Tarot and Art-cast for Oct 6-19, 2024

October 5, 2024 Nina

It’s that time of the year again when I spotlight art that is eerie. The art this week is the surrealist paintings of Tetsuya Ishida (石田徹也). Ishida exposes the pressure and anxieties of ordinary life in urban Japan. His paintings resonate with all of us how hard it can be to try to bear the weight of society’s expectations. Having us ponder: what is the essence of me?

Your pondering: Surrealism as an art form “aims to liberate the mind through the exploration of the subconscious, dreams, and chance.” Surrealism is much like modern Halloween. Halloween is a moment that gives us the freedom to play being who we would like to be or an element of ourselves that we would like to explore which during our “normal” life we cannot. So, my pondering for you is thinking back to the costumes you have worn, what did they let you experience?

Solar System highlights

Posting again – I need some feedback- How many of you want/use this part? Please reply – if it is at least 10 people – I’ll still include. 2 of you out of 300 answered back, so I’m posting this for one more cycle for you all to respond.

The moon begins in Sagittarius – the beginning of week might be challenging to find a focus. By Wednesday you hit your stride with the moon in Capricorn giving us focus and energy. On Saturday the moon is in Aquarius when it is best to go with the flow. Then Monday October 14^th the moon washes into Pisces. Great time for your imagination and daydreams. Again, on Wednesday October 16^th our energy gets reignited with an Aries moon. And lastly, we end this cycle with the moon landing in one of its favorite places on Friday, Taurus. Which sets us up for a cozy and grounding weekend.

Mercury is Libra until October 13^th. We get to work on balancing our listening and speaking, especially in our close relationships. Then it moves into Scorpio until October 31^st, which will be a fun Halloween to explore and express your passions.

Venus is in Scorpio until October 15th. This is a very sensual vibe, as well as a great time for transformation. Then it moves into Sagittarius until December 7^th. Where it supports exploration of beauty and harmony.

Mars is still in Cancer until November 3^rd. Not its favorite place. Often our plans go sideways but this is the genius of this placement- to find ways around instead of straight through a problem.

And our longer aspects: Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Gemini until June of 2025. This placement is here to help us work with opportunities to grow and succeed through intellectual, verbal, and written pursuits. However, we must also watch its challenging aspects: not following through, gossip, too much information and fickleness. And lastly Saturn is in Pisces until February 2026 teaching us how to be more fluid and inclusive in our structures.

EXTRA

** Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Libra this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Aries it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time.

*** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

Four of Air – The Muse of Rest is here to get you to slow down and plug for a bit. Usually, this muse shows up when you are not realizing you need to take a break. That is a break in all areas: mental, emotional, and physical. For some of you this muse is warning you that your immune system is low so it will be easy for you to catch a cold. For others it may mean you need to step back from a relationship and reassess your part in it. And for the rest it means a mental break from social media and just being on 24/7. The key for all of you is space and time to restore and rebalance yourself.

Taurus

Six of Earth – The Muse of Giving is hanging with you all for the next two weeks. This muse reminds you that small acts of gratitude and kindness are worth taking the time for this cycle. Libra season is a celebration of family and creating harmony, so it will be easier to give to those close to you. But this muse would also like you to extend a hand out into your broader world, with a smile and nod to your neighbor. Your motto: treat people like you would like to be treated.

Gemini

Three of Fire – The Muse of Negotiation comes when you need to work on compromise and diplomacy. This energy fits right into this season of Libra where the focus is on family and harmony. This means that you need to work more on your compromising skills, and to look at where you are giving in to much. Your negotiations for the coming weeks should aspire to be win-win scenarios.

Cancerian

Ten of Fire – The Muse of Burdens comes when you are doing too much. Yes, you have responsibilities but for the next two weeks the muses would like you to lay some of them down. She suggests that you prioritize your list by what needs to get done just within these next two weeks and pick the top ten. Then take the last 3 off. This is not a time to multi-task but work on one item until you get stuck then move to the next. And she reminds as the stewardess of your coming weeks: Put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on others.

Leo

Eight of Clouds – The Muse of Binding comes when you are attaching yourself to thought patterns that no longer work for you. She reminds you that this is not a judgement of those thoughts or processes. They served their purpose. But now is the time to let them go and align yourself with new mythos, goals, morals or ethics that are more appropriate and helpful for now.

Virgo

*Moon – The Muse of Emoting is here to help you navigate the slightly obscured emotional waters in and around you. These next two weeks take extra care with your emotions and others. She suggests you let your heart have a soft focus when dealing with emotional expectations, for during this time your emotional reasoning is slightly off as well as the emotional environment around you being somewhat precarious. This uncertain is not out of spite or purpose but out of an inability due to skill set or time to self-reflect.

Libra

*Lovers – The Muse of Relationships fits right in with your birth-month vibe. She would like you to review and revise, if necessary, the relationships you would like to focus on in your coming birth-year. Relationships always play a big role in you all’s lives, but this year the focus will be even stronger. She asks – who would you like to spend time within the coming year? Who is your “ride or die” crew? What do you need to work on to be a better partner, friend, co-worker? Are the relationships you are in balanced? This is the birth year to correct, re-balance and spend more time with the ones you love, and expand your relationships with the ones you want to.

Scorpio

Seven of Earth – The Muse of Harvest is appropriately here right before your new birth-year. She advises this is the best time to review what you have done since your last birthday and finish up any lose ends that you do not want to carry into the next. So, by your birthday you can take stock of what you have and what you will need, so you can properly set up goals and aspirations for 2025.

Sagittarius

Mind of Earth – The Muse of Building is hanging with you these next two weeks to get you to the next level in a project or any focus you set your eyes on. This can be improving your exercise regimen, getting to a new point in a work project, cross off a bunch of tiny to-dos on your list. This muse can give you energy, insight or incentive. So, pay attention to people offering the latter two and taking advantage of the former when it shows up.

