All About Amanda

 [This appeared on my Spark Page; I've updated with a few new favorites]

Daughter of the Goddess, Child of God

I want to learn to treat myself better: to nourish and cherish my body, which is a holy vessel; to manifest beauty, grace and abundance; to welcome the gifts and guidance of the Goddess.

[I wrote that when I first joined, long before I made noticeable progress or got involved with teams and Sharing the Spark. Yet it is still completely true. I wish to share more about the things which influence and inspire me, such as some of my favorite books, movies, songs, affirmations, writers, tools. So here goes, and I will continue to update the list.]

Affirmations: Louise Hay is my girl, and the illustrated gift edition (ISBN 1-56170-628-0) of You Can Heal Your Life is my primary reference work.

Calendars: Advice from Nature by YourTrueNature.com & Live Love Laugh: Happy Thoughts for Happy Hearts

Books:
* Fiction--The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling. Prisoner of Azkaban was my favorite up until the Deathly Hallows was released. The movies have been magnificently cast, though large quantities of material have been necessarily cut. Glad the last book's being filmed in 2 parts, as to do justice to this awesome culmination to such a marvelous feat of storytelling which is so exquisitely filled with magic and morality, beauty and bravery, and above all, that great mystery of which Lord Voldemort knows naught: Love.
--Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher
--Mercy Thompson series & Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
--The Others series by Anne Bishop
--Sigma series & most stand alones by James Rollins (a nice guy who writes great characters, intelligent thrillers filled with cutting-edge science, history, art & a bit of the supernatural)
--Magic Potion series by Heather Blake
--Psychic Eye series by Victoria Laurie
--Wishcraft series by Heather Blake
--China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert
--Darling Dahlias series by S W Albert
--Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series by Faith Hunter
--Yada Yada Prayer Group series by Naceta Jackson
--Enola Holmes juvenile mysteries by Nancy Springer
* Life Purpose--This Time I Dance! by Tama Kieves
* Organizing--Making Space, Clutter Free by Tracy McCubbin
--Organizing From the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
--One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds
* Picture Book--Bad Kitty, an absolutely hilarious alphabet book by Mark Bruel; also his Poor Puppy & new Christmas book (starring Bad Kitty & costarring Poor Puppy)--which may make you laugh and cry.
* Self-Help--Body Knows the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
--Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra
--Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel
--Pleasure Prescription by Paul Pearsall
--Warrior Goddess Training by HeatherAsh Amara
--Growing Up Again by Clarke and Dawson
--Clutter Busting by Brooks Palmer
--Feng Shui Made Easy by William Spear
* Wicca, practical--A Woman's Book of Rituals & Celebrations by Barbara Ardinger
* Wicca, spiritual--The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan

CDs:
* Carry the Love--Living Love songs
* Freedom River by Jai Josefs
* Live on Earth by Krishna Das

Movies: The Harry Potter films have been grand, and excellently cast. They don't always have the depth and emotional richness of the novels, but have been an amazing accomplishment. In general, I'm especially fond of redemption stories (and wasn't that one of the more profound themes in the HP series?), and here are some of my favorite ones on film:
* A Christmas Carol (my favorite version is the George C Scott one, also Mr Magoo's)
* Groundhog Day
* Heart and Souls
* Overboard
* Renaissance Man
* Sister Act
A similar favorite theme is transformation, when a person (who may not have started out nasty) blossoms or becomes a better person:
* Just Like Heaven
* Bend It Like Beckham
* Galaxy Quest
* Last Holiday
* The Holiday (more Kate's story than Cameron's)
Miscellaneous movies:
* The Big Chill
* Calendar Girls (sort of a transformation tale)
* Disney animated musicals
* Fools Rush In
* I, Robot
* In and Out
* Jumanji (the new ones w/ D Johnson & J Black)
* Monsters Inc. (not University)
* Mulan (live action & animated)
* Runaway Bride
* Ruthless People
* Terminator and T2: Judgement Day
--T1 has one of the most romantic quotes ever: "I came across time for you, Sarah. I love you, I always have."
* Toy Story--all 4
* While You Were Sleeping
* Witness

Quotes:
* Albus Dumbledore (by way of JK Rowling):
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. (II:333)
It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! (IV:708)
Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real? (VII:723)
* Paul Pearsall in The Pleasure Prescription: It is better to eat beer and franks with cheer and thanks, than to eat bread and sprouts with dread and doubts.

Spiritual Tools: Motherpeace Tarot deck and book--I prefer the cross-cultural and matriarchal images, plus they are round!

