in a nature filled with the sound of dolphins, the music of waterfalls, 
the song of the warm breeze. 
There are also many sweet aromas when she comes to you, and she wishes for you to slow down and relax, 
and to take your time and smell the frangipanis! 
There is no rush when Amara comes into your world: she knows that while you feel rushed, you are not eating right, nor digesting properly, nor connecting deeply, 
nor sleeping well, nor feeling fully. 
You are barely noticing the beauty of nature both within 
and outside of you. 

So it is time to treat yourself to some relaxation of the Hawaiian kind when she comes to visit, and embrace the aloha spirit!

Amara says,
"I am of a time and a place where
 time moves in its own way, 
where you are at one with the natural world, 
and where your body 
and soul are entwined, in unison, 
and singing the most beautiful song!
You need the power of sunshine on your body: 
please give yourself a sunbath, a natural, energetic healing of pure golden light, and feel the radiance warm your bones 
and fill you with joy!"

***********************
Time for fresh fruits, fresh food, natural sunlight,
 dancing, nature, and relaxation.

I'm down!

This explains why I was craving the sunshine yesterday
and took a couple of walks outside.
The fresh air felt so good.

This is a fantastic reminder of self care.
Thank you Amara!


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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness 

Listening to: Radiohead, Muse, Air

Watching: "Smallville" 

Thinking about: paint, wax, beads, all things crafty

Learning: Techniques in painting using dishwashing soap, salt, etc.

Doing: Working on various crafty projects.

Pet Peeves: Haters. 

Happy Thoughts: Life is good. 

Best Quote: "I want to be a raging fire." ~Debi Minter

Looking forward to: My birthday January 29. I am a true Aquarian


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

Morning Pages, Better Than Meditation

I used to say, "Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee. 
Now I say, "Don't talk to me until I've done my morning pages."
My Morning Pages Journal
I have a new love in my life.
Morning pages.
Seriously, how did I live my life without them?

I started my morning pages routine on January 1, 2013. 
Some of you may already know about morning pages. 
Some of you may be doing your own morning pages. 
Some of you may know because I cannot shut-up about them.

They stem from the book "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. 
And let me tell you this is no regular book, 
or even a regular self-help book, 
this book is a movement!
From Julia Cameron...
"Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*–they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow." 


Watch her informative video...
Click here.


 I feel so much more alive since I started doing morning pages. 
I am able to think much more clearly in the mornings. 
I feel more balanced, more organized, more together. 
Past feelings and emotions are coming to the surface 
and I'm dealing with them.
 I'm having even more vivid dreams 
and I'm remembering them more clearly.


For me, morning pages are better than meditation.
I'm having more success with morning pages than I ever did getting up and meditating. 
I still meditate...usually in the sauna...or when I feel I need to.
But I don't meditate every single day.
I will write my morning pages every single day though.
I sing their praises!

I have a feeling this is a habit that may never go away. 
I envision a shelf full of my personal morning pages journals.
Maybe I kind of already knew I would love this morning therapy.
 I did label my morning pages journal "Volume 1". 


Do you do morning pages? 
How have they affected your life? your creativity? your dreams?
Please share with me.


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, 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.

Beginnings (Blog Hop)

2013 A Year of New Beginnings
New Beginnings

Theme: New Beginnings, part of a Blog Circle Hop...

Here we are. 
2013. 
Another year is upon us.

This is a year of transformation for me, 
a year of new beginnings.

It seems like every few years I have a huge transition. 
Things change. I continue to grow. 

My last big year was 2009. 
2009 was amazing and life changing. 

  • I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine from Everglades University. 
  • I quit The Golf Channel after being there for 10 years. 
  • I moved myself and all of my belongs alone to Asheville, NC to pursue the next big step. 
  • I met Chris that December.

Between now and then, 
it has been a series of frustrations, growth, and new awareness.

2012 was a year of getting back on track 
and I'm ready to roar with 2013.

This is a year of transformation for me...
a year of new beginnings...

  1. "The Artist's Way" book club is opening up so much creativity and inspiration for me. The author, Julia Cameron, has introduced me to morning pages. I now don't know how I ever survived without doing morning pages. They are the first thing you do in the morning. So, I grab my tea (another new beginning, saving coffee for the weekend...don't have a heart attack...I'm doing okay with this.) and I write whatever comes to mind for 3 pages. Dumping out all of these thoughts creates room for the really important stuff. It's a brilliant therapy method. I plan on doing this every single day.
  2. Life Book 2013 is a huge beginning for me in the realm of painting and drawing. I absolutely love to paint and I'm open to techniques and cool ideas. However, I have to admit I am nervous about the drawing aspect. I want to draw. I want to be able to, but I have no clue how! I've always felt my brother, Lucas got that gene and it skipped me. I'm going to give drawing a try. Wait! I'm going to do. Do or do not, there is no try. ~Yoda
  3. 2013 will be a new beginning in a new home. By April 1, Chris and I will be moved to a bigger home. This will give us our own personal space. We'll have our own washer and dryer. I'll have a craft room. Home will really be a nice place to be, a sanctuary. I'm so looking forward to it.
  4. I will become a successful Life Coach. After my training in February, I will be certified. I can then accept clients. I will start to transition this year out of my day job and into working independently. By the end of the year, I will be working on my own. 

