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Tarotcast for Week of December 16, 2018

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThis week is Solstice; where darkness is at its height in the northern hemisphere, and light reigns in the southern.  The Photographs above and below are from Roadside Lights by the artist Eiji Ohashi.  Japan has 5 million vending machines and leads the world in machine versus land density.  They sell a wide variety of items, from the more common soda and snacks and cigarettes to the unique fresh fruit, eggs, alcohol, books, pets’ clothes, diapers, to name a few.  And roadside vending machines populate many of the rural areas taking the place of the corner store.  Ohashi was drawn to these lone sources of light and sustenance on the rural roadsides of snow-covered Hokkaido and other places in Japan.

This season is about celebrating the light of growth, persistence and love.  It is the lesson we should remember during the Holiday season. Where an elf can bring presents to millions of children in a night, where a Grinch can grow a heart then save a Who holiday, and where oil can burn for days, wonder and the concept of miracles are vital to our perception of the world. That in our darkest hours and coldest places, hope and goodness persist.  Our challenge is honoring and hopefully being that person or thing that can bring light and sustenance to places where it is least expected – to become a wonder in the world.  It is not that hard- just turn on your light and shine.

P.S. Next week look for the popular Looking Back– solstice tarotcast. And you need last minute presents you can give an Astrological Reading or a great stocking stuffer is my Quick Draw for $5

P.S.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please shar

*Aries – Sun

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThe Sun represents growth and positivity, so this week should feel amazing. Though there are a few challenges:  you might feel some growing pains, it might be hard to feel positive in all the rush or while you are growing you could overshadow someone’s else growth.  This can look as simple as finding all your x-mas presents just make sure you don’t butt in line to grab the deal.  Or this can look as complex as growing your confidence but doing it in a way that others don’t feel left out.  The big lesson is Shine without Shadowing.

*Taurus – Empress and the Moon

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThis is an interesting combination.  The Empress is the card of creation and the Moon is the card of things hidden.  This week is like tending your night-blooming flowers.  There is more creation happening in the dark of your subconscious and/or solitude, than with the light and society.  This can look as simple/complex as doing some stream of consciousness writing, collage, black-out poetry, cleaning out your fridge/freezer and making some new culinary dish, or writing down your dreams.  The challenge letting out new creations that are waiting to spring up from your subconscious.

Gemini – Knight of Cups

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThe Knight of Cups swoops in to advise you to get in touch with your emotions. This is a great week to take a deep dive in to what is driving your emotions.  If you don’t like what you see, kick it out and if you do, feed it.  If you are having a hard time tapping into your emotions watch Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street or The Grinch.

Cancer – Ace of Pentacles

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThe Ace of Pentacles are new beginning on the material plane.  This is a great week to start a new project, change jobs, move, try new recipes, start a new exercise regime.  Look at what you want to grow or change on the material plane

Leo – Eight of Pentacles

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanHmm your second 8 in a row so let’s take a gander at 8s for a minute.  Eights in numerology mean manifestation through mastery.  Last week the Eight of swords want you to master your negative thoughts.  This week the Eight of Pentacles wants you to master something on the material plane. This look like a project, money, or deal coming together.  Focus more on doing then, how it gets done.  Trust yourself you are skilled.

*Virgo – Judgement

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThis week has all the potential for being fantastic, if you can just get out of your own way and shine.  Leave your ego and your mind on the curb and let life take you to some new places.  You will find more grace and enlightenment if you follow you spirit and your heart.  This can look as simple/complex as taking a walk/ride to see Holiday lights, going to a holiday party with someone you like, buying candy canes and giving them to every homeless person you pass, or staying at home getting cozy with nog and a book.  The challenge with doing any of these things is thinking yourself out of it like:  holiday lights are a stupid competition, yuck parties, the homeless need homes not candy, or I’m lazy.  This week is about using your judgment to enjoy joy.

Libra – Queen of Swords

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThe Queen of Swords is about strategy in all you do.  Need to get holiday gifts – make a list of what you need and then map out the best path.  Need to get a project done – hire a babysitter so you can pull a long day, so you don’t have to do work during the holidays.  If you are traveling pack early and preorder your taxi.  This week can get hectic but a good battle plan will get you through it.

