Happy birth month Cancerians.
The artist this week Gordon Cheung @gordoncheung. (Please go to his sites for the close up to these.) Cheung is a contemporary multi-media artist that uses 3-D printing methods, AI generated flowers, financial newspapers, acrylic paint and sand to create 3-d features that intersect the real and the surreal. His landscapes and still life paintings reflect on how global capitalism and colonialism affects us in history through modern times.
For example, his landscapes series uses Yuanmingyuan imperial scroll stolen by France during the looting and burning of the Summer Palace in Beijing during the Opium Wars. That war was started to force China to trade opium that then lead to the colonization and annexing of Hong Kong. And we can see how that has had consequences for the people in modern day Hong Kong. Or his still life flowers series he explains: “In part they are about the rise and fall of civilizations, as well as the romantic language of still-life painting: futile materialism and fragile mortality reflected by the transient beauty of flowers.”
Your pondering: Colonialism, the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically, has had a long and sorted history in almost every part of the world. Often, we believe that this practice doesn’t exist in modern times. Though the situation in the Middle East we can see its repercussions in real time. But also, this mindset still infiltrates our hivemind expressed in examples in politics, corporate takeovers, Apple’s “ecosystem”, and even in our justification of global expansion. How does colonization or its mindset impact your life?
Solar System highlights
The moon begins in Taurus – time to ground yourself. Then on Wednesday it moves into Gemini – exchanges of information is highlighted. Friday the moon moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority for the weekend. On Sunday the 7th it moves into Leo – focus on aspects that help you and others shine. Then on Wednesday July 10th 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 Friday the 12th – spend time with friends and family this weekend.
Mercury moves into Leo on Monday – great for storytelling but the challenge is balancing talking with listening. Also, Venus is in Cancer until July 11th – wanting us to center in on making a home homier. Then moves into Leo switches our focus to from our homes to being generous in our relationships. Mars is still in Taurus giving us the stamina to finish projects or bring something from the back-burner forward.
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. Cancer this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Capricorn 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.
**** 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
Queen of Earth – The last two weeks the muses had asked you to build. Challenging you with questions of durability, realism and altruism. Now the Muse of Luxury would like to ask you why do you build? What is your motivation for working? And are you able to enjoy the benefits of that work? She challenges if you are not getting anything out of a focus why are you doing it? And if you are getting what you need, spend time these next two weeks enjoying the harvests of your work.
Taurus
*Lovers – The Muse of Connection is hanging with you all this week. She challenges you to take a deep dive into your relationships. Are you connecting with the ones you love on a more intimate level? Or open enough to invite new people into your circle? This focus can take form in hanging out and just being with your chosen ones, checking in with someone you haven’t had an intimate convo within a while, or create stronger bonds with someone you want to get to know better. One of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of humaning is connection. This period is a great time to flex your social muscle.
Gemini
Two of Water – The Muse of Relationships would like you to work feeling balanced and harmonious in your close relationships. She especially would like you to work with the concept of reciprocity. Defined as “the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit”. This rebalancing not only creates connection but fills both yours and others emotional cups. Find time these next two weeks to clink glasses with the ones you love, that love you back.
Cancerian
Spirit of Fire – The Muse of Enchantment would like you all to take these two weeks to call in some magic into your coming year. Aspects like ways to help you be more curious, creative, more aligned with your intuition, or more in tune with your environment. She recommends you do this asking along with a ritual. It can be as simple as preparing your wishes days before you blow out your birthday candles or as complex as creating an altar to yourself.
Leo
Six of Air – In preparation of your birth month the Muse of Simplicity would like you to hone aspects of your life down. She challenges you with questions like – if you could only focus on one thing for next year what would it be? Or what are you physically, mental or emotional carrying that no longer serves you? Now is the time to let it go, so you can transition into this new birth year less encumbered, more focused and with ease.
Virgo
*Emperor – The Muse of Building has come to spend the next two weeks with you. This muse challenges you to focus building, broadening, strengthening or finishing projects. Think of these next two weeks full of kinetic energy that you can direct into anything and move it to the next level. The challenge is being truthful with who and why you are doing this building. So watch if the building is only for status or greed this muse suggest you are going in the wrong direction.
Libra
Two of Air – Decisions fill our lives on the daily but these next two weeks can feel muddy in which way to go. In swoops the Muse of Choices to help you navigate these coming hazy days. She suggests first and foremost do you need to make the decision right now? Often this muse arises when you need more info before deciding. Secondly, if you do need to decide now, she suggest following you heart instead of your mind. What you think is logically will lead you astray with the energies around these two weeks.
Scorpio
*Magician – The Muse of Experimentation has come to hang with you for the coming two weeks. Usually, this energy comes when you need to try things out before you begin manifesting. She reminds you that you have all the tools you need to work out solutions and play with ideas. So think about playing with combinations or tweaking processes than manifesting a whole new makeover.
Sagittarius
*Strength – The Muse of Inner Strength comes when you need to work on your resolutions around some aspect of your life. Maybe you are reinforcing your boundaries, or you made a promise that you haven’t stuck to. This muse is not here to reprimand but to have you re-enforce why you had set up these regulations in the first place. If your reasons for doing it have changed then change the resolve to match and if they have not now is the time to double down on your comment to yourself.
Capricorn
Body of Fire – The Muses would like you to spend your energy these next two weeks connecting and working with art and/or nature. This energy often comes when you need to work with your creative and/or spiritual self. Or when one feels stuck or has lost one’s zing. By working with art or nature you re-connect with the aspect of awe. And Awe helps us connect to the universe, curiosity and ardor.
Aquarius
Spirit of Water – The Muse of Fun is here to help you get out of your head. This Muse reminds you to take the world, your work, your life less seriously. Yes, aspects of life and humaning might not be all sunshine and roses. But adding to the cynicism and negativity also doesn’t help. So, these next two weeks work on your empathy with yourself and humanity.
Pisces
*High Priestess – The Muse of Intuition would like you to hone your skill and possible your belief in your intuition. She recommends trying this experiment. What if you didn’t for the next two weeks, second guess yourself and just go with your gut. So, every time you start a thought with what if or should I you just check in with your intuition. Now she also reminds you that because she comes when you are most doubtful, she asks that you be patient to find out the outcomes of this experiment. Intuition isn’t always an easy left or right but more of a meandering path full of information and wonder.
The artist this week 
Body of Air – The Muse of Risk comes to warn you not to run into situations without some thoughtfulness or inquiry. The next two weeks the muses would like you to slow down and take your time especially around decisions and in your participation in conversations. This is a period to stop, look, and listen before rushing forward.
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