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Amy's Top 13 Halloween Tunes

Amy's
Top 13 Halloween Tunes
Do you have a favorite Halloween song?
What do you listen to around this time of year?
I have a Halloween playlist I tweak every year and 
geek out on all this month.

Here are my favs.
(in no particular order)


Red Right Hand - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Werewolf in London - Warren Zevon


Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus


(Don't Fear) the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult


Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones

Season of the Witch - Donovan 

Living Dead Girl  - Rob Zombie


That Old Black Magic - Frank Sinatra

Transylvanian Concubine - Rasputina

Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) - Concrete Blonde

I Put a Spell on You - Marilyn Manson

and this one may be my ultimate fav---
This Is Halloween - Marilyn Manson
Watch it and feel the spirit of Halloween!




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.

This Week in The Magick Muse

Amy O Lantern 10-26-13
This Week in
The Magick Muse

Reading: "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice

Listening to: All types of music from the Mountain Oasis Festival

Watching: Watched bands all weekend...I LOVE live shows! I saw Half Japanese, Deltron 3030, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bassnectar, Bosnian Rainbows (MY NEW FAV), Gary Numan, Zola Jesus, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Nine Inch Nails, and Pretty Lights.

Thinking about: Sleep

Learning: I miss live shows. I need to find some good music in Asheville. It has to exist somewhere? Right? 


Doing: Counting down the hours until I can come home and sleep tonight.

Pet Peeves: People who talk really loud and hold at length conversations during a live show...it's like the movies...shut up, man. We come to see and hear the show...not you.

Happy Thoughts: Trent Reznor. Sleep. Coffee.

Best Quote: I'm drawing a blank. Really. Blank. 


Looking forward to: HALLOWEEN!


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.

Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit


YES! It is time! 

Seems like I've been waiting all year for today. 


The Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit starts tonight.

I am super stoked for this weekend.

I declare that I am on a music vacation. 

Live music for 3 nights in a row. 


(I will need lots of lattes to stay up.)

I'm most looking forward to Nine Inch Nails of course.
I have been a fan of Trent Reznor for over 20 years now.
This will be my 5th NIN show.
He is always perfectly amazing.

 Plus I've always wanted to see Pretty Lights. 



I am so looking forward to seeing some new music and 
enjoying all of this with my brother, Lucas. 

And did I mention costumes? 

I feel so giddy I could dance on clouds. 


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.



Fall in My Town ~ October Blog Circle

*The Flying Sisters Blog Circle for October*

Max Patch, NC 

If you know me, you know I love fall. 

Every single bit of it.

I love my first sip of a pumpkin spice latte.

I love mulling cider to share with friends.

I love watching horror movies.

I love seeing the leaves change colors. 

I love carving/painting pumpkins.
My Candy Corn Pumpkin

I love planning costumes.
Mysterious Me 
I love drinking pumpkin beer.
 (Pumpkinhead from Shipyard is the absolute best.)

And I especially love fall where I live. 
I am truly blessed, for I live in a postcard.

Asheville, NC is so amazingly beautiful this time of year. 

To get the most out of fall around here, 
you have to go on some mountain adventures.

Here are some place to go for autumn beauty - 

Take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway -anywhere

(where you can re-live "Last of the Mohicans", 
plus check out Lake Lure where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed)

(where you can walk across the 
famous Mile High Swinging Bridge)


 (where you can be at 6,684 feet elevation, the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains and Mississippi River - I once stood there and a cloud passed through me - amazing experience)
Me at Mount Mitchell 2009


(where you can frolick across the mountain top 
pretending you are in "The Sound of Music")
Me & Chris at Max Patch, NC 
There are so many places to go around here.
A great website is Explore Asheville
They even have a fall color report

There are some other fun activities around as well -

(where you can wander around a 12 acre maze)

(where you go through an outdoor haunted house and 
the scariest part is you lose $15)

The other day I picked up flyers at the Halloween store for 
and
Haven't been to either of them, but you never know, 
they may be worth checking out.



May you have a fabulous fall and a spook-tacular Halloween!
Spider Fairy 2005
This blog is part of the Flying Sisters monthly blog circle.

Hop to the next blog for more fall adventures.
Who knows where you'll end up?
Next stop on the circle is the lovely Sandy King-
SANDYMAIRART.


You can also check out what Atlanta has to offer with

Vickie Martin -
"In and Around Atlanta". 

Plus Robin Heim is doing her best keeping it spooky 

in Southern California -
"October". 


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.

