Category Archives: Tarotcast

Weekly Tarotcast

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

Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

The artist is Rinko KawauchiKawauchi’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 18th it moves into Aquarius – daydream.  Tuesday August 20th, it moves into Pisces – go with the flow.  On Thursday August 22nd 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 28th.  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 14th.  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 9th 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.

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.  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.

**** 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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi

*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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi

*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
Rinko Kawauchi

*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
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi

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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

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.

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

The Other Side II

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 3rd it moves into Leo – try to catch some sunlight.  Then on Tuesday August 6th 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 8th – focusing on harmony and balance.

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 14th Mercury 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.

And Mercury retrograde is from August 5th to August 28th.  Remember this is the universe’s pit-stop.  A great time to recharge, reflect, and redo.  Also, Venus is in Leo until August 4th 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.

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.  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.

**** 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
April Gornik
Ocean, April Gornik

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
Moonlight, April Gornik

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
April Gornik
Light Held by Trees, April Gornik

*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
April Gornik
Light Bending the World, April Gornik

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
Big Storm Light, April Gornik

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
April Gornik
The Unbroken World, April Gornik

*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
Storm Suspended by Light, April Gornik

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
Radiant Light, April Gornik

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
Marsh and Rising Clouds, April Gornik

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
Spirit Clouds, April Gornik

*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
Storm, Rain, Light, April Gornik

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
Clouds Turn the Sky, April Gornik

*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.

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

Megan Bogonovich
Megan Bogonovich

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 22nd 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 26th – 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 14th 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.

 

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/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.

**** 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
Megan Bogonovich
Megan Bogonovich

*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

Megan Bogonovich
Megan Bogonovich

*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
Megan Bogonovich

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
Megan Bogonovich
Megan Bogonovich

*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
Megan Bogonovich

*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
Megan Bogonovich

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
Megan Bogonovich

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
Megan Bogonovich

*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
Megan Bogonovich

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
Megan Bogonovich

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
Megan Bogonovich

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.

Tarot and Art-cast for June 30 – July 13, 2024

Gordon Cheung
Gardens of Perfect Brightness, Gordon Cheung

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
Gordon Cheung
Engraved Moon and Unfolding Clouds, Gordon Cheung

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
Talkers, Gordon Cheung

*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
Gordon Cheung
Heavenly Lake, Gordon Cheung

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
Gordon Cheung
Augury, Gordon Cheung

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
Gordon Cheung
River, Gordon Cheung

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
Gordon Cheung
Pearl of the Yangtze, Gordon Cheung

*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
Gordon Cheung
Merciful Clouds Protect All, Gordon Cheung

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
Gordon Cheung
Pacific Century, Gordon Cheung

*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
Megalopolis, Gordon Cheung

*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
Gordon Cheung
Gordon Cheung

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
Tears of Paradise, Gordon Cheung

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
Augury of Xian, Gordon Cheung

*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.

Tarot and Art-cast for June 16-29, 2024

The artist this week Lorraine O’Grady.  So, I try to keep my opinion out of this tarotcast around the art (other than I pick them, so I like all of them), but O’Grady’s is one of my table of twelve. O’Grady plays with various genres like text, photo-installation, video and performance as a conceptual artist and cultural critic.  Her take on what art is and how to use it as a tool of critique as well as emotional expression is thought provoking and simultaneously joyous.

O’Grady often uses the diptych “or at least the diptych idea” to point out the “divisive and hierarchical “either/or” categories underpinning Western philosophy.”  She reframes it to “Both/And”.  This reframing metamorphizes exclusivity to inclusivity. Division to unity.   Hate to love.  And…

Your pondering:  Try shifting your Either/Or to O’Grady’s perspective of Both/And.

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Wednesday it moves into Sagittarius – get out and explore.    On Friday it moves into Capricorn as a full moon – ponder what needs to still be done since the new moon on June 6th.  On Monday June 24th 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 June 28th – great time to start a project or let off some steam.

