Issue #57 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes new beginnings and heralds in Spring?

Welcome to the 57th 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, April 23, 2023

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Hi there !

Greebo seems to be settling down the last few weeks. Now she jumps up on my chest and demands to be held for just a bit before going off on another adventure of fly hunting. She does a ‘trill’ sound as she gets aggravated at not being able to catch the fly. It’s cute, and it keeps her busy!

We are finally in the 80s and I’m loving it. Bright sunny days, windy, dry, but it’s warm. We’ve had more Spring sightings of more buds, blooms, and baby birds. The mommas are teaching the littles how to eat. It’s so funny seeing the parent peck and practically point out the seeds and the baby just sits there with it’s mouth open just waiting to be fed. Growing up is hard. Haha

Denis Ledoux’s sale on The Inspired Memoir Writer is open for a few more days before the price goes up. If you’d like to get that first draft written within a small group setting online, this is a good program. 

This week’s newsletter Spirit Animal is Robin, a cheerful little bird that heralds in Spring.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Robin Symbolism and Meanings:

Robins are the first herald of Spring and a sign that the return of warmth is on its way.

It’s time to celebrate! Little buds on the trees, Spring flowers ready to bloom, and warming days. Robin lets us know that we can soon put away our winter coats and enjoy the renewal of the season.

Robin Symbolism and Meanings:

• Joy
• Hope
• Clarity 
• Renewal
• Pleasure
• Happiness
• Bright future
• New beginning

Call on Robin to bring clarity and new perspective to situations that are unclear or if your judgement is clouded. Robin can shed light on the issue. 

Robin says it’s time to shake the winter sleepiness out of your head, get moving, and start enjoying your life! It’s time for new beginnings. So keep a light heart and cheer during this special season.

–

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Printable Garden Planner Bundle, Garden Journal, Homestead Garden, Plant Profile, Seed Starting, Planting Guide, Garden Layout, Organizer

2. Homestead Printable, Reading Checklist, Homestead Planner, Books to Read, Bookmarks, Homestead Gifts, Farmhouse, Cottagecore, Book Tracker

–

Recently Published . . .

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 the notebooks on the Magic Heron Amazon Author Page

This week I’m promoting a dog journal and a nature journal.

1. All the Walkies!: A dog walking journal

2. 5 Senses Journal: Build awareness skills of your surroundings

–

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. Seashells Custom Name Notebook

2. Starfish Custom Name Notebook

The Inspired Memoir Writer program . . .

CLOSING SOON!

1. Register now for this class which starts April 25, 2023. Sale ends April 21^st.

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. The Last Female Eagle Hunter of Mongolia: A Captivating Portrait of an Ancient Tradition

2. What Are Sun Halos, Sun Dogs, And Sun Pillars?

3. 40+ DIY Bird Feeders That Our Feathered Friends Will Love

4. EASY HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE (ONLY TWO INGREDIENTS)

5. DIY FORAGED CHICKWEED SALVE

***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!

Twice Baked Honey Cakes

Spring Fun  . . .

Spring Nature Bucket List! Try foraging for edible and medicinal plants !

What to Forage in Spring: 20 Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi

Fun Idea From: Spring 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!

Nature Serenity of the May Valley Loop Trail – 4K Dreamy Forest Walk on a Sunny Summer Day

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. How to Get Motivated Again after a Writing Lapse

2. Writing Wild by Tina Welling – Journaling Book Recommendation

3. Cooking Life Into Fiction: Writing From What You Know

4. Creating a Bullet Journal for Writers for Planning and Recording

5. GET OUT OF YOUR WRITING FUNK BY MAKING WRITING FUN AGAIN

Random Nature Fact . . .

Giant anteaters don’t have teeth. They use their 2 foot long tongue to eat ants and termites!

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. Today John Muir Laws is joined by special guest Matthew Dodder, a nature and science educator and leader from the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. Matthew shares his inspiring bird art and his approach to colored pencils to creating dynamic portraits of birds. Learn how you can get involved and share your own artwork in the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s upcoming project, Birdcassos, on Wednesday April 5th.

Find Your Inner Birdcasso!

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Robin facts: 

Lifespan: 2 years

Scientific name: Turdus migratorius

Weight: 2.7 oz

Speed: 20-35 mph

Habitat: woodlands, suburban backyards, parks, grasslands with shrubs

What it eats: earthworms, insects, berries

What eats (or preys on) it: squirrels, snakes, other birds eat the eggs and chicks, hawks, snakes, cats

Did you know? 

Robins eat different foods at different times of the day—earthworms in the morning and fruit later in the day. They spend the majority of their time foraging on lawns and are vulnerable to pesticides. 

More fun facts:

Robins are very territorial and will fight to the death defending their area!

Nature Tip:

Although Robins all look the same, each one has a unique red breast pattern.

10 Fun Facts About Robins

What I’m watching . . .

1. All around good movie! Classic man vs nature theme, intense action. Loved it!

65 – Official Trailer (HD)

What I’m reading . . .

1. The View from the Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman

What I’m Listening to . . . 

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

Tropical Reef Camera powered by EXPLORE.org

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry. Sunshine on the water looks so lovely. Sunshine almost always makes me high.”

—John Denver

and

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

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:

“a time you pushed yourself further than you thought you could go”

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

Journal Prompt . . .

There are lots of spring festivals where you can look at blooming trees and other plants. There are spring food festivals celebrating farm fresh fruits, cheeses and meats. Go to one and then journal the importance of these festivals to you, and perhaps to your ancestors.

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 May 7th !

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