Scorpio – Four of Cups

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanHolidays can be hard for all the water signs because there are a lot of emotions swimming around good or bad – yours or others. It can be draining. This week might push on your emotions, so you pull inward.  And you can do that if you don’t do it all week.  The challenge is to see that contemplation is fine if you look up and out to reorient to the positive.  If you find yourself going to far inward call a friend to take you out for a hot tottie or tea.  Love and laughter are the keys this week.

Sagittarius – Ten of Pentacles

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanYou are finishing out your birth month with the Ten of Pentacles or the prosperous kingdom card.  The coming year has the Magician calling for creation and the Hanged Man calling for new and unique perspectives.  All tens are summation cards so 2019 is a place where not only are you creating new and unique projects, traveling to new roads, but it is about enjoying your all that you have done to get to this place.  This week is your first step in seeing how prosperous your kingdom is.  Enjoy the bounty.

Capricorn – Two of Pentacles

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanIt’s a balancing act this week.  Balancing intake with outtake, rest and activities, food and water, society and solitude.  If you feel off kilter it is a sign to stop and ground yourself.  This is a good card to practice going into your birth month.

Aquarius – Two of Cups

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanTwo of Cups is the card of relationships.  Take time this week to have one on ones with people you love.  You need to reconnect with the people you hold dear.  The challenge is to truly be there with them.  This can be hard with the hectic holiday season, but it will fill your cup more than drain it. Think small intimate moments than grand gestures.

Pisces – Ten of Wands

Eiji Ohashi vending machines of JapanThe Ten of Wands is about putting too much on your plate because of a sense of obligation.  This week is more about doing a few things well, than doing a bunch of things half-ass.  The challenge is giving yourself a break. Lay down at least two of your to-dos on your list. You can pick them back up next week if they don’t fade away before that.

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

Nina

Tarotcast

Tarotcast for week of December 9, 2018

I choose the artist Gerhard Richter for this week because of his technique of using photography, painting and blurring. He creates in the real and then manipulates it to the abstract.  He plays with line and focus.  He says in his book Writings. I blur things to make everything equally important and equally unimportant. I blur things so that they do not look artistic or craftsman like but technological, smooth and perfect. I blur things to make all the parts a closer fit. Perhaps I also blur out the excess of unimportant information.

I think of December as that month of in-between and it has a sense of blurring.  There is something ether like and magical with this month.  Yes, this month can be the most hectic, but it also has its moments which slow to molasses like states of comfort. Where we can hang with family and/or friends and savor.  A time where we are letting go of the old year while starting to think about the new year’s promise.  It’s like the lines of time are blurred and fluctuating.  Where we hopefully bring into focus what is important and let the unimportant blur into the oblivion.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

Aries – Queen of Swords

The last two weeks the cards have been asking you some heavy questions like: What cycles are you beginning?What ideas or projects do you want to store or work on next year?  What do you want to let die or finish before spring? What do you need to heal, so you can move in to 2019 with a lighter load? And if you could hope for an outcome what would it be? Now the Queen of Swords arrives and wants you to spend this coming week to start planning and integrating those answers for 2019. 

Taurus – Seven of Wands

The Seven of Wands challenges you to deal with this week like a Zen master. You need all your senses turned on to practice your skills with the complexities of statements like: Instead of calling it work, realize it is play. The practice is forgetting the self in the act of uniting with something. The menu is not the meal.

Gemini – Five of Swords

Last week the Tower came and for some of you the lesson was how to ride the waves of change that you have no control over.  For others it was just a tiny tremor, a warning, to get your “house” in order.  Either way you all were supposed to check and reinforce the foundations in your life, like health, relationships, monetary savings or any other place you feel queasy about. Luckily you all have another week with the Five of Swords which helps you by suggesting that you glimpse into your past mistakes.  The challenge is not to wallow in the regrets but to see the lessons that these mistakes hold and move forward with that knowledge.

Cancer – Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords can go two ways, either you carry around all that negative energy or you can let it go. It is best to let go of the ego and navigate the world with your intuition.  This week logic is not your friend.