Mercury moves into Cancer on Monday – great for discussing your emotions or being a caring ear for another. Also, Venus moves into Cancer – wanting us to center in on making a home homier.  Mars is in Taurus giving us the stamina to check off on our to-do lists.

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.  Gemini/Cancer this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Sagittarius/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
Lorraine O’Grady
Lorraine O’Grady, Body Is the Ground of My Experience

*Emperor – The Muse of Formation would like to add energy to whatever the focus is for the next two weeks.  She likes to help with any building process.  The challenges she poses: is what you are doing durable?  Does it sit in reality? Does it help more than you?   She pushes you to make your dreams reality, therefore making your reality even more expansive and improved not only for you but for the world at large.

 

Taurus
Lorraine O’Grady
Lorraine O’Grady, Cutting Out the New York Times

Six of Air – During the next two weeks the Muse of Transitions is prompting you to change something in your life.  She asks:  what are the essentials in your life? She then proposes taking this time to strengthen your basics before you add the cherries on the top.   The key is that this alteration should make your life simpler and therefore produce more ease.

 

Gemini
Lorraine O’Grady, Miscegenated Family Album

Eight of Water – The energy for the next two weeks is focused on walking away from a emotional cycle you have been stuck in.  Maybe you are holding on to a grudge, self-doubt or even a relationship.  The Muse of Walking Away prompts you to examine your emotional baggage and dump what you no longer need.  A good exercise is going through your drawers and get rid of old clothes, plastic lids that have no bottoms, all that junk in your drawer…. to practice the feeling of lightening your load.

 

 

Cancer
Lorraine O’Grady, Jeanne and Charles

Four of Fire – The Muse of Home is the perfect segway into your birth month.  This muse challenges you to make your home more comfortable so when your birthday arrives you have a cozy, safe, warm, beautiful shell to hide in when you need to.  So, get those extra pillows, paint a room/wall that soothing blue, get a plant, put up your favorite photos…  She reminds you that it is the little things that make a house a home.

 

Leo
Lorraine O’Grady, The Fir Palm

Ace of Fire – Finally you are moving from looking at and planning for the future to stepping into it.  All aces herald new beginnings.  This particular energy the muses are pushing for you to use that amazing creativity you lions often are too bashful to show off.  They remind you to stop your perfectionism and revel in and take advantage of the uniqueness of imperfection.

 

Virgo
Lorraine O’Grady, Haiku Diptych

Ten of Fire – The Muse of Burdens is hanging with you these next two weeks prompting you not to take on too much.  Yes, you have some items that are your responsibility.  But you have also taken on some work that is not yours to carry/do.   This muse reminds you that if you take on others’ tasks you are setting up a codependent cycle and your housemates/colleagues will never learn they can do it alone.

 

Libra
Lorraine O’Grady
Lorraine O’Grady, Body Is the Ground of My Experience

Spirit of Fire – The Muse of Creativity would like you to spend these next two weeks diving into your own creativity.  Whether that is creating a garden, a poem, painting, singing or dancing.  This muse would like you to connect with your personal awe. As they say, “let the spirit move you.”

 

Scorpio
Lorraine O’Grady, Jeanne And Charles

Two of Cups – Relationships continue to be the theme for you in June.  Last week it was about collaboration and these next two weeks the muses would like you to pivot your focus on your closer relationships and the concept of balance and reciprocity. The Muse or Relationships would like you to work on diving deeper into the relationships that feel balanced.  Not only to create connection but their emotional cup needs refilling as much as yours.  Find time these next to weeks to clink glasses with the ones you love, that love you back.

 

Sagittarius
Lorraine O’Grady, Miscegenated Family Album

*Death – The Muse of Organic Change comes when you need to let something go to make room to let something grow.  This muse asks, what you are holding onto that no longer serves you or is stagnate?   The challenge is seeing this item/person/project/idea as a form of composting.  That the energy you gain from this release will be utilized by the things you want to flourish in your life.

