Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 30, 2023

April 30, 2023 Nina

The artist this week is Kenojuak Ashevak. Ashevak’s creative focus was vast: sculpture, engraving, painting, drawing, beadwork, sewing and design. However, she is best known for her graphic prints where she joins her skills of carving, drawing, and printing. As Ashevak explains, “There is no word for art. We say it is to transfer something from the real to the unreal.” Ashevak pulls the images of animals, humans, and spirits from her living world and transfers them to a non-living phase. However, Ashevak’s work by her choice of color and flourish seems to bridge the concepts of real and unreal. We see life, movement, and vividness in her work.

In Innuit culture “art” was usually conjoined with function. However, Ashevak was an outlier. Even though she used her work to help her family finically that aligned with the functionality of art in her culture, she also promoted art for art’s sake.

“I just take these things out of my thoughts and out of my imagination, and I don’t really give any weight to the idea of its being an image of something…. I am just concentrating on placing it down on paper in a way that is pleasing to my own eye, whether it has anything to do with subjective reality or not. And that is how I have always tried to make my images, and that is still how I do it, and I haven’t really thought about it any other way than that. That is just my style and is the way I started and the way I am today.”

This concept of allowing ourselves to engage in non-judgmental, non-goal-oriented pleasure, i.e. play, is a skill a focus we all should incorporate into our lives at any age.

Your pondering for the week: Drop your self judgement and allow your imagination to just play. See what comes from it.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Virgo so a pleasant organize way to start the week. On Tuesday it moves into Libra – where harmony and relationships come to the forefront. Then on Friday through the weekend it is in Scorpio – play time with your passions.

Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Gemini. Last week to dive into gratitude and working with the positive nurturing aspects of all your relationships (this includes your relationships with all living things and your environment). Mars (action) is in Cancer. It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21^st. However, at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart needs.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) is in Aquarius until June 11^th, giving us a taste of what the next 20 years will bring. Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures. Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch during this time.

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Taurus this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Virgo 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 new tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

Aries

Ten of Air – It seems the friend-connecting you did last week will be valuable, for you will need your friends in dealing with the potential dramas this week. Whether that is your tendency right now to engage with negative thoughts or if the world around you is throwing spears and curve balls, your friends will help you avoid the worst-case scenarios.

Taurus

*Empress –The Muse of Life is an energy that you all work with your entire lifetime. Also, it makes sense that it not only comes up during your birth month but also as we collectively experience an eclipse in the Scorpio/Taurus pairing, May 5^th and prepare for Jupiter’s move into Taurus on May 16^th. Life is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energy transformation, and reproduction. Your work for this week, maybe throughout this year, is to identify those capacities in yourself, and the how and why you walk on this earth while doing them. And then how you plan to nurture those qualities to further abundant growth in yourself and within your reach into the world.

Gemini

*Sun – The Muse of Optimism would like you to radiate some of this energy into the world. You all are one of the most charismatic signs in the zodiac and this muse would like you to use this superpower this week. Whether that is a smile or a compliment to a random people you encounter or a deep dive of support to someone close, this week is made for you to shine by illuminating the good in others.

Cancerian

Queen of Air – The Muse of Perceptivity comes to help you create ease in your plans and is perfectly aligned with Mercury in retrograde. She reminds you that details and cleverness are the focus this week. So, mottos like the “devil is in the details” and “work smarter not harder” should be in the forefront of your revisions in planning the future.

Leo

Nine of Air – Ok this week has a bump in the road potential stopping the past two weeks’ energy pushing Adventure. That bump is your worry and anxiety. The Muse of Unease advises to switch “I am worried about this negative outcome” to “I hope for this positive outcome.” When you think about it, useful worrying helps us prepare for bumps in the road by deconstruction, and beneficial hoping helps us prepare for bumps in the road but by construction. When done properly they both want the same thing, a positive outcome. So why not prepare this week through a hopeful outlook and lay down the swords of worry.

Virgo

Page of Earth – This week is abundant for learning opportunities. The Muse of Knowledge will point out areas of study for you. Whether that is a new skill set you need to integrate or an area of ignorance you find that needs updating, this week is meant for learning.

Libra

*Fool – The Muse of New is wanting you to branch out and do something that you have never done before. Whether to take an art or dance class, try a new restaurant or go on a spontaneous adventure, this muse wants you to expand your horizons.

