Issue #59 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes partnership and living in the present?

Welcome to the 59th issue of The Magic Heron Newsletter, a fortnightly newsletter with a focus on journaling, writing, and learning nature’s wisdom through midlife. 

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Texas, May 21, 2023

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Hi there

Greebo’s new fascination is the bathtub mat (it goes ‘squishy squishy!’ when she walks around on it, and she likes to pull up the drain plug and bat it around. Thankfully she hasn’t figured out how to carry off with it yet. We’ll probably never find it!

We just had 3-5 inches of rain in the last few days. Last night the lightning strikes covered the entire radar map. A few struck pretty close to us and one rattled the house and knocked a few bottles off of the shelf.

We planted coleus and wildflowers in the front yard last week. This rain should speed up their growth. This weekend we will plant our tomato plants in the containers in the backyard. I do love a homegrown tomato!

Only a few weeks left of Spring before the Summer Equinox. How are you spending the last of Spring?

This week’s newsletter Spirit Animal is Hawk, another creature that heralds in Spring.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Hawk Symbolism and Meanings:

Hawk has been a companion to humans going back at least to the 600s, BC. Falconry is an ancient bond between human and raptor. Hawks and Falcons were and still are, trained in falconry, where the hawk or falcon catches prey and returns it to their handler. In the beginning, this was used for survival and defense. The hawks were also trained to attack enemies.

Hawk Symbolism and Meanings:

• Power
• Energy
• Rebirth
• Strategy
• Protection
• Teamwork
• Intelligence
• Concentration
• Vision

Hawks are valued for their high intelligence and keen eyesight. They also have amazing focus, reminding us to avoid distractions and be more aware in the moment.

The training process is an intense relationship of mutual respect between Hawk and Human, forging a bond between the two. This symbolizes partnership and teamwork.

Focus and teamwork are characteristics of the Hawk that we can aspire to in our relationships.

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Beach Bicycle Stationery, Watercolor Stationery, Summer Writing Paper, Beach Letter Writing Paper, Beach Scene, Instant Download

2. SPIRIT ANIMAL BUTTERFLY, Animal Guide Totem Meanings, Spirit Companion, Spirit Companionship, Printable Journal Prompts and Cards

New Books!

My daughter and I created a whole line of Writer’s Notebooks. Use them for NaNoWriMo, notetaking, for work, or journaling! You can find the notebooks on the Magic Heron Amazon Author Page

1. Homemade Spice Mix Recipes: 62 Tasty Spice Blends and Seasonings for Vegetables, Meat Dishes and Fish

2. Salmon Patties, Cakes and Burgers: 25 Best Fish Patty Recipes

Zazzle Shop . . .

New Products!

I’ll be adding more products soon—more spiral bound notebooks, journals, stationery, office accessories, and cooking related products. Stay tuned!

Magic Heron Creations Zazzle Shop

Spiral Bound Notebooks! You can customize the name, and choose the interior: lines, graphs, bullet journal, or sketch pages!

1. Octopus Custom Name Notebook

2. Blue Whale Custom Name Notebook

Interesting links . . .

Here are some interesting links I came across on my ventures through Internet Land this week that I thought you might enjoy.

1. Salad Dressings from Around the World: 4 Recipes for Summer Salads

2. EDIBLE FLOWER-PRESSED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

3. EVERLASTING DANDELION CLOCKS

4. What The Heck Is Salsify?

5. Moon Phases Explained

***I use Mountain Rose Herbs for ordering all the herbs I use. Every order I’ve received has always been fresh and gorgeous. Click here to order the herbs you need for your teas, infusions, spices, and other ingredients for your kitchen:

Mountain Rose Herbs

Spring Recipe . . .

Celebrate spring with seasonal recipes!

31 Recipes to Make with Fresh Cherries

Spring Fun  . . .

Spring Nature Bucket List! Find a 4-leaf clover!

The Lucky 4-Leaf Clover: Facts and Myths

Fun Idea From: Spring Nature Bucket List

Nature Walk Video . . .