I Heart Herbs~Comfrey

*Please note - The information provided is collected from my various herbal books, classes, and personal research. I am not a doctor. Always, always, always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment. Do your own research and think for yourself. Don't believe everything you read. Questions are good!

Comfrey

Latin name: Symphytum Officinale

Plant Family: Boraginaceae

Character: Cool, moist, sweet

Constituents: allantoin, alkaloids, inulin, protein, mucilage, potassium, silicon, tannin, starch, calcium, phosphorus, protein, iron, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, C, E, carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, selenium, thiamine

Parts used for medicine: aerial parts, root

Harvest during flowering in early summer.

Traditionally referred to as knitbone,
comfrey knits together tissues
and promotes cell growth.

Comfrey has amazing healing properties.

I say that comfrey has Wolverine like healing powers.

Wolverine!
Healing Properties of Comfrey
Excellent vulnerary

Speeds cell reproduction

Great for healing and soothing insect bites

Accelerates bone injury healing

Helps with ulcers

Eases arthritic joints

Can be used for a variety of skin issues, including stretch marks


Use the cream for osteoarthritis and any bone or muscle damage.

Puree the leaves to create a poultice for minor fractures, 
such as broken toes and ribs.
You can also use in larger bones for hairline cracks.

You can also create a poultice from 
the powdered root with a little water.
Appy to varicose ulcers and stubborn wounds.
This can also treat bleeding hemorrhoids.


My favorite way to use comfrey is as an oil. I make my own.
All you need is comfrey leaves and olive oil.

Make your own Comfrey Medicine Oil
Harvest comfrey leaves and let them dry overnight.

Remember oil and water do not mix.

If the leaves are wet, your oil will become rancid.

Stuff a mason jar full of the comfrey leaves.

Add olive oil to cover all of the plant material.

Let it set for 6 weeks.

Strain and use!

From the infused oil you can make a salve by 
heating the oil in beeswax.


Contraindications:
Do not use on unclean wounds,
comfrey heals rapidly and can trap infection.
It can be damaging to the liver.


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.

Oracle of the Week~Goddess~Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga

*Wild Woman*


I walk in the forest
and speak intimately with the animals
I dance barefoot in the rain
without any clothes
I travel on pathways
that I make myself
and in ways that suit me
my instincts are alive and razor sharp
my intuition and sense of smell are keen
I freely express my vitality
my sheer exuberant joyfulness
to please myself
because it is natural
it is what needs to be
I am the wild joyous life force
Come and meet me


Baba Yaga flies into your life to 
help you nurture wholeness by 
getting in touch with your wild woman.

It is time to reconnect with the natural, 
the primal, the instinctual.

It is time to shake out your hair, your body, 
and shake up your life!

Free her!

The wild woman inside you is 
part of your joy, vitality, and creativity.

Express your wildness!



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.

This Week in The Magick Muse

Me basking in Max Patch
This Week in
The Magick Muse

Reading: "The Witching Hour" by Anne Rice - I haven't read this book since the late 90s. I don't want to stop reading it. Tis the season for witches.

Listening to: The new Nine Inch Nails, Halloween tunes, witchy tunes...

Watching: Everything. Part of me is happy there is good television these days - the other part of me wishes these shows would suck so I would read more.

Thinking about: I like where I am - with everything.


Learning: Acceptance.

Doing: Howling at the moon, smiling on top of a mountain, reading, getting back into routine.

Pet Peeves: Hmm...

Happy Thoughts: Autumn leaves, hoodies, pumpkins, mountains,

Best Quote: "You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be unhappy - it is always better, it is always wiser, it is always smarter to choose to be HAPPY!" ~Skip Ross


Looking forward to: Mountain Oasis Music festival this weekend! Yippeeeeee! My brother will be here. Look out Asheville!


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.

I'm on break.


I'm on strike or break or whatever you would like to call it.

Maybe a temporary rebellion?

I've been sick for a week and that is extremely unusual for me.
The past weekend was emotionally damaging and 
is weighing heavy on my soul.

I need more self-care than normal right now.

I'm letting go of my schedule, letting go of blogging,
 letting go of my to-do lists,
letting go of everything...

and I'm just going to be.

I'm going to just be and take soft steps and 
be gentle with my soul.

I'll be back later, refreshed and ready.



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

This Week in The Magick Muse

This Week in
I love my black hair.

The Magick Muse

Reading: Red Bird by Mary Oliver, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (on chapter 10 for October with my book club), Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (on chapter 4 with my book club), and starting Castle Waiting by Linda Medley for the Malaprops graphic novel club. 
So many book clubs!