TV Series (mostly ones with a spiritual theme; will later add favorite episodes; the list is alpha, not in order of preference or value--just easier to keep track!):
* 4400 (so sorry this went off the air so soon)
* Alien Nation
* Buffy, the Vampire Slayer [I've got the 7 seasons on DVD and several companion books]
--favorite episode: Once More with Feeling musical
* Castle
* Doll House (discovered on DVD after its run)
* Downton Abbey
* Drop Dead Diva
* Eli Stone (so sorry this went off the air so soon)
* Gilmore Girls (discovered on DVD after its run; I've got the 7 seasons on DVD)
--favorite scene Loreli's season 7 karaoke serenade which is one of the most romantic scenes on film)
* Joan of Arcadia
--favorite episode: Queen of the Zombies
* Leverage
* Lost
* Quantum Leap
* Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Yes, I liked the first 4 series, but couldn't get into Enterprise. Yet DS9 remains my favorite by far [I've got the 7 seasons on DVD and the Companion book], with the most complex story arcs, sprituality, and fascinating friendships)
--favorite serious episode: Duet (season 1)
--favorite comic episode: Take Me Out to the Holosuite (season 6)
* Star Trek: Discovery (I'm enjoying this greatly; love having a woman of color as the lead, and amazingly diverse cast, very cool crossovers from Original Series)

Member Since: 6/23/2009

Fitness Minutes: 285,203

My Goals:
To be stronger, slimmer, healthier and more energetic.

To encourage & learn from other positive people on this journey.

To balance the physical and the spiritual.

To create a beautiful, intentional and supportive environment.

My Program:
More consistent exercise--cardio, strength training, flexibility.

Tracking many kinds of goals to promote emotional, financial, spiritual health too!

Being active on my teams which are moving from Spark People to Discord, and connecting with dear friends.

Personal Information:
I grew up in Oakland, CA, and now live in the Seattle area. I've struggled with PTSD; journaling, meditation, affirmations & tapping (EFT) are helping, as has my consistency on Spark People (I have a login streak of over 2500 days; I think I'll manage to reach 7 years before the site disappears). I'm grateful to be working with a great therapist again. .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Big Rocks

(Originally published 2 August 2011)   Yosemite National Park has some of the most glorious scenery on Earth, in my opinion. I always buy myself a Yosemite wall calendar, so I can enjoy its beauty throughout the year. I was rather disappointed when I turned the page for a new month and beheld a single tree standing next to a boulder. My sarcastic reaction was "Oh whoopee, a big rock!" But at my choice of phrase, I had to laugh. Have you heard the story of Big Rocks? Supposedly a man leading a workshop on time management began with a demonstration. He had a glass cylinder into which he put several rocks, until they reached the top. He asked the class if the container were full. They agreed it was full. He then poured several scoops of gravel into the container, where it settled around the rocks, until it reached the top. This time when he asked the class if the container was full, they were divided, and none were certain what the answer should be. So he took a bag of sa...
Read more

Babystepping My Way to Glory

(Originally published 26 February 2011) That phrase, “babystepping my way to Glory,” came to me while speed walking yesterday on my afternoon break, as I gazed towards a golden sun in a sparkling blue sky that was reflecting off the still white patches from our last snowfall. I had been doing my Louise Hay affirmations* and my lovingkindness meditation phrases* and my heart was full of gratitude, joy, and hope; I was delighted with the beauty of the moment and pleased with myself and the progress I'm making. This was a much different and better place than when I wrote my Bad Days blog less than 48 hours earlier. Yet while I could feel the power and energy flowing through me so freely, I did not fall into the trap of thinking this is how will always feel or should always feel, or it's going to be easy from now on, or I'm always going to get as much accomplished as I had that day. I won't automatically earn as many nutrition and fitness points or get as much declutte...
Read more

Bad Days

  (Originally published 23 February 2011) I really know I'm making progress now. Work was OK, but it's been a rough evening at home. Frustration and disappointment over vacation planning issues, with more frustration and disappointment over the failure of the new resistance cord DVD to offer modifications for stiff knees. In the old days, any stress at work or in life was an excuse to buy and consume comfort food — in my case wine and chips, or other high-fat foods. Not this evening. OK, I switched from salad to soup, but chopped and added fresh veggies before emptying the can of soup into the pot. I made sure I was maintaining my Oases of Order (those small sections of real estate I have liberated from clutter) in the kitchen while I cooked. I cleaned the litterbox (one of my daily routines I'm establishing) and put in my (minimum) organizing time in order to fulfill my Babysteps Brigade team challenge activity and earn my corresponding Other Goal point. I wasn'...
Read more