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C is for Coatlicue- Pagan Blog Project

Goddess Oracle 
Illustrated by Hrana Janto

With my head heavy with loss
with my eyes blinded by tears
I wander
unable to rest
unable to find ease
I am dry
my bones
are dust in the desert sun
my heart 
ripped out
lies broken on the ground
each step I take in living 
ruptures my wounds
how can I bear the unbearable
how can I survive the insurmountable
will my sorrow ever end?
will my loss ever be filled?
will my longing ever cease?

***************
Wow.
I am such a believer that life happens as it should.

And here is another case.

I set up my Pagan Blog Project posts a few weeks ago.
I had planned to do
"C is for Coatlicue".

Coatlicue is the Goddess of Grief.

What timing.

After this post was already planned - 
I lost my dad.

It was sudden. 
He was 62, his aquarian birthday is about to hit
on February 4.

Unexpected.
Shocking.

One cannot prepare for this.
One cannot know all of the layers of grief that go along
with losing your dad.

I've been going through the 5 stages,
honoring each emotion.

My face has been so dry 
due to the amount of tears I have shed.

I don't know if I've ever cried this much.

I don't know if I've ever felt such 
heaviness on my heart.

***************
Coatlicue is here to tell you there is no way around grief.
There is no place you hide from grief.

The way to wholeness lies in going through your grief.

It is imperative for your healing process
that you grieve. 

It is time to wail and keen and moan. 

It is time to ask for support from friends and family.
Life is about loss and loss is part of life. 

In time you will feel stronger and
more alive.

Remember that your process takes as long
as it needs to take and that everyone's time of grief is different.

Feel your grief and healing will come.

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

I'm super excited to be a part of 
The Pagan Blog Project

Every Friday experience the alphabet of spirituality 
and pagan goodness.

Check out the list of excellent blogs for week 5 - the letter C.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 5 - C

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.

It's My Birthday



It's my birthday!

I'm entering a new decade. 

Can you believe I turn 40 today?

I can't.



When I was younger 40 seemed so far away. 

When you are a kid you think by the time you reach 40, 
you got all your shit figured out.

Truth is - it changes.

What I wanted when I was a kid is different than 
what I wanted when I was teenager.
What I wanted in my 20s in different than 
what I wanted in my 30s.

What do I want now that I enter the fabulous 40s?

I just want to be the best me there is.

I want to live authentically.

I want to feel it all and be it all.

I want to reach deep down in my soul 
and bring forth what matters into the world.


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.

Simplify Bracelet Creation


my "Simplify" bracelet creation
Instead of pesky resolutions,
have you ever chose a word for the new year?

Just one word to represent your intentions...

Last year, my word was

And transform I did.
I released my intentions, I manifested, I transformed.

This year, I'm all about calming down.

This year, I want to 
SIMPLIFY.


For my word of 2013, 
I created a bracelet.

I wore my "Transformation" bracelet every single day 
for a clear reminder of my intentions.

I loved it.

So - I created my 
2014 Simplify bracelet.

I've been wearing it every day.

It reminds me that life can be much simpler.

It reminds me to take one step at a time,
read one book at a time, 
work on one creation at a time.

It reminds me to live in the now.


Approach life a breath at a time so you 
don’t get ahead of yourself and 
take on more than you need. 
~Yogi Cameron


Do you have a word of the year?
What is your word?

Share with me. 
I'd love to know.



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.

Women Who Run With The Wolves

Artist Unknown - found here 



I've been reading "Women Who Run with the Wolves". 
(Actually, I'm a few chapters behind and need to catch up.)

This paragraph spoke to me and I have read it 
over and over and over and over.

Especially the sentence, 

"She arrives there by deeply creative acts, 
through intentional solitude, and 
by practice of any of the arts."

I personally know I am my best self with I have my intentional solitude on a regular basis. I require alone time. I believe we all do. From that solitude, creativity is born. I'm able to brainstorm, see things clearly, paint, create jewelry, be inspired, and be alive!


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.

B is for Beauty - Pagan Blog Project

You Are Beautiful Exercise
“Look in the mirror and tell yourself how wonderful you are.” – Louise Hay

Shop Curious

How often do you
look in the mirror?

I mean,
really look in the mirror?

Are you afraid to
express your own
unique beauty?

Let go of preconceptions about what beauty is and allow your beauty to shine.

To feel beautiful on the inside and out,
practice the following exercise.
Find a place you can be alone and will not be disturbed.


Take 4 deep breaths and center yourself.

Relax.

Look into a mirror.

Just look.

Let go of any criticisms.

Focus on what makes you unique.

Look at your eyes and say "My eyes are beautiful."

Look at your nose and say "My nose is beautiful."

Look at your lips and say "My lips are beautiful."

Acknowledge each part of your face and enjoy the beauty.

Keep going and do this for the rest of your body, 

all the way down to your toes.

When you have acknowledged your entire self, 
look into your eyes 
and say "I am beautiful."

Say "I am beautiful" over and over.

Bask in the appreciation of your beauty.

Take as long as you need.

When finished, take 4 more deep breaths.

Welcome back, beautiful being!


This beauty exercise was inspired by 

Amaterasu from 
"The Goddess Oracle" by Amy Sophia Marashinksy.


I'm super excited to be a part of 
The Pagan Blog Project

Every Friday experience the alphabet of spirituality 
and pagan goodness.

Check out the list of excellent blogs for week 3 of the letter B.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 3 - B


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.

