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Everything I needed to know about Revolution I learned from Chuck D.

I’m over simplifying a bit here; because in truth, there’s a lot of components to my activism and attitude regarding the systems designed specifically to oppress us – but it started with Chuck D. I’ve been thinking about the spirit of revolution a lot lately as 2019 moves to a close.

Portrait of Chuck D (Acrylic on Canvas, Amy Miranda 2008)

It’s been a year of revolutions all around the world. Literally across the globe. The beautiful thing is that all of us, every single protester, resistor and activist carries essentially the same hope for massive peaceful revolution in their hearts. That much is obvious. Most people want peace and justice and there is now a majority of human beings on the planet who see the truth, that these systems aren’t working. They were designed to serve one part of society and one part only. It’s time for the tide to turn.

So as i’ve been thinking about what that could look like, where we could go, and how it could evolve, I’ve waxed poetic about where this fire came from. I have it in my ancestry, (one of my ancestors tried to start the Scottish Revolution). I know that remains in my veins but where it started in this life, what lit me up. Public Enemy.

Everything I learned about fighting white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy came from Chuck D.
I learned, soaked it all up like a sponge, about the systems, and history of systems that were specifically designed to oppress us – through Rap. Through Hip Hop. It all started with “Fear of A Black Planet” By Public Enemy , then I moved back, and “It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back”.

From the literal anthem “Fight the Power” to “Black Steel in The Hour of Chaos” . I learned more about activism, black history and peaceful spiritual militance from Chuck D.

Yes, this is a healing practice, but part of my journey through the healing arts & witchcraft inherently is activism. The work I focus on now is about the revolution of the soul. It’s about working with clients and community to create individual change and agency within one’s own life in order to take up the appropriate space in the world, within your unique purpose. Because, we’re literally being shown that the way we have been living is grinding to a halt, that we need to root ourselves in what is right for the majority of beings on this planet. We need to ground for the peaceful battle and revolution ahead. I don’t believe one can be Spiritual on this planet right now without being an activist. Creator/God/Spirit/Universe – your higher self understands that were are all connected, that when one of us is suffering we are all suffering. We are in the fight of our lives as the white supremacist capitalist and colonial patriarchy is in its death throes.

My soundtrack, since I was a kid for when I need to go head to head with the patriarchy has been Chuck. His activism, intelligence, lyricism, not to mention his booming and beautiful flow make him my personal go to for powering myself up. So, in thinking about what is to come for 2020 (newsletter goes out tomorrow for January) it felt perfect to salute one of the people on the planet who helps me to do the work I do, who helped me walk through the dark night of the soul, and who grounds me in my own power to fight another day.

We’ll win. This fight, and we’ll do it our way.
Chuck D taught me that. Public Enemy taught me that.

I’ll leave you with my intention for 2020. Shut the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy, and the systems they have created to oppress us for the highest good, best possible outcome with ease and grace and I couldn’t say it better than, PE. – Shut’em Down.

As a bonus – A great little interview below with Chuck regarding Hip Hop as a force for social change. Here’s to education, balanced communication, authenticity, integrity, abundance and peace for all in 2020.

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Healing Trauma

When you grow up in trauma & you don’t heal it, you will choose trauma until you do.

Art by the Amazing Lori Menna @ Cosmic Collage

I chose men who abused me over the men who loved me. 
I chose friends who didn’t care about me over those who did.
I chose protecting people I shouldn’t, because that was what I was trained to do.
I chose pain over peace.
I chose substances and alcohol over being present.
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Then, one day –  something changed and I chose me and every day since that’s how it’s worked.

One day at a time. One foot in front of the other.

As I walked the path – I realized the common denominator in all of my pain was me. I realized I had been carrying around layers of trauma, I  realized losing my best friend took part of my soul, I realized my relationship with my father had never been appropriate, and I realized I couldn’t ever remember a time where I felt truly safe. 

I realized I’d spent my life running and building this false wall of popularity, addiction, manipulation and lies that could protect me from what was I was carrying inside of me. 

