On a Journey Back to Her Wings: Artist Date

Showing posts with label Artist Date. Show all posts

The Artist's Way Wrap Up

I first heard of "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron at a poetry reading at Malaprop's in Asheville, NC.

It was August, 2008.

I was in Asheville for a week pretending I lived there.

I wanted to make sure my big move to the mountains

was the right move.

It was.

I moved to Asheville May 1, 2009.

But I never got around to checking out that book.

Until last year at this time.

A fellow flyer mentioned getting an online book club going for "The Artist's Way". There are 12 chapters in the book.

We would take a year and do a chapter a month.

BRILLIANT!

I went to Mr. K's - Asheville's amazing used bookstore and found a hardback copy with no cover. I painted it and made it my own.

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

This book has truly enriched my life.

The main two components to Julia's artist way formula are the morning pages and the artist dates.

Morning Pages

From Julia Cameron...

"Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*–they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow."

The morning pages.

I feel so much more alive since I started doing morning pages.

I am able to think much more clearly in the mornings.

I feel more balanced, more organized, more together.

Past feelings and emotions come to the surface

and I deal with them.

I have more vivid dreams

and I remember them more clearly.

I have been practicing the morning pages all year and I have a feeling this is a habit that may never go away.

Seriously, how did I live my life without them?

Watch her informative video...

Click here.

Artist Dates

The 2nd key ingredient in being successful

with The Artist's Way are Artist Dates.

What is an artist date?

Well, basically anything you want to do

that you don't normally do...and you do it alone.

All alone. Singular. By yourself. If it sounds fun...go do it.

Now...I've been dating myself for years.
I take myself out on somewhat of a regular basis.

At first I felt my artist dates needed to be extra artsy.

Woolworth Walk, Asheville, NC

Over the year, I discovered I've always been doing artist dates.
I love to take myself to dinner on a
Friday night after the work week.
I love journaling in pubs.
I love doing stuff on my own.

Now, I give it a name.

Life is meant to be an artist date.
~Julia Cameron

Both of these activities are integrated in who I am.

They are part of my routine, part of my life.

And let me tell you this is no regular book,

or even a regular self-help book,

this book is a movement!

This book has inspired me deeply and has
had a profound impact on
my creativity, dreams and my living my life to the fullest.

I am living The Artist Way life.

Thank you Julia Cameron for your brilliance!

Have you experienced "The Artist's Way"?
Tell me about it.

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.

September Artist Date

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

I had such a fantastic August artist date that

I just simply could not wait for my September date.

What is an artist date?

Well, basically anything you want to do

that you don't normally do...and you do it alone.

All alone. Singular. By yourself. If it sounds fun...go do it.

Now...I've been dating myself for years.

I take myself out on somewhat of a regular basis.

So I feel my artist dates need to be extra artsy.

I try to do one extra special day for me a month.

A friend of mine told me about an art opening
this past Friday night.
The show sounded unique
plus it was happening in downtown Asheville.

Perfect.

I decided to just wander around Biltmore Avenue/Broadway Avenue until it's time for the show.

I started at Indo, one of my fav hippie joints and

stocked up on my magical incense.

Escential Incense at Indo, Asheville NC

Indo is the only store in Asheville I've found that sells Escential Incense. I absolutely love this brand. I've never been disappointed. They have a broad selection and they all smell incredible.

I especially love Mystic Forest.

It always grounds me.

(I need a lot of grounding.)

My stomach started to rumble - and

I've been craving sushi like mad,

so I treated myself to Wasabi.

Wasabi - Asheville, NC

Such an excellent restaurant.

Their sushi makes me moan every single time.

Volcano Roll - Wasabi - Asheville, NC

After dinner I continued my wandering around Broadway.

I haven't really walked it for quite some time.

I stumbled upon a place called Chocolate Gems.

Chocolate Gems - Asheville, NC

Their gelato was so orgasmic.

I thought I moaned eating sushi, but damn.

Good stuff.

Chocolate Gems - Asheville, NC

After all that goodness it was time for the art exhibit.

The Satellite Gallery - Asheville, NC

It was strange and unusual.

Which I normally flock to strange and unusual...

Julie Armbruster

However, it just wasn't my flavor.

There were some pretty creepy pieces.

Man faces with mustaches inside wooden logs.

Eye balls in the bushes.

An owl smoking a cigarette.

My friend loves her work and I could tell lots of folks there were digging the pieces on display.

I find art is just like people. Every single one is unique. You connect with certain ones. You don't connect with others.

And that is okay.

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.

My August Artist Date

Blog 29 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days

Oh, The Artist Date - part of The Artist's Way

and Julia Cameron's uber brilliance.

What is an artist date?

Well, basically anything you want to do

that you don't normally do...and you do it alone.

All alone. Singular. By yourself. If it sounds fun...go do it.

Now...I've been dating myself for years.

I take myself out on somewhat of a regular basis.

So I feel my artist dates need to be extra artsy.
I try to do one extra special day for me a month.

So what to do in August?