 

Capricorn
Lorraine O’Grady, Art is…

Heart of Water – The Muse of Effervesce would like you to spend these next two weeks reconnecting with play, joy, exploration without goals.  She asks you to do this “exercise” to help you reconnect with your flow.  By letting go of the ambitions and the outcomes you allow your imagination, emotions and intuition to be the lead instead of your logical mind.

 

Aquarius
Lorraine O’Grady, Lilith

Nine of Fire – The Muse of Preparation is hanging out with you all these next two weeks to keep you grounded.  So, she suggests things like:  pack your lunch or a snack when you go out. Fill your water bottle.  Check the weather before leaving.  Make sure you have gas in the car or consider how crowded your mode of travel might be.  Make sure you don’t leave without your keys or phone. To basically work on being more grounded and prepared for each day or project. Because your sign’s typical go with the flow way of working will not help you navigate the more bumper aspects of the coming weeks.

 

Pisces
Lorraine O’Grady, Art is…

Spirit of Water – The Muse of Fun is here to get you to lighten up and love up.  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.  Mostly, because you fish have experienced the world through your very sensitive heart, you understand the pain.  So, these next two weeks be the lover not the fighter.  Your song for this time: “All you need is Love”.

Tarot and Art-cast for June 2-15, 2024

Kibibi Ajanku, Indigo Magic

The artist this week is Kibibi Ajanku @kibibiajanku . Her work ranges from visual to performing arts.  But the focus here is her fiber art with a specialty in organic indigo.  Creating indigo pigment is an ancient process dating back to at least 6,000 years, according to fabric artifact  discovered in Peru.  Many countries and civilizations from Mesopotamia, West Africa, India, Iran and Mesoamerica, have been using indigo dye.  Indigo dye is created through the process of turning leaves from the Indigofera plant into powder, boiling it down to a rich liquid, and then fermenting the dye to give it its distinct blue color.  Making organic indigo is an arduous process and this skill set is handed down through the generations.  And Kibibi is one of those founts. (click here to see her classes)

Your pondering for this week:  Kibibi said “I believe that the past is an excellent teacher. Until we face the journey of the past, we cannot clearly understand the present, and we are uninformed about the future.”  I think we are in another moment in history where we are seeing a repetition of the past.  Is it because we do not truly understand it or haven’t taken the time to see the past as our teacher?  Shouldn’t our goal be to bring forth the lessons learned, to move forward with more grace, to evolve?

Cite: voyagebaltimore.com

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Taurus, you have the energy to make things grow.  Then on Wednesday the moon is in Gemini – the exchange of knowledge is highlighted.  Friday the moon moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority for the weekend.  On Sunday the 9th it moves into Leo – start the week focusing on aspects that help you and others shine.  Then on Wednesday June 12th the moon moves into Virgo – great for organizing and clearing off your desk or to-do lists.  And then it moves into Libra on Friday the 14th – spending time with friends and family this weekend.

Mercury moves into Gemini, it’s home planet – this is a great for communication and knowledge exchange in all its forms.  Just be careful not to judge too quickly. Also, Venus is in Gemini – having us work on how to create harmony through communication also a great time for delving into the arts and how your environment expresses who you are.   Mars is the last space-body to hang in Aries, so until June 9th it gives its energy to propel beginnings. Then Mars moves into Taurus, so we can maintain the pace and focus on what we need to do to complete our actions.

And then Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is now in Gemini for a year.   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.

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Gemini this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Sagittarius 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 weekly forecasts.

**** 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
Kibibi Ajanku, Azur

Heart of Fire – The last two weeks the Muse of Self-Motivation wanted you to get your bearings and then get moving.  These next two weeks the Muse of Spark would like you to utilize your imagination to innovate situations and their solutions.  They ask how you can make these time a bit more exciting, expansive, and original – truer to your nature or your soul’s calling rather than societies’ at large.