Scorpio

*Hanged One – Last week the Muse of Momentum wanted you to spend this retrograde period in contemplation of what needs changing that only you can do and then make a road map to get there. Self-reliance, a destination, and ambition are the key elements that you need to muster. Now the Muse of Upside-down wants you to flip some of your ideas on their head to see them from an alternative perspective. She counsels by doing so you will get a more holistic picture. This week put things on hold or postponed until after May 16^th . So you can take the time you need to see things from “both sides of the coin”.

Sagittarius

Eight of Fire – This week is full of messages. Since Mercury is in retrograde, the challenge is they are not all for you. And the ones for you are also jumbled or missing content. So, the muses advise to take your time with sorting out the ones for you and hold on answering them. For as the week progresses more information can come in to change your perspective or perception.

Capricorn

Two of Water – The Muse of Love is here to get you to find time and slow down to hang with your significant other(s). When this muse comes, she does so because your intimacy cup needs sustenance. Reciprocity of emotions and daydreams need to be exchanged to integrate more love and hope into your future.

Aquarius

Six of Water – During this retrograde time of review and revise the Muse of Memories would like you to recollect what brought you joy and fulfillment from your past. Then she challenges you to make plans on how to create the same feelings without recreating those past events. So, this is an exercise in seeing the arc and maturation of your emotional fulfillment. And how to keep it evolving and growing.

Pisces

Three of Air – The Muse of Breakthroughs would like you to spend this retrograde week looking to heal, at most, three wounds from the past. She does this by setting up scenarios that trigger a heartache response. If you feel sad or angry, these are the areas she would like you to do a deep dive on. This is not to meant to have you relive it, but you do need to still work on healing it.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 23, 2023

April 23, 2023 Nina

Happy Birth-month Taurus.

The artist this week is Willard Wiggan, @willard_wiggan . He has a show at Wollaton Hall Nottingham, UK, which houses the Nottingham Natural History Museum from April to October 2023. Wiggan’s show “Disappearing World” is collection of sculptures that highlight endangered animals and the loss of biodiversity. All his sculptures are viewed through microscopes and many within the eye of a needle. For Wiggan is an artist of the small and minutia. He sculpts and paints the world’s smallest art pieces. He has been honored by the Guinness book of world records twice.

Wiggan’s show illuminates that not only every species matters but also if all of us do small acts of conservation we can make a difference. In his words, “My micro-sized sculptures convey a bigger message to humanity. An artful reminder that our world is disappearing, we need to act, and make changes. My tiny work engages a larger conversation, inviting visitors to consider a simple concept, small things matter.” E

Your pondering for the week: This month we celebrate Earth and highlight how we can create and maintain a healthier home for all living creatures. What is your contribution in maintaining a healthier coexistence on our Mother Earth?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Gemini, good for conversations and relationship work. Then on Tuesday it moves into Cancer – self-care becomes the focus. Then on Thursday through the weekend it is in Leo – time to shine.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) and in retrograde – this period is useful to reflect, review and redo especially within the aspects of how to be calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions. Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Gemini. So, a deep dive into gratitude and working with the positive and nurturing aspects of all your relationships (this includes your relationships with all living things and your environment). Mars (action) is in Cancer. It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21^st. However, at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.

Jupiter (growth) is in Aries until May 16^th – great for manifestation, expansion, and action. And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces to make sure our structures are elastic and responsive to change. The challenge is our boundaries can get too bendy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish. And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) is in Aquarius until June 11^th, giving us a 3-month taste of what the next 20 years will bring. Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures. Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch during this time.

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

Nina

Aries

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship is asking you to connect with your friends this week. It can be as simple as inviting them over for a potluck, a game night or as deep as having a heart to heart. Connection is key this week to not only fill your cup but others too.

Taurus

*Devil – This week can have aspects that feel overwhelming, unsettling, or challenging, so the Muse of Impulse has come to guide you through. She reminds you that when you feel the above you try to gain more control, and thus you can react impulsively. So, she asks you this week to work on your skills in “bull riding.” Bull riders do not try and subdue or control the bull. They just try to stay on, enjoy the challenge and get off without getting hurt.

Gemini

Two of Water – The Muse of Reciprocity would like you to engage in some love. Whether that is self-love, partnered love or any relationship love, this week is about giving as much as it is receiving.