Leo – Eight of Swords

The Hermit last week suggested you stand back and gain perspective- the bigger picture.  The Eight of Swords continues this theme but warns you that you have the tendency when pulling back to get caught up in the web of your thoughts.  So that is your challenge to think without binding yourself up in your negative or repetitive thought patterns.  Free your mind

Virgo – Ten of Cups

The Ten of Cups is just a perfect card for the best part of this season – sharing the love.  Your challenge is to do just that.  Make this week about bliss and joy.  Let the good times roll, and if you can’t find it – make your own. 

Libra – King of Swords

The King of Swords is about communication, philosophy and big ideas.  The challenge is about getting your ideas across without force or anger.  Best advice is listening as much as you are talking this week. 

Scorpio – Eight of Pentacles

The Lovers last week suggested collaboration to be your focus to create original and creative outcomes.  The Eight of Pentacles continues this theme.  The only changes are that collaboration is more important at work than any other place, and you can split the time working with others with working alone.  The harder you work this week the better prepared you will be for the end of the year.

*Sagittarius – The Hanged Man

Another Karma card for your year going forward, the Hanged Man.  The Magician called for creation and the Hanged Man calls for new and unique perspectives.  For some of you this might mean next year you all will take some literally and figurative side roads for inspiration.  For others the Hanged Man ask you to take a sabbatical to help another gain their goals or for your own spiritual growth.  Please re-read the past two weeks cards, 2019 is looking like a big year for you and we still have one more card to go. 

Capricorn – Knight of Wands

When the Knight of Wands arrives, he is telling you that you are on the right path, at the right speed,doing everything you need to do. It should be an easy week if you continue doing what you are doing.  So, keep on keeping on. 

Aquarius – Four of Swords

Another 4 card, so remember 4 cards mean stability.  Last week, the Four of Pentacles wanted you working smarter not harder.  This week the Four of Swords focus on your mind and thoughts.  The challenge is slowing down or simplifying your thoughts. The more methodical and logical you are the less you will fret.  Oh, and get some rest.

Pisces – Eight of Wands

The Eight of Wands is the messenger card and exchanger of information.  The challenge is with all the signals you are getting which ones to follow, listen to, and send out.  Well the interesting thing with this card is you don’t have to manage or make decision on all the messages coming in.  It is more about the action.  The more arrows you shoot towards a target the more likely you are to hit something.  And in the opposite direction only listen to things that strike home to you, the rest let pass.

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

Nina

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Tarotcast for Week of December 2, 2019

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There are somewhere around 20,000 species of bees on Earth, and they are on every continent except the Antarctica. This fact made me wonder – What do bees do in the winter?  Honeybees which are social and live in hives have evolved a behavior called clustering. This behavior gets them and their queen through the winter.

Once the outside temperature drops to 55 degrees F, inside the hive the Honeybees huddle around the queen shivering and fluttering their wings to create heat.  At the core of the cluster temperatures range anywhere in the 80’s. The bees continually rotate their position so no bee gets to cold.  As the temperature falls the cluster becomes tighter and tighter.  The  bees live on the honey they have collected in the hive through out the summer. For Bumblebees, also social, the whole hive dies in the fall except for the Queen.  Her  fattened self digs a burrow, hides out for the winter and in the spring lays a whole new hive.

Solitary bees have evolved  two ways to make it through the winter. Either the female  lays her eggs in a nest full of pollen and nectar and seals it up for the winter.  Then she and the male die leaving  their eggs to hatch into larva and eat through the larder she has provided through the winter.   Or other both genders of solitary bee,  like the carpenter bee and other burrowing bees, find a nice dry place to cocoon away until spring.  These bees’ nests are underground, in your wood pile or they hollow out reeds and stems of dying plants.  So if you see a hole in your firewood about bee size don’t burn up that piece, or leave a few large stem plants to die off  in your garden for the winter, to give these bees a winter condo.

The photos in this article are photographed by Sam Droege a wildlife biologists.    See his series of photos he calls Eye Candy which shows the amazing diversity of  bee.   Below are just a few.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

*Aries – Star

Bees photo by Sam Droege Last week the Death card asked you some hard questions like:  What cycles are you starting up again? What ideas or projects do you want to store and work on next year?  What do you want to let die or finish before spring?  The Star card continues the theme of introspection by adding the questions:  What do you need to heal, so you can move in to 2019 with a lighter load? And if you could hope for an outcome what would it be?

