Issue #67 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes courage in facing your shadows and fears?

Welcome to the 67th 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, September 10, 2023

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Hi there !

What story do I tell myself that isn’t true?

I stumbled onto this blog post (it’s included in the journaling inspiration section below), from the author who took the class by the same title from writing instructor Mark Matousek.

It reminded me of when I took that same class from Mark Matousek years ago. I was going through a lot of post trauma and his class helped me sort through not only the issues I was dealing with at the time, but also what led up to them.

I had told myself that if I was just good enough, did all the things enough, was just “enough”, then my parents/husband/other people would finally love me the way I needed.

Through his class I was able to cut through the bullshit with myself and learn that I was already “enough” and that the issues went much deeper than just me. It was their toxic upbringings and behavior that were the problem. And I was reacting instead of having confidence in myself and my own abilities. I learned what was triggering me and my part in how each of the relationships played out.

I moved on from each of them when the other party decided they were going to stay in their toxic patterns. I saved myself by leaving and working on my own shadows and fears.

What stories do you tell yourself about your life? Journaling is a way to cut through that bullshit and find your way to your true self. It involves some shadow work, being honest with ourselves and facing our own demons. But when we do, we find peace and freedom that we didn’t know was already there.

Autumn Equinox is coming up. A change in the seasons, a change in our lives preparing for the coming winter. A time of darkness. This week’s newsletter Spirit Animal will be Bat, who can help us navigate the shadow and darkness within.

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Bat Symbolism and Meanings:

When it’s time for a major life change or you need courage to face the shadows within, it’s time to call on Bat to help us face our fears.

Bats can seem frightening and fascinating at the same time. Bat can help us when we are afraid of changes or feeling misunderstood by those around us. Bat is sensitive to its surroundings, and can teach you how to sense your own surroundings more fully.

Bat lives in caves and caverns and comes out at night to hunt for insects and other foods. This has symbolically been tied to the underworld and death. But when we look closer, we see that Bat lives in the Mother’s womb, the earth, and symbolizes birth, renewal, and new beginning.

Bat Symbolism and Meanings:

• Death
• Life
• Endings
• Beginnings
• Psychic gifts
• Major transitions
• Darkness
• Fears
• Intuition

Bat is very sociable within its own group. They use echolocation to sense their surroundings and find their prey. Bat can teach you how to sense your surroundings and tune into vibrational frequencies.

Bat can teach you to “see” with all of your senses. Take some time to refine your taste, touch, smell, sight, hearing, and other abilities you have. And journal with Bat in mind as you hone in on your skills and develop your intuition.

Recently Published . . .

New in the Etsy Shop

1. SPIRIT ANIMAL Garden Spider, Animal Guide Totem Meanings, Spirit Companion, Spirit Companionship, Printable Journal Prompts and Cards

2. SPIRIT ANIMAL Horse, Animal Guide Totem Meanings, Spirit Companion, Spirit Companionship, Printable Journal Prompts and Cards

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. Salmon Patties, Cakes and Burgers: 25 Best Fish Patty Recipes

2. 2-Ingredient Cookbook: . . . for Busy People

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. Fall Equinox – When Is The First Day Of Fall?

2. 7 Cooling Herbal Drinks for Summer

3. 3 Apple Cider-Inspired Mocktails for Fall

4. PRESERVING THE SUMMER GARDEN WITH BOUQUET GARNI DE PROVENCE ICE CUBES

5. Herb Notes: The Medicinal Benefits of Garlic

***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

Free ebook! . . .

Get back into school spirit with the “11 Herbal Recipes for Memory and Focus” Ebook

FREE download!

The Herbal Academy Back to School Sale . . .

BACK TO SCHOOL DETAILS:

Ends Sept 18: Regular Back to School pricing with up to 30% off herbal courses and path packages! (No coupon needed)

Back to School highlights include:

– $100 of the Intermediate Herbal Course

– $100 off the Business Herbal Course

– Herbal Materia Medica Course is only $39!

– And more!

Click here to take advantage of these savings: Back to School Sale

Summer Recipe . . .

Celebrate summer with seasonal recipes!

Celebrate your garden harvest with this yummy recipe!

Summer Vegetable Gnocchi Salad

Summer Fun  . . .

Summer Nature Bucket List! Learn how to skip rocks!

Learn to skip stones better with competitive skipper Dave Ohmer of Erie

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. From the Page of My Journal – Story I Tell Myself That Isn’t True

2. The benefits of journaling: 10 reasons to start writing your thoughts and feelings

3. Starting a new journal! Working in a TINY art journal

4. Guest Post by Lisa Turner: Why You Should Believe in Yourself and Share Your Stories

5. 7 Ways to Keep Your Journal Private

Random Nature Fact . . .

Horned lizards can shoot blood from the eyes when they feel threatened by a predator.

This Small But Mighty Lizard Has An Incredible Defense Mechanism | Little Giants

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. Join naturalist John Muir Laws as he breaks down the steps for a rich journaling experience on the next Equinox or Solstice. Learn how to make natural history observations, make a sky map, use a shadow target, and more!

Solstice and Equinox Journaling

2. Join John Muir Laws and journalers from around the world as we share our observations and field notes from the equinox!

Exploring the Equinox in your Journal (video discussion)

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Bat facts:

Lifespan: 10-20 years

Scientific name: Chiroptera

Weight: western pipistrelle bat: weighs less than a penny. Greater mastiff bat weights 2 oz. The giant golden-crowned flying fox bat comes in at a hefty 3 lbs. and 5 feet long.

Speed: over 100 mph

Habitat: tropical forests, woodlands, open fields, river valleys, suburban and urban communities, deserts

What it eats: Microbats feed on beetles, bugs, flies, moths, cockroaches, mosquitos, ants, wasps, dragonflies. Megabats feed on fruit, pollen, and nectar

What eats (or preys on) it: hawks, owls, house cats, raccoons, snakes, falcons, crocodiles

Did you know?

If we didn’t have bats, we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, and other fruits we enjoy.

13 Awesome Facts About Bats

Baby Bat Burritos

What I’m watching . . .

1. I’m really loving this first season of Ahsoka.

Ahsoka | Official Trailer | Disney+

What I’m reading . . .

1. I’m still reading this… it’s really good so far.

Becoming Crone: A Paranormal Women’s Midlife Fiction Book (The Crone Wars 1) by Lydia M Hawke

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

~~William Shakespeare

and

We know summer is the height of being alive.”

~~Gary Shteyngart

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . .

My best friend and I are half way through our 30 Day Gratitude Challenge that we mail to each other. I’ve found it interesting the things we both write in our notecards. It’s been a mix of the little things (like enjoying a moment of sunshine and peace in a hectic day) and the big things (thankful for our kids, sources of income, etc).

We also discovered that sending a card a day does not result in receiving a card a day. We live 1,000 miles apart and both went almost a week at the same time of not receiving a card from the other, and then getting all 5 or 6 of those cards in one day. Not sure how that happened. Questions to ponder!

Journal Prompt . . .

By the time you receive the next newsletter, the Autumn Equinox will have happened the day before.

Journal your plans for that day. Watch the video above in the nature journaling section on recording the Autumn Equinox in your area.

Spend a few minutes that day to pause and feel the shift from summer to autumn.

Find a fall recipe to make to celebrate the shifting of seasons and reflect on what you want to do during Autumn.

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

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I’ll be back on September 24th !

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