Capricorn

*Strength – The next couple of weeks can try your resolve. So, the Muse of Inner Strength is here to help. She reminds you that you have gone through way worse, but you also now have the wisdom to not repeat previous misconstrues, mistakes and mishaps. So, you have strengthened your spiritual backbone with poise and confidence that you can now lean on. You got this if you just stay true to who you are and your vision.

Aquarius

*Hanged One – The Muse of Suspension is here to point out that inertia can be your friend. She reminds you that a stop can give you time to think, a breathe, a moment of relaxation, or realign you or situation to a better outcome. So, take these two weeks as they come. Try not to push an agenda if you are encountering roadblocks. Be grateful and take advantage of catching a redlight to get a breath, or not getting a job because there is better one suited for you coming.

Pisces

Eight of Fire – Messages and information with be overflowing to the point of possible exhaustion or feeling overwhelmed. The Muse of Messages reminds you firstly all this information may not all be for you and secondly that it is just information. This is not a time to act on any of it. Think of these two weeks as if you were a research scientist/reporter gathering information. Write down dreams, ideas, and things that standout, but now is not the time to sift, prioritize, integrate or even process it.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Sept 22 – Oct 5, 2024

September 20, 2024 Nina

The artist this week is Estelle Chretien @estelle_chretien. Chretien’s work is playful while still being thought provoking. She uses pillowcase as flags and makes a bed in a riverbed. She creates an oversized key ring in a field to get us to think about ownership of land. Chretien plays with our internal and societal stories. Play is vital for children’s growth but as science is rediscovering it is also important throughout our lives. It is defined as an activity done for its own sake or an activity that has no goal. Play gives our minds a place for our imagination to wander, a place where we can experiment with allegory and connections between ideas, thoughts and action.

Though Chretien’s work has deeper meaning, it is born out of exploration and playfulness. As she says: “My plastic work is born slowly by giggling*. It is built according to the chance of encounters, through free associations or irrational evidence. Oscillating between a sensitive brutality and a brazen naivety, my pieces maintain a dialogue of the material that constitutes them with their form in a tension between use and allusion. I borrow techniques without distinction of value, I learn on the job and apply myself to questioning how we live by physically deforming mental constructions. * To splash around: to have fun in water or mud, or to sink into soggy ground.”

Your pondering: When was the last time you played or explored something without a goal? If it has been more than a month, find time these next two weeks to engage with playfulness.

Solar System highlights

I need some feedback- How many of you want/use this part? Please reply – if it is at least 10 people – I’ll still include.

The moon begins in Gemini – knowledge and information are highlighted. Wednesday it moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority. On Friday it moves into Leo – spend some time in the sun. Then on Sunday September 29^th the moon moves into Virgo – organize and prioritize to start your week. And then it moves into Libra on October 2^nd – focusing on harmony and balance. And then we head into the weekend on Friday October 4^th the moon enters Scorpio – passion and transformation are the focus.

Mercury is in Virgo until September 26^th. Our second round to sharpen our conversation skills being precise and direct but not harsh. It then moves into Libra until October 13^th. We get to work on balancing our listening and speaking, especially in our close relationships. Venus has now moved into Scorpio. This is a very sensual vibe, as well as a great time for transformation. Mars is still in Cancer. Not its favorite place. Often our plans go sideways but this is the genius of this placement- to find ways around instead of straight through a problem.

EXTRA

*** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

*Temperance – The Muse of Harmony is with you these next two weeks. She challenges you to find the middle path in your life and in your relationships. This time is about compromise and comprehending the other side of the story. As well as giving yourself a break from the rush of life. She reminds, if you are feeling the extremes, step back and balance yourself before moving forward. This may be hard for you “let’s get to it” rams therefore it will require you to flex your patience and compassion muscles for the coming weeks.

Taurus

Heart of Air – The Muse of Clarity is working with you for the next two weeks when you will be working with complex systems. She suggests looking at the details of situations and problems. This focus is better than examining the big picture or concentrating on long-term goals. This period is better dealt with a step-by-step approach. As you clear away/solve each piece you gain more clarity of the project and its goals

Gemini

Mind of Water – The Muse of Waves would like you to work on your emotional impact, especially how it affects the people around you. We all are impacted by the emotions of those around us. But these next to weeks you and they may be more effected than normal. The challenge is realizing these are places in your relationships that need work in comforting and understanding. This muse reminds you that emotions are like the tides’ ebb and flow but like the ocean they leave gifts for us to ponder on and investigate.

Cancerian

Estelle Chretien, Take your foot off the pedal

Seven of Water – Daydreaming and imagination are your focus in the coming weeks. The Muse of Wishes would like you to write lists of all the things you would like to do. This energy shows up when the universe and therefore you don’t really understand or know your dreams. The challenge is allow your wishing without the limits of resources. So, your task is answering this question: What is the best that could happen?

Leo

Estelle Chretien , dry foot at the limit

Four of Water – Finally you all get a bit of a break in dealing with the big energies. The Muse of Saturation is here to help you incorporate what has happened since your birthday. She recommends hanging out with yourself and going over the what has been downloaded and planning on where to go next. These weeks are best utilized by pondering and integrating. The challenge is to let things settle before jumping into solutions, the next idea, project or challenge. This is not about losing or letting go of energy and information but by gathering it up.

Virgo

Two of Earth – The Muse of Juggling usually comes when you have too many hands in too many pies. And considering this is the beginning of a new year for you all, this muse would like it if you slowed down and did one thing at a time. The challenge is that you are budding with ideas and/or this need to move forward. She acknowledges and supports that energy, but she would like you to focus on monotasking and not multi-tasking.

