Issue #65 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes the duality of life?

Welcome to the 65th 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 13, 2023

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Hi there

My daughter and I went to see Meg 2 at the theater last weekend and had so much fun. It’s just a fun summer movie to go watch. When we walked out of the theater, there were storms building up all around us and we barely made it back to the house before the heavy rain and hail hit. Then the power went out for a few hours. But, we still had a great time, just getting out and doing something not work related.

Greebo is figuring out how to get up to higher spots in the house—the very tops of cabinets and the upright freezer. I guess I’ll have to pack up the last of the breakables that are in those spots if I want to keep them. She also hates bedtime. She always knows when it’s time and will play keep away from us. Her weakness is curiosity though and we use it against her. Like pretending we are doing something interesting in another room and she can’t help but come investigate. Then we catch her and play with her for a few minutes before popping her in her crate.

I came across some interesting facts this week about the hyena, like back in the early 1900’s people use bring them in as pets. Even one of our presidents had one in the White House. You’ll have to read further down to find out who. And now there are sightings of hyenas in different parts of the country, especially the southeast. They don’t make good pets and I guess those first owners figured that out and let them go. Interesting!

This week’s newsletter Spirit Animal is Hyena.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Hyena Symbolism and Meanings:

Hyena is a dual animal, meaning it does well in solitude or in groups of up to 80. Hyena can teach us about communication with those around us or that when needed, you can back off from everything and enjoy the peacefulness of solitude for a while.

Another dual area of Hyena symbolism is embracing both the feminine and masculine energies within yourself to find balance. Female spotted hyenas have a pseudo-penis that is indistinguishable from males. Females are bigger, more aggressive, and more dominant than the males also.

Hyena Symbolism and Meanings:

• Adaptability
• Communication
• Community
• Humor
• Laughter
• Instinct
• Courage
• Opportunistic
• Self-confidence
• Strength
• Cooperation
• Sensitivity
• Intelligence
• Transitions

Mysterious and powerful, hyenas have been viewed by ancient cultures as symbols of courage, wisdom, strength, and intelligence. They hunt alone or in packs. They think strategically to catch their prey. They embody the duality of life, both good and bad depending on their representation.

Hyena can teach us about that duality within ourselves, as we all carry light and dark energy. When we do our inner work through shadow work, we can let those aspects go as we turn towards the light within us, using the same fierce courage and power as the hyena.

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. Printable Weekly Planner Monday Start Planner Calendars Work Planner Everyday Planner Seascape Ocean Animals Watercolor Letter 8.5×11

2. Spirit Animals Coloring Planner, Animal Guide, Spirit Totem Animal, Spirit Companion, Undated Planner, Goal Tracker, Use with Your Journal

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. 50 Ways to Eat Sardines: …a recipe journal

2. Notebook: Vintage Hot Air Balloons High Flyers | 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. Homemade Shaving Cream

2. Free course! BECOMING AN HERBALIST MINI COURSE

3. If you feel better near salt water, you’re not making it up. It’s called thalassotherapy.

4. What Happens if You Consumed Omega-3 Fish Oils for 30 Days

5. 4 INGREDIENT HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE DRINK (HYDRATING)

***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!

Oh yum! Key lime pie!!

Key Lime Cream Pie

Summer Fun  . . .

Summer Nature Bucket List! Ride in a hot air balloon!

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon? Check out the tips below for your first ride!

The Ultimate Guide for Your First Hot Air Balloon Ride

7 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE HOPPING INTO A HOT AIR BALLOON

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. Writing to Find Your Passions

2. What are you really afraid of?

3. How Gratitude Journaling Can Boost Your Mood and Change Your Life

4. HOW TO USE JOURNALING TO FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

5. Becoming a Nature Journaler

Random Nature Fact . . .

A flea can jump 350 times its body length!

How far and high can fleas jump?

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. Join a conversation with John Muir Laws and Nina Sokolov where she describes the health of managed and wild bees in the US, and how you can help. Did you know that bees can get sick with viruses? Nina describes her research which focuses on the spillover of different viruses between managed honeybees and native wild bees in California. In addition to being a scientist, Nina is also an artist, and uses her observational skills to identify and illustrate the subtle differences between insect species.

Bees!!! In conversation with Nina Sokolov

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Hyena facts:

Lifespan: 12 years

Scientific name: Hyaenidae

Height: up to 3 ft.

Speed: 40 mph

Habitat: savannas, grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, sub deserts, and mountains up to 4,000 meters

What it eats: carrion, bones, vegetable matter, other animal droppings, wildebeest, antelope, birds, lizards, snakes, insects

What eats (or preys on) it: lions and humans

Did you know?

Did you know, President Teddy Roosevelt had a pet hyena in the White House?

21 of Theodore Roosevelt’s Most Memorable Pets

More fun facts:

Hyenas look like dogs but they are not related. They are closely related to cats, mongooses, and civets, but are their own species. There are 4 extant species: striped hyena, brown hyena, spotted hyena, and aardwolf.

What I’m watching . . .

1. If Marty went back 30 years today, it would be in the time my kids were born! How weird is that? I made my kids feel old telling them that haha

Back To The Future (1985) Theatrical Trailer – Michael J. Fox Movie HD

What I’m reading . . .

1. I’m enjoying Amy Tan’s memoir

Where the Past Begins by Amy Tan

What I’m Listening to . . . 

1. Cat TV ~ Mice for Cats to Watch with A Goldfinch Surprise

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“Nothing lasts forever, except the day before you start your vacation.”

~~Gayland Anderson

and

“The stars don’t look bigger, but they do look brighter in summer nights.”

~~Sally Ride

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 favorite childhood memory in nature”

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

Journal Prompt . . .

1. Reflect on the impact of negative self-talk and explore strategies to cultivate positive self-talk.

2. Explore different ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your everyday activities.

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 August 27th!

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