Taurus
Kibibi Ajanku, Sunshine Over the Baobab

Six of Fire – The next two weeks are full of accolades and celebrations.  The Muse of Skirmishes and Small Successes prompts you to acknowledge and honor them.  The challenge is working with and celebrating these mini feats instead of only seeing the larger project, conflicts or challenges to come.  As Helen Keller said, “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

Gemini
Kibibi Ajanku, River Dancers

Ace of Air – The energy for the next two weeks is focused on new ways of thought or new knowledge.  It makes sense with the Sun, Mercury and Venus all in your sign that communication and knowledge are calling on you to participate.  During this time, you need to be in top form when it comes to interactions and quests for the truth.  And keep your ears and mind open to new thoughts, so you can work on your own paradigms.

Cancerian
Kibibi Ajanku, Looking Out

Spirit of Air – The Muse of Perceptivity will be working with you these next two weeks.  She prompts you to pay attention to the details.  With the Sun and two planets in Gemini the area most likely highlighted will be in conversing or knowledge exchange.  So go deeper than generalities, ask questions, follow the subtext of convos, and read the fine print.  By doing so you will not only see “the devil in the details”, the needle in the haystack, but you can also find the treasure in the trove.

Leo
Kibibi Ajanku, Ibeji

Two of Fire – Ok so this happened to Aquarians last 3 readings.  You got the same card for three consecutive pulls.  (Statistically 1/72 to the third or approximately one in 23 million chance.)  So here we go again…  The Muse of Future is continuing to hang with you for two more weeks to chat about expanding your horizons.  Maybe the last 4 weeks you didn’t push out your boundaries enough. You stayed in your comfort zone.  And/or maybe you need more time exploring this expansion.  So, keep pushing the envelope, especially around your creative self.  The muses are pushing you to increase your scope deeper, farther and wider.

Virgo
Kibibi Ajanku, In the Garden

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship is here to remind you to fortify your friendships.  Maybe you haven’t been able to fit in some fun hangs with your buddies.  She challenges you to not only fill other’s emotional cups but also to also let them fill yours.  So, call that friend you haven’t heard from in a while, vent to your bestie, or go do something fun where you both can let off some steam and enjoy each other’s banter and vibe.

 

Libra
Kibibi Ajanku, Cabaret Remix

Mind of Fire – The Muse of Vibrancy is asking you to take the lead these next two weeks.  Yes, many of you like to work behind the scenes or step-up then fade into the background.  But during these next two weeks the muses are urging you to take the forefront, make the final decisions, and/or speak up.  Yes, you all can often see all the sides of a problem and the variety of solutions, but during this time you are challenged to put your ideas first.

Scorpio
Kibibi Ajanku, Royal Blues

Three of Earth – The Muse of Collaboration comes when you need to ask for help to solve a problem, develop a better idea, or just need a helping hand.   The challenge is in the asking.  Whether it is worrying about obligation or the vulnerability of needing help, the muses prompt you to take that chance.  Doing so will produce more ease in the long run.  As they say two heads are better than one, and the muses add – three heads and six hands are even better.

 

Sagittarius
Kibibi Ajanku, Summer in the City

Ten of Earth – The Muse of Plenty is hanging with you to have you work on the concept “there is enough”.  Tens usually indicate a summation, success or ending.  Finishing what needs to be finished and finding moments to enjoy.  The challenge with this energy is taking advantage of and finding enjoyment of this ending before jumping into a new project.  Her arrival is also an augury that you deserve abundance not because you have worked hard for it, suffered for it or because of a sense of worthy or unworthiness is tied to it, but just as a gift for existing.

 

Capricorn

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.

 

Aquarius
Kibibi Ajanku, River Dancers

Spirit of Water – The Muse of Flow challenges you to go with the flow for the next two weeks.  Yes, most people like a good plan but the muses would like you to not over plan during this time.   See what comes up and feel what you would like to do in that moment and then do it.   You will find that the more you do what feels right the more you get done.

