Y is for Yemaya - Pagan Blog Project

Yemaya ~ Surrender 

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

From the Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinksy

Come with your cares
come with your woes
come when life is joyful
come when life weighs you down
come when you take on too much
come when you are spread too thin
come when you are danced out
come when you seek renewal
all I ask when you come
is that you surrender to me
mother ocean
my watery womb waits to hold you
nurture you
birth you anew
when you let go and give over all to me

Yemaya swims into your life with the message of surrender.

Are you carrying more than you can handle comfortably?

Do you think you must do it all by yourself?

Surrender doesn't mean giving up, rather you are giving over, 
asking for assistance so you can do what you want to do.

Wholeness is nurtured when you realize the only way
through some situations is to surrender
and open to something greater.

The act of surrendering is one of opening and trust.
*************
Wow. Thank you Yemaya.
This has been my biggest lesson lately.
The act of surrender.
Not giving up, but giving in.
Trusting in Divine Power.
Letting go.
Surrendering.

I let go. I trust. I surrender. 

*************
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 50 of the letter Y.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 50 - Y

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

The Magick Muse

 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.

U is for Uzume - Pagan Blog Project

Uzume

From The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky
Illustrated by Hrana Janto

~Laughter~

Before the Rock Cave of Heaven
where Amaterasu Omi Kami, the Sun Goddess
had hidden her radiant face
where all the assembled Gods and Goddesses had tried
and failed
to lure her out
I stepped up to the Cave
with utmost seriousness
with grave determination
with proper decorum and a lofty mien
and with a bump and a bump and a bump bump bump bump
lifted my kimono and revealed myself in ways
that caused the mouths of the exalted ones
to water and fall open
Then I played puppet with my labia
and paid myself a little lip service
I heaved my breast over one shoulder
then the other over the other
and landed on my ass
with a bump and a bump and a bump bump bump bump
amidst the explosions of laughter and merriment
of the esteemed crowd
With breasts tied in a knot
my legs spread like a welcome mat
I called in the Spirits
and offered them my body...
but they refused to take it
The crowd howled and laughed as I continued my dance
till Amaterasu Omi Kami couldn't stand it any longer
and rushed out to see what was what
And thus did laughter
win the Sun Goddess from her dark cave
and bring light and warmth back into the world
*************
Uzume is my kind of woman!
Bawdy dancing and letting it all hang out.

YES!

Uzume dances her free and fun self into our lives 
reminding us to
LAUGH.

Yes, laugh.
Laughter really is the best medicine.

Laughter helps us through difficult times.
It relaxes us. It makes us smile.
It increases our endorphins.
We feel better when we laugh.

No matter what you are going through, find the humor in it.
Laugh and see the humor in all of life's challenges.
*************
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 U.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 2 - U

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

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

The Magick Muse

 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.

S is for Sheila Na Gig - Pagan Blog Project

Sheila Na Gig

Goddess Oracle 
By Amy Sophia Marashinsky
Illustrated by Hrana Janto

Opening

I flash my vulva for all to see
I stretch it wide
the gateway that all comes through
the passageway to life
I say come through my doorway
open yourself to what is 
if you have something important
show it
so everyone can see
I am the opening to this world
the scared and the silly
the wild and the wooly
the bold and the brazen
I am the Hag
opened by so many turnings
broken down
broken in
broken through
I am the portal to Life
and I say
Open Up!

*************
Sheila Na Gig is the ancient Irish Goddess of birth and death.
Honoring the sacred power of women's genitalia, they used sculptures for protection.
Would you believe that her image adorned church doorways?
Yup. 
Sheila Na Gig holding open her yoni for the world to see.
That is until she was smashed or torn down by the offended.
Sigh. It's always the offended that ruins a good time.

*************
"Sheila Na Gig grins at you provocatively and invites you to join her in opening. Now is the time to open to new experiences, people, places, and things.

