Issue #63 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes bringing balance to your life?

Welcome to the 63rd 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, July 16, 2023

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Hi there

Greebo has figured out how to find and steal my daughter’s stuffed animals she keeps in her room. It’s a stuffed Boston Terrier that looks like her dog. We have to hide it because my dog used to shred toys. But now Greebo drags it out of the bedroom and into the living room and then it’s fair game!

This morning my dog came and sat beside me wanting constant attention to the point of being annoying and when I looked around the room, there it was, the forbidden stuffed toy. And Greebo sitting next to it looking very smug. So this time, my dog told me so he wouldn’t get in trouble! Hahaha

We’ve had 100F days, but not much over that. It’s definitely worse down south. The extreme heat warnings are inching closer to us though. This last one was only one county away. If this extreme heat shifts again, we will be in it as well.

So, instead of thinking about the heat, I’m thinking about the beach and a bird I’ve never seen before in person. It’s quite interesting and a striking color!

This week’s newsletter Spirit Animal is Flamingo.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

American Flamingo Symbolism and Meanings:

The first striking characteristic of a flamingo is their bright pink plumage. The pink comes from their diet of brine shrimp and algae. The brighter pink they are, the healthier the bird. Pink symbolizes harmony and contentment.

Another trait is they stand on one leg for hours, symbolizing balance. Flamingo can teach us how to balance our lives between the tasks that need doing and spending time living joyfully.

American Flamingo Symbolism and Meanings:

• Balance
• Cooperation
• Beauty
• Brightness
• Joy
• Family
• Relationships
• Simplicity
• Community
• Alluring
• Nurturing
• Serenity
• Steadfastness

Flamingos live in colonies and teach us about community and communication. In a group, they do not scatter. This teaches about “sticking together”.

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Letter writing – Autumn Sunflowers printable stationery – digital download

2. Cat and Mouse Toy Print Printable Stationery, Pattern Background, Letter Writing Paper, Lined, Unlined, Planner Inserts, Notepaper for Women

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. 5 Senses Journal: Build awareness skills of your surroundings

2. Nature Day by Day: A 30 Day Guided Journal

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. Nature’s impact on health and wellness; people need their ‘Vitamin N’

2. Honey Onion Cough Syrup, with Rosemary Gladstar

3. How To Make Flower Cookies

4. 5 Iced Teas For Summer

5. Try a Cooling Herbal Compress for Hot Summer Days

***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

MasterClass Writers Series . . .

I’m watching several of the writers classes on MasterClass.com since my daughter and I just got a subscription. We are enjoying them all. MasterClass has many other categories too! Like Food, Music, Home & Lifestyle, Science & Tech and much more. Well worth the annual subscription for how much knowledge you can learn on there.

R. L. Stine

My daughter grew up on R.L. Stine books and she loved this writing series of his on MasterClass. If you ever wanted to write for kids, take a look at his class.

R.L. STINE

(this is an affiliate link)

Summer Recipe . . .

Celebrate summer with seasonal recipes!

THE RIBS MY WIFE CAN’T STOP ASKING ME TO MAKE… | SAM THE COOKING GUY

Summer Fun  . . .

Summer Nature Bucket List! Go camping!

9 Science-Backed Benefits Of Camping

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. Your Memoir: an Arrest of Disorder

2. Mood Tracking 101: Journaling And How To Get Started

3. Journaling connected this Rockville family. Now they have their own line of journals.

4. Reading Journal Ideas: How to Keep a Reading Journal

5. Gen Z is revamping journaling as a way to boost well-being

Random Nature Fact . . .

Starfish do not have a brain!

12 Animals That Don’t Have a Brain and How The Heck They Survive!

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. How can you draw lively, babbling brooks and cascades? Let’s sit beside the stream and draw. Rocks and waterfalls time!

The Mountain Stream

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

American Flamingo facts:

Lifespan: 40-60 years

Scientific name: Phoenicopterus ruber

Height: 5 feet tall

Wingspan: 5 feet

Weight: 5-6 lbs

Speed: 35-40 mph

Habitat: shallows of salt or brackish water or alkaline lakes

What it eats: algae, small seeds, and aquatic invertebrates such as brine, fly larvae, shrimp, and mollusks

What eats (or preys on) it: raccoons, marguay, jaguar, humans, birds of prey

Did you know?

Flamingos eat upside down!

10 FUN FACTS About FLAMINGOS That May Surprise You

What I’m watching . . .

We are celebrating Independence Day week watching some of our favorite movies

Being as it’s tornado season, this is one of our favorites!

1. Twister (1996) – Original Trailer

What I’m reading . . .

1. I finished The Meg and have started The Trench. Good so far!

The Trench

What I’m Listening to . . . 

1. Bird Sounds in A Summer Garden

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“Winter is copper, autumn is bronze, spring is silver, and summer is gold.”

~~ Matshona Dhliwayo

and

“Celebrate summer, sundrenched days and starlit nights.” ~~Gooseberry Patch

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . .

Summer is now here and before we know it, it will be gone. Time to reflect on past summer memories and write them in a scrapbook with pictures!

Journal Prompt . . .

What is the most ridiculous solution you ever came up with to beat the summer heat? Did it work?

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 July 30th!

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