Search This Blog

My Imaginary Lives~The Artist's Way

My Imaginary Lives 
excerpt from my personal art journal

One of the exercises in "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron is your imaginary lives. At the end of Chapter 1, she suggests you come up with 5 imaginary lives and start implementing pieces into your real life. At the end of Chapter 2, she says add 5 more.

Here are mine: 






























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

Guess what? I am Amy Riddle, C.C.

Joan Wise, instructor and me gloriously happy.

It is real.

I am Amy Riddle, C.C.

I am officially a certified Life Coach.

This past October, I had my epiphany of becoming a life coach.
and jumped on the dream. 

My life coach training weekend
was so incredible.

The group of folks I trained with are absolutely delightful.

A total of six of us, with common goals...
it was a beautiful weekend of learning, support, and good times.

Here is the group...
Me, Elizabeth, Kevin, Joan, Robin, Laura, and Laverne.



I am certified!


Lucas and Mom drove to Nashville 
to witness my accomplishment. 


I was so happy to see them.
It feels good having such great support.



We are all ready for the next step!

I have lots to do!

I have to build a website, a client base, create an office area, 
and so much more.
This weekend I'm building a timeline of goals.

I'm just thrilled to pieces.

Again, I would like to express my gratitude 
to the many folks that helped me attain my dream.

A huge heart felt thank you to all of you.


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

Oracle of the Week~Faery~The Sage

The Sage
Wisdom ~ Hidden Knowledge ~ Retreat ~ Old Age ~ Patience

Text by Jessica Macbeth


The Sage is also the shaman. 
Not all wise men are shamans and not all shamans are wise men, but this one is both-power informed by wisdom 
and wisdom made manifest by power.

This is also the face of Father Time. 

His "blind" eye enables him to look into other worlds, 
other realms, and the wisdom buried deeply within each of us, where the Singers dwell.

The Sage is constantly learning.
While on the one hand he values tradition and stability, 
he also understand and values 
the need for growth and change. 

He is always expanding his understanding of reality 
and deepening his awareness.
As we develop patience and compassion intertwined, 
we begin to manifest the wisdom of the Sage. 

Starter Reading

Here we see wisdom and deep inner understanding. 

One of the keys of wisdom is to organize, integrate, 
and simplify one's thoughts. 
Complexity often leads to confusion, simplicity is to be valued. This card signifies mental discipline informed by 
balanced learning and compassion. 
Tradition is valued but appropriate change is accepted. 
The Sage knows when to let go and when to move on. 
He knows when to retreat and think things over. 
He compassionately and wisely shares his knowledge with others, teaching by example as well as by precept. 
The scales of justice are balanced in the Sage's hands. 
This card in a reading also signifies the need for deep consideration and refined judgement 
applied with compassion and mercy.


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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer


Grandfather Mountain
This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: Rachel Rising 

Listening to: A mix of all songs I love...yup...that is a lot of songs. 

Watching: Not much...I've been in Nashville since Thursday...heading back to Asheville today.

Thinking about: My exciting future. 

Learning: The ins and outs of life coaching.

Doing: A marketing plan. Planning and plotting...applying my new knowledge. Need to get crackin' on a website. 

Pet Peeves: Bad drivers. 

Happy Thoughts: Connecting with like souls. 

Best Quote: "If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing." ~Coco Chanel 

Looking forward to: Having my first client. 


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

This is it! Life Coach training!

Can you believe it?

Here I am.
I'm in Nashville, TN attending my Life Coaching training.
 3 full days of intensive training...
plus a graduation Sunday evening.

I made it. I'm so exciting about this weekend. 
I'm ready to learn. I'm ready to grow.
I'm ready to put my dreams into motion.

Thank you for your support and love.

I really do believe we can do whatever we want to do.

Set your goals into motion and manifest your dreams.

I am.




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

All You Need is Love (Blog Circle)

http://segredosdepandora.wordpress.com/tag/heart/
Warning: Somewhat personal, somewhat sappy blog post today.
This is part of the Fly Girl's Blog Circle every 3rd Thursday of the month.
This month our theme is Love.
Let me tell you as much as I now love love...this was super hard for me.
'Cause for me with love comes heartbreak...ouch.

