A little girl’s transformation through a walk in the woods opens a glimpse into nature’s gifts of excitement, peacefulness, and joy. Ava often feels that everyone else knows what they are supposed to be doing except her! She feels alone and doesn’t fit in with her classmates. One day she looks for a heron by the stream. Will Ava find the heron and understand the heron’s message? The Heron’s Message helps children relish observing and being outdoors. It offers a doorway into contentment and connection to nature's creatures. Ava’s journey to find the heron releases something deep within herself. Will the heron help her discover her passion and purpose? Will Ava’s journey to the stream to see the heron change her life forever?

Open your heart and mind to the wisdom of the animal world. Animal Speak provides techniques for recognizing and interpreting the signs and omens of nature. Meet and work with animals as totems and spirit guides by learning the language of their behaviors within the physical world. Animal Speak shows you how to: Identify, meet, and attune to your spirit animals Discover the power and spiritual significance of more than 100 different animals, birds, insects, and reptiles Call upon the protective powers of your animal totem Create and use five magical animal rites, including shapeshifting and sacred dance This beloved, bestselling guide has become a classic reference for anyone wishing to forge a spiritual connection with the majesty and mystery of the animal world.

An inspiring and groundbreaking work that brilliantly illuminates the eternal power of love and the unbreakable bond it creates. As a mother and former business executive, Bonnie McEneaney was always skeptical of the spiritual world and all that it represents. When her husband, Eamon, died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, she thought she had lost him forever. Then Bonnie began to have experiences that convinced her that her husband, in spirit, was sending her signs—indeed messages—that he was still present and watching over his family. After talking to other families and friends of loved ones lost on 9/11, she realized she was not alone. In Messages, Bonnie shares the miraculous spiritual stories of numerous others connected to the tragedy while weaving in her heartfelt personal message of comfort and hope. For all who are searching for their own deeper connections, this extraordinary book is indispensable proof that love and relationships can continue . . . even after death.

This beloved short story - a classic coming-of-age tale by the author of The Country of the Pointed Firs is gloriously illustrated with pencil drawings by Maine artist Douglas Alvord. Sylvia, a city girl more at home with animals than with people, has come to the Maine Woods to live with her grandmother. One summer afternoon in the late 1800s, her life is changed forever when she meets an attractive young ornithologist searching for birds to snare, stuff, preserve, and display.

Behold the power of nature with this illustrated field guide to recognizing and understanding the messages that the universe sends us through the birds we see in our daily lives. Birds are all around us—pecking at the sidewalk, perching on a nearby tree branch, flying in the sky above our heads. But have you considered the possibility that there is a deeper meaning behind each blue jay sighting or the call of a hawk? The Hidden Meaning of Birds can help you decipher the special message your avian oracle is trying to share. The Hidden Meaning of Birds isn’t just your typical field guide to birds. In addition to a physical description of a variety of common bird species, it also includes the folklore and unique symbolism associated with each to help you understand the changes these mystical creatures want you to make in your life. A blue jay may be urging you to examine your communication habits. A cardinal may be telling you to stand up for yourself. The list goes on. The illustrations and descriptions are easy to follow along, and it includes beginner terms for both spiritual guidance and bird identification. With this enlightening volume as your inspiration, get ready to reexamine your life from a bird’s eye view—one robin, crow, and hummingbird at a time.

"Astonishing...With the intensity of a perfect balance between the mythic and the real, The Rain Heron keeps turning and twisting, taking you to unexpected places. A deeply emotional and satisfying read. Beautifully written." --Jeff VanderMeer, author of Borne. One of LitHub's Most Anticipated Books of 2021. A gripping novel of myth, environment, adventure, and an unlikely friendship, from an award-winning Australian author Ren lives alone on the remote frontier of a country devastated by a coup d'état. High on the forested slopes, she survives by hunting, farming, trading, and forgetting the contours of what was once a normal life. But her quiet stability is disrupted when an army unit, led by a young female soldier, comes to the mountains on government orders in search of a legendary creature called the rain heron—a mythical, dangerous, form-shifting bird with the ability to change the weather. Ren insists that the bird is simply a story, yet the soldier will not be deterred, forcing them both into a gruelling quest. Spellbinding and immersive, Robbie Arnott’s The Rain Heron is an astounding, mythical exploration of human resilience, female friendship, and humankind’s precarious relationship to nature. As Ren and the soldier hunt for the heron, a bond between them forms, and the painful details of Ren’s former life emerge—a life punctuated by loss, trauma, and a second, equally magical and dangerous creature. Slowly, Ren's and the soldier’s lives entwine, unravel, and ultimately erupt in a masterfully crafted ending in which both women are forced to confront their biggest fears—and regrets. Robbie Arnott, one of Australia’s most acclaimed young novelists, sews magic into reality with a steady, confident hand. Bubbling with rare imagination and ambition, The Rain Heron is an emotionally charged and dazzling novel, one that asks timely yet eternal questions about environment, friendship, nationality, and the myths that bind us.

Meaning, Discourse and Society investigates the construction of reality within discourse. When people talk about things such as language, the mind, globalisation or weeds, they are less discussing the outside world than objects they have created collaboratively by talking about them. Wolfgang Teubert shows that meaning cannot be found in mental concepts or neural activity, as implied by the cognitive sciences. He argues instead that meaning is negotiated and knowledge is created by symbolic interaction, thus taking language as a social, rather than a mental, phenomenon. Discourses, Teubert contends, can be viewed as collective minds, enabling the members of discourse communities to make sense of themselves and of the world around them. By taking an active stance in constructing the reality they share, people thus can take part in moulding the world in accordance with their perceived needs.

Learn to interpret the messages the animal world has for you! A bird knocks insistently on your window, your cat brings you a lizard, you find yourself face to face with a spider or you dream of an elephant ... what if each animal had a message for you? Animals have always been a source of fascination for humans - we love to watch them, learn about them and keep them as pets. But what if animals could actually communicate with us? In this complete guide, you'll find everything you need to know about the symbolism and signs of more than 150 animals, whether they appear to you in a dream or 'happen' to cross your path. You'll learn their individual characteristics as well as the elements and seasons they're associated with. You'll also discover what these encounters mean for different aspects of your life including love, career, family and health. Messages from the animal world are always filled with compassion but animals aren't there to flatter your ego. Rather, they aim to help you advance in consciousness in your life's journey. Sometimes you'll receive an encouraging sign that confirms you're on the right path or guidance to help you move forward. Other times, an animal will deliver a deeper lesson for you to explore, because that's how we learn. More than anything, their messages can open avenues of questioning and help to make your way forward clearer. The animals wish you well; they want you to hear their messages. Let them become your guides!