Libra

Heart of Fire – The Muse of Superpowers would like you to spend these next two weeks honing yours. Maybe for some, you need to identify what they are first. A superpower is something you do well. (One of mine is helping people organize their stuff.) This muse would like you to identify at least 3 of your superpowers and then go out into the world and use them. Yes, you all are a very giving sign, but this is less about giving and more about strengthening your assets.

Scorpio

Three of Air – The Muse of Wounds comes when you need to work on deep healing old thought patterns or constructs that were placed there by someone else. The energies this week will challenge you around those wounded places. However, this is not about re-wounding but is meant to help you find the places that still need healing. Now is the time to shed old thoughts and rebuild with self-love and kindness.

Sagittarius

*Magician – The Muse of Experimentation is here to help you manifest an idea or project into existence. This muse comes when something is starting to stagnate or is literally no longer working for you. The challenge is investigating solutions and processes and less about a finished product. This can look like trying out new foods for a new health regime, trying new ways to get home that are less stressful, playing with how you use your time, or literally the trial and error of building something into world. The key is letting your errors guide you more or as much as your successes.

Capricorn

Estelle Chretien , Domestic Dance, made from mops

Heart of Water – The Muse of Fun comes when you are taking life too seriously. She would like you to take breaks from the grind by inducing more laughter and love in your life. Whether that is hanging out with a goofy pet, watching stand-up, or hanging with friends, find time these two weeks to indulge in the pleasantries of socializing. And if you aren’t invited to a party, start your own.

Aquarius

*Judgement – The Muse of Evolution has come to coax you to evolve you or something in your environment to the next level. This can look like taking your cooking to a new level, creating an extra aspect to a project, upping your game at work, starting a new career or diving into your spiritual practice. This energy is about transformation. The muses ask you, what one thing needs a complete renewal in your life?

Pisces

*Justice – Your big energy work continues for the next two weeks. Last week your work was around purpose. This week the energy is around accountability. So hopefully you did your work around purpose and goals, so you can jump right in and start making plans and schedules on how to make this dream happen. So yes, the muse would like you to make yourself accountable in some way to your plans. She reminds you that a reward system is better than a punishment one. Even if it is as simple as putting a gold star on each day you accomplish an action that supports your goals.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Sept 8-21, 2024

September 7, 2024 Nina

The artist, singer and inventor this week is Margaret Watts Hughes. Hughes invented a device, the eidophone (from the Greek eido-to see and phone- voice/sound). She found that with this device and powder, seeds or sand, she could see the geometrics of her voice and the notes themselves to create shapes. Hughes called these voice-figures or voice flowers. She then used colored glycerin on a glass plate. And from that she sang the above and below pictures into existence.

Your pondering: How lucky we are to be in a time when sound is recorded. We can listen to a song or someone’s voice without the confines time. But I often wonder because we can hear it again, do we lose the preciousness of it when it is happening the first time. What would it have been like to hear a song only once?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins this week in Scorpio – follow your passion. Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – go exploring. On Thursday it moves into Capricorn – use this energy to get things. On Saturday the Moon moves into Aquarius – time to daydream. Monday Sept. 16^th it moves into Pisces – start the week by going with the flow. On Wednesday Sept. 18^th the moon is in Aries – a great time to start a project. And we finish with the moon in Taurus on Friday – enjoy and savor the good things in life.

Mercury moves into Virgo until September 26^th. Once again sharpening our conversation skills to be precise and direct but not harsh. Venus is in Libra – this is her home and a good time for us to readjust and rebalance. Harmony is the key and the gift. And then Mars moves into Cancer. Not its favorite place. Often our plans go sideways but this is the genius of this placement- to find ways around instead of straight through a problem.

Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Gemini until June of 2025. This aspect is here to help us work with opportunities to grow and succeed through intellectual, verbal, and written pursuits. However, we must also watch its challenging aspects: not following through, gossip, too much information and fickleness. And lastly Saturn is in Pisces until February 2026 teaching us how to be more fluid and inclusive in our structures.

EXTRA

** Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Virgo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Pisces it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time.

*** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

**** I am experimenting. I have switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire. Also, I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards. So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

Ten of Water – The Muse of Happiness has come to visit with you for two whole weeks. She comes to remind you that life, no matter the circumstances, still holds beauty. Whether it is a stranger’s smile, your barista knowing your order, a child’s hug, hanging with a friend, your pet giving you affection, a butterfly fluttering past you… This muse challenges you to understand happiness appears often but is fleeting. So, take time when each moment of bliss occurs during this period. Soak it in.

Taurus

Nine of Water – The Muse of Satisfaction comes to you this period to help you navigate perfectionism and being content with what is then what could be. The muses would like to remind you that you all are the foundational sign of the zodiac. You represent earth in its most natural state. The goddess Gia walks with you every day of your life. Now this muse would like you to think of a leaf with a hole in it. That hole fed an insect. Or think upon a tree fall in a forest, it makes way for new and more diverse plant growth. Nature teaches us that our perceived imperfections are gateways. Places that feed new beginnings and growth.

Gemini

Ten of Air – All tens represent an ending. The Ten of Air is an ending of a way of communicating, thought process or a drama that is in your life. The muses remind you to follow your intuition during this time. If you need to put a project or person on hold, do so in these coming weeks. These weeks may have some challenges, but they are put there to strengthen your intuition as well as have you reflect on your own hubris. Taking ego out of the situation will help guide you to see that you may not have to engage with these scenarios like you think you do.

Cancerian

Eight of Fire – The Muse of Messages comes when there is a lot of information coming at you. She advises navigate this onslaught of intelligence by knowing your priorities and goals, so you can utilize the information that you actually need. The big challenge with this energy is not feeling as if you need to make haste with any decision. You all can feel a vibe like no other sign, so trust your superb crabby intuition while sifting through the intel.

