Be Yourself

Do you follow your own bliss?

Do you follow your intuition?

I hope you do. 

My wish is for everyone to live their joy.

My wish is for everyone to listen to their heart's yearnings
and answer the call.

Be brave. Be authentic. Be you. 

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.

L is for a Love Limerick-Pagan Blog Project

A Personal Romantic Limerick

Love.
I've always felt love for my friends, 
and love for my family.

Romantic love took a lot longer in my life.
I worked on my heart chakra for years.

When I met Chris, my heart chakra exploded into pure joy.

I love him dearly.

If you want to read the story of how we met
click here.

For the letter "L", I am sharing
a love limerick Chris gave me a couple of years ago.

He had the Asheville Limerick Lord 
write it for me.

He said the Limerick Lord asked a few questions about me
and this is what he came up with. 

It's so perfect and makes my heart expand even bigger. 

My uber-organized girl of nature

sometimes a faiere, sometimes a dictator

storm troopers and nettles

our love ever gentle

I'm your Han Solo and you my slave Leah.

-Asheville Limerick Lord

Snickers & giggles & smiles! I just love it!

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

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 23 of the letter L.
The Pagan Blog Project Week 23 - L

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.

Live Life Fabulously

How are you living your life?

Are you living fabulously?

If you aren't, 

what can you do to make your life more fab?

I challenge you to live your life fabulously.

Go ahead, do it.

What's stopping you?

Photo from Fabulous Flowers

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.

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.

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

Pumpkin Spice Latte, A Love Letter

Dear Pumpkin Spice Latte, 

You may not remember me, but I always remember you. Especially, the first sip of you every year. That first sip fills me with a warm cozy feeling. Drinking you tells me the heat of the summer is finally coming to an end. Tasting your pumpkin goodness I know that my favorite season is just around the corner. With you comes fall. With you comes Halloween. With you comes costumes, hoodies, and jack-o-lanterns. 

Others try to be like you, but they just aren't the same. I admit it, I tried other lattes that claim to be pumpkin spice. I kind of felt like I was cheating, but I wanted to support local and all that jazz. I found that other pumpkin lattes cost the same, but don't taste the same.

There can be only one...and it's you, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. You are autumn goodness in a cup. 

Thank you for making my favorite season complete.

Much love, 
~Amy
The Magick Muse 

I'm dreaming of a weekend alone.

http://jarederickson.com/colin-dunn-fortress-of-solitude/

I need some time.

I need some time for me, for my new biz, need to get started...

I haven't been able to catch up since we moved. 

We moved. 

Then there was that burlesque show I vended at that was a complete disappointment. 

Then a wedding weekend. 

Then another wedding weekend.

Ahhhhhhhhh...

Seeking solitude to get back on track.

This weekend sounds like a good time to be a hermit. 

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

Blast from the Past

This morning I was loving on my coffee and 

going through my emails. 

One of my best friends from Florida sent me an email. 

It was one of those questionnaires that used to float around the internet...do you remember those? 

Like would you rather drink coffee or tea? 

Cake or ice cream? Where would you go on vacation? Etc.

Well...it was my questionnaire from October 2004...

about 8 1/2 years ago...some things never change...

it really made me giggle today.

So, here it is. I felt like sharing.

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

From ariddle@golfchannel.com

October 25, 2004 11:01am

1. If you could build a 2nd house where would it be? 

Asheville, NC    (ha, living here now.)

