Issue #47 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature teaches us about connection to our own matrilineal ancestors?

Welcome to the 47th 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, December 4, 2022

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Hi there !

Life with Greebo is getting more fun. She still bites but is learning. We bring her into my bedroom to play a few times a day. She runs all over the bed, scurries over the side and to the big beyond (across the floor to the closet) and back again on her adventures, detouring for a quick subterranean journey (under the bed) on her way back to the top of the bed. We need to get her a cat tower so she can climb and play on something suited to a cat. She’s finally weaned off the bottle and eating solid food now!

December is here, the end of the year and the beginning of winter. Even though it is generally a hectic time of year for many, seasonally it is a time to slow down, withdraw and go inward. How do you handle the stress at this time of year when your body wants to slow down?

This time of year is also about family. And this week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal is the Elephant. Elephant is dedicated and loyal to their family and keepers of wisdom.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Elephant Symbolism and Meanings:

If you are on a journey that requires patience and steadfastness, Elephant’s symbolism can help you remain true to your path.

Elephant can be a formidable and unstoppable force. If you are facing a daunting challenge, Elephant says do not get discouraged. 

Keep going, one step at a time. Keep a steady pace and you will overcome any obstacle. 

Elephant Symbolism and Meanings:

• Pride
• Dignity
• Power
• Royalty
• Reliability
• Strength
• Honor
• Stability
• Tenacity
• Family
• Determination
• Loyalty
• Sensitivity 

Elephants are loyal to their matriarchal herds and this connects us to our own matrilineal ancestors and Divine Feminine. We are called to nurture our families while also healing old wounds and traumas. She will help us deepen our understanding of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone and help us reconnect with our own feminine attributes in a positive way. 

Elephant is a keeper of wisdom. Are you being called as a keeper of wisdom? Are you being called to keep the stories of your ancestors and family?

Journal your connection with Elephant in the Spirit Animal Elephant Printable Journal

SPIRIT ANIMAL ELEPHANT, Animal Guide Totem Meanings, Spirit Companion, Spirit Companionship, Printable Journal Prompts and Cards

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Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Spirit Animals Coloring Pages Planner Journal, Animal Guide, Spirit Totem Animal, Spirit Companion, Undated Planner, Goal Tracker

2. Printable Mandala Coloring Journal Planner and Goal Tracker

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Recently Published . . .

New Books!

My daughter and I created a whole line of Writer’s Notebooks with sarcastic sayings. Use them for NaNoWriMo, notetaking, for work, or journaling!

You can find the rest of the series on the Magic Heron Amazon Author Page

1. Making FUTURISTIC Things Happen: A Writer’s Notebook

2. Making HISTORICAL Things Happen: A Writer’s 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. Moon Meditations: How To Align With The Phases Of The Moon

2. How to Make Homemade Toothpaste (2 Ways)

3. HERBS FOR HEALTH AND CHEER DURING WINTER

4. Mystery Solved: Why You Never See a Baby Pigeon

5. 12 Home Remedies for Earaches – Fast Ear Pain Relief

***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

Herbal Academy Holiday Sale . . .

The Herbal Academy Holiday Sale is one week only!

• The Holiday Sale runs Sunday, December 4 – Sunday, January 8
• ALL Herbal Foundational Courses, Path Packages, and Short Courses will be on sale
• The sitewide sale features markdowns on courses up to 30% off
• No coupon needed, all prices as marked

Herbal Academy Holiday Sale

Fall Recipe . . .

Fall comfort food! I found this delicious recipe on The Pioneer Woman’s site.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Autumn Fun  . . .

Fall Nature Bucket List! Make pinecone crafts!

1. Easy Pinecone Fire Starters

2. DIY GIANT PINE CONE GARLAND

3. DIY Wall Art: Rustic Pinecone Wall Hanging

4. How to Make Pinecone Bird Feeders

Fun Idea From: Fall Nature Bucket List

Nature Walk Video . . .

Nature video to play in the background while you work, walk on a treadmill, or just to relax to!

4K Hazy Day in Mt. Rainier NP – Hiking the Reflection Lake Trail – Mountain Scenery + Nature Sounds

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. Why Journaling is One of the Most Powerful Ways to Transform Your Life

2. 9 Ways to Get Unstuck Through Journaling

3. What to Put in a Traveler’s Notebook

4. NONFICTION WRITERS FEED THEIR SOULS WITH WORDS

5. Tips for Keeping a Sketchbook or Visual Journal

Random Nature Fact . . .

Raccoons are smart! In a study, in less than 10 tries they opened 11 of 13 complex locks. They were able to repeat the action even when the locks were rearranged or turned upside down.

Nature Journal Video . . . 

1. Let’s use eBird and Merlin in a real life birding situation. Do you know how to use eBird for birding? Do you know how to combine it with Merlin and when to use one or the other? Right now I am going to show you how to use both these birding apps at the same time.

How to Use eBird and Merlin

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Elephant facts: 

Lifespan: In the wild, 70 years. In captivity, 16 – 18 years. 

Scientific name: Loxodonta

Weight: Asian elephant: 8,800 lbs., African bush elephant: 13,000 lbs., African forest elephant: 6,000 – 13,000 lbs.

Height: Asian elephant: 8 – 10 ft., African bush elephant: 12 ft., African forest elephant: 8.2 ft.

Habitat: savannas, grasslands, forests, deserts, swamps, tropical highlands

Speed: 25 mph

What it eats: wide variety of plants: savannah grasses, shrubs, herbs, woody trees, bark, fruits

What eats (or preys on) it: lions, human poaching

Did you know? 

Elephants communicate through vibrations. They communicate in several ways, but one is through seismic vibrations in the ground that they detect through their bones.

Nature Tip:

If you are planning a trip to see elephants in the future, here are some essential tips for viewing them safely

Essential tips for safe elephant viewing

What I’m watching . . .

1. I watched the complete 1^st season of Wednesday in one day, it was that good!

New characters are revealed in the official trailer for WEDNESDAY, an upcoming Netflix series from the imagination of Tim Burton. WEDNESDAY — starring Jenna Ortega in the title role, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Gwendoline Christie, Christina Ricci and more — is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Snap snap.

Wednesday Addams | Official Trailer | Netflix

What I’m reading . . .

1. Keeping a Journal You Love by Sheila Bender

What I’m Listening to . . . 

1. Welcome to the Dead of Night’s Book of Shadows, an ambient compilation of magical practices. We continue with herbal magic, often practised by green witches (also known as naturalists, herbalists, and healers). With herbal magic, we draw on energy from the Earth and the Universe, relying on natural objects like stones, gems, plants, flowers, oils, and herbs to perform magic.

Herbal Magic Ambience | A Day of Herbal Spells & Rituals | The Dead of Night Book of Shadows

Quote I’m pondering . . .

Now Autumn’s fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt. 

–William Allingham

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . . 

Autumn is coming to an end and it’s time to transition to a time of rest throughout the winter and go deeper within. How will I celebrate this transition and what journaling and other writing projects is it time to dive into?

Journal Prompt . . .

What are some things you associate with the end of autumn and the beginning of winter? How is this time of transition different from other seasonal changes for you?

Happy Journaling!

. . . Shanna

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I’ll be back on December 18th!

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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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