A is for Affirmations - Pagan Blog Project

Pagan Blog Project

A is for:
Affirmations

I am a huge believer in affirmations.

Words have power -
especially when you repeat them over and over.

Even if you don't believe what you are saying at first -
keep repeating the words and you will.

Using affirmations daily is a truly fantastic way to:
-increase self-esteem
-change your thought patterns
-manifest your reality

When I incorporate affirmations into my life,
I feel stronger.

I feel unlimited potential. 

One of my favorite affirmations I use daily is
"I am loved and protected by all that is 
Divine and pure in the Universe."

Another one of my favs is from 
the Affirmation Queen herself, Louise Hay.

I just love her!

"I breathe in love and I flow with life."

When I repeat those words, 
I feel my heart chakra expanding. 

I use this one quite often, especially when faced
with a difficult situation. 

Here is the entire affirmation from her book, 


I breathe in love and I flow with life.
Inner Wisdom, Meditations for the Heart and Soul by Louise Hay

Am I expanding or contracting?

When I expand my thinking, my beliefs, and everything about me, the love flows freely.

When I contract, I put up walls and shut myself off.

If I am frightened or threatened or feel that something is just not right, I begin to breathe.

Breathing opens me up.

It straightens my spine.

It opens my chest.

It gives my heart room to expand.

By practicing breathing, I drop the barriers and begin to open up.

It is a beginning point.

Instead of going into total panic, 
I take a few breaths and ask myself:

Do I want to contract, or do I want to expand?


I'm super excited to be a part of 
The Pagan Blog Project

Every Friday experience the alphabet of spirituality 
and pagan goodness.

Check out the list of excellent blogs for week 2 of the letter A.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 2 - A

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 looking for my tribe.

Misty Day ~ American Horror Story Coven

You can’t be your best self until you find your tribe.
~Misty Day

Big deep heavy sigh.

I'm still looking for my mine -
just like Misty Day.

I've been in Asheville, NC 
for almost 5 years now.

I thought I would have found my people by now.

I have some friends - here and there - but not my tribe.

With such an open minded place, a mecca of
new age goodness, healers, mystics, freaks, and weirdos -

What is taking so long?

I don't know.

Lately, it's been really obvious. 

I'm receiving signs from The Universe and all that jazz.

I watch "American Horror Story Coven" and Misty Day is 
searching for her tribe with her honest pure hippie heart.

I've been reading "Women Who Run with the Wolves" and 
came across "The Ugly Duckling" story.
I'm like Misty Day.
I'm like The Ugly Duckling.

Searching for souls just like me.
People who I can connect with, hang out with, and support.
True friends. 
A true tribe.

The Ugly Duckling eventually finds others like him. 
I will, too. 

"He who cannot howl, will not find his pack." ~ Charles Simic
Photo credit: Living with Wolves
I'm putting it out there to The Universe.

I'm howling.

I'm not giving up.

So - come out, come out wherever you are!
Let's play.


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.

Pay It Forward Gift Delivery

Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 

So - it's been an entire year. 
A whole year since the fabulous Erin Keane posted her 
Pay It Forward blog of goodness. 

I love creating. 
I love sending packages to folks.
I signed up eagerly wanting to participate. 

Well - Erin came through immediately.
I met her at Malaprop's and she gave me the best gift with 
my 2013 word of the year, Transformation.

As for me - um- I got nothing. 
I don't know what happened. 
I didn't have a clue what to create for 
Stacie Florer that "won" my Pay It Forward. 

Photo credit: http://toblackbeltandbeyond.com/category/pay-it-forward-2012/

It was on my to-do list.
I didn't have a deadline. 
 And it never got done.

This was part of my learning for 2013.

The 2 big lessons I learned last year -
1 - Don't take on too many projects at once.
2 - I need deadlines.

I've never met her in person.
She told me she likes earthy things and community.

I wanted to give her something unique.

I made her what I call 
"The Steampunk Circle of Life" necklace.
Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 

I used the circle, representing community.
I used shades of brown, copper, and gold for the Earth. 


Steampunk Circle of Life Necklace 
In December, I am super happy to say I finally 
sent my Pay It Forward gift to
I also sent her a handmade candle. 
I wanted to make it super special since I was a year late!
  
I was so happy to get this message from her - 

"I received it and love it!! The necklace is beautiful...so much thought!! You nailed my style too!! And the candle is wonderfully rustic and smells lovely...thank you so much...it is a great treat for me this Christmas season!!" ~Stacie Florer

 People love getting packages in the mail.
Especially handmade!

(Again, lesson noted on deadlines. 
Hence, this year's word is SIMPLIFY.)


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.

Happy New Year! I am ready to - Simplify.

Happy New Year!

A new year, a new moon.

Newness abounds.

I feel rejuvenated. I feel ready. 

I feel this year is gonna rock.

Why? 
Cause I'm all about keeping it simple.

Last year was a bit much. 
I was super passionate and excited and took on way too much. 
I just wanted to do everything. 
I got swept away with all of the art classes, 
Facebook groups, book clubs, etc. 

I worked 40 hours a week at my day job, blogged, kept up with books, online courses, and all kinds of challenges.

I never had time for my life coaching biz.
...and that's what is soooo important to me.

I've been working since the middle of November to
 get rid of all my distractions.
I threw out about 10 painting projects I had begun. 
I've been purging like mad.

I've looked deep into my being and I am ready. 
I am ready to get The Magick Muse going.
I am ready to grow my business.
No more art classes. No more distractions.

2014.

2014 is all about a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

All about simplifying.

All about my authentic being.
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.