Leo

*Death – Another big energy week for you all. This week is about change. The gorgeous aspect of this kind of change is that it works with the Universe and is very much about natural cycles. The challenge for you is to mimic the ebb and flow of this energy model. So, if you find that you lose interest, or something begins to pull away or die off then let it. For either that energy will grow into something new and more suitable to what you need now. Or it will cycle back just like the seasons or the setting and rising of the sun. The muses remind you to not push but to fall in with the groove of the now and is.

Virgo

Nine of Fire – The Muse of Preparation comes when you need to take time to plan out not only your day to day but also the coming couple of seasons. This energy falls right into place with not only your birth month but also your general vibe. You all do better if you are prepared. It’s not that you can’t fly by the seat of your pants but the more prepared you are the easier it is for you to tackle the unexpected.

Libra

*Devil – The Muse of Exams comes when circumstances are testing your resolve and principles. So, this muse becomes your cheerleader and task-keeper to help you navigate these times. She reminds you that you are ready and equipped to handle these tribulations. Ultimately you have the tools and knowledge to work through the ups and downs of the coming weeks. The key is to be true to who you have become.

Scorpio

Five of Earth – The fives are the cards of chaos. And this energy works on the material plane, usually around finances or at least your perception of yours. The Muse of Lack has you looking at what aspects in your life are lacking? Yes, she said material plane but this sense of lack is more tied into your emotional or intellectual realms. This muse challenges you to look at where you over-indulge and the whys behind it. If you can work on healing what was lacking by, for example love from a partner or parent, you can turn around this poverty mind-set. As RuPaul says: “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?”

Sagittarius

*Strength – The Muse of Inner Wisdom is hanging out with you for the next two weeks. She would like you to dive deep into the whys behind what you are doing on the material plane. Are they aligned with who you are and what you stand for? What part of your inner landscape needs strengthening to have a stronger resolve to live the life you are meant to live? You have a solid foundation, now is the time to strength and ground yourself, for the months ahead. This is not about prepping for only the more challenging aspects but also to be grounded enough to relish the exquisite ones.

Capricorn

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Work comes to give you energy to put towards the tasks you would like to focus on. This energy shows up when you need to concentrate on what is at hand more than what will be. This energy is about productivity, handiwork and working with your superpowers to get sh**t done. So, gardening/work gloves on and get to it.

Aquarius

Ace of Earth – All aces signify a new beginning. This energy would like you to focus on the material plane. What would you like to manifest on this earthly plane? Yes, do some work seeding this idea or project, but also mantras of abundance and flourishing are helpful.

Pisces

*High Priestess – The Muse of Sacred Mysteries is hanging out with you all for the next two weeks. She shows up to hone your intuition as well as give you sage advice. The challenge is she does it with twists, turns, synchronicities, déjà vu and in dreams. You can ask her questions just know they most likely with be veiled in riddles and repetition. So, eyes, ears, and mind open to the muses planting easter eggs to help you on your higher path. Your motto: “Your passions in life should fit you exactly but your purpose in life should exceed you.” – Kevin Kelly

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Aug 25- Sept 7, 2024

August 24, 2024 Nina

The artist is Mary Delany. She started later in life, at 73, collaging colored paper to make botanically accurate flowers. “Collage” is the technique and art form of gluing overlapping pieces of paper, fabric, or photographs to create a new image. This technique started in China after they invented papermaking around 200 BCE. And by the 11^th century Japanese artists were creating vibrant collages made with torn (chigiri-e) or cut (kiri-e) paper. Some were further decorated with color pigments or metallic dust. These provided the under-drawing for aristocratic calligraphy. Collage became popular in European cultures in the 1800’s as hobbyists were using it to create memorabilia books.

So even though “big A art” proclaims that Braque and Picasso made collage an art form in 1912, other cultures were collaging for centuries. And then we have Mary Delany, who created these exquisite painterly collages of flowers in 1770’s. She used colored paper, watercolor and for some images parts of the plant itself to create her art. Her work was claimed by botanists at that time to be more useful than some scientific illustrations. Her work, 958 pieces, can be seen by appointment at the British Museum or online.

Your pondering: What is your favorite flower? Mine is daisies. And if we use collage as a metaphor to life, how do you see your pieces fitting together or not? Fun exercise: make a collage that represents your life now and the new pieces you may want to add to it. You can be literal with images, figurative just using color and shape, or both. And don’t forget the flowers.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Gemini – exchanges of information are highlighted. Wednesday it moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority. On Saturday the 31^st it moves into Leo – spend some time in the sun. Then on Monday September 2^nd the moon moves into Virgo and a new moon – a perfect way to start the week and this moon cycle, organize and prioritize. And then it moves into Libra on Tuesday the 5^th – focusing on harmony and balance. And then we head into Saturday September 7^th with a Scorpio moon –let your passion guide you.

Mercury is still retrograde until August 28^th, so relax, revisit, revise is still on the agenda. It is also in Leo until September 9^th giving us our second chance to shine in our storytelling skills and to highlight others. The it moves back into Virgo until September 26^th. Once again sharpening our conversation skills to be precise and direct but not harsh.

Venus is in Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves until the August 29th. But again, we have the challenge of being too harsh on others and ourselves. Then Venus moves into Libra – this is her home and a good time for us to readjust and balance our lives. Harmony is the key and the gift. And then Mars is still in Gemini making sure our actions follow our words or our thinking.

EXTRA

*** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

Heart of Earth – The Muse of Study comes when it is in your best interest to learn something new. Take these two weeks to read a book, take a class, listen to someone not in your group. This muse shows up to help us gather information and new skills so that we can better our lives as well as those around us.

Taurus

Five of Water – All fives in tarot deal with the chaos and how to handle it. The Five of Cups speaks to the chaos of emotions. The Muse of Spilled Milk is here to help navigate these watery times. She reminds us not to focus on the three cups that have spilled, representing sorrow, missteps, and loss, but to focus on the two cups that remain upright. These are the positives and the hope of a brighter future. She asks you to pick them up and create positive action in moving forward.