Cancerian

Seven of Air – The Muse of Stealth is asking you to walk lightly into situations this week. There is more going on behind the scenes than you know. So, this Muse advises to hope for the best, but expect the worst. Your song for the week by Mel Brooks.

Leo

Willard Wiggan skateboarder on an eyelash

*Fool – Adventure time continues with the Muse of Spontaneity. This Muse would like you to turn left when you usually go right, try to find the end of a rainbow, say yes to a meandering walk or car ride. The key is to go through this week without expectations and along the way you will find inspiration, hidden treasures, and possibly the feeling of freedom one finds when we leave our expectations on the side of the road.

Virgo

*Strength – This week the Muse of Instinct is your guide. For the group of you in touch with following your gut, this should be an easy week. But for those that question and don’t believe in their inner voice or moral compass, well this week can be a bit of a challenge. No matter which group you are in, this muse would like you to flex your core muscle of self-confidence. As Ru-Paul said, “Chin-up, shoulders back, tits out.”

Libra

Four of Fire– The Muse of Home is asking you to invest in yours. Spend time and energy to beautify the place you live in. That can be a simple tidying up or jazzing up your digs with more plants, or a new color way.

Scorpio

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum would like you to spend this retrograde period in contemplation of what needs changing that only you can do and then make a road map to get there. Self-reliance, a destination, and ambition are the key elements that you need to muster, so once this retrograde season is over (May 14) you are ready to roll.

Sagittarius

Seven of Fire – So hopefully last week you took note on the areas that your accolades were pointing you to. Because the Muse of Exertion is wanting you to use them to manifest or defend a stance. Your willpower is what will power the next steps to advancing your cause.

Capricorn

Five of Water – The Muse of Reflection is here to help you work with this retrograde period (now until May 14). Since your birthday you all have had a bit of a Mister Toad’s Wild Ride, ups, downs, and unexpected turns. She advises using these next couple of weeks to process what you have experienced. Letting go of what is lost or no longer useful and walking forward with what is rejuvenating and refreshing.

Aquarius

Four of Water – The Muse of Stillness is sitting and waiting for you to sit with her for part of this week. She advises you to split your time between introspection and interaction. Doing only one will lead you to imbalance or overindulgence. Where doing both, fairly evenly (remember there is no such thing as perfection), will bring contentment and stability.

Pisces

Willard Wiggan – Crown on a head of a pin

King of Air – The Muse of Far Perspective is here to remind you that this retrograde season instead of trying to manage with short term fixes, to turn your gaze and mind to long-terms solutions. So, think less like applying band-aids and more like enacting life-changing choices.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023 Nina

The artist this week is Nina Chanel Abney @ninachanel. Abney’s paintings are visually vibrant, incorporating letters, numbers, geometric shapes, disembodied figures, and silhouettes composed with flattened and simplified forms. Her work symbolizes the intensity and overwhelming pace of information coming at us. Her imagery though seemingly disjointed and “simple” are a deeper commentary on diverse subjects like “isms”, world events, pop culture, art history and how we process them. By approaching these serious subjects with a colorful palette and graphic style, Abney’s work is, as the artist states, “easy to swallow, hard to digest.”

Your pondering for the week: What is the hardest piece of information you are trying to digest? Why?

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Pisces so go with the flow until Tuesday when it moves into Aries – this is when the real week starts. Then on Thursday there is a new moon in Taurus – great for starting projects and grounding. And lastly for the weekend the moon is in Gemini, good for conversations and relationship work.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions. Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Gemini. So, a deep dive into gratitude and working with the positive, nurturing aspects of relationships in your life. Mars (action) is in Cancer. It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21^st. However, at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) is in Aquarius giving us a 3-month taste of what the next 20 years will bring. Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures. Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch during this time.

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Aries this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Libra 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 new tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

Aries

*Moon – This week can be very emotional. The Muse of Feelings is here to help you through this time with more healing and less raw reactions. She reminds you that we all have feelings and even though you all put on a brave front so do you. And she advises that the best way to deal with your emotions is to use physicality in positive ways, so you can then unpack and process these emotions without oozing them out onto others. This week has lots of potential breakthroughs for you if you just take time and investigate the shadows.

Taurus

Knight of Air – This week has all the potential to feel rushed, but the Muse of Unconventionality is here to help. She advises that you need to come up with innovative solutions to succeed in any challenge you face this week. Old ways just won’t give you the traction you need for ease and momentum.