 

Pisces
Kibibi Ajanku, Shango’s Daughter

Seven of Fire – The Muse of Vantage is challenging you these next two weeks to stand up for yourself and/or your ideals.  This muse often comes when you need to strengthen or follow through on your boundaries.  She isn’t suggesting you make this into a war or there is no room for some compromise; but she is challenging you to firmly state the why behind your stance.

Tarot and Art-cast for May 19-June 1, 2024

fox
Baby red fox Vulpes vulpes

Happy Birth-month Gemini!

The artist this week is Mother Nature again. Yes, I highlighted her work a month ago but….

Every morning, I take a walk around our acre and see what is new in the yard.  It is spring here.  The leaves are my favorite color, lime green and the flowers are popping.

As I walk, I watch where my mom’s dog, Patsy, nose points.  I wonder what animal traces she is smelling that have traversed across the lawn overnight. This past Monday Patsy was interested in a very specific spot in the woods.  And as I searched the landscape for the typical chipmunks or squirrels out popped 3 little baby fox heads!  As you all may know, one of my last names is Fox, hence the fox and the tarot.  Anyway, this event has made my week, so I thought I would share.

The pic above is one of the babies, a red fox, vulpes vulpes. Red foxes are the most common of the 27 fox species in the world.  “Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail (“brush”).

Twelve species belong to the monophyletic “true fox” group of genus Vulpes. Approximately another 25 current or extinct species are always or sometimes called foxes; these foxes are either part of the paraphyletic group of the South American foxes, or of the outlying group, which consists of the bat-eared fox, gray fox, and island fox.”[1]

In the mythology and literature that surround foxes, they are often tricksters.  I, however, favor the Japanese tales of the kitsune.  Stories that portrays them as messengers of the gods and good luck.

Your pondering for this week:  What’s your favorite animal and why?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Libra – harmony and balance are the focus. On Tuesday the moon moves into Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Thursday it moves into Sagittarius – get out and explore.    On Sunday May 26th the moon moves into Capricorn – great for prepping for the work week.  On Tuesday May 28th it moves into Aquarius helping us think outside the box.  And we finish the two weeks with the moon in Pisces starting on May 30th Thursday – wanting us to go with the flow.

Mercury moves into Taurus to hang with Venus so communication will be smoother.  Venus in Taurus until May 23rd – prompting us to focus on grounding and how we love. Then Venus moves into Gemini, having us work on how to create harmony through communication also a great time for delving into the arts and how your environment speaks or doesn’t about who you are.   Mars is the last space body to hang in Aries, so until June 9th giving energy to propel beginnings.

And then Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, moves into Gemini on May 26th for a year.   To help us work on 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.

 

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Gemini this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Sagittarius 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 weekly forecasts.

**** 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
fox
Ruppell’s fox- Vulpes rueppelli

*Chariot – The Muse of Self-Motivation is prompting you this week to get your bearings and then get moving.  Spring has sprung and you are in the beginning of a new birth year.  This energy is giving you a green light to move forward, but your work for the next two weeks is:  do you have a clear view of your goals?  This muse asks where you want to be this time next year?  Once you have that destination in mind use this time to push yourself or project forward.  The universe will give you the gas, but you need the map and the will, to push the pedal to the metal.

 

Taurus
Fox
Kit fox-Vulpes macrotis

Ace of Fire – Your second ace.  All aces represent new beginnings.  The last two weeks this was about revamping old constructs.  Now the muses want you to play and experiment with your creativity.   They ask when was the last time you played a musical instrument, drew, tinkered?  The muses are wanting you to revamp not only your thought processes around creativity but also how you create.  And the best way is to just play with ideas, preferable using the arts and/or nature.  Think creating seed bombs, en plein air/painting outside, playing and recording  music under a bridge or in your bathroom, collage the last four pictures on your phone, etc…..