I have dreamed. I have plotted. I have created a vision board.

Now it is time for it all to happen.
Now is the time for it to come to fruition.

This year is the beginning of stability, love, connections, creativity, and continuous inspiration.

This blog is part of the Flying Lessons blog circle. 
Hop to the next blog to read more reflections on beginnings.
Who knows where you'll end up?
Next stop is...
Keep in mind...we are all over the world...due to different time zones the next link may not be up yet.
Give it some time, and it will be.
Enjoy your reading circle. 


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

My First Artist Date~The Artist's Way

My First Artist Date
Woolworth Walk
Many of you know I'm a huge book lover. 
I have a fondness for those creative self-help books.
I'm so thrilled to be in The Artist's Way book club 
for this entire year!
There are 12 chapters...we are working on one chapter at a time.
Brilliant!
The Artist's Way is by Julia Cameron...she says there are 2 main components to releasing your inner creative Goddess.
One is the morning pages
My Morning Pages Journal
The first thing you do every single morning 
is write 3 pages in a journal. 
Just write. 
It can be anything. 
It can be WHY AREN'T THE DISHES DONE?...
to I feel so alive and beautiful today...
the point it to dump 3 pages of 
stream of consciousness writing out. 
I'm loving it! I feel so much more free.

The 2nd key ingredient in being successful 
with The Artist's Way are Artist Dates
What is an artist date
Well, basically anything you want to do 
that you don't normally do...and you do it alone. 
All alone. Singular. By yourself. If it sounds fun...go do it.
Now...I've been dating myself for years. I take myself out on somewhat of a regular basis. 
So I feel my artist dates need to be extra artsy.
Fortunately, I live in Asheville, NC. 
Asheville oozes creativity 
and is crawling with galleries and all sorts of fun.

My first stop was The Woolworth Walk.
Woolworth Walk
The Woolworth Walk is located in the heart of downtown. You can browse 20,000 square feet of all types of art. There is jewelry, decorative art, candles, all types of local goodness. My favorite part isn't even the art...it's The Soda Fountain!
Grab an old fashioned ice cream soda and take in the gallery. 
Journey Heart at Woolworth Walk
My favorite piece at the Woolworth Walk was a heart with wings...with a spiral in the center. This speaks to me on many levels. My next trip downtown I'm going to buy it. I'm not sure who the artist is...I found it interesting it was somewhat difficult to find who created the art in all of the displays. Rarely did I see business cards or names. Strange. I would think you would want the world to know, "I made this."


Across the street is True Blue Art Supply, a nice local art store. 

True Blue Art Supply
I ventured in and took in all of the paints, papers, and supplies that I'm still not sure what I would use them for...
but I'm learning. 
They have a creation station set up for you to do impromptu art. 
I thought that was pretty cool. 
I found some water color pencils on sale and 
got to use my Go Local card for 10% off. 
Score!


My stomach was rumbling by now, 
so I decided it was time for lunch.

I took a few moments to enjoy the entertainment on the corner.
(In Asheville there is entertainment 
on practically every single corner.)


Mayfel's is one of my favorite restaurants downtown.
I always get the Biltmore burger.
So freakin yummy.
I never leave without buying a jar of pickles to go. I'm not a huge fan of pickles...unless they are Mayfel's. 
So seriously good. Some sort of cajun pickles. 

The Biltmore Burger

I completely enjoyed my burger and sweet tea while I worked on some of the writing exercises in Chapter 1 of The Artist's Way. 

Time to venture on!
Let's go to Kress Emporium
Kress Emporium 
Kress Emporium boasts over 80 regional arts and crafts people. There are fine arts, collectibles, antiques, and plenty of items created from mason jars.
So many mason jars.
You can obviously make about anything from a mason jar.
I saw wall sconces, candelbras, plant holders, and wine glasses. 
Mason Jar Wall Sconces
Enough mason jars

I'm ready for something more...
more exciting...more up my alley.

Time for ZaPow!


This is my kind of gallery. 
This is where you will find zombies, Star Wars, and what? 
Gene Simmons with butterflies?

Gene Simmons at ZaPow


Zombie Romance by Kristilyn
After 3 galleries, the art shop, and taking in musical acts on every corner...I was ready to go back home.



I'm currently brainstorming by next Artist Date.

There is a wealth of creative and inspirational things to do here and I'm excited to venture out more. 
I have no excuse not to. 




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