 

Taurus – Three of Wands

Bees photo by Sam Droege Last week the Strength card had you assess the hows and whys of your internal struggle to get things done.  This week the Three of Wands wants you to continue pondering those questions, but also would like you planning your focuses for the winter season.  What three things would you like to get done that will carry you into the spring of 2019?
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of December 2, 2019 →

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Tarotcast for Week Of November 25, 2018

Ron Mueck Hyperrealism

Hyperrealism is the genre of painting or sculptures that resemble or portray real life and offshoot of photorealism.  Photorealism is a painting, drawings or other graphic medium in which an artist tries to replica a photograph.  These movements were born with Pop Art in the 60’s and 70’s.    Ron Mueck creates hyperrealism sculptures, and what sets him apart is his use of scale.

He grew up around dolls and puppets in his parents business, and became a model maker and puppeteer for children’s television, films such as Labyrinth and worked in Jim Henson’s Muppet Workshop.  Then in 1996 he started creating fine art sculptures. Mueck uses resin, fiberglass, silicone, and many other materials, constructing hyperrealistic likenesses of mostly human beings, while playing with scale. When asked why Mueck plays with size he said:  Life-size figures … never seemed to be interesting. We meet life-size people every day. Altering the scale makes you take notice in a way that you wouldn’t do with something that’s just normal.

It is interesting that this concept of scale with the human form resonates in our human psyche.  Take for instance, the TV show Land of the Giants or the stories Thumbelina, The Little Peach Boy, Gulliver’s Travels, Alice in Wonderland or as far back The Odyssey.  All of these stories have the theme of large and small.  Is it our biological fear of being prey that has us pondering size especially in contrast to us? When we play with scale particularly with our human form we end up observing things that are commonplace in a new way.  This is the beauty, awe and sometimes horror and disgust of looking through a magnifying glass, microscope or telescope.  Playing with scale not only has us observing the ordinary and everyday closer, but it also has us questioning our place in the Universe. And that is a great exercise with this kind of art.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

 

*Aries – Death

Ron Mueck Hyperrealism The Death card is an appropriate as you head into the winter months.  This week has that feel of slow natural change that happens each season.  This card asks you questions like: What cycles are you starting up again? What ideas or projects do you want to store and work on next year?  What do you want to let die or finish before spring?  This week start mulling these questions in your head, so by winter Solstice you will have a good strategy and platform for 2019.

 

*Taurus – Strength

Ron Mueck Hyperrealism You are going to need your strength this week.  Not because the outside world is trying your patience, but this week is more about your internal struggle to get things done. This card wants you to assess how you hold yourself back.  Do you think you are not strong enough? Or are your opinions and expectations too strong?  Does your will power not let you rest or does it drag you down into inertia?  The Strength card shows up right before one needs to gather their strength to create momentum with the material goals in life. While the rest of us are hibernating, winter will be the perfect time for you all to kick ass, so use this time to garner your strength.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week Of November 25, 2018 →

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Tarotcast for Week of November 18, 2018

Japanese Book covers

I have a deep love for illustration and the artists that do them. This collection of Japanese book covers (1920’s to 1940’s) I found on the exceptional site called 50 Watts.  Hmm I don’t even know how to describe this site other than fascinating images of illustration collected by an amazing online curator/blogger.  You can sign up for “journey round my skull” to get it sent straight to your inbox.  I point this out because illustration, design and craft have been kept out of the definition of “fine arts”. This is an injustice.

Many “fine art” critics, curators and historians wave away illustration, craft and design as an art form and it can even be used an insult.  As an example, an artist  told me that an art teacher critique  her paintings as too illustrative and that made her really question herself as an artist .  I also had a run into this bias at an Artisan’s fair where the judge stated that she just couldn’t wrap her head around judging the fine art with the craft entries, so she decided next year to have a new category just for craft and this year she would only judge  the paintings and photographs as entries.  I don’t think either person meant it as a criticism to illustration or craft but interestingly both these people taught in a college setting, where they teach people what art is and also what defines their students as artists.