 

Gemini
Fox
Tibetan fox- Vulpes ferrilata

Nine of Earth – The Muse of Enjoyment would like you to enjoy these next two weeks.  Enjoyment is defined as the “state or process of taking pleasure in something.”  Pleasure is “a feeling of happy satisfaction.”  And satisfaction is the “fulfillment of one’s wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this.”  So, this muse is wanting you to dive into the feeling of fulfilling a wish, expectations, or need.  And if it doesn’t satisfy you in some way, she asks why are you doing it?

 

 

Cancer
Fox
Fennec Fox Vulpes zerda

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Skills would like to remind you that you have talents.  And in these net two weeks those competences are going to be put to the test.  This period isn’t hard because you are a pro and already have all the skills you need to tackle whatever comes up.  You got this.  She is just here to remind you of two isms:  Quality over quantity and work smarter not harder.

 

Leo
Cape Fox Vulpes chama

Two of Fire – What!?  The Muse of Future is continuing to hang with you for the rest of the month to chat about expanding your horizons.  Maybe the last two weeks you didn’t push out your boundaries enough. You stayed in your comfort zone.  Or maybe you need more time doing it.  So, keep pushing the envelope, especially around your creative self.  The muses are pushing you to expand further.

 

Virgo
Pale Fox Vulpes pallida

Mind of Fire – The last two weeks the Muse of Taming wanted you to work with your inner chaos.  Now the Muse of Creative Perfectionism has come to help you focus.  Now Creative Perfectionism is not perfectionism so much as being, seeing and utilizing the perfectly imperfect.  She would like you to work with imperfection in the most creative way.  So instead of throwing something out think repurpose, reuse, recycle instead.

 

Libra
Blandfords fox Vulpes cana

*Hermit – The Muse of Perspective advises that these next two weeks you pull back from situations to get a better perspective on the issues.   This muse usually comes when you are too close or too involved in a situation to see a truth or a solution.  So, for the next two weeks engage less and observe more before you jump back into the fray.

 

Scorpio
Artic Fox Vulpes lagopus

*Star – The Muse of Healing comes when it is a perfect time to take a dive deep into a healing practice.  This could be as simple as starting or increasing your meditation time or as complex as beginning the path of healing an old trauma.  The key is to elevate and innovate your self-care practices so you can alleviate the part of you that is still carry this hurt.

 

Sagittarius
Bengal Fox-Vulpes bengalensis

Three of Air – The Muse of Deep Wounds comes when some event opens an old wound.  The muse prompts you not to relive the trauma, but to use this situation as a reminder that there is still a part of you that needs to heal.  The challenge is that the reminder comes in threes or there are three aspects that still need to be healed. The key is focusing on the healing not the hurting.

 

Capricorn
Swift-fox-vulpes velox

Ten of Earth – The Muse of Plenty is hanging with you these next two weeks to have you work on the concept “there is enough”.  Tens usually indicate a summation, success or ending.  The challenge with this energy is taking advantage and finding enjoyment of this ending or success before jumping into a new project.  She also is a harbinger that you deserve abundance not because you have worked hard for it, suffered for it or because of a sense of worthy or unworthiness, but just as a gift for existing.

 

Aquarius
Gray Fox-Urocyon-cinereoargenteus

Mind of Earth – The last two weeks the Muse of Building came to help you build part of your life bigger and bolder.  Now the little brother of that energy the Muse of Making has come to continue the project.  This is a great energy for getting things done.  So, get your to-do lists, it is time to make things happen.

 

Pisces
Corsac Fox Vulpes corsac

Heart of Earth – Interesting you got the Muse of Learning again.  So, either you didn’t get to the recommended skill building or you need more time to hone this new skill.  So as a reminder, let’s go over this again.   This Muse shows up when upping your game and adding to your skill set will be required in the near future.  This education doesn’t have to be just about work.  You can be about learning to fix something around the house or take a class in a subject you have been interested in.  She does, however, remind you that following your heart is as important as following the green.