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25 Self Care Ideas


Do you practice self care?


I sure do. 


When it is time for Amy self care -


I read. or write. or take myself out to dinner. or watch a movie. or go for a latte and people watch. or create a necklace. or go for a walk downtown. or spend time in my garden. 
or whatever makes me happy at that moment. 


Self care is soooooo very important. 


I feel it's the foundation of you.


Some people seem to get confused about self care. 
They mistakenly call self care acts "selfish". 
This fires me up! 



There is a huge difference in practicing self care and 
being selfish. 



Self care is never ever selfish. 


You have to take care of yourself first! 
Taking care of yourself makes you a better you all around.



You'll be happier, healthier, and will be able to 
take better care of others. 
We must fill ourselves up first with self-love and respect. 
When we are filled, then we have enough to give to others. 
You cannot give from an empty well. 



You have a right to say no to 
people/situations without explanation. 

You are in control of you and your life. 

You decide how much you want to handle.



Remember making yourself a priority and loving yourself doesn't make you selfish. 

It makes your soul shine!




25 Suggestions for Self Care 
  1. take a bubble bath 
  2. take a walk in the park 
  3. induldge in a glass or two of your favorite wine 
  4. read a good book
  5. journal 
  6. take yourself out to dinner 
  7. take yourself to the movies 
  8. go on a hike in the woods 
  9. walk barefoot in the grass feeling the grounding energy of the earth beneath your feet
  10. cook something up in the ktichen 
  11. watch a movie or an inspiring documentary 
  12. go for a swim 
  13. meditate 
  14. explore a nearby town 
  15. go to a live concert 
  16. practice yoga 
  17. get a haircut 
  18. treat yourself to a spa day 
  19. set a new goal 
  20. write poetry 
  21. work with a life coach 
  22. plant flowers in the garden 
  23. play with art journaling 
  24. hang out at the local coffee shop sipping your favorite latte 
  25. turn off electronics for a day - no computer, no tv, no phone 

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




Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse
 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a holistic 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.



Love Our True Selves

I like to read something inspirational every morning. 

Lately, my book of choice is, 
by Julia Cameron. 

This particular insight really touched my soul.
It's a beautiful reminder that we are 
all beautiful in our own unique ways. 

Honor each other for that. 

Let your own light shine and 
allow those in your life to shine their own light.



I love others for their true selves.

I bless and salute the divine goodness available 
in all human beings and in all human beings. 

I allow people to be uniquely themselves, 
bringing their true natures and true gifts to our relationships.

 I do not demand that those who love me change 
their essential nature for my comfort. 

I do not hide or pretend I am different from what I am. 

I trust that each of us is a 
perfect part of the divine whole. 

I trust that each of us is as lovable as we are.

I allow originality, inventiveness, and variability in 
my loving relationships. 

I invite the unique souls in my life to 
love me as their true selves allow.



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


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


 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a holistic 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.

Insight from the Universe

I love a good reading.

When I vended at the Sunshine Market in West Asheville, 
I met Kelley. 

She dug a couple of my cigar box purses, 
so we did some bartering.

She said she would give me a reading.



Ohhhhh...yeah....

It's been quite some time since I've had a good reading.

For me, a good reading is advice from the Universe.

It helps you make sense of all that which 
is spinning around in your head. 

It brings out the crap that is sitting deep in your subconscious.



Kelley used the Osho Zen Tarot.

I love this deck. 

It's beautiful and is always an amazing guide to 
what's going on deep within.

I took lots and lots of notes -
mad scribbling as she spoke.

I was quite surprised at some things -
like the "RAGE" she said I had deep inside me.

Hmm - I don't feel angry.

She said I had let go mentally and emotionally, 
but physically it was still there.

She suggested I make art and 
work on this when the moon is at its darkest.

I wrote out a list of possible rage suspects.

Along with a kick ass playlist of Joan Jett, Marilyn Manson, NIN, PJ Harvey, and Tool - 
I got out a piece of canvas, markers, and lots of paint.

I started writing on the canvas things that I could possibly be holding onto deep within.

And I kept going.

I found it.

Unleashed it.

Cried. 

Kept writing.

And then - I started throwing paint all over it with my fingers.

Forget paint brushes

This was some hands-on work.

A heart emerged.

A fiery, orange busting heart.

From my heart rises fierce joy. 

I've released, let go, and begin anew.


"This is a new day. 
Begin anew to claim and create all that is good." 
- Louise L. Hay

I totally recommend Kelley - 
I'm unable to find her on social media - 
but if you are up for old school phone calling - 
here's her business card.



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



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse
 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a holistic 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.