Well, a lovely lady that works down the hall from me at work knows that I create jewelry. One day Amanda told me all about this beading loom she has and never uses.
She offered to teach me how to use it.

I ventured over to her house this past Saturday morning.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
The loom is spectacular, created by a Cherokee woman -
and now it's all mine.

Bead Loom created by a Cherokee lady named Susan

My fingers learning the loom.

I was gifted the loom plus a box of beads plus

I got a kick-ass beading lesson.

What an amazing gift.

I am so honored.

Outside her creation room,

she has a butterfly bush that

I had to play at before I took off.

Butterfly!

Butterfly Goodness

More Butterfly Goodness

There were so many gorgeous butterflies!

I was in complete awe.

As we both stood there in butterfly heaven,

a red-tailed hawk flew over our heads.

Red-tailed Hawk

Could the day get any better?

Actually...it could.

I ventured over to Black Mountain, NC.

I work in Black Mountain,

but I don't get to play in Black Mountain.

My first stop was Veranda Cafe for lunch.

I chose Veranda because I've recently become acquainted with the amazing-awesome Palette

that owns the joint with her husband.

If I like you, I support you.

So - I had to check out her restaurant.

The view alone was spectacular.

Veranda, Black Mountain, NC

And the menu -

The Veranda's Saturday Specials

and that's just the specials.

I had to go for the bar-b-que plate and holy -

I'm so glad that I did.

I had to have the Bar-B-Que plate.

The pulled pork was dripping with yellow bbq sauce that just exploded goodness in my mouth.

The corn on the cob was just as sweet and juicy as

my grandpa's corn I loved so much as a child.

Even those baked beans were killer -

and I'm not a fan of baked beans.

I ate ALL of them.

Top it off with tasty coleslaw and man,

I was in a happy food coma.

I walked off my coma frolicking about

the different unique shops in Black Mountain.

And ended up here -

The Dripolator, Black Mountain, NC

I absolutely love to hang out in coffeehouses.

I took my laptop with me, sipped my drink,

people watched, and blogged.

Sucking down my Heath Bar Frappe

It was a lovely, lovely day.

Pretty Day

I totally recommend Artist's Dates to everyone.

It's a great opportunity to reconnect with yourself.

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.

April Artist Date

April was a month of moving/packing/unpacking/settling.

It's really all I could focus on.

The month escaped me and all of a sudden I realized I hadn't taken myself out on my monthly artist date.

As serendipity would have it, a fellow flying sister was painting live, just an hour from where I live.

How freakin' cool?

It was very, very cool.

I hopped in the car and drove to The Coffee Bar in Spartanburg, SC to watch Sarah Rowan Dahl live paint.

Flying sisters meet...Sarah Rowan Dahl and I.

I love her tie!

She has such style.

Absolutely in love with her red boots.

At some point Sarah needed a bathroom break and

handed the paintbrush to me!

It was an honor and truly inspiring painting with a live band...

I loved it.

Here we are with the finished painting.

It was a fabulous night of excellent coffee,

good music, amazing painting,

and there was a bookstore next door.

Perfect.

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

My March Artist Date~Asheville Wholistic Integrative Fair

My March Artist Date

I took myself to the Asheville Wholistic Integrative Fair.

Holy woo woo Batman, it was awesome.

Seriously, so much better than I expected.

I really thought I would be there for about an hour...see who and what was there...all research and brainstorming for my life coach biz...maybe I would meet some cool folks.

Well, I was there for about 3 hours.

I made some fantastic connections.

I even have a coffee date lined up.

So many incredible people...tons of healers...

people with the same innate desire I have to help others.

There were smiles, supportive words, compliments,

hugs and connections made.

I met Shirley Michl of Intentional Wellness.

She is an Integrative Health Coach and she is amazing.

Shirley Michl, IHC, CPCC

It was such pleasure connecting with
Rebecca of Spirited Connections
and Dawn of Healing Thyme Services.

Rebecca, me, and Dawn

Plus I found the BEST BOOK EVER

to get me really going with my life coaching biz.

"Love, Light & Business" by Bonnie Willow.

Excellent book.

Since I've been back from my life coaching certification,

I have been overwhelmed with

creative business books and e-courses.

All kinds of helpful information coming right at me...

but this book tops them all.

I'm a healer and this book is

exactly what I need for my planning and plotting.

I am spinning with ideas and creativity.

I'm so ready to create my life coach biz plan.

There is so much I want to do!

Asheville Wholistic Integrative Fair

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

My February Artist Date~Asheville Mardi Gras Parade

STOP! In the name of Mardi Gras!

I couldn't figure out what to do for my

February Artist Date.

January, I roamed around downtown Asheville and had a good time at some galleries. (You can read about it here.)

I wanted to do something different this month...so I volunteered

to be in the Asheville Mardi Gras parade.

SO MUCH FUN!

I love to dress up.

I love costumes.

The day before the parade, I still wasn't sure what I was going to wear. Fortunately, I met an awesome-creative woman named Dawn at the Local Artist Craft Show I was vending at.

Dawn makes tutus!

Dawn: "Do you want to wear a tutu?"

Me: "Well, yes I do."