2. What's your favorite article of clothing? sweaters

3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? hmm...i don't have a fav...i look at the hair, then the butt, then i start taking in everything

4. The last CD you bought? PJ Harvey Uh huh Her  (I was just listening to this the other day.)

5. Least favorite place to be? - in a drunken sweaty crowd  (still so true)

6. What is your favorite place for a massage? between my legs (um...still so true...ha...ha..)

7. What is most important, strong in mind or strong in body? - Mind

8. What time do you wake up in the morning? - Mon-Fri 7:20am...Sat-Sun 9amish-noonish

9. What's your favorite kitchen appliance? george foreman grill

10. What makes you really angry? - hypocrites

11.If you could play an instrument, what would it be? - Drums

12. Car or SUV? - car

13. Do you believe in afterlife? - Yep

14. Favorite children's book? - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

15. What is your favorite season? - Fall

16. If you could have one super power what would it be? - when I blink people would disappear...or i would love to fly...or shoot fire out my eyes...i'm not sure (I'd take all 3 of those powers still.)

17. If you have a tattoo, what is it? - a? try 3...one on my right upper leg-sun, lower back-moon, left inner wrist-triquetra (I now have 6 tats!)

18. Can you juggle? -No.

19. Who is the one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? - Troy  (reconnected through Facebook, don't you love the internet?)

20. What's your favorite day? - Sunday

21. What's in the trunk of your car? - lawn chair

22. Which do you prefer sushi or hamburger? - Hamburger.

23. From the people you will email this to, who's most likely to respond first????
Probably Maria, saying "it's about damn time, I sent u that a month ago."

24. Who is the least likely to respond? Jenny...she is always busy.

25. Who did you receive this from? - see #23

26. What is your favorite flower? - sunflower

27. What is your favorite meal? - Yellow chicken curry

28. What is your favorite candle scent? - sandalwood

29. What is your favorite store in the mall? - Hot Topic...or the recently discovered TORRID...the hot topic for fat grrrls. :) 

So many of these are still true after 8 1/2 years!

I love fall, sunflowers, hamburgers, and Sundays.

I don't ever go to the mall though.

Thanks Mia for making me giggle today.

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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

Me & Dad December 1978

This Week in

The Spirit Dancer

Reading: Not much reading going on right now...

Listening to: "Django Unchained" soundtrack 

Watching: Chris and I ventured to see "Django Unchained" on my birthday. Best movie I have seen for quite sometime. I really haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Brilliant film. I also discovered, "Lost Girl" on Netflix...newest addiction. A show about a succubus? Oh yes. 

Thinking about: The Local Artist Craft Show this Saturday! and I'm going to be in the Mardi Gras parade on Sunday. I got things to do and outfits to prepare.

Learning: To put up boundaries when I am forced to be around a particular person that I find harmful to my soul and my growth. 

Doing: Creating Valentine's Day greeting cards, making candles, figuring out what to wear for the Mardi Gras parade. 

Pet Peeves: passive-aggressive-paranoid-workaholics

Happy Thoughts: Creating, writing, friends, my flying sistas, and feeling the manifestation of dreams. 

Best Quote: "The minute we become able to create imperfectly, we become able to create. It is good to "bust" ourselves on our addiction to perfectionism." ~Julia Cameron 

Who I Admire: I'm still in awe right now of Julia Cameron. I sing her praises daily. She is absolutely brilliant.

Looking forward to: The Local Artist Craft Show on Saturday and The Mardi Gras parade on Sunday. Good times!

and today is my dad's birthday.

So many awesome Aquarians!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 

 ~Amy 

 The Spirit Dancer

Thank you for stopping by.

Hello beautiful souls.

Today I just want to say THANK YOU.

Thank you for reading my blog. Thanks for stopping by. 

Thanks for leaving comments.

I wanted a blog for so very long. 

In December of 2010, my awesome friend Kim helped me set it up...however I just couldn't seem to "start" it. 

At the time I was writing a blog for the company I was working for and that job received all my creative juices. 

I left that job in September of 2011 and started paying more attention to my blog.

In January of 2012 I made a commitment of 3-5 blogs a week...

I'm happy to say I pulled it off..

and I'm continuing.

It still needs some work, but it's improving all the time.

Last January "On a Journey Back to Her Wings" 

received 436 pageviews. 

This January, 2013 my blog received 2,634. 

Now, that's growth! 