I was never the cutesy girl drawing hearts and falling head over heels in love. I pretty much hated all things hearts. I'd wear black on Valentine's Day and if anyone said, "Happy Valentine's Day" to me, I would respond, "What's so fuckin' happy about it?"

I've always been independent. I've always loved being alone.
 I absolutely love being single.
 Plus I've had my share of heartbreak. 

In 2002 I decided to start working on my heart chakra. I filled my apartment with rose quartz crystals and love goddess statues. I attended a heart chakra class and I was the only one there! 
Talk about NEEDING some help. 
That class was just for me. 
From that class I was introduced to Louise Hay's fabulous book, 
"You Can Heal Your Life". 

Now I wasn't all opposed to love just to let you know. 
I had my share of love...love for my family...
love for my friends...love for hobbies...
love for movies....for life...for myself.

I just didn't think anyone was worthy of romantic love from me. All relationships end somehow. Why put myself through all that shit? The more you love someone, the more it hurts when they are gone.

I was perfectly happy alone. I found I enjoyed having a "friend with benefits" rather than a boyfriend. So much easier. 

I did continue working on my heart. I continued healing.
 But I was never truly serious about anyone. 

I made a list of all of the traits I would want my imaginary significant other to be like. Kind of like in "Practical Magic". If I make this person up, they probably don't exist, therefore I will never fall in love and never get hurt.

With my list and my heart healing I did feel I was ready if I ever found that imaginary person. They had to be absolutely wonderful for me to even consider a relationship. 

I moved to Asheville on May 1, 2009 completely by myself. 
After months of being here, I was so ready to find a new
 "friend with benefits". 

On December 1, 2009 I went out downtown with my friend to an AIDS benefit. We were checking out a band she had heard about. I was sitting there sipping my beer when I noticed a dude across the room. My first thought was, "I'd do him." 

He then came over to us! I was like ohhh....could he read my mind? He was manning the door that night and chatted us up most of the evening. He was an utter delight to speak with. 

At that time my Friday night ritual was to take myself out after work...I usually went to Jack of the Wood and finished off at The French Broad Chocolate Lounge. I invited Chris out with me. To my surprise he showed up at Jack of the Wood as I was sitting there eating my burger, drinking my beer, and pen in my journal. He was wearing a tie and the biggest grin. 

Through the course of the evening, I was discovering I really dig this guy. He will be a perfect "friend with benefits". 

So let's just say I tried that...he wasn't having it.  
And I caved. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't.
We fell in love. 
It happened so fast.

And I kept waiting for that "OH NO" moment. 
The moment where I know this just won't work out. 
The moment I plan my grand exit. 
The moment where I know I don't want to be with him.

That moment still hasn't arrived. Over 3 years later he is still an incredible guy for me. He knows me better than I know myself. 

Chris has opened me up to true love
and I am completely happy with it.
My heart chakra has never felt such utter joy. 

I sometimes ask him, "Who sent you?"
I think the gods and goddesses delivered me a present. 



"All You Need Is Love" from Across the Universe


Today's Love blog is part of the Flying Lessons blog circle.

Hop to the next blog to read more reflections on love.


Who knows where you'll end up?
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.

Next stop on the circle is my fly sista Karrlin Bain.
Check out her post here.

 Enjoy your reading circle!


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

Artist Trading Cards

Collection of ATCs from my Birthday Month


Are you familiar with Artist Trading Cards?
They are the size of a regular playing card...2 1/2 by 3 1/2.
You create art on one side, on the other side you place your information and then you swap with other artists.

So...this year...not only am I in "The Artist Way" book club, a mixed media class, and a blog circle...I'm also swapping ATCs with women all over the world. We normally do 2 a month...but when it's your birthday month...WHOA BABY...
we send out birthday ATCs!

After reading Vickie Martin's blog, I decided I also wanted to put together a blog post with all of the
ATCs I received my birthday month.

Here we go...get ready for some fab art
the size of a baseball card!

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

 This lovely witch was created
 by Melissa Humphries
from Lake Heights, New South Wales-Australia. 