Gemini

*Death – This week has the potential for change if you cooperate with the flow. Let aspects that are decaying go and nurture the aspects that are budding. The Muse of Organic Change reminds you for a healthy garden you need to make compost first to fertilize potential and growth.

Cancerian

Six of Fire – The Muse of Success is reminding you to take time this week and bask in your victories. You have followed your own path and are now at a point of recognition and celebration before you move on. The challenge is to give yourself the acknowledgment and not look to others to stroke your ego.

Leo

Knight of Fire – The Muse of Adventure wants you to get out of the house and go on any size escapade. By riding into the world this week, you will be inspired, and your passion reignited. And you just might have some fun if you charge into it with a positive approach.

Virgo

Queen of Water – The Muse of Empathy would like to work with you this week. The challenge is to engage with others without getting pulled into the depths of their emotional waves. She reminds you sometimes you just need to be present for them. You don’t always have to find a solution or fix it.

Libra

Seven of Air– This week calls for strategy. The Muse of Tricksters is challenging you to use your cunning to get to the bottom of a situation or get yourself out of predicament. She counsels that sometimes distraction can be used to give yourself time to solve the problem.

Scorpio

*Justice – The Muse of Balance comes when you must weigh out situations using logic. This muse reminds you that impartiality and intelligence are the powers you should lean on this week. The challenge is finding a harmonious solution for all involved.

Sagittarius

Queen of Fire – The Muse of Confidence is here to fire up yours. Pay attention to all the accolades you get this week, for they are markers for your superpowers and purpose. These compliments are guides on what to focus your attention on, not only in yourself but also the projects/people you put your energy into.

Capricorn

Seven of Water – This week is made for making wishes. And the Muses are granting you seven wishes, write them down and release them in a body of water.

Aquarius

Eight of Fire – The Muse of Messages calls in insights from the universe. The challenge is hearing them above all the noise of life. She advises either to ask for a signifier to see them (like they are connected to seeing birds or the color purple), or lay out some quiet time to tune into the messages for you to receive.

Pisces

*Fool – The Muse of Impulsiveness is warning you to not jump to conclusions this week. You need to gather all the data before leaping into the next aspect of your life. This Muse reminds you with the tasks you have this week, an informed decision is necessary because your gut feelings are not solely reliable right now.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 9, 2023

April 9, 2023 Nina

The artist for this week is Carol Long @carollongpottery. You can see the love Long has for nature in her pottery. The fluid lines, whimsy, and seasonal palettes pull the viewer into meadows, vivid colors of autumn, and the lushness of spring. Her technique is to start with a simple structure or form and then she manipulates to more chaotic and organic lines. As she states, “When it comes off the potter’s wheel, that’s just the beginning… I usually sit for a second and look at the piece and see which way I can push it out or in.” She then uses a technique called slip trailing to add texture to the pieces. Slip trailing is the application to a clay surface of lines of slip (watered down clay) using a fine-pointed dispenser.

Long pushes her pieces and our accepted concept of symmetry equaling beauty to a place of paradox. Just like nature, Long’s work supports Birkhoff’s theory of aesthetic nature. Birkhoff’s formula relied on two abstract concepts: complexity and order (or symmetry). According to Birkhoff, if something is complex, it will be more appealing if it is less symmetrical. Alternatively, if something is highly symmetrical, it is better if it is less complex.

If Long didn’t have the complexity of pushing the boundaries of clay structure and slip trail, would the viewer find her work beautiful? In nature we also see this concept of what is aesthetically pleasing with the simple symmetry in a leaf and the non-symmetrical chaos of a forest. The interesting aspect is that non-symmetry is what makes the forest and each of Long’s pieces extraordinary. Her work could easily be called sui generis. Which is Latin phrase that means of its/their own kind, in a class by itself, or simple “unique.” Is that what we should look for when we view beauty, art, life – organic chaos? uniqueness?

Your pondering for the week: What makes you unique?

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Virgo. Making the start of your week very productive. On Wednesday it moves into Libra – where clear communication becomes important. Then on Friday through the weekend the moon is in Scorpio – perfect for having fun and focusing on your passions.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions. Venus (beauty and harmony) is moving into Gemini on Wednesday. So, it moves from wanting us to