The Muse News September New Moon


Happy New Moon!

It is time for
The Muse News.

Click here to read it!

Want it delivered directly to you?
Get on the list.
Sign up to receive The Muse News - weekly inspirations, affirmations, tapping tips, smiles, and good times.

Enjoy!



*************
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 holstic 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.

You Deserve A Good Night's Sleep


Everything is better with sleep. 

Through all my spiritual practices, the most important is sleep

Yes, I totally see sleep as a spiritual practice
And I'm talking good sleep. I mean really good sleep.

If I don't get my sleep, 
all my other spiritual practices go out the window. 
The foundation for a healthy, empowered, spiritual life is 
GOOD F'N SLEEP!

There are numerous ways to create good sleep. 

One practice that really helps me is a calming routine 
before going to bed. 

Create a Routine

When you are about 20 minutes out from heading to sleep, go into the bedroom.

1 - Light some incense or sage.

2 - Light a candle and say, "Thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for the sleep that will restore my soul tonight."

3 - Make the bedroom comfortable, fluff your pillows, turn down the covers. Play some light meditative music if you'd like. Close the door.

4 - Now – go get ready for bed.

5 - When you re-enter the room, take a deep breath. It should be very calming with the candle, incense, and music. You are wooing yourself to sleep.

6 - Sometimes I take a moment, sit on the bed and rub shea butter or some kind of smelling good (lavender is good) lotion onto my feet. I give myself a foot massage and say, “Thank you feet for getting me where I need to go. I appreciate you.”

7 - Recite 3 things you are grateful for. (Practice gratitude.) Blow out the candle.

8 - Take a few deep breaths, clear your head. 

9 - Crawl into your comfy covers and let it all go. 

Sleep deeply and peacefully. 
Wake up feeling refreshed and energized!


*************
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 holistic 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.


The Ocean is Magic

I can breathe again!

Last weekend I went on my much needed ocean getaway,
and it was incredible. 

There is magic in the ocean. 

I can gaze into her beauty all day.
The ocean centers me.
I feel all is right with the world. 

I love watching the waves ebb and flow.
That's how life is - a constant ebb and flow.

Life is always moving - 
and sometimes you just gotta surrender to it. 

And flow.

Flow like water. 

The energy of water is truly healing on all levels. 

The ocean reminds me that there are powers greater than me. 

She reminds me to surrender, to trust, and to accept.



I feel cleansed, refreshed, and renewed. 

I let go and I feel free!

*************
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 holistic 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 feel the call of the sea...

I haven't been feeling quite myself lately.

These mountains suffocate me. 
I feel they surround me as barriers not letting me out of this town. I'm stuck in the middle of the mountains. 

Landlocked. 

My soul is crying to get out.
I need more. I need to breathe. I need water.

More specifically, I need the ocean.
The ocean calms my soul. 

When I'm at the beach, my spirit comes alive. 

I bask in all four of the elements.


I have the earthy grounding feel of the sand under my bare feet.

I have the airy breeze softly caressing my face and 
blowing through my hair. 

I have the fiery rays of the sun warming my skin. 

And I have water
the massive energy of the ocean and all of her power.
Cozymel November 2014
I'm super giddy right now because the car is loaded up.

It's time for a road trip to the ocean!

I'm going to renew my spirit, replenish my soul, 
and soak up every single moment of the ocean's power. 

I feel the call of the sea
and I'm on my way.

What part of nature soothes your soul? 

Where do you feel most balanced?

*************
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 holistic 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 - Stinging Nettle

*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!



Stinging Nettle


Latin Name: Urtica dioica

Plant Family: Urticaceae

Character: astringent, slight bitter taste, cool, dry

Constituents: vitamins A, B, C, histamine, formic acid, serotonin, tannins, potassium, iron, sodium, calcium, formic acid, mucilage, mineral salts

Actions: astringent, diuretic, nutritive, lowers blood sugar levels, promotes milk flow, stops bleeding, circulatory stimulant

Parts used: aerial parts, root

Harvest while flowering. Harvest the root in the fall.

Stinging Nettle has a high vitamin C content and it helps ensure that iron is properly absorbed by the body.

Nettle stings because of histamine and formic acid in the hairs that trigger the familiar allergic response.


Stinging Nettle Knowledge

Caesar's troops introduced the Roman nettle into Britain believing they needed to flail themselves with nettles to keep warm.

A standard folk remedy for arthritis and rheumatism is urtication, beating with nettles.

Nettle root is traditionally used to treat hair loss and dandruff.

Drink the infusion as a tonic and for allergies. It's super yummy.

As far as drinking nettle, you can also make nettle lemonade and even nettle beer.

