Category Archives: Tarotcast

Weekly Tarotcast

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Tarotcast for the Week of November 19, 2017

Juan Gris Cubism

Juan Gris was part of the Cubist art movement. He started studying engineering and you can see how mathematics influenced his painting style. He like many other cubist painted a lot of still life, using the same elements again and again. Deconstructing and reconstructing to create a new memory of the our day to day existence. His main menu of items are a newspaper, a glass, a guitar, and either pears or grapes in a bowl.

My Thanksgiving table memories are like cubist still lives. Different facets of the same ingredients, turkey, cranberry sauce in a bowl, potatoes, stuffing, some green vegetable… Traditions give us a sense of continuity, and particularity Thanksgiving brings a sense of comfort and familiarity in its food traditions. Even though the people change around the table by growing older, growing new or growing apart, the ingredients remains the same. The familiar food is what strings together and conjures the cascade of kaleidoscope like memories of the people that have sat at my table, and I am grateful.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – Knight of Pentacles – The Knight of Pentacles lesson is all about the balance of moving forward while still taking time to get off your horse and smell the flowers. You have a lot to do this week and you will get it done if you take a slow and steady path. The challenge with this card is to take breaks along the way. Remember there are more meaningful moments along the journey then the one at the goal.

*Taurus – Chariot -.The Chariot is a card of movement and change that is under your control. For all of you traveling for Thanksgiving, the Chariot is quite practical. This card advises you to check your tire pressure, make sure you know where you are going, and double check you have what you need for the trip. For all of you staying home or that do not celebrate Thanksgiving, this week’s challenge is about preparation and balance to create ease while growing the aspect you want to move forward. Simply this can look like focusing on having balanced meals, or more complex having a balance between work and play in your life.

*Gemini – Wheel – The Wheel comes into your life to help you change the fortune in any aspect of your life. The challenge is that you have to take a chance to expand your horizons. The only thing to be very of aware of with the Wheel is not to bet more than you are willing to lose. This is a card of chance but has the potential of great reward. Step up to the Wheel and spin.

Cancer – Five of Wands – The Five cards all bring their own kind of chaos into our lives. The Wands’ chaos are around our passion and spiritual quests. Your challenge is to not get distracted from your passion and spirit into other people’s drama. This week use the natural gift of the crab and side step away from trouble.

*Leo – Empress – The Empress is the Momma card of the deck. This week is around dealing with the good and bad Mother energy – yours and others. The way to work with this energy is to examine the way you and others nurture or not nurture each other, and emulate the better parts. The challenge, no matter your gender, is to honor and imitate the inner mother that you needed as a child to yourself and people that are around you this week.

Virgo – Four of Wands – The Four of Wands represents home. This doesn’t not have to be the place you were born or the place that you live now. It is the home that warms your heart. The challenge is to seek out or create that feeling of home in your life. Comfortable and cozy should be at least two of the adjectives you strive for this week.

Libra – Ace of Swords – The Ace of Swords advise to hone your mind to laser sharpness. You will need your intellect this week. The challenge with this Ace is to keep your mind open to new ideas. The old way of doing things won’t work. On a more practical note with the Ace of Swords- be careful around sharp things (that includes tongues).

Scorpio – Two of Swords – Last week The Magician, your card for the coming year, challenged you to experiment, try new things, make mistakes, go down rabbit holes just for fun. The Two of Swords continues this theme saying there is no time like the present to try something new. The challenge is not to get caught up with what choices to make, but just pick something and try it out. You can always decided to stop and drop the idea, path or decision.   Remember, experimentation is the key and you learn as much from what you don’t like as you do from what you do.

Sagittarius – Queen of Swords – The Queen of Swords is the planner and knowledge gatherer. She thinks and communicates before she acts. Your challenge this week is to is do just that. However, be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.

 

Capricorn – Seven of Cups – Let’s examine sevens a bit closer since this is your second in a row. Sevens are about expansion and contraction in your life. Last week the focus was on your physical -work plane. This week the focus moves to examining your hearts desires. The challenge is to day dreaming without boundaries. You all are too practical to worry about the illusion side of this card. So really try and have fun thinking up what the good life would look like if you had all the health, money and time you needed.

*Aquarius – Magician – Ok the Magician is back. At the beginning of this month he challenged you to experiment and not shy away from your mistakes. Then Justice and the Devil challenged you to work on how you blocked yourself when experimenting. Now that you have hopefully learned this lessons, the Magician has returned, so back to the drawing board or the laboratory that is your life. Have fun experimenting – in your kitchen, your workplace and/or your life.