Now is the time to begin new projects, forge new directions, venture out boldly. 
The Universe invites you to come out and play.
Perhaps you've had to contract your energy to deal with a wounding, a grieving, an ending.
Or you haven't felt it was safe to open up.
You may have needed a time of seclusion, sorting out, and focusing inward.
Sheila Na Gig is here to remind you that a period of contraction is followed by expansion and opening.
It is time to nurture wholeness by integrating what the stretching, expanding, and opening will bring."

*************
Enjoy PJ Harvey's "Sheela-na-gig"

*************
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 38 of the letter S.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 38 - S

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,

~Amy

The Magick Muse

 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.

H is for Honoring - Pagan Blog Project

I've realized lately that I'm 
continually fighting my natural rhythms.

It's true.

My routine and life is 
closely tied to my day job.

It is exhausting.

Everything I do is natural, except for my day job.
It comes with absolutely no flexibility. 

I took off yesterday and today from work
so I could focus on my coaching business.

It's been incredible.

I'm getting so much accomplished and 
opportunities are opening up.

All by honoring my natural rhythms.

It's amazing how when you surrender to the flow, 
good things happen with ease

I'm able to listen even more clearly to my inner muse, 
my authentic self.

My favorite goddess for honoring your own personal flow 
is Morgan le Faye.

Morgan Le Faye

Goddess Oracle 

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

When I dance with Life
I dance my own rhythm
I keep my own time
My soul's tides are aligned
and flow
with my beat: my own unique expression
By honoring myself
I honor all
When you dance with Life
what's your rhythm
Is it quick or slow
lively or liturgical
repetitious or ever-changing
Do you let the tempo serve you
or unnerve you
soothe you
or seethe you
mettle you
or unsettle you
Do you know?

Morgan le Faye is a triple goddess of death and rebirth 
in the Celtic lore.
She appears as the beautiful young maiden,
the powerful creator/mother,
or the death-giving crone.

Do you know your personal rhythms?

Morgan le Faye dances into your life with her magic
to invite you to discover and honor your natural flow.

How well do you know yourself?

Do you know the best times for you to
sleep, eat, exercise, work, be creative, make love, etc?

Or are you submerged into someone's else's rhythms?

It is vital for you to live according to your own personal rhythms!

Honoring and flowing with your own rhythm 
brings you greater energy because 
you are no longer suppressing what is natural to you.

Morgan le Faye says vitality, health, and wholeness are nurtured when you flow with your own unique beat rather than against it.

*************
YES! YES! YES!
Thank you Morgan le Faye.
How I look forward to the day that 
I keep my own time.
Soon, I'll transition out of my day job
and into my dream job.
I will then, honor my personal rhythms 24/7.

I cannot wait.

*************
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 15 of the letter H.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 15 - H

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

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

F is for Freya - Pagan Blog Project

Freya

Goddess Oracle 

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

Sexuality

There was a time

in the beginning

a time when there was nothing

a time when I danced

my dance of sexuality

the energy of creation

and with that dance

gave it to All as my gift

Sexuality brought union with me

with Goddess

with spiritual ecstasy

Sexuality healed and wholed

regenerated and invigorated

Sexuality wove you into the web of all being

life

for life lives to express itself

Whether it be new life

vitality

rites of pleasure

limitless possibility

whatever you choose

sexuality is life's expressive dance

and its greatest gift

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

The lusty goddess Freya comes from
the northern Europeans. 
Freya did not discriminate in 
her choice of lovers.
Oh no.
All Gods were fair game.
When Freya appeared draped in her feathered cloak and
wearing nothing but her magic amber necklace,
none could resist her.

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

Freya is here to assist you in honoring your sexuality.
It is time to connect with that vital, primal, spiritual, regenerating energy and express it!

It doesn't matter if you have a partner.

It's about being fully present in your body.

Freya is about allowing yourself to feel vibrant,
electric energy in your sex organs.
Use this energy to animate your being.

Forget about not having time.
Forget about not having a partner.
Forget about feeling uncomfortable.

Freya says that when you live your sexuality,
you open to the dynamic energy that flows 
through all creation.

Your path to wholeness needs to include all your parts
and your sexuality is an important piece of you.

