Issue #39 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature teaches us how to remain true to our path?

Welcome to the 39th 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, August 14, 2022

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Hi there 

I just finished the first draft of my next book on 2-Ingredient Recipes. I’ve been working every spare minute on it and glad that writing part is done. Now on to the editing and book cover phase. I’m hoping to have everything done in the next few weeks and have it published.

We finally dropped down to the low to mid 90s this week. So glad because my latest electric bill was double, even though I didn’t use the air conditioning as much. They raised the rates and it affected everyone around here. 

This week turtle and tortoise have both shown up, almost every day in some form. I’m learning new lessons all the time from turtle and this week is no exception. Mainly to slow down and go at my own pace and how to stay on my own path. 

Do you have a favorite turtle? I love the sea turtles, but really love the big land tortoises, like Jonathan. He’s 190 years old now! He’s just fascinating. More about him further down the newsletter.

So, this week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal is the Turtle or Tortoise!

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

If you are feeling overwhelmed with a project or too much to do, then turtle has a message for you to slow down, and take one step at a time, one step forward at your own pace, and it will get done. Remain true to your path.

Turtle symbolizes endurance, determination, and persistence. Turtle is a survivor and protects itself against predators. Encapsulated within its shell, turtle deflects bites from predators, showing us we too, can protect ourselves by going within our own “shell” for protection, safety, and solitude. Going within to meditate can help us get grounded and reclaim our serenity.

Pacing ourselves with the “sure and steady” attitude of turtle can help us steadily get through a project or the day or a situation. Remember the story of the turtle and the hare? Or rather, the tortoise and the hare. They both still teach “slow and steady wins the race”.

Turtles have strong necks and can flip themselves over when they’ve overturned. This teaches us to “use your head” and that you have all the resources within you to right yourself.

In many cultures, turtle symbolizes longevity. It is one of the oldest living animal ancestors, with the oldest turtle fossils dating over 200 million years old. For those of us in midlife, turtle can teach us about living a dynamic, long life. Because it is long-lived, and has a carefree attitude, turtle is the wisest of souls, and this is a lesson we can learn to move at our own pace, in our own way and power.

Turtle and Tortoise Symbolism and Meanings:

• Creation
• Patience
• Steadiness
• Strength
• Order
• Longevity
• Protection
• Endurance
• Pacing
• Innocence
• Peace

Turtle’s behavior teaches us to take one day at a time, become wiser each day, by not reacting, but simply accepting and moving on, each day.

In Asian legends, turtle’s shell is symbolic of the heavens, its body is symbolic of the earth, and the under-shell represents the underworld. 

Take life one step at a time. And remain true to your path.

Want to learn more about symbolic turtle legends? What is Turtle Island? What is the World Turtle? Check out this link to learn more:

Symbolic Turtle Legends Like the World Turtle and Turtle Island

–

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop!

1. Spirit Animal Sea Turtle, Animal Guide Totem Meanings, Spirit Companion, Spirit Companionship, Printable Journal Prompts and Cards

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

–

Recently Published . . .

New Books!

1. Letters to my Villain: A Writer’s Notebook | college lined pages | 120 pages

2. Notebook: Seahorse | college lined pages |120 pages

Blog Posts . . .

1. Journal Entry #20 Using a Sketchbook as a Journal–What size should you use? Small vs big–I share my findings for my own journaling.

HERBAL ACADEMY BACK TO SCHOOL SALE . . .

As family gatherings wind down and children shuffle back into class, it can be a wonderful time for a little self-reflection and evaluation. 

What is it that you want to be spending your own time on, what are you passionate about and how can you bring that into reality?

Are you wanting to learn how to better your health and wellness? 

Are you interested in picking up some new skills like foraging, drawing, or making herbal preparations?

Maybe you want to start a holistic side hustle? 

Back to School season is here, and this excitement isn’t only for the kids!

My friends over a the Herbal Academy announced their annual Back to School Season Sale is on including up to 30% off courses!