Gemini

Body of Fire – The Muse of Action comes when your timing is spot on. She reminds you that for the next two weeks if you are authentic to who you are, what you believe in, and are supporting your passions then you will be in the right place at the right time. The challenging thing with this energy is that it may not always feel that way. You may find yourself staled or misdirected. This period is about faith in yourself. The circumstances are stilled filled with information and energy to spur you forward to becoming truer to who you are and where you are going.

Cancer

Four of Earth – The Muse of Resourcefulness has come to help you for the next two weeks. This period taxes your resources of time, money and space. Your challenge is to be frugal with all of them. This is a time to examine how you spend your finite resources and prioritize what is actually important to you. She reminds you needs before wants.

Leo

*Sun – This energy is one of your lifelong teachers. Most people think that you lions are super social and meant to shine. And these aspects are true, just not 24/7. You also require basking in the sun’s rays without an agenda. Like a cat laying in a morning-lite window, relaxing and just enjoying the rest and warmth. So, the Muse of Radiance would like you to work with these two aspects of the Sun these next two weeks. One, go out there and show off your personal shine. Send out resumes, smile and laugh with friends, promote your passions. And then balance that with some lazy hazy basking in the energy of simple existence.

Virgo

Heart of Fire – The Muse of Art would like you to investigate whatever forms you enjoy. Take these two weeks to go to a museum, concert, play, opera, record store, art store or national park. Usually, this muse comes when your soul’s batteries are low, and you are not realizing it. You need a jolt of creative adrenaline to help energize your spirit.

Libra

Ace of Earth – All aces signify a beginning. The muses are whispering this is a prime to time to start the seed of something you want to manifest on the physical plan. Examples can be starting a savings plan or adding to the one you have, looking for a new job, taking a class in a subject that interests you, maybe looking into moving or taking a vacation to a place you have never been. She suggests you spend these next two weeks thinking about what you would like to physical manifest in the next 10 months to a year. And then taking an active step towards it during this time.

Scorpio

Seven of Water – The Muse of Wishing is spending these next two weeks hanging out with you all. Her challenge is getting you to dream bigger. She asks you to ponder what you would like to happen if you had all the money you needed? Had the career you wanted? Were emotional supported to do the things that makes your heart zing? What if there were no boundaries to the possibilities you would like to see? The muses send this energy often when you have settled on an aspect of your life and/or you don’t really know what would make you happier, more fulfilled. So, spend this Mercury retrograde time daydreaming and imaging so the universe has an idea how to help.

Sagittarius

Nine of Earth – The Muse of Affluence is hanging out with you for the next two weeks. She often comes when you need to spend time thinking about what has made you content and does that still hold true? She challenges you to not only look at your past accomplishments, but also do they still support where you are now or where you want to go. This muse shows up when you are preparing for a change or reevaluation of what is important. Or answering the question is here okay for now?

Capricorn

*World – The Muse of Integration comes when you are on a precipice of endings and beginnings. She challenges you to finish up anything that needs to be done before you move on to the next phase. She reminds you that projects/lessons we have done in the past need time to be incorporated into the present before you are ready to move into the future. Spend these two weeks contemplating cohesion and contentment before jumping into the next phase.

Aquarius

Four of Fire – During these next two weeks, the Muse of Happy Home challenges you to enjoy the place you live. Spend this time working on house projects, decorating the places you reside in, gardening, visiting sites that makes your town/city special… By the end of this period this muse would like you to feel cozier, calmer and that your needs are supported in the place you call home.

Pisces

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum wants to work with you for the next two weeks. Her work is giving you the energy and transport you need to move to your next destination. The challenge is the destination is all on you. She asks where you want to go next. She would like you to take this retrograde period to be a “tripadvisor” to your next 6 months. You need to know where you would like to end up by your next birthday and the stops along the way to getting there. Use these two weeks as a planning period. So by mid-September you are not doing donuts in the parking lot of life.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Aug 11-24, 2024

August 9, 2024 Nina

The artist is Rinko Kawauchi. Kawauchi’s photography and books are images of the everyday, a mixture of abstract and portraits, that lead us as viewers to larger ponderings about light, memories, time and death. She focuses on the small things that add up to our daily existence, but when we experience them, we often do not notice their awe, or their importance. These recollections become reflective conjuries that we cherish when they reoccur. The smell of pie or bread, an occasional rainbow from a glass by a window, the chirping of crickets, our parents calling us in from a night of play, the feel of cool water on a hot day… These memories become our connective tissue within our lifetime. We feel cozy because they hold familiarity not only to our own timeline but connecting us to similar experiences in others.

Your pondering: As summer is closing and the light begins to shift, now is the time to soak in the days and daily life of summer. My favorite part of summer is the light that filters through the trees, the sparkle of water and that cozy hazy feeling you get waking from a summer nap. What are your small memories that remind you of the “light” in summer?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins this week in Scorpio – follow your passion. Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – go exploring. On Friday it moves into Capricorn – look at if your structures support your emotions. On Sunday August 18^th it moves into Aquarius – daydream. Tuesday August 20^th, it moves into Pisces – go with the flow. On Thursday August 22^nd the moon is in Aries – a great time to start a project. And we finish with the moon in Taurus on Saturday – a time for enjoying the good things in life.

Mercury is now retrograde until August 28^th. Remember this is the universe’s rest-stop on the highway of Life. A great time to recharge, reflect, and redo. Right now, it is in Virgo until August 14^th. This aspect is here to teach us how to be precise and direct in our conversations. The challenge is not to come off too harsh. Then it rolls back into Leo until September 9^th giving us our second chance to shine in our storytelling skills and to highlight others.