Layer by layer, bit by bit I did and am continuing to do the work (that’s why it’s called a healing journey, because it is).  I’m learning. I’ve faced my truths. I’ve unpacked it. I’ve sought justice, and mostly I’ve gotten it. I ’ve evicted the abuser archetype from my life and most importantly from my own head. I have set down addiction and enjoy sobriety. I accepted my PTSD. I stopped running. Now I try to be of service to help other people walk through the darkness and into the light. It’s our right. We don’t need to live in the dark. 

It’s the greatest work of my life to be able to see people just like me, find out that isn’t a life. It’s a construct and a cage that trauma puts us in. We can free ourselves from past bondage. We can live in harmony and glide more easily through the waves in the flow of life –  (smooth sailing isn’t life on earth – it’s about being in the right kayak). 

We can heal. You are NEVER too broken  to be fixed. You are not what happened to you. You are a light. Your power is your story and your story is your power.

Hang in there. We got this – the best part is when you heal yourself, we heal the world. When you are in balance, so becomes your relationship with the world around you.

When you’re ready. I’m ready.

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The Season of the Witch?

Image result for greta thunberg
Greta Thunberg – Photo ℅ Evening Standard

We are in the midst of massive transition on this planet. Humanity is in a state of change and evolution. Evolution hurts. It is not an easy process. For the last 3 years we have been experiencing truth on a level many hadn’t been aware of. The systems that built modern society are crumbling.

White Supremacist Patriarchy, Capitalism, Colonialism. Organized religion. We are seeing the cracks in the very foundation of what the Western world was built upon. Not surprising really, given the lack of stability in these systems meant to hold us down, to hold us back, to control us.

When most of us think about the archetype of the Witch herself, we think of the patriarchal version, the evil crone. The one who eats children, and makes deals with negative unseen forces. These were simply the lies told to steer people away from spirituality and into organized religion.

Oracles, Shaman and Witches are not evil, most in fact are bound by codes and conduct governed by the very laws of nature, universal law and justice. These archetypes have been demonized in order to divide us from our own divinity. Ironically, the teachings of one of my favourite guides Jesus Christ, are more shamanic than most people want to admit. Jesus held counsel with witches. He did not spew hatred or division. He spoke of unity, and shared what we are all as human beings capable of. We are co-creators in this reality. We are all part of both seen and unseen worlds. Ordinary reality and non-ordinary reality, on earth as it is in heaven – or as above, so below.

We have come to a crossroads now. A time where we have become at odds with the systems that support our very lives on this planet. We are watching climate change’s destruction of so many ecosystems and beings. Yet, so many don’t believe. Don’t see what is right in front of them. This requires fierce compassion. These people, the ones denying the truth, eyes covered to the horror, are the ones who have been indoctrinated the most with the systems of man. The systems designed to control us, are working on them. We cannot face them with hate. We must face them with fierce compassion and love.

Why? Why should we send love to those who send hate?

We should reflect love and truth because the systems that these people have been fooled by are crumbling. They will fall. We will dismantle the systems that are killing us, and we will build new ones.

This is already happening. We are watching the fall of governments around the world, we are witnessing mass protest, mass organization, instantaneous communications world wide. The web of life, which connects all life, all humans, was once just energetic. We could send hatred to people, and it could take a long time for it to make its way around the web back to us. Now these pathways are moving faster. People are waking up now, opening their eyes to the idea that perhaps the truth is that those who created these systems did not do it with love in their hearts, they created these systems to ensure some people had more power than others. That these systems are quite literally killing us. A few powerful men are deciding the fate of all humanity.

This is the result of witch trials (the real ones, not the ones the patriarchy keep calling out). This is the result of patriarchy, misogyny and capitalism, now as we watch people die on the internet, as we see fires burning up beings that will take hundreds of years to replace, as we see flooding so severe places are becoming uninhabitable. We see common messages. We see migration, we see the rise of the Indigenous peoples around the world who we should have been listening to the last 500 years, we see the rise of the archetype of the witch. Have you heard that word more often in the last 3 years?