So if you’re curious to explore the art and science of herbalism while building your own brilliant relationship with the plant world, this might be your time to take the jump! Entrust your journey with the Herbal Academy, a global leader in herbalism education! 

HERBAL ACADEMY BACK TO SCHOOL SALE

Runs August 22 – September 18, 2022

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. Electrolyte Concentrate Ice Cubes (Quick and Easy Remedy)

2. How to Make Instant Herbal Tea Cubes

3. How To Be A Naturalist The Easy Way

4. Where Do Birds Go During a Storm?

5. We love this recipe! Great way to eat up those garden tomatoes.

Baked Tomatoes with Mozzarella & Parmesan (Cheesy Oven Roasted Tomatoes)

***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

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. The Fourth Annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference is coming up September 14-18, 2022. One of the teachers is novelist Amy Tan. We have enjoyed having her in the group.

If you are interested you can learn more here:

Fourth Annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference

2. How to Keep a Commonplace Book: 4 Benefits of Commonplacing

3. Memoir Writing Tips: How to Get Your Story on the Page

4. How Journaling Helped Me Be More Calm, Mindful And Resilient

5. Elizabeth Gilbert Podcast

Random Nature Fact . . .

The heart of a shrimp is located in its . . . head!

Nature Journal Video . . . 

1. This week Yvea had the last class in the Plant Families group for this series. She will start a new series in the next few weeks I think. This week was on the Grass family. Do you know the plants we eat from the Grass family?

Check out:

Plant Families in Our Foods – Week Eight

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Lifespan: most live 10-80 years. Sea turtles and land tortoises can live 150 years or more

Scientific name: Testudines

Habitat: Turtles: ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, wetlands, estuaries. Tortoises: rainforests, deserts, coastal dunes, deciduous forests.

Speed: In water: 2-6 mph. Leatherback sea turtle 22 mph. On land: 2-3 mph

What it eats: earthworms, grubs, snails, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, grasses, fruit, berries, mushrooms, flowers, carrion, seagrasses, seaweed, algae, jellyfish

What eats (or preys on) it: birds, snakes, dogs, raccoons, snapping turtles, skunks, gulls, foxes, ravens, weasels, crows, herons, otters, mink, badgers, killer whales, sharks

Did you know? 

The oldest known living land tortoise is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise who just turned 190 years old!

Read his story here:

At 190, Jonathan the Tortoise Is the World’s Oldest

Jonathan Takes a Bath –his first bath at 184 years old!

Nature Tip:

What’s the difference between a turtle and tortoise?

Turtles are adapted to spend their life in water, where tortoises spend their time on land. Turtle shells are streamlined for swimming. Tortoise shells are rounded and domed.

What I’m watching . . .

1. I’ve been devoting my time to writing the new recipe book that I hope will be published by the end of this month. I watch one episode of Bones every night to relax (yeah, I’m weird), and then back to working on the book. We are also making a new cover for the Halloween Planner we published last year. That should be done by this next week.

What I’m reading . . .

1. I’m still reading a new book by Tristan Gooley. He packs so much information in each chapter, that I have to take my time reading through his books. 

The Secret World of Weather: How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop (Natural Navigation)

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell.” 

–Bill Copeland

and

“Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.” 

–Bruce Feiler

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . . 

Am I remaining true to my path? Where am I not slowing down enough? Last week sloth, this week turtle. As the world spins faster around me every day, I need to slow down more and watch, reflect, and remain true to my own path to not get swept up and away.

Journal Prompt . . . 

Are you carrying the weight of the world? What is truly yours to carry and what is not? What can you let go of so that you can remain on your path?

Happy Journaling!

. . . Shanna

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I’ll be back on August 28th!

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Links

Shanna Lea Author website
Books on Amazon
Magic Heron Creations Notebooks on Amazon
Magic Heron Creations Etsy Shop

. . . Shanna Lea Author

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