Venus is in Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves. But again, we have the challenge of being too harsh on others and ourselves. And then Mars is in Gemini making sure our actions follow our words or our thinking.

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Aquarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

*High Priestess – The Muse of Sacred Purpose comes when, in this moment in time, you are needed. You may not realize that opening that door for someone reignites optimism in them, or that conversation changes someone’s perspective. You are aligned with your higher purpose even when doing these little acts. This Muse reminds you that these gifts of sacredness, of seeing someone, comes when you are being your most authentic self. You are the change in the world.

Taurus

*Judgement – The Muse of Transformation is assisting your hand, heart and mind to evolve an aspect of your life. These transformation should feel refreshing, uplifting and liberating you from old paradigms. This is a perfect alignment with Mercury’s retrograde aspects of relaxation, review and redo. Take these next two weeks to look at what constructs you have, are they supporting you? Are you getting to the next level with them. Do they uplift you? Time to redesign and refine.

Gemini

Heart of Air – Use this time with Mercury in retrograde to do some investigative work. This muse advises that you need more information before making any decisions during this time. Now is the time to read between the lines, ask more questions, and do a deeper study into what vexes you. The answers and solutions are out there but you will need to do the leg work and keep your eyes, ears and mind open for the information, data and clues.

Cancer

*Empress – The Muse of Creativity is here to inspire you for the next two weeks. She asks what you would like to grow for the next 9-10 months. And with this planet configuration this is a great time to plan more than do. So that means getting ideas for winter projects now. And getting the supplies ready so you have a head start in the fall to just start creating. Also, this muse reminds you to spend some time during these two weeks to nurture yourself. Remember this retrograde is about relaxing, revisiting and redoing and for you less of the latter and more of the first two.

Leo

Ten of Air – So the Muse of Drama will help you navigate these next two weeks. For outside forces are sending some turbulence in your direction. The key to navigating these waves is to follow your instincts. If your inner self says no, then don’t go. This is not a time to push through things. Remember with Mercury in retrograde setbacks are heralds to what isn’t working, and this time is perfect for reworking and reflecting. So, your best maxim is to avoid conflict, this is not the time to make waves.

Virgo

Three of Air – The last two weeks had rough spots and hopefully you remained courageous by being truthful with your part of the creation of some of those bumps in the road. And now the Muse of Healing has come to help you work on healing why those bumps were bumps at all. This Mercury retrograde is in your sign for most of its time, so the spotlight is on you and how you get your ideas and feelings across. The major key is touch versus talk. So, this Muse would like you to find ways to express your affection with less convo and more hugs and hand holding.

Libra

*Strength – These next two weeks are going to challenge you to know yourself, your limits, as well as your strengths. The Muse of Courage is going to stand by you to help. She would like you to spend this retrograde pondering this quote from Brene Brown: “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Time to open up.

Scorpio

*Sun – Awesome you all get another two weeks to play in and with abundance. The Muse of Optimism would like to work with you during this retrograde by having you work with the ponderings: What is the best that can happen? And what if you look for the light/lite in situations? So instead of worrying about the worst-case scenario, you look for the best-case scenario.

Sagittarius

Body of Fire – These next two weeks you are blessed with being at the right place at the right time. The Muse of Adventure and Imagination is here to remind you that your timing is perfect for the coming weeks. Even if you are stopped or challenged it has a greater purpose then what you might be seeing in the present. This energy is about forward movement in innovative and creative ways. The keys are following your intuition as well as being motivated for the things that are set into motion during these next two weeks.

Capricorn

Five of Water – These next two weeks the Muse of Spilled Milk has come to help you clean up messes. This energy could be used literally as a time to deep clean your house and/or metaphorically to tidy up your emotional self with restocking your emotional resources and finding time to rest.

Aquarius

Six of Earth – The Muse of Kindness would like you to spend these two weeks racking up karma points by doing small acts of kindness. This is about simplicity not extravagance. Examples are picking wildflowers for your sweetie or bringing home a single Gerber daisy. Opening doors for strangers. Leaving appreciation notes to your server or delivery person. You can even leave anonymous and random good vibes notes in public places.

Pisces

Spirit of Air – The Muse of Flow comes when you need to pay attention to the details to help things move along with ease. This can be reading the fine print, listening to both sides of a story, immediately cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen, spending an extra five minutes getting ready, etc. Spend these next two weeks attending to these small but useful tasks. By taking the time to see and understand the micro, you’ll be able to handle the macro with more finesse.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for July 28- Aug 10, 2024

July 26, 2024 Nina

The artist is April Gornik @aprilgornik. Gornik is a landscape artist. Her oil paintings are usually in a larger format like nature itself. Her work and writing have me pondering two aspects. First, she wrote an essay on Visual literacy, which I recommend reading. She talks in part about the use of the scale and the concept of the viewer in relation to the painting. She adds how important it is to see art in real time. Experiencing art, the stroke of the paint, the actual scale of the painting cannot be compared to how we typically view art via media or computer screen. So as much as I am thankful for you all sharing art with me, go out and see some real art too.

Secondly, if you know me, you know I am a sucker for clouds and landscape art. Whether it is a painting or photography, natural or urban, I am drawn to it. Especially if it doesn’t have people in it. So I wonder is my fascination likened to what Gronik says: “I have always loved nature. It’s fundamental to my spiritual being, and helps me locate and define myself in the world, and that is central to my work itself. Nature is everything I am not, the ultimate Other.” And/Or is it because, urban or natural, it is the act of observation outside of self? Is my landscape as important as the people that surround me? It portrays my container, my literal backdrop that I walk in, look at and react to. It is a “player/character” in my story.