Listening to: Nine Inch Nails-Hesitation Marks, Halloween tunes

Watching: Sigh, the TV season has begun - "How I Met Your Mother", "The Vampire Diaries", and "The Originals". I'm super stoked about "American Horror Story-Coven" starting this week. Oh my my!

Thinking about: Coaching. It feels so natural, it feels so good.

Learning: I purchased a class on building my own website-now to wiggle that into my schedule. 


Doing: Moving forward with my life coaching biz, The Magick Muse.

Pet Peeves: Dogs without leashes without owners around.

Happy Thoughts: The leaves are starting to change!

Best Quote: "I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see." ~ John Burroughs 


Looking forward to: Carving pumpkins. 


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.

*Announcement* I got something to say.


I got something to say!

I want to take a moment and 
declare to the world that I'm going to - 

are you ready?

Wait for it - 


Have you guessed?


I am going to -

WRITE A BOOK!

Yup.
You heard it here first.

through Living Social.

It is extremely organized (which I absolutely love)
and does not feel overwhelming at all.

The book will be an important piece
in my empowerment coaching.

Happy squeal!



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.

I'm a Winner

http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/oh-yeah-i-m-a-winner/

There are soooo many reasons I love the internet.
I love the connections, the opportunities, 
and I love blog contests!


 I was checking out my flying sisters group a couple of Saturdays ago and I noticed Lisa's blog, "Lisaville".
She was having her first giveaway.

I decided to check it out.

She was giving away a seat in the Brave Girls Club
class called Soul Comfort.
All you had to do to enter was leave a comment on the blog defining what "soul comfort" means to you.
http://bravegirlsclub.com/soul-comfort
On a total whim, I decided to enter.
"Soul comfort – I think of me in my craft room, my sacred space. 
Candles and incense lit, my favorite music playing, 
surrounded by all of my books and art…
on my bright orange couch…
breathing, relaxing, thinking…
soul comfort."

When I turned on my computer late Sunday afternoon,
I was super surprised to find out

Yippeee!

I've always wanted to check out a Brave Girls course.
It seems like everyone always enjoys them.

I am excited to get started.

Thank you!
I am so appreciative of this opportunity.




*************
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.

I Heart Herbs~Cayenne

*Please note - The information provided is collected from my various herbal books, classes, and personal research. I am not a doctor. Always, always, always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment. Do your own research and think for yourself. Don't believe everything you read. Questions are good!

Cayenne 

Latin Name: Capsicum frutescens 


Plant Family: Solanaceae


Character: drying, pungent, very hot 


Constituents: Vitamins A, B1, C, alkaloids, fatty acids, flavonoids, carotene pigment, iron, sugars 


Actions: anthelmintic, anti-bacterial, antiseptic, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, gastric stimulant, promotes digestion, promotes sweating, stimulating nerve tonic 


Parts used: fruit 


Culinary uses: chilis, curries, salsas, sauces 



Contraindications:
~Excessive consumption of cayenne leads to gastroenteritis and liver damage, so watch dosages.
~Avoid therapeutic doses of cayenne in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
~Be cautious with the compress, if left on the skin for too long could cause blistering.
~When handling, avoid touching the eyes or any cuts.
Cayenne increases blood flow, tonifies the nervous system, relieves digestion, stimulates yang energies, cleans the blood, and increases the appetite. 

As an antibacterial, it is ideal for colds and chills. 

Cayenne is good for throat issues like 
hoarseness and laryngitis.

To create the infusion:
Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne to a cup of boiling water.
Dilute a tablespoon of the infusion with 
more hot water to make a cupful. 
Sip as required.

The infusion is ideal for colds, chills, 
cold hands and feet, depression and shock.

To stimulate digestive function take 2-3 drops of 
the undiluted infusion.

For rheumatic pains, bruising and sprains, soak a pad in the infusion for a compress.

Dilute 5-10 drops of the tincture in half a cup of hot water to take as a circulatory stimulant and tonic.

For throat issues create a gargle by 
diluting 5-10 drops of tincture in 
half a glass of warm water.

Create an infused oil for a warming massage 
for arthritis and rheumatism.
 The infused oil and ointment are less burning 
and irritating to the skin than the raw fruits.


A couple of HOT tips: 


To increase circulation, mix cayenne with shea butter 
and rub on the skin.

Putting a bit of cayenne between your shoes and 
socks on a cold winter day helps to keep the feet warm.


Spiritual Cayenne 
Artist Unknown 
On a spiritual level, cayenne's karmic lesson is 
to provoke choice. 

Cayenne energy stimulates all actions on a spiritual plane. 

Cayenne accelerates psychic development.

Cayenne opens the heart chakra. 


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.