Sure I realize it's not 10,000 hits a day...

but you have to start somewhere.

This makes me very happy.

I am going to strive to keep bettering my blog.

Thank you for joining me in this journey.

Amy The Spirit Dancer

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

What's with the January Haters?

What is up with the January haters?

When did January become an evil evil month?

In the last couple of weeks I started to notice 
a January negative vibe...
and I don't get it.

People are complaining about January...
"I'm cold"
"I'm sick"
"You mean I should get up and do something? 
Can't I still have the laziness of December?"

I LOVE January. I really really do.

I fall in love with new beginnings and a clean slate. 

It's a do-over, a fresh start.

I love the plotting and planning of what I will accomplish this year. I love thinking about what could make my life better, 
what can I do to make myself a better human being?

I love the quiet. I love the calmness.

It's fun and exciting finding a new rhythm to my life....
adding new adventures, new paths, new classes, new things to balance out my life.

Sure, it's darker outside, more bleak, more rain, 
maybe even snow and sleet...
we may have cold days where it seems you forgot to get dressed because the wind whips right through that skirt and striped socks and chills one deep down to the bone.

But, it doesn't last.

Out of the darkness there is light.

I embrace the darkness. 
I take advantage of this quiet time of reflection. 
I take advantage of having more alone time right now.

I relish in the quiet.

...and I keep my immune system up through the winter months. 
My secret is elderberry syrup.
I'm a huge fan of elderberry syrup and 
whenever folks start talking about sickness...
I start taking drops of it daily.
It truly helps.
I made a batch myself and I love it. 
You can check it out here. 

Maybe I also enjoy January 'cause it's my birthday month.

I make a rule to never ever work on my birthday. 
It's my day to celebrate me.
This year I had a fabulous day going to the movies and checking out a couple of Asheville breweries with my boyfriend.

New beginnings, reflection, and birthday fun.
I still love January even though it has a bad reputation.


Rejoice January Haters...today is the last day.
Tomorrow we can all move into February.

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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

Hmm...what am I wishing for? 

This Week in

The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron...reading chapter 2 in preparation for February. I love this book club I'm in. We are taking 1 chapter per month. It's working out great. 

Listening to: Various...The White Stripes, Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Muse, Air, The Black Keys, The Fratellis

Watching: Almost done with "Smallville" season 5..."Supernatural" was finally really enjoyable this past week...total nerd episode...loved it. 

Thinking about: Painting, my birthday, my life coaching trip coming up...

Learning: I need female support and companionship. 

Doing: The usual. Blogging, creating, chatting, thinking, doing.

Pet Peeves: Over emotional-long-poor me-exhausting blogs. 

Happy Thoughts: Chocolate red velvet cake. 

Best Quote: "Reach inside your soul today, grab your fairy dust and sprinkle it around the world." ~Kellie Kuecha 

Who I Admire: Julia Cameron. She is a freakin' genius. Her book is changing my life. Morning pages are the best therapy I've ever encountered. I am happily addicted to my morning pages. It is releasing all the negativity that has been stored inside. Stuff I thought was long gone! Morning pages has a way of bringing out all the gunk and junk and allowing release. I feel so much more "together"...more balanced...more alive. Thank you Julia Cameron. You are truly amazing. 

Looking forward to: My birthday tomorrow...I'm not working...thinking of taking in Tarantino's latest flick and going to some breweries. 

...and today is my mom's birthday.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Wish we were celebrating our Birthdays together!

My Mom-Spanish Mill Florida-2008

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 

 ~Amy 

 The Spirit Dancer

My Personal Transformation Bracelet

Transformation

Most of you know I have some big things going on in my life right now...and I chose a "word for the year". 

Just one word...but it's a long big one. 

TRANSFORMATION 

I saw in my Fly Sista group some of them getting necklaces 

with their personal word. 

Well, I wear a different necklace almost every day depending on my mood...something special I have created just for me. 

So, I couldn't add another necklace...I decided I needed a bracelet. 