Illustration, design and craft can take as much imagination and technical skill as any “fine art” form.  And as I have said before they are everyday gateways into art appreciation.  Art critics and curators now have somewhat expanded the definition of fine art  with street artists like Banksy, Jean Michael, and the trend for outsider art (and I have to add even at this time period these are predominately men that are recognized but that is another blog) but I am not so sure that the art educational system has caught up. What would happen if we just took out primarily or solely in this definition of “fine art” as creative art, especially visual art, whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content?Imagine what kind of art we would see if we opened up to that definition.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

 

Aries – Eight of Swords

Japanese book coversThis week can feel a bit binding with the Eight of Swords.  This card foretells that between your thoughts and your obligations you might feel a bit trapped.  The challenge is realizing this binding feeling is all in your hands.  The obligations and thoughts can easily be let go of if you are truthful with the reasons behind them.

 

Taurus – King of Swords

This King request that you take control this week.  You are the best one to figure out your strategies to get through this week.  Rely on others but only if they have direction, and who better to do that then you.  You have your intellect and wit about you this week, use them.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of November 18, 2018 →

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Tarotcast for Week of November 11, 2018

Above and below are photographs by Christy Lee Rogers. Her style is reminiscent of Baroque paintings.  She, like the siren, lures her friends and family into a pool at night and submerges them with an array of sinuous fabrics.  Rogers has created a technique of using the refraction of light, water and movement to craft images that are lively with color and deep in complexity.

Her subjects show a sense of beauty and strength at the same time vulnerability and fragility that exemplifies the human condition.  She explains: What I want more than ever is to express and inspire hope and freedom, a sense of wonder and tranquility, to create a safe place to dream wildly, and most importantly to inspire the idea that there are still mysterious, impossibly beautiful things on Earth—not solely in our imaginations.

That is our challenge in life and especially in the arts is to bring forth and to light the beauty and mystery of our humanity.  This week be open to investigating the mystery and embodying the beauty that is uniquely human.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

Aries – Ace of Swords

 

The Ace of Swords foretells that your mind is your best asset.  You are going to need your logic and wits about you this week.  This card’s advice is to cut through the malarkey and make decisions.

 

Taurus – Ten of Pentacles

The Ten of Pentacles brings another week of focusing on building your net worth.  What you have going right now is a pretty good gig.  Keep at it and adding to it.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of November 11, 2018 →

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Tarotcast for the Week of November 4, 2018

Happy Birthday Scorpio.  The above is what I consider the cutest snake in the world; however it is venomous.  It is the tree dwelling bush viper found only in ancient rain forest of sub-Saharan Africa.

Scorpio is represented by a scorpion, eagle and/or phoenix, the only sign given multiple forms.  I sort of get the Scorpion part because of the constellation, but the personality of Scorpio and scorpions never really jived.  Scorpions are desert dwellers; Scorpio is a water sign.  Scorpions’ sting can cause death but don’t really portray Scorpios’ sexy and fun side. The sign of Scorpio also rules the underworld and transformation; though this is somewhat cover by the phoenix but it just doesn’t say scorpion. Scorpio is more than just the scorpion hence people attaching more animals real and imagined.

An animal that does jive better with Scorpio’s domains and personalities are snakes. Snakes can live in a variety of environments but they definitely can do water. ie: sea snakes, water moccasins, pythons etc… This portrays how Scorpios can fit in almost everywhere.  Snakes can be harbingers of death. However unlike scorpions, snakes are super sexy especially when they move. They also do the transformation and growth every time a snake sheds their skin.  Even if you look at the constellation you could easily see a snake instead of a scorpion. So what do you say Scorpios let’s change your animal to the snake. An animal that is as diverse as your own personality.

To help convince everyone I’m highlighting the adorable trend of Snakes in Hats which also proves my point how bad ass, funny and cute snakes like Scorpios can be all at the same time.

P.S. First a shout out if in US please use your right and privilege to vote.

PS.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you.  And please share.

Aries – Knights of Pentacles

Snakes in hatsLast week, the High Priestess challenged you to go within, find your center and then watch cycles.  This week the Knight of Pentacles has you take what you learned last week and turn outward applying it to what you are doing in the world.  This is a week were being practical is paramount.

 

Taurus – King of Pentacles

Snakes in hatsThe King of Pentacles is the doer and builder of the lower arcane.  Take that energy he brings to you expanding on work, projects and anything that has to do with the material plane.  Your only challenge is not to “bulldoze” anything into existence.  So be careful how and what you are treading on to get to get things done.
Continue reading Tarotcast for the Week of November 4, 2018 →