Your pondering: Spend time observing your surroundings, and try plugging your ears, so you can filter it down just to sight. And go see some real paintings.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Taurus – time to ground yourself. Then on Tuesday it moves into Gemini – exchanges of information are highlighted. Thursday the moon moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority. On Saturday the 3^rd it moves into Leo – try to catch some sunlight. Then on Tuesday August 6^th the moon moves into Virgo – great for organizing and clearing off your desk or checking off to-do lists. And then it moves into Libra on Thursday the 8^th – focusing on harmony and balance.

And Mercury retrograde is from August 5^th to August 28^th. Remember this is the universe’s pit-stop. A great time to recharge, reflect, and redo. Also, Venus is in Leo until August 4^th where our focus is about being generous in our relationships. Then it moves into Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves. And then Mars is in Gemini making sure our actions follow our words.

EXTRA

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

Six of Water – The next two weeks the Muse of the Past is hanging out with you. She comes when something in the past must be brought into the present to help you. This can be revisiting a project you left on the backburner or reconnecting with someone or something from your past.

Taurus

Seven of Fire – Now that you have past your tests from the last two weeks. The next two you get to ride with the Muse of Exhilaration. Use that energy of success to take on new projects, expand your horizons, or reinforce your boundaries. This muse reminds you that even though you have work still to do, take in the view of the summit you have scaled.

Gemini

*Hermit – The last two weeks were about beginnings. But now the Muse of Perspective would like you to step back and purview your surroundings and paths to work on getting your zing back. This muse would like you to consciously spend these two weeks with a “two steps forward – one step back” approach. She asks you not to see the steps back as a backwards or slow momentum, but more as a momentum with thoughtfulness at its core. She also advises that at times you may need to take some of these perspective breaks away from society to get a clear vision of what to do next.

Cancerian

Heart of Earth – The last two weeks the muses had you work on grounding yourself with your everyday chores. Now the Muse of Skill would like you to hone a skill or learn a new one. This is another form of grounding yourself into the real world, instead of focusing on the societal or emotional aspects that are surrounding you right now. The muses are working to help you find your core and then expand it in a very focused manner.

Leo

Ace of Earth – What great energy to have at the beginning of your new solar year. Aces always signify a beginning and the muses would like you to start this year in a very grounded and reality-based way. They ask you what you would like to grow on the material plan. A new job? Skill? Project? The challenge is finding something to do that works on the here and now instead of “if/when” scenarios.

Virgo

*Strength – I hope you all took the muse advises the last two weeks and lessened your workload. These next two weeks are going to challenge you to know yourself, your limits, as well as your strengths. The Muse of Courage is going to stand by you this week to help. And she gives you this quote from Brene Brown: “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

Libra

Ten of Fire – The Muse of Burdens comes when you are taking on too much. Yes, some things on the list are your responsibility. But you have added items that others could take over or at least help with. An exercise she suggests is to make a list of what you must do and prioritize it. Take of the last two items and throw them away. Then work on the first four items to completion. Then you can work on the next four. And remember to ask for help when you need it. This period is not a journey you should do alone.

Scorpio

Four of Fire – The Muse of Happy Home has come to work with you during these next two weeks. She would like you to focus on your home and tweak it, so it is more comfortable and comforting. Yes, that means things like getting new décor and bringing more nature elements into your home are important. And remember color can affect mood. So, surround yourself in the colors that bring the energy you want, like yellows and reds for energy or blue and green for calming.

Sagittarius

Four of Water – The Muse of Belly Button Gazing is your companion for the come two weeks. She would like you to spend three quarters of your time working within and the last quarter of your time playing outside of yourself. Use these weeks to contemplate and come up with solutions, and then test it out in the world. She reminds you that this inner and outwork is cycle that feeds itself, so you need both.

Capricorn

*Devil – These next two weeks the Muse of the Wild comes to help you un-tame yourself. This energy is one of your lifelong lessons of interplay and dynamics between wilding and domesticating yourself. You need the wild to push boundaries and expand, but you also need structure and regulations to bring the wild into productivity. So, examples are camping, collecting wild mushrooms, bungee jumping, white water rafting, or doing something that has no goal or product. The key is seeing that the unpredictable, surprise or the rush can come in many forms without sweeping you away.

Aquarius

Five of Air – All fives are energies of chaos, and the air element is chaos that begins in the mind. The Muse of Ego has come to help you navigate this energy for this period. She reminds you that the key to traversing this chaos is letting go of trying to control it. Your ego is in play by either feeling that you are responsibility to control all aspects of a situation, or you feeling you have failed though you had no control in the first place. Let go of the ego and the chaos will flow past you.

Pisces

*Chariot – The Muse of Self Momentum comes when you need to take control of a situations and propel it to either its destination or further down the path. This muse does supply the energy, however not the direction or steps to getting there. The keys to working with this energy are knowing where you are going and where to have rest stops to refuel along the way. Examples are making your lunches at the beginning of the week, confirming all appointments, visualizing the finished project, writing goals on your calendar, prioritizing your to-do list etc.… If you have no destination by the end of this period you will end up doing metaphorical donuts in the parking lot of life.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for July 14 -27, 2024

July 14, 2024 Nina

Happy birth month Cancerians and then Leos.

The artist is Megan Bogonovich @meganbogonovich. Bogonovich’s sculptures are a cross between whimsy, fragility and a hint of sinisterness. Her work perfectly exemplifies the duality of our relationship with nature, and nature itself – awe inspiring while also frightening. She seduces us with playful colors and identifiable shapes and when grouped together we find whimsicality. But when we see the sculptures solo, they seem more alien. We notice they writher like vines or snakes with textures that are bumpy and thorny.

Bogonovich gets inspiration from her surroundings in Norwich, Vermont. “When I look around my neighborhood this time of year,” she says, “nature seems so verdant and powerful. I think the fragility of the material and the quantity of sculptures have mirrored the natural world in the way that plants are abundant, but vulnerable and highly pluckable.” (cite: Colossal interview).

