Issue #48 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature teaches us about inner peace? 

Welcome to the 48th 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 18, 2022

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Hi there !

If you were in the path of that major snow system this week, I hope you made it through safely. It was well north of us, but we did get the high winds and cold off the back side of it. 

It’s almost Winter Solstice (December 21) which means the days will soon start getting longer, even though it won’t seem like it for a while. I’ve included several interesting links below about winter solstice and things to do and eat!

Greebo is growing. We bought her a few catnip toys and she loves them. She is more confident climbing and is all over my closet area. She still gets a claw hung up once in a while, but she is learning how to navigate with them. She is getting a little better about not biting but still likes to sneak-attack-bite when she’s in a mood. I think we will get her one of those stuffed fish that flop back and forth for her next toy!

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal is Dove. It seems fitting, to teach us how to deal with everything that is going on in the world right now. In past December Newsletters, I’ve written about Reindeer/Caribou and Cardinal. You can click on those if you are interested in reading about them. 

Also—A GIFT for you! 

Thank you so much for reading my newsletters! I appreciate you for reading, and if you have bought any of our books or printables, thank you for your support. 

You’ll find the link to your GIFT at the end of this newsletter. I’ve put together a Yule/Christmas/Holiday Meal Planner to help you plan your week and meals. Enjoy!

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

White Dove Symbolism and Meanings:

We live in a world with strife and often pray and hope for peace, but how often do we create peace within our own lives first? Peace is a state of being and if we were to all strive to achieve peace within ourselves, the world would be different. 

Dove’s message now is to focus on bringing peace into yourself. Slow down. Relax. Breathe. 

Be in this moment now and let go of the stress and frenzy around you. Do what works for you to stop the monkey chatter in your mind—meditation, walk in nature, journal, yoga…

White Dove Symbolism and Meanings:

• Love 
• Grace
• Purification
• Hope
• Maternal
• Promise
• Devotion
• Messenger
• Divinity

Message from Dove—Bring peace within yourself first, and it will spread out into the world.

Peace you create within yourself and peace you create around you are one and the same.

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Winter Bucket List Printable, Winter Things, Winter To Do List, Fun Ideas for Families, Kids Activities, Winter Checklist, Sign, Poster

2. Winter Nature Bucket List Printable, Nature Printables, Nature activities Homeschool printables, To Do List Checklist

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. Of Course I’m Epic, I’m a Writer: A Writer’s Notebook | college lined pages | 120 pages

2. Writer–An Epic Creature Fueled By Coffee: A Writer’s Notebook | college lined pages | 120 pages

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. Winter Solstice 2022: When Is It, And What Is It?

2. Yule Log – Enjoying A Simple Winter Solstice Tradition

3. Best Winter Essential Oils & Winter Diffuser Blend

4. HOW TO DECORATE YOUR HOME WITH FRESH GREENERY

5. THE YULE AND WINTER SOLSTICE MENU: RECIPES FOR THE WINTER HOLIDAYS

***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

Winter Recipe . . . 

This recipe for a yule log looks delicious!

Yule Log Cake (Bûche de Noël) – A Festive Holiday Treat

Winter Fun  . . .

Winter Nature Bucket List! Recycle your Christmas tree!

One of the benefits of a live Christmas tree is the many ways you can recycle it after the holidays. Try these articles for several ways to recycle your tree.

1. 8 Sustainable Ways to Recycle your Christmas Tree

2. 20 CRAFTY CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROJECTS

Fun Idea From Winter 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!

4 HRS Walking in a Snow Forest – 4K Winter Virtual Hike with Creaking Snow Sound

Journaling Inspiration . .

1. Can Journaling Permanently Change Your Response to Stress?

2. Handwritten Diaries VS Digital Diaries

3. Writing About a Terminal Diagnosis

4. I Love Creative Writing (Obviously)

5. HOW TO FIND WRITING IDEAS USING MEDITATION, PRAYER, AND INTENTION

Random Nature Fact . . .

Snowflakes come in all sizes! From the width of a hair to just smaller than a penny, the average snowflake falls in different sizes and shapes. The largest snowflake seen was 15 inches wide! That was in 1887 in Fort Keogh, Montana where they claimed the snowflakes were milk-pan sized crystals.

Nature Journal Video . . . 

1. Join me on a walk in the woods. We’ll check out some trees and talk about how to identify trees in wintertime when the leaves are all on the ground. 

Here’s how I learned to identify trees without looking at the leaves.

• Six Things To Look For:
• Overall Color
• Presence of Moss
• Is the Bark Smooth or Rough?
• Color “Splotches”
• Sapling Bark Vs. Mature Tree Bark
• Lines & Ridges

Tree Bark Identification: How To Identify Trees Without Leaves

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

White Dove facts:

Lifespan: 10-15 years

Scientific name: Columbidae

Weight: 5.4 oz

Wingspan: 18.9 – 22.8 inches

Habitat: dense, thorny forests, streamside woodlands, deserts of cactus, urban and suburban areas

Speed: 70 mph

What it eats: berries, fruit, seeds, greens, grains, worms, snails, insects

What eats (or preys on) it: sparrowhawks, falcons, hawks, owls, crows, foxes, rats, snakes, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, dogs, cats

Did you know? 

Doves don’t tuck their heads under their wings while they sleep like most birds do.

17 Fascinating & Fun Dove Facts You Never Knew

Nature Tip:

Attract doves to your yard by putting out seed and water. Doves usually come visit in pairs!

What I’m watching . . .

1. My daughter will be off for a few weeks, and our tradition is to marathon Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and any new shows that drop this month. We always listen to the soundtrack while writing, cleaning or cooking too!

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Official Trailer #1 – (2001) HD

2. The Hobbit Official Trailer #1 – Lord of the Rings Movie (2012) HD

3. Lord Of The Rings – Soundtrack HD Complete (with links)

What I’m reading . . .

1. Keeping a Journal You Love by Sheila Bender

What I’m Listening to . . . 

1. Witch’s Yule Altar 2022 Ambience | The Winter Solstice | Witchy Winter Sounds & ASMR

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

Winter Solstice Sayings:

“Solstice is the reason for the season, so it is our duty to pay respect to them.” 

and

“With the turning of the wheel of time, let us keep our patience and rejoice in the winter solstice.”

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . . 

How will I use journaling and meditation to bring peace within me first? It’s time for shadow work in the journal, going deep within reflecting the darkness of winter before the returning of the light.

Journal Prompt . . .

Journal about your traditions for Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or other days that you celebrate at this time of year. What traditions has your family always celebrated and why? (Do you always make the same cookie recipe?)

What are your favorite memories? Perhaps go through your photo album to write from and be creative with scrapbooking/art media/junk journaling techniques to add your written memories and stories to your photo album.

Reviews . . .

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

Happy Journaling!

. . . Shanna

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I’ll be back on January 1st !

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Links

Shanna Lea Author website
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Magic Heron Creations Etsy Shop

. . . Shanna Lea Author

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