*************
Yes! Yes! Yes!
What a fabulous goddess.
And what great timing.
I've been reading the book,
"Kinky Sex" by Jessica Howe.
It's just fantastic.
With Freya and the "Kinky Sex" book -
it's the perfect combo to 
get the sex organs humming with delight.

Want an exercise to help you 
feel beautiful in your own skin?
Find it here. 

Remember, you are beautiful and sexy!

*************
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 11 of the letter F.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 11 - F

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.

E is for Ecstasy - Pagan Blog Project

Eurynome

Eurynome illustrated by Hrana Janto 

Ecstasy

from The Goddess Oracle
by Amy Sophia Marashinsky
Illustrated by Hrana Janto

When I awakened and arose

out of swirling seething chaos

seeing no other way to express

the sheer delight

the wild exhilaration

the explosion of energy

I felt

I began to dance my exuberance

that feeling of floating on a sea

of rapturous joy

lost and transported

in the intensity 

of ecstasy

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

Eurynome separated the sky from the sea. She created the north wind by dancing on the waves. The north wind became lustful. Eurynome seized him in her hands and made him into the serpent Ophion.

Eurynome made love with Ophion and created the Universal egg out of which all creation spilled forth.

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

Eurynome is dancing into your life to tell you 
it is time for ECSTASY.

Ecstasy is here for you in all its 
fullness, exuberance, and rapture.

If there are parts of you that are wounded,

it may be difficult to find 
the deeply nourishing joyful place of ecstasy.

Heal your wounded parts.

Your wounded parts take up 
emotional space within you.

Heal those parts and you create space for ECSTASY.

Open yourself up to the dance of ecstasy.

Feel it.

Revel in it.

Eurynome says that when you make the decision 
to dance with ecstasy,

the universe presents the opportunity to 
facilitate that dance.

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

I declare I'm opening myself up to the dance of ecstasy.

Will you join me?


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

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 9 of the letter E.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 9 - E

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

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

The Magick Muse

 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.

C is for Coatlicue- Pagan Blog Project

Goddess Oracle 

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

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.

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.

Oracle of The Week~Goddess~Kali

Kali

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

Fear

I am the dance of death that is

behind all life

the ultimate horror

the ultimate ecstasy

I am existence

I am the dance of destruction that

will end this world

the timeless void

the formless devouring mouth

I am rebirth

Let me dance you to death

Let me dance you to life

Will you walk through your fears to dance with me?

Will you let me cut off your head

and drink your blood?

then will you cut off mine?

Will you face all the horror

all the pain

all the sorrow

and say "yes"?

I am all that you dread

all that terrifies

I am your fears

will you meet me?

**************************
What are you afraid of?

Are you facing your fears?

Kali is here to tell us that wholeness is nurtured 
when you claim the pieces of yourself 
that you've given over to fear.

Name and witness your fear.
This gives you power.

Wholeness is created when you learn to
acknowledge your fears and
walk though them.

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*

The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

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.

Oracle of the Week~Goddess~Sphinx

Sphinx

By Amy Sophia Marashinsky

Illustrated by Hrana Janto

Challenge

If I ask the question that provokes

will you stretch to find the answer

Will you take up the gauntlet flung boldly

and defiantly answer the call

Will you meet my challenge

with tingling in your blood

with your hair blowing electric in the wind

with all your being

knowing that every challenge

is an opportunity

every challenge

presents a gift

every challenge

is there to serve you

or not

It's your choice

The Sphinx from Greek mythology appears with 
a woman's head and breasts, the wings of an eagle, 
a dog's body, lion's paws, and the tail of a serpent.

The Sphinx will not let you pass until 
you respond to her challenge.

She asks, "How can you meet a challenge and 
prosper in all the aspects of your being?"

You can let yourself get torn down by challenge...

or you can take the challenge and 
use its energy to nurture yourself.

The Sphinx says the only way to wholeness 
on your path is to

meet your challenges face-to-face.

Ancient Wisdom by Selina Fenech

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.