Pisces – King of Swords – The King of Swords is the master of strategy and boundaries. You will need your wits and strong boundaries about you to navigate this week . However, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, so your challenge is to also remain flexible.

 

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

 

Nina

Tarotcast

Tarotcast for Week of November 12, 2017

Susanna Bauer‘s art work looks like the divine baby of Andy Goldworthy’s pieces and your great grandmothers doilies. She creates by combining a delicate process with a delicate item.

I am drawn to her work, because I have been thinking about this time in the Northeast. Her art portrays how I feel about the moments between the end of fall and the beginning of winter – when the word cozy starts begin said and felt. Where the days are a bit grey and the color palette has changed to shades of brown,  grey and black. The temperature is cold enough that you need a scarf, possibly a hat, but not gloves.

I miss walking in the blustery winds of the end of autumn.   Breathing in that cool moist air, having a race with the leaves whirling down the sidewalk, and hearing the final flock of geese flying over. And then the moments I miss the most – getting home and getting tea, a book and a blanket to sit by the window watching the last brown leaves being pulled away from their branches. Cozy.

P.S.   Please – Go to her site to really see the detail of her artwork.    Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.   I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – Nine of Swords

The Nine of Swords’ lessons are around how we deal with worry. This week is full of useless worry. Worry in its best form helps us solve problems and avoid danger. The first thing you need to do this week with your fretting is decipher if you actually can control any part of this situation. Then, control the things you can and let the rest go.

Taurus – Ace of Cups

Love, Love , Love. It is really all you need this week. The Ace of Cups only challenge is to seed some of your love into your environment and other people. Smile at everyone this week, and as your heart opens so does your opportunities.

Gemini – Four of Pentacles

The Four of Pentacles points out the places where you feel the need to save. To save your time, to save your money, to save space. The challenge with this card is being so concerned with saving that you forget that time moves on without you, you can’t take your money with you, or allowing someone into your personal space well makes you more personable. Be aware that saving for the future can have you not experiencing the present.


Cancer – Seven of Wands

The Seven of Wands is about perseverance. This week don’t back down on what you believe or know that is right for you.   The challenge this week is to stand your ground.

 

Leo – Ace of Swords

Ok, now you can make the decisions you have hopefully held off making the past two weeks. The Ace of Swords’ only challenge is to wield your decision making for the good. On the more practical side with this card, be careful with sharp pointy things this week. No running with scissors.

Virgo – King of Wands

This is big picture week with the King of Wands. This King wants you to broaden your vision and make sure your understand all the consequences of your actions. The challenge is that your heart and ideas are in the right place, but  make sure the people around you are in agreement with what you want to do for the collective. There is a fine line between helping people and driving their life for them.

Libra – Nine of Pentacles

Two weeks ago the Emperor challenged you to make the world a better place to live and work. Then last week the Fool wanted you to enjoy the world you created. This week the Nine of Pentacles continues that theme of joy. The only challenge with this card is realizing that it is not actually the rush of happiness you want, but the steadiness of contentment that you are building.

*Scorpio – Magician

The Magician is your card for the coming year. This is a card of doing, creating, and experimenting. The Magician raise one hand up to the divine pulling power down to manifest things on earth. This coming year you need to experiment, try new things, make mistakes, and go down rabbit holes just for fun. He is pushing you to use all that the knowledge and skills that you have gain so far to create something new. Think like Tesla and AG Bell.

Sagittarius – Knight of Wands

Get on your mode of transportation and ride out into nature. The Knight of Wands challenges you to reconnect with nature. Go out into the woods, beach, mountains, desert or even your local park (if you can get far enough away from people.)   Look around, smell the air, listen to the denizen of the wild, take off your shoes and feel the earth with your toes. Your soul is craving the great outdoors, and this knight has things to share that only can be seen when you dance with Mother Nature.

Capricorn – Seven of Pentacles

Two weeks ago, the Empress challenged you to practice your new emotional intelligence, and then the Magician dared you to create through experimentation. The Seven of Pentacles continues this work but with less urgency.  The Seven of Pentacles challenges you to collect the harvest from the work you have been doing this past month.

*Aquarius – Devil

Wow, another big card. Two weeks ago the Magician challenged you to not shy away from your mistakes. Then Justice wanted you to continue experimenting but also have faith that the results will come in time. Now the Devil is adding that though you have made gains in figuring out what has been bugging you this past month, there is still more work to do.   You are not free from your chains. You all are working on what you want to do in the future. The challenge with Devil is to unchain yourself from the illusions of fear, obsessions or insecurities.