Use the tincture for arthritic conditions, heavy uterine bleeding, and skin issues.

Make a compress by soaking a pad in the tincture and apply to painful arthritic joints, sprains, tendinitis, gout, and sciatica.

Apply the nettle ointment to hemorrhoids.

The wash is good to apply to insect bites, burns, and wounds.

The powdered leaves can be used as an herbal snuff for nosebleeds.


Eating Nettle?

Yup. I like to throw stinging nettle in a stir fry of mushrooms and garlic. Once cooked down, it loses its sting, so don't worry about hurting your tongue and throat. Nettle is also very mineral rich, I love to add it in bone broths and soups. Nettle also makes a yummy addition to lasagnas and pesto.



Many herbalists tap in to the spiritual and 
emotional properties of plants. 
The spirit of the plant is just as important as 
the physical part of the plant. 
For true health is whole, and 
wholeness encompasses all, 
spirit and matter.

"Stinging Nettle" by Liselotte Eriksson

Spiritual & Emotional Properties of Nettle

  • Energetically the action of Stinging Nettle is deep.
  • The nettle plant helps to heal the energy around bitterness and scorn.
  • Stinging Nettle is a great elixir to ease any type of emotional pain experienced in the present.
  • It helps bring one out of a state of selfishness.
  • Nettle helps with possessive, obsessive, and controlling people.
  • Stinging Nettle can bring about a change of heart in a person.

Nettles Plant Spirit Prayer
from "Plant Spirit Journey" by Laura Silvana

"O loving kindness, drench the fires of our bitterness and scorn. Weep not, for the ills of the human heart can only be appeased by your unbounded, gracious love."

Nettle is excellent for grounding and aligns your source of power with that of Divine Right.

*************
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 holistic 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.

The Magick Muse Chakra Series - Chakra Meditation

A Chakra Meditation for You
Image Credit
Now that we've had an overview of your chakras, 
it is time to combine that knowledge for 
a simple chakra meditation.

This exercise will allow you to tune in and tune up 
those chakras!

What do you need to get started?

You need a quiet space, a comfortable position, a receptive attitude, and focused attention. 

Create your ambiance.
Will you be using essential oils? 
Will you be listening to soothing music?

Once you and your atmosphere are settled...


Sit in your quiet space in a comfortable position.

Close your eyes.

Disregard everyday thoughts.

Relax your muscles.

Take a deep breath in, slowly breathe out.

Let go of your thoughts.


Bring your focus to your root chakra.

Visualize the bright red circle at the seat of 
your physical existence.

See it bringing energy up from the earth, through your feet, 
into your legs, 
and right into your root chakra.

Feel like a tree.

Grounded.

Say the sound oo as in the word loot.

Repeat oo as many times as you feel you need.


Take a deep breath.

Move up to your second chakra, your sacral.

See the vibrant orange gently circling and expanding.

Breathe into your sacral chakra.

Know that you are worthy of life's pleasures.

Say the sound oh as in the word mow.

Repeat oh as many times as you feel you need.


Breathe deeply.

Move up to the third chakra, your solar plexus.

This is your power center, circling a bright yellow.

Watch it gently circling and expanding.

Tap into your personal power.

Say the sound aw as in the word door.

Repeat aw as many times as you feel you need.


Another deep breath.

Now we move up into the center of your chest 
for the heart chakra.

Breathe into your heart, seeing a beautiful green color.

Feel your heart chakra expand with love.

Connect with compassion and unconditional love.

It circles and swirls and is full of pure love.

Say the sound ay as in the word hay.

Repeat ay as many times as you feel you need.


Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe into your throat chakra, 
right in the center of your throat.

See a beautiful cobalt blue color circling.

Open your throat chakra.

Visualize yourself journaling, singing, and 
letting your creative self soar.

Say the sound eh as in the word feather.

Repeat eh as many times as you feel you need.



Another deep breath.

Now we move up into our sixth sense, the third eye.

Visualize the color violet, circling and cycling gently.
(To see the artist and purchase this mandala click here.)

Sense beyond, allow your intution to strengthen.

Listen to your inner voice.

Say the sound ih as in the word in.

Repeat ih as many times as you feel you need.


Breathe.

Move up through the top of your head, the crown.

See the white light of the seat of your connection to the divine.

Open your crown to Spirit.
Allow the universe to bring you energy 
filling you with pure goodness.

Say the sound ee as in the word bee.

Repeat ee as many times as you feel you need.

When finished, take a few more deep breaths and ground.



Open your eyes slowly.

Take a few more breaths.

Greet the world with a renewed - refreshed self!

*************
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 holistic 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.