That’s not an accident. It is our return. It is our season. This is why we are here. Witches are activists BY nature. We are activists FOR nature. When magic was a part of our daily lives we did amazing things. This magic is not just for men, for the rich, for the powerful, it is for all of us.
It was always for all of us. We each carry the perfect power necessary for our purpose on this planet. Your gift is your magic. You are born with it. It is in your soul. I don’t think there’s any better example of the power of purpose right now, than the 16 year old who has risen to global recognition. Greta Thunberg perfectly personifies the archetype of the witch. Whether she self identifies as one, or not, I haven’t seen any one in recent history who has literally become a voice for the elements on a global scale the way she is. She is a messenger in a time where so many men try to silence us, and she will not be silenced. Her power is quiet, and gentle – but when she roars we feel it in our bones. This is not an accident. She is a beacon, one of many rising in the world now. The season of the witch is upon us, and I welcome you to the time of uprising, change and transformation.

So, wake up Witches. We need you. All corners of the world, all beings of light, all those in service to love. Welcome to the season of the Witch. It is time to stand up, for this time we will stop them.

A poem for Greta. A poem for you.

She travels by wind and water.
Though, so many spew hatred on her.

She speaks for those without a voice.
She lets us know there’s no more choice.

We are here now to turn the tides.
We must listen, feel and open our eyes.

For some of you this may make you twitch,
This is the archetype of the witch.

With activism, honor, and magic we fight.
We will not stop until all is right.

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Amulets, Talisman & Charms

Ever since I can remember I have created amulets & charms.

Collections of special objects, carried, worn, stowed or hung to back up an intention, represent a feeling or a moment. I am known for my collections and eccentricities. My altars and objects. Adornments galore.

A recently unearthed Sorceresses kit from Pompeii

As a little girl I hid these treasures away from the world, perhaps due to the unconscious and inherent understanding that it wasn’t safe to share such magic. Now though, as a woman, I know the world is ready and needs more magic than ever. We are finding objects in Egypt and now the ancient city of Pompeii, when magic was still a part of our daily life. Amulets and charms were created to hold intentions, or other positive properties to benefit the wearer, or owner.

Ancient Egyptian Amulets

Most of us have let go of such objects in our daily lives but reminders of our magical past are coming through as clues to what we’ve forgotten. We used to live in mind, body AND spirit. We used to have individual relationships with the divine. We believed in magic. When we lost this wonder, we lost our connection to the very magic that exists all around us. When we create physical representations of our intentions, wishes, or goals it’s as if we are embodying that intention in it’s physical form. As above. So below. On Earth, as it is in Heaven. We had the tools we needed to help us glide through life more easily. It is patriarchal, colonial and capitalist systems that told us not to believe, who burned witches, who organized religion to control.

With Spirituality, we are stronger, more clear, more sure, and those are the things that endanger the very systems developed to control us. It’s time to shed that skin, and return to the magic around us, to notice the clues, the return of great civilizations through their antiquities, arising out of the earth. Literally to remind us that we were great once, and how we did it. The Egyptians didn’t build the pyramids alone. They used the gifts at their disposal. It’s time we do the same. Start small. Start with an amulet, talisman or charm.

I’m available to create something special for you. It can be charged with all of your dreams and wishes, as part of ritual work – or just as an object on its own. A few of the amulets, charms and talisman I’ve created are pictured below. Some are for the home, and some are meant to be worn. Each was created with specific purpose, intention and protection for their owners.

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Talking Out Loud to A Dead Loved One Is Good For Your Mental Health.

In fact, it’s also totally normal.

I was lucky enough to have a family who encouraged my experiences with imaginary friends and those who had passed. It felt only natural to me that when a meteor of trauma hit my life, with losing my best friend 2 days prior to my 19th birthday – that our relationship continued. First it was devastation, then is was pain, and anguish, then regret and shame. I would not have been able to work through this without a dialogue with her. It’s been more than 20 years now since she left and we still talk all of the time.

Amy raising some energy.

You don’t have to be a psychic, an oracle or channel to connect with the relationships you had in ordinary reality (earth) , in non-ordinary reality (spirit). I wish I’d had an article like this one in Teen Vogue when I was growing up, and I will absolutely be consulting it now.

It is totally healing whether in grief or not, and you will typically through building relationships in Spirit be left with no doubt that there is life after death. Building a relationship in Spirit is no different than building one in ordinary reality. It takes the same kind of effort.

If you aren’t sure where to begin. I am always happy to help with first contact.