Kristen Conley from Fullerton, California
added my word of the year
Transformation.
She even drew my butterfly tat!


Elizabeth McNulty from Frankfort, Kentucky 
chose my favorite flower, the sunflower
and a beautiful butterfly.
I love the vibrant color and her handwriting is so lovely.


I just love butterflies!
This ATC came from Middleton, Wisconsin from
Karen Kohn. I love the message. 


From Teton Village, Wyoming...Carin McConaughy-Munn
created a peaceful watercolor creation.


Handmade by Sandy King from 
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
I love the darker colors with the heart. 


Lovely dress from Vickie Martin in Decatur, GA.
I love the look of it...
the old sewing pattern background and the colors. 
Nice! It makes me wanna throw on a sexy dress. 


Stacey WilkBrooks from Santa Cruz, California created this card
with our theme "Glitz".
The steampunk type bird is pretty awesome.


Happy Happy Girl from 
Jean Wagner of Everett, Washington. 
I dig her pigtails and rosy cheeks. 


This awesome creation is from Janine Whitling, Highgate Hill, Queensland, Australia. I always love everything she does.


Sue Grilli from Monroe, Georgia created this 
beautiful watercolor piece. 
The pink flowers make me happy. 



LaDonna Davis, Los Angeles, California 
had a special present in the flowered envelope. 
I pulled out a heart!

These two arrived on the same day and 
looked so similar to one another. 
The one on the left is from Ciarrai Samson
 from Leeds, United Kingdom. The blue is so relaxing. 
The beauty on the right is from Lynn Sweeney Bedwell 
of Salisbury, New Hampshire. 
"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." ~Rumi


Okay, so this is not an actual ATC from my group. 
Chris drew it and hid it in a book I was reading for me to find. 
I think it's pretty freakin' cool and it's the same size as an ATC!
ATCs are fun to make and are super addicting. I feel they are challenging as well, because you are so limited in the amount of space you have to create. 

I now love going to the mailbox!

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

Oracle of the Week~Faery~The Friends

The Friends

Friendship~Support~Aid

I pulled this card back in May...and The Friends have shown up again this week in my Oracle choosing.

I love these guys.

*********************************
On top is Faery Nuff...the other one is Laochan. 
Faery Nuff and Laochan are the best of friends and 
are almost always together. 

If you need support or a better understanding of true friendship, then call upon The Friends.

They represent the true meaning of friendship.

Hands outstretched reach across the 
rushing water-
you steady me, 
I steady you on the 
slippery rocks
of time. 
Hands reaching,
giving...
and giving in return.
I am so grateful to you for being there.
I could never have managed alone.

Maybe you need some friendly support...or maybe 
you are the support your friend needs. 

Volunteer your help 
and give unconditionally 
from a generous, loving heart.






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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer


Me at Grandfather Mountain
This Week in
The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "The Life Coaching Handbook, Everything You Need to Be an Effective Life Coach" by Curly Martin and "Rachel Rising" comic book.

Listening to: On a Madonna kick.

Watching: Been catching up with "Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries".

Thinking about: Getting out of town! Road trip

Learning: ...about to learn tons more about life coaching. 

Doing: Lots. Creating ATCs, playing in my art journal, making candles, mentally packing for my Nashville Life Coach trip this week. 

Pet Peeves: People failing to communicate. 

Happy Thoughts: Music, dreams being fulfilled, good coffee, cuddling, lazy Sunday mornings with Chris...

Best Quote: "I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker." ~Voltaire 

Who I Admire: Louise Hay. I've been a fan of hers since 2002 when I went to a heart chakra class and I was told to buy her book, "You Can Heal Your Life". She is the QUEEN of affirmations. 

Looking forward to: Getting on the road Thursday and heading to Nashville, TN. I haven't really been out of town on my own since I moved to Asheville...almost 4 years ago. I love the feeling of cruising down the interstate alone with music blasting...it feels so free. When I return I will be a certified life coach. 
My name will be seen like this...
Amy Riddle, C.C. 
This makes me grin. Thank you all for your continued support. 


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