I looked at my supply and 

didn't have all the letters for "transformation". 

I went to three different craft stores and 

just couldn't find what I envisioned. 

Finally, I hopped on the internet and found some cool black and white letter beads on Fire Mountain Gems.

I LOVE these beads. 

I can wear them every single day 

and it will match whatever I'm wearing.

Plus when I look down when I'm typing, writing, driving, etc...

I see my word proudly displayed across my wrist.

I added four round wood beads. 

Four, representing the four elements. 

I used hematite beads in between to keep me 

grounded on my 2013 journey. 

And the cherry on top of my sundae...a fairy!

She was originally on a necklace I created for me, but she didn't seem right on it...I had been saving her for something...something special...and now I figured out where she belonged.

On the back of her it has the words, "forget me not". 

I'm wearing this bracelet every day. 

I love it, it's such an 

incredible reminder of what is in store for me. 

It's a reminder of what we manifest can come to fruition. 

If any of you would like your word created into a bracelet, 

let me know! I would love to make you one. 

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

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

This Week in

The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness 

Listening to: Radiohead, Muse, Air

Watching: "Smallville" 

Thinking about: paint, wax, beads, all things crafty

Learning: Techniques in painting using dishwashing soap, salt, etc.

Doing: Working on various crafty projects.

Pet Peeves: Haters. 

Happy Thoughts: Life is good. 

Best Quote: "I want to be a raging fire." ~Debi Minter

Looking forward to: My birthday January 29. I am a true Aquarian! 

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 

 ~Amy 

 The Spirit Dancer

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

This Week in

The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness

Listening to: A playlist of Joan Jett, Sheryl Crow, PJ Harvey, and other strong females. 

Watching: "She-Ra" I remember catching some She-Ra when I was a kid...but watching it now...I am addicted! She is a fabulous role model for girls. I love her...her and her horse, Spirit. I also just started the fifth season of "Smallville". I heart Lois. 

Thinking about: Artsy things and my Life Coach campaign. I'm really excited Indiegogo extended the deadline a week. $437 left to go. It can happen! I will be a successful Life Coach this year. 

Learning: Learning about water color paints...I think I like acrylic better. 

Doing: Handwashing underwear...have I mentioned how happy I will be when Chris and I move to a bigger place and I get my washer/dryer out of storage?

Pet Peeves: The botchery of the English language.

Happy Thoughts: Sleep, cuddling, movie time, coffee, personal connections. 

Best Quote: "I am the villain of the story." ~Lex Luthor 

Looking forward to: I'm really looking forward to my Life Coach training in February. They gave me homework! 
(I'm such a nerd.)

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 

 ~Amy 

 The Spirit Dancer

This Week in The Spirit Dancer

This Week in

The Spirit Dancer

Reading: "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron and "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness. I am in need of a fiction book. Most of the books I read are all about soul searching, being creative, learning this, learning that...I need a book I can disappear in. 

Listening to: Radiohead, Muse, Air

Watching: "Barbarella"...what a fantastic sci-fi sexy funny movie from 1968. I just watched it for the 2nd time. Jane Fonda nailed it...and you can take that however you want! 

Thinking about: Getting back into routine...wondering how my book club and painting class will be incorporated into my life...adding the gym back in there...blogging...just sorting out all I want to do. 

Learning: How to draw a Fairy Art Mother in my Life Book 2013 class. I haven't drawn since 3rd grade! 

Doing: Painting, writing, went on my Artist Date, feeling sparks of energy for implementing 2013. 

Pet Peeves: Loud neighbors. I never want to have neighbors again. Seriously! 

Happy Thoughts: My Flying Sisters, my sexy loving boyfriend, goals, and dreams...

Best Quote: "Let me adjust my tongue box." ~Barbarella 

Looking forward to: My birthday is this month! 

Peace, Inspiration, & Love, 

 ~Amy 

 The Spirit Dancer