Are you ready for a breathtaking virtual kayaking adventure along the winding Vorskla River in the heart of Ukraine? Just sit back, relax, and let us take you on a peaceful journey through the picturesque green banks and beautiful wildlife of central Ukraine! This 4K nature relax video is the perfect way to escape from the busy city and immerse yourself in the serenity of nature. You’ll be amazed by the crystal-clear waters and the quiet splashing of water as you paddle along the peaceful river. This calming ambiance is sure to help you achieve deep relaxation and leave all your stress behind.

Kayaking on the Vorskla River 4K – Birds Singing – Relaxing Nature Video – NO LOOP

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. Why Write? Taking Care of Yourself

2. 10 WAYS TO FINALLY FIND YOUR WRITING MOJO

3. Breaking Silences: Safe Ways for Memoirists to Tell Their Truths

4. Lessons from Old Acquaintances

5. Points to Ponder Before Tarnishing Memories

Random Nature Fact . . .

Scientists studying mantis shrimp have to keep them in thick plastic tanks because their claws spring as quickly as a .22-caliber bullet, fast and hard enough to break glass!

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. In this companion class to “Asking Questions”, John Muir Laws explores what to do with questions once you’ve got them, including ways of grouping questions into 3 different categories that inform how you search for answers… (October 2022)

Answering Questions

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

Use the picture above to practice drawing in your nature journal and noticing details about this animal.

Hawk facts:

Lifespan: 10-15 years

Scientific name: Buteo

Wingspan: 3-4 feet

Speed: 120 mph

Habitat: deserts, fields, mountainous plains, tropical areas

What it eats: voles, rats, rabbits, ground squirrels, other birds, reptiles, snakes, bats, frog, toads, insects, carrion

What eats (or preys on) it: bigger hawks, eagles, snakes, owls, raccoons, foxes

Did you know?

Becoming an apprentice falconer takes at least 2 years, and at least 7 years to become a Master Falconer.

More fun facts:

Falconry is a huge time and energy commitment. If you are curious about it, take a look at the requirements here.

Becoming A Falconer

Nature Tip:

H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is an award winning book about the author’s story of adopting and raising Mabel, her goshawk for falconry.

What I’m watching . . .

1. This was a really good heart-warming story starring Tom Hanks. It does come with a trigger warning in the beginning for suicide attempt, for your information.

A MAN CALLED OTTO – Official Trailer (HD)

What I’m reading . . .

This was a really interesting story from Neil Gaiman. I couldn’t put it down.

1. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

What I’m Listening to . . . 

1. Live nature cams are fun to have on in the background while working!

11 HOURS of 4K Underwater Wonders + Relaxing Music – The Best 4K Sea Animals for Relaxation

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

What a strange thing! to be alive, beneath cherry blossoms.

—Kobayashi Issa

and

Sometimes we can only find our true direction when we let the wind of change carry us.

—Mimi Novic

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . .

My daughter and I have been enjoying this card deck of writing prompts. We each do one prompt for about 20 minutes each evening. It’s surprising where some of my writing dives into, sometimes completely different than where I started. That’s the power of journaling with your subconscious!

Here’s one of the prompts I enjoyed writing with:

“the quietest place you’ve ever been”

Prompt from: Campfire Stories Deck: Prompts for Igniting Conversation by the Fire by Ilyssa Ky

Journal Prompt . . .

Are you in a rut with journaling? Sometimes it’s easy to get in a rut and write or vent about the same things over and over.

Or, you get bored and don’t know what to write!

Change it up! Try something new with your journal. Try a few of these changes and see what happens with your writing.

1. Go outside to a sit spot, go to a café, or sit in a parking lot and write down everything you observe with all of your senses.

2. Cut out pictures and words from magazines and paste into your journal. Write your thoughts and feelings around them, your dreams, or make a wish list.

3. Draw instead of write. Instead of writing the memory or what you usually write about, draw it instead. How does this change your perspective?

Reviews . . .

If you have bought any of our books or printables and enjoyed them, please leave a positive review on Amazon, Etsy, or Zazzle. Those reviews mean the world to us and help boost us up on the platforms. Thank You!!

Happy Journaling!

. . . Shanna

P.S. Is there something you like or would rather see in the newsletter? Hit reply and let me know!

I’ll be back on June 4^th!

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