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Shot of Wonder

When I need a dose of wonder, most of the time I go to space. It’s hard not to feel a special connection to the divine when you dive into the infinite celestial body.

This is one of our favourite go to doses.
Please enjoy.

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Ascension Institute: Recommended Reading, Listening and Exploring.

“Have you read…?” is a common phrase around here. “Have you heard … ?” is just as common. We also frequently say “you may be moved to explore…” So here’s a constantly evolving list of what we’re recommending.

Reading

The Tao Of Pooh – Benjamin Hoff
Soul Retrieval – Sandra Ingerman
The Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu
The Union of Isis & Thoth – Nikki Scully
Way of the Shaman – Michael Harner
The Tao of Wu – RZA
Waking the Witch – Pam Grossman
Initiated – Amanda Yates Garcia
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
Witches of America – Alex Mar
Magic for the Resistance – Michael H. Hughes
Animal Speak – Ted Andrews
Daring Greatly – Brene Brown
Animal Spirit Guides – Steven D. Farmer
Seat of the Soul – Gary Zukav
The Dancing Wu-Li Masters – Gary Zukav
Billions & Billions – Carl Sagan

What we’re listening to:

The Shaman’s Cave – Podcast – With Sandra Ingerman & Renee Baribeau
Strange Magic – Podcast – Sarah Faith Gottesdiener & Amanda Yates Garcia

We recommend exploring:

Daniel Leonard – Medicine Circle
Sandra Ingerman – Sandra Ingerman.com
Torie Michelle Feldman – Lunar Fossil
Amanda Yates Garcia – Oracle of Los Angeles
Susan Miller – AstrologyZone
Sarah Faith Gottesdiener – Gottess / Visual Magic
Lisa Labute – The Goods
Amy Miranda – Transcendz.com 1994-2003
Amy Miranda – Transcendz.com 1998
Amy Miranda – Hyperreal.org – 1997





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My Story

If you’ve come to learn more about my healing journey and story you’re welcome to view the video below. I’d like to thank Torie Michelle Feldman for including me in this incredible series. It was really the first time I spoke about my story publicly in detail. I hope it helps in some way as there were so many times I needed to hear that I wasn’t alone. As a survivor it is my hope that I can be of service to others as they move toward peace and healing.

Shine Your Medicine with Amy Miranda from Torie Michelle Feldman on Vimeo.

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What Comes Next

Thank you for your interest in what I hope will be the largest artistic and philosophical collaboration of all time  I also hope it is a revolution of love, awakening, healing and change. It’s both art project and social experiment.

We are at the crossroads. There is one way forward (together).

We are at a crucial point in humanity and I believe it’s time we connect as individuals around the world to build new systems for the future.

The world is on fire. We are in peril. We all feel it. There have been beautiful uprisings around the world, new communities, resistance, this is something people around the world are feeling. Too many people are living in poverty. Too many people are without hope. Too many hurt people are hurting people.

So I did what I always end up doing, I thought about what I personally know how to do, and what my reach is, and how I could help. What could I actually do in this time of transition and change to be of service to community on a greater scale.

I’ve had the pleasure of working on a lot of beautiful things in my career as an Executive Producer.  I’ve helped mobilize lots of people in my career in advertising, literally being a part of campaigns that are designed to reach millions of people, I’ve helped build influence for brands and artists, I’ve helped plan rallies and marches. But, I wanted to think bigger.  

What kind of tangible thing could I offer? How could I try to take the advice I try to give others about using their unique magic to show up in the world. Not everyone shows up in the same way, that’s okay, we need you all.

I’ve also had quite a life, and I do work as a healing practitioner. So,  I thought about those skills coming together holistically through my healing practice, Ascension Institute.

That’s what we need to do right now, ascend. This world is not a reflection of what we are capable of. We all know that, it’s a big job but I’m going to offer my experience and my services to this project. I had to do something and there’s one thing I know about making massive things happen, it has to be done together. Collaboration works best when there’s a cohesive objective.  

So this is the beginning, this is the start, this is the framework. We are the architects of this project and I am donating my experience to doing what I can to grow this, use this platform to reach the people who change the systems.  Being an executive producer is all about building the right time and finding the right people. It’s part magician, part alchemist, part clairvoyant. It’s knowing the kinds of people you need to move the idea from a vapour, to a tangible reality living in the world.  

