Issue #74 The Magic Heron Newsletter – What creature symbolizes cheer and burst of energy?

Welcome to the 74th issue of The Magic Heron Newsletter, a fortnightly newsletter with a focus on journaling, writing, and learning through nature’s wisdom. 

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Texas, December 17, 2023

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Hi there Shanna

Today’s journaling tip: Which is better for journaling: paper and pen or a computer?

There are pros and cons to both writing by hand or using a computer. It depends on your preference and what you are wanting to accomplish. I have used both and find that my brain functions differently with each.

Writing by hand allows me to slow down to think through my thoughts and feelings as I write. A journal is easily portable. I like to take my journal with me when I go out to the park, run errands, or sit at the coffee shop. My journal is easily accessible wherever I go.

A computer can be distracting, but if I want to get my thoughts down quickly and have a lot that I want to write, then I’ll use it. I use the Scrivener program I downloaded, set it up on full screen so I won’t be distracted by open tabs on the internet browser.

The computer screen is bright and distracting, whereas a journal is soft for my eyes to look at and the act of writing ‘pen to paper’ allows me to turn my focus inward with more mindfulness. A computer allows me to write a lot and much more quickly if I have a lot on my mind.

What do you use to journal with? Do you prefer pen and paper? Or a computer or other device?

Winter Solstice and Holiday Celebrations

The next 2 weeks will be busy with the Winter Solstice and all the holiday celebrations as well as the New Year. Thank you for reading my newsletters and supporting me through my books and printables. I appreciate you!

This week Cardinal has shown up as the Spirit Animal for the newsletter. Check it out below and see if any of Cardinal’s teachings resonate with you.

Happy journaling!

This week’s Newsletter Spirit Animal

Cardinal Symbolism and Meanings:

Cardinal teaches us to have pride in ourselves, not ego pride, but to have a natural confidence in ourselves as we lead our lives with grace and nobility.

The male cardinal sports the bright red plumage. The more bold the color, the better his chances of increasing his lineage. Dull colored cardinals are less likely to find mates. The red males will defend their territories aggressively, even if they are fighting their own reflection in a mirror!

Both males and females bring us cheer through their songs, singing “cheer, cheer, cheer!”, delighting us both visually and hearing them.

Cardinal Symbolism and Meanings:

• Cheer
• Pride
• Energy
• Renewal
• Focus
• Hope
• Love

If you get the winter blues, call on Cardinal to give you a boost of energy and vitality.

Recently Published . . .

New Printables!

I am in the middle of moving a lot of my printables to a new platform called Payhip. I have all the Spirit Animal Journals moved and will continue to put out a new one about once a month. Check out the new shop and I’ll be adding new planners and ebooks there soon!

1. New shop: Shanna Lea Author / Magic Heron Creations Printables

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

3. Life of Abundance Journal and Tracker Printable, Abundance Log Planner Inserts, Manifestation Journaling Pages, Wealth Diary, Digital PDF

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. Homemade Spice Mix Recipes: 62 Tasty Spice Blends and Seasonings for Vegetables, Meat Dishes and Fish

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. The First Day of Winter: Winter Solstice 2023

2. 2023 DIY Gift Guide + Free Herb-Inspired Gift Tag Template

3. THIS DIY PEPPERMINT CANDY CANE BODY SCRUB WILL EXFOLIATE DRY SKIN AND LEAVE YOU FEELING REFRESHED

4. 12 WEIRD, WILD WINTER FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD

5. 63 Winter Activities to Banish the Cold Weather Blues

***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

Big Announcement! . . .

Holiday Sale on all printable planners and Spirit Animal Journals—70% off!

Click here: Holiday Sale

Autumn Recipe . . .

Celebrate Autumn with seasonal recipes! Cook a ham for the holidays!

How to Make the Perfect Baked Ham for the Holidays | You Can Cook That | Allrecipes.com

Autumn Fun  . . .

Autumn Nature Bucket List! Learn to knit!

HOW TO KNIT FOR BEGINNERS: The Ultimate Guide

Journaling Inspiration . . .

1. What Do You Do With Your Journals?

2. Naming my Moleskine

3. HOW TO: JOURNALING WITH FEATHERS

4. How To Keep A Nature Journal (EASY)

5. HOW TO: JOURNAL COLLAGES

Random Nature Fact . . .

On the Winter Solstice, Stonehenge is aligned to the sunset.

25 Facts About the Winter Solstice, the Shortest Day of the Year

Nature Journal Video . . .

1. Join John Muir Laws, Anne Chadwick, (Point Blue Conservations Science), John Chadwick (Antarctic Researcher), and the Nature Journal community for a discussion of our December Solstice observations, penguin research, and the experience of working in the Antarctic during the solstice. See how different journalers documented the solstice!

Winter Solstice After Party

Nature Journal Prompt . . .

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

Cardinal facts:

Lifespan: 3-5 years

Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis

Weight: 1.5 oz

Speed: 19-37 mph

Habitat: woodland edges, thickets, suburban gardens, towns, desert washes, forest clearings, swamps, city parks, backyards

What it eats: beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, flies, spiders, centipedes, snails, seeds of weeds and grasses, waste grain, leaf buds, flowers, berries, wild fruits

What eats (or preys on) it: cats, dogs, Cooper’s hawks, loggerhead shrikes, northern shrikes, eastern gray squirrels, long-eared owls, eastern screech owls, snakes,

Did you know?

The red in Cardinal’s feathers comes from the food they eat. The carotenoids in fruits like dogwood berries, wild grapes, and mulberries produce the reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows in their feathers.

10 Fun Facts About the Northern Cardinal

What I’m watching . . .

A couple of good movies for the holidays:

1. Home Alone – Official® Trailer [HD]

2. Hogfather (2006) – Trailer

3. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

What I’m reading . . .

What’s on my bookshelf:

These have been favorite writing books I’ve always kept on my bookshelf to refer to over and over.

1. I’ll be starting a new book to work from with my writing for December.

Little Stories of Your Life: Find your voice, share your world and tell your story by Laura Pashby

Quotes I’m pondering . . .

“A wet autumn morning, a garbage truck clattering down the street. The first snowfall of the season, blossom sized flakes falling languidly and melting on the ground, a premature snowfall delicate as lace, rapidly melting.”

— Joyce Carol Oates

and

“Wisdom comes with winters.”

— Oscar Wilde

Questions I’m considering journaling on . . .

If I could tell my younger self any one thing, what would it be?

(ohhh, so many things!)

Journal Prompt . . .

Journal and record your memories for this holiday season (and past ones).

Write down family stories and history and share them at your family gatherings. Gather more stories and start writing a book!

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 December 31st !

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