Why does the grouping feel fun, and the singularity becomes more ominous? Do we take the scary out of nature by domesticating it? Bringing flowers, plants and even our pets into the home to have the awe but in smaller doses so less frightening? Or is it because now we have some control over its otherness. Are we so far from feeling part of nature that we now identify it as alien? Or is it just our complex brain needs fear and awe to feel alive?

Your pondering: Think about the difference you feel looking at a vase of flowers versus a field of them. And if you haven’t watched Sweet Tooth on Netflix our relationship with nature is one of its themes.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins this week in Scorpio – follow your passion. Then on Wednesday it moves into Sagittarius – get out and explore. On Friday it moves into Capricorn – use this energy as a work-weekend. On Monday July 22^nd it moves into Aquarius – think outside the box. Wednesday it moves into Pisces – go with the flow. And we finish the two weeks with the moon in Aries starting on Friday July 26^th – great time to start a project or let off some steam.

Mercury is Leo until July 24 – great for storytelling but the challenge is balancing talking with listening. It will retrograde back into Leo in August so we will have another chance to work on this skill. On July 25 until August 14^th it will be in Virgo. This aspect comes to teach us how to be precise and direct in our conversations. The challenge is not to come off too harsh. Also, Venus has moved into Leo where our focus is about being generous in our relationships. And Mars has moved into Gemini. This is our two year check in to make sure our actions follow our words.

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Cancer/Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Capricorn/Aquarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

*Fool – The next two weeks you are blessed with the Muse of Meandering at your side. She challenges you to explore your surroundings, get to know new places, try new food and try things that you have never experienced. This muse comes when you are stuck in a rut or need to expand past what you know. She also adds that sometimes it’s nice not to have an agenda and just let the day’s activities flow with your mood.

Taurus

*Devil – These next two weeks can have aspects that test who you are and what you know. The Muse of Final Exams comes when you are about to go to the next level, but the universe needs to know you have learned from where you have been. So, if your challenges seem to reoccur, she reminds you that you have already learned the lesson, and this is just a test to make sure you have the responses and answers to these challenges. You do not have to relive the lesson just answer with what you know – say no or yes- and move on.

Gemini

Ace of Fire – All Aces are new beginnings. The muse would like you to start a journey of exploration that involves your spirit, nature and/or creativity. This energy is about increasing the “zing” in your life. How to relight your ambitions, passion and self-worth. You are a passionate person innately and these next two weeks’ energy would like to support you to be on fire.

Cancerian

*Strength – The Muse of Grounding comes to help you these next two weeks to list the things in your life that ground you into the everyday. And then she would like you to see their broader meaning in your life. For example, washing the dishes could be your ritual to reconnect with water and flow or a cleansing exercise. Or brushing your teeth is a ritual of health or a way to connect with your bones and strength their connection to your body. Childcare is an exercise in your belief of how important good parenting is. The key to and the challenge this muse brings is seeing that even the most mundane exercises have the ability to ground you in your day, body, who you are and why you do the things you do. If they make the idea of you weaker then this is the time to change them, find more support or let them go.

Leo

*Justice – The Muse of Justice is here at the convergence of the end and beginning of your birth cycle. And she challenges you to spend these next two weeks figuring out what you stand for. What decisions do you need to make to be truer to yourself and more just to the ones around you? This is a check in with your morals, stance and convictions. This muse asks where can you make a difference?

Virgo

Ten of Fire – The Muse of Burdens comes when you have taken on too much. She reminds you that even if you could do something better or quicker doesn’t mean you should. Or that you are required to take on every task in front of you. She suggests making a list of your top ten priorities and listing them in order from most urgent or important to least. Now cross off the last two and work on the top four priorities. If you finish them, then you can do the next four but leave the last two alone. You may find by the end of these two weeks that they no longer need to be done or, even better, someone else picked them up.

Libra

Mind of Water – The Muse of Emotions spends the next two weeks helping you to navigate the emotional currents around and in you. She reminds you that not every situation has a solution. Sometimes shitty things are shitty and good things are just good. And the emotions that arise from these situations are as fleeting as the incident itself. The key is what you decide to carry with you after the experience.

Scorpio

*High Priestess – The Muse of Higher Purpose is hanging out with you for the next two weeks. She comes to help you investigate your higher purpose and/or for you to help someone with theirs. This muse always brings you to purpose and/or information through synchronicities and coincidences. So, watch for things like repetitive images or numbers, or bumping into someone you haven’t seen in a while. And follow your intuition more than your logic during this time, so you she can help you hone your intuition.

Sagittarius

Ten of Earth – The next two weeks have some nice beneficial nuggets for you. Tens’ energy is about conclusions; however, this ten not only brings on a sense of completion but also a sense of success and happiness. This is a great time to wrap up a project and more importantly celebrating the conclusion before you start again. Finish what needs to be finished and then have an extended weekend or better yet 10 days off.

Capricorn

Three of Air – The Muse of Triggers comes when old wounds that have not thoroughly healed get agitated. This muse reminds you that these agitations are not a reliving, reopening or re-traumatizing event. These are just reminders of areas that still need work to heal the depths of the wound.

Aquarius

*Sun – The Muse of Growth comes to shine light on you. Now the challenge with this energy is anything you focus on grows. So even though this energy has the potential of optimism and abundance. It can also cast a long shadow on pessimism and lack. So, this muse reiterates what you focus on, grows. And it is up to you to pick the light or the shadow.

Pisces

Six of Air – The Muse of Packing Lightly is hanging with you these next two weeks. She challenges you to only take what you need for the coming weeks. This can be taken literally – packing your bag with only the essentials. Or having you look at what you carry with after a conversation or information exchange. The key is really understanding you are more resourceful then you think and less is often more.

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

EXTRA

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

EXTRA

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

EXTRA

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

EXTRA

Aries

Taurus