This is my open brief. This is my invitation to you. I’ll create the framing, but I need collaboration, and community to build a real foundation of change.

The first 500 people to join in will be also be the architects of this movement. The group who  decide who the next 500 will be. This is a one-to-one project in the tradition of storytelling and sharing, with built in accountability. Each of the first 500 people will have the task of inviting one person in to the project, and so on – but the structure and speed of this growth will be up to all of us.

This project/revolution will grow with people who are willing to help nurture it. Its as much a social experiment as it is an art project. If you want to get involved in the planning, contribute ideas, or collaborate, email AscensionInstitute@gmail.com with the subject line – Collaborate. As a collaborator you will be an architect of the project. The first round of collaborators will be hand picked by me. I’ve had the great opportunity to collaborate with incredible creators in my career and life, and I can’t wait to bring what i’ve learned to this project to help bring more connection and community.

How big will it get? How much will it grow? How much can we change? It’s entirely up to us.

We can’t sit back without mobilization. There are too many fires burning, too many people dying around the world.

We need a frame work, we need a stake in the ground that tells the story of the world we need to get to – fast. We need mass, we need an army of good hearts. Simple actions can make massive impact when there are thousands (or more) people acting in unison.  

We have the tools and resources to do this, but it’s going to take a lot of us. We need all kinds of different people to build a new kind of world.  For this to work, we need people around the world building community – one to one. Person to person.

I am confident it can be done. 

We can return to living in balance with the natural systems of our World and in communities. This isn’t a pipe dream, it doesn’t have to be hippy dippy. I’ve learned in my career of making stuff that there’s a producer for everyone.  I believe the same about community. I hope this gives birth to similar grassroots, mobilization efforts. About real people, sharing real stories and wishes for change. We are never going to agree on everything, but what I think most of us can agree on now is that this isn’t working.

There’s a lot of people who are drowning, and a lot of people who watching from their yachts – both figuratively and literally. So we need to get to those people, the ones who haven’t gotten it yet. Once they wake up, they will get in the game.

I know we can do this, in part, because I’m a recovering jerk. I was asleep once too.  I was hateful, I was angry. I was contained in my trauma. I learned through experience that  that hurt people, hurt other people. Since then I’ve been focused on trying to lead with love and fierce compassion.

We need some ferocity right now, but we do not need hatred, division, or violence. This is a peaceful movement for the greatest possible good.  The survival of the soul of our species. Your ancestors didn’t go through everything they did to have you sit this one out. You’re the best of your bloodline, and it’s why you’re here now.

These systems aren’t working. We can make new ones.

There’s only one rule, we need to do it together.

I believe we can. This is my invitation to you. 

With immense gratitude and excitement to be at your service for this special project,  

Amy Miranda

To join in.  This is Step 1.


This is an image with a background of outer space which reads "The Revolutions is Yours"


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What We’ve Become.

We didn’t start out this way, disconnected, affected and bleak.

We had everything that we needed, we weren’t always this weak.

We evolved to a life filled with spirit, magic and grace.

We built pyramids, great civilizations, even visited space…

But something else happened. In the need to succeed.

We found money, capitalism, patriarchy and greed.

We fought great wars, we lost connection to nature,

We lost community and found nothing was greater,

We bought, we sold, we allowed a divide.

We judged each other. We hated. So many died.

We got distracted, competed, exhumed.

We stole, we spilled, we ruined, consumed.

We treated this planet, and all on it, like a trash can.

Now we are here, and we must make a plan..

We forgot who we were. We forgot what it means.

We all sit here now, scared, frustrated, unseen.

So this is the time, with all of our technological tools,

That we bring back the connection, we don’t have to be fools.

To rebuild these systems, to remove the greedy from power,

Good and evil do exist and this Good’s hour.

We’re all here for a reason. We all matter here.

This is the time. This is the year.

So all good hearts, come one and come all.

It’s time to come together to fix our little blue and green ball.

We are the generation, we are the solution.

We are the change,  it is our revolution

  • Amy Miranda

December 26, 2018

Step 1 begins here.