 

Susanna BauerPisces – Three of Cups

The Three of Cups wants to remind you that friendship and community are big pieces of the happiness puzzle for you. Your challenge this week hang out with friends.

 

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

 

Nina

Tarotcast

Tarotcast for Week of November 5, 2017

Dorothy P. Lathrop Dorothy P. Lathrop

The illustrations above are by the artist Dorothy P. Lathrop. She was born in Albany New York, and was a prolific illustrator from 1919 to 1967. She was an animal activist and vegetarian, and you can see her love of animals in the details of them in her illustrations. Many of her models were from her and her sister’s menagerie of animals that lived with them throughout their lives. Interestingly, I have these hanging on my wall for the past 20 years and until doing research on her did not know what artist had illustrated the above pieces.

We define illustration as a decoration, interpretation or visual explanation of a text, concept or process, designed for integration in published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, video games and films. Sadly illustration and the people who make them are not consider fine art. I beg to differ. Illustrations are usually the first art forms we encounter as children. They illuminate our imagination, and help us visualize and learn the constructs of language. Though fine art can move us with emotion, and, if we have enough art history, ignite our intellect . Illustration as an art form is better defined by the word’s original meaning in Middle English – illumination; spiritual or intellectual enlightenment. Illustration gives our stories and minds wings.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.

Aries – King of Swords – The King of Swords is the decision maker. This week will be filled with choices and big decisions. The best way to get through this week is to be methodical in your thinking.   If you are feeling overwhelmed step back and strategize with someone you trust.

Taurus – Six of Pentacles -. The Six of Pentacles is the mini karma card. Remember that ever thing you do has an effect. The more positive or negative you put in the world the more positive or negative you receive. The challenge is to realize that not all karma flows directly or timely. Goodwill and faith are the keys this week.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of November 5, 2017 →

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Tarotcast for Week of October 29, 2017

The number 108 holds a huge significance for me because of a series of synchronicities . It starts 30 years ago with a friend nodding off to sleep mumbling 108 windows and doors. A few months later I was reading the book The Inner Reaches of Out Space by Joseph Campbell where he mentioned how 108 fits in with the use of the number 9 in a variety of mythologies and religions.  Then a couple of months later, I was watching the movie Bull Durham which the opening narration says “I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball.”

The number 108 continues to pop up in my life. When I meditate and use a mala which has 108 beads on it,  for 108 is a significant number in Dharmic Religions. I started my spiritual practice with Tai Chi which has 108 positions.  Also, I am an avid martial arts movie watcher, and found there are more forms that use 108 too. I love mythology and while reading Odysseus found that Penelope, his wife, had 108 suitors. In science, the distance from the Earth and Sun is about 108 times the diameter of the Sun. In math, it is the summation of the interior angles of a regular pentagon, which makes it part of the math that contributes to the Golden Ratio. And for all you witches out there a pentagon is the base of the pentagram.

So, this is my 108th tarotcast. I have done this tarotcast for two years, and I would like to celebrate and thank you for being on this trip with me. I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am. Thank you for reading. XO

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out. I’ve added some funny Halloween pictures and ideas for you.

Aries – Ten of Cups – The Tower warned you that best way to make it through last week’s changes was to be cautious, keep your expectations low, and go with the flow. So now that this shift has happened, the Ten of Cups is asking you to pick only the good things out of the rubble. The lesson is that when things are not built on stable ground they fall.   And many times we do not have control over seismic like disturbances, but we do have power over on what we focus on and carry with us. Costume ideas: Butterflies , unicorns, or something that will make them laugh

Taurus – Ten of Swords -. The Ten of Swords’ lesson is one in following your intuition. This card forewarns if you don’t follow your sixth sense, you will walk into trouble. Usually this trouble comes from other people misunderstanding what you are putting out there or just a plain case of the meanies. Your challenge is to use your intuition around social situations to duck and weave, and when in doubt best to keep to yourself. Costume ideas: Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Freddie Kruger, Lizzie Borden
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of October 29, 2017 →

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Tarotcast for Week of October 22, 2017

Viktor Vasnetsov

This is a painting by Viktor Vasnetsov  titled the Three Princess of the Underworld. It is based on the Russian fairytale The Three Men of Power- Evening, Midnight and Sunrise. This fairytale has the familiar themes of princess in distress, usually three poor but gallant brothers go off to save them, but it is the youngest who saves the day. This youngest son or daughter is a common theme in many stories like Joseph in the bible, The Golden Bird, The Red Ettin, Boot and the Troll, to name a few. What is the need for us to see the youngest win?

I hypothesis that the youngest theme was a pushback of the old world system where in reality the eldest got the crown, the girl, the prestige. In ancient times, fairy tales became parables of hope to the youngest and maybe made the eldest more considerate. But today the fairytale has expanded into reality. Our re-telling of history or the news highlighting the underdog even though these are places where unbiased truth should rule.

We all rally around the smallest guy on the team when he get to first base or the girl who becomes an astronaut. I hope we all still do, but is our focus on the fairytale ending skewing reality? Are we making choices based on hoping things into authenticity, backing the “underdog or outsider” for that sole reason, or even celebrating anomalies instead of correcting and dealing with the injustices that are real? Please still rally around the “youngest” winning, read fairy tales and have hope, but also see that genderism, racism, sexism and other “isms” are still predominant problems that the “youngest” still face.

P.S.  I have a new reading the Planetary Spread for you all to check out.  Please support your local artists this holiday season. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

*Aries – Tower – The best way to make it through a Tower week is to be cautious, keep your expectations low, and go with the flow. The Tower shakes things down that are not working. Keeping your eyes open for falling debris, and be okay with this restructuring. It will make you safer and more prepared the next time the poop hits the fan.

Taurus – Two of Cups -. The Two of Cups emphasis compassion, partnership, and trust. This card is begging you to engage in some lovin’. Your only challenge is in finding the time.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of October 22, 2017 →

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Tarotcast for Week of October 15, 2017

Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak’s book Where the Wild Things Are started my love and fascination with monsters. This book has only 330 words, yet it is so complex in its ideas. It is takes us into and through the realm of anger, loneliness and fear. Max shows us how to use imaginations to confront fear and combat loneliness, and the book’s conclusion teaches emotional self regulation when Max decides to come home. These are deep emotions to cover in 330 words, so Maurice conveys another layer through his illustrations.

His illustration choices are subtle yet convey a deeper subtext. For example see above, how Max’s posture and his eyes closed show his ecstasy and abandonment and how  Wild Thing One’s posture mimics his. This picture shows W.T. One at the head of this “merry” band; however, W.T. One’s glance back to Max reminding us that Max is the true leader, for he has conjured up this world.  And you can see all the monsters show a facet of Max’s emotions.

Below are more illustrations of Mr. Sendak from Tolstoy, the Hobbit, Brothers Grimm etc… I challenge you to examine his illustrations –  find the complexity of emotion he conjures up with the subtleness of his illustration choices.  I think you will find just like in Max’s world, they show us parts of ourselves.

P.S. Please support your local artists this holiday season. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.  Funny interview with Stephen Colbert and Maurice Sendak

Aries – Ace of Pentacles – Last week, you got the Magician who said you have things under control. The Ace of Pentacles continues this theme. Though the challenged has changed slightly from watching your step around people to actually working with others. Take the help that is offered this week.


Taurus – Seven of Cups – The Seven of Cups’ lessons are about hope and illusions. This week the challenge is disregarding or correct illusionary thinking without losing or crushing hope.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of October 15, 2017 →

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Tarotcast for Week of October 8, 2017

Christine Morren’s art conjures up fairytales, fantasies and feelings of fall for me. It might be the color palette she chooses that remind me of autumn landscapes. Or the blurry silhouettes of her subjects that remind me of the foggy fall mornings. Or that her more humanoid subjects’ eyes are as crisp as a autumn wind. Or maybe it is because her images remind me of the paradox of autumn memories. The fun of frolicking in a pile of autumn leaves, and that associated smell of autumn is also one of earthy decay.

P.S. Please support your local artists this holiday season.  Also I have a new tarot reading offer, Planetary Tarot Reading , for those of you that have had an Astrological Tarot Reading.  Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

Christine Morren*Aries – Magician – The Magician ‘s lesson is self-confidence. You got this week under your control. The only challenge is, as you power through this week -doing your thing, to be aware and respectful of the people on this journey with you.

 

Taurus – Knight of Cups – The Knight of Cups continues the theme of expressing your emotions that the Moon challenged you with last week (not to mention the Full Moon in Aries that occurred ). The Knight of Cups warrants you to keep the emotions flowing. The more you wear your heart on your sleeve the more your love ones can help you shore up and replenish your emotional well. The challenge is communicating these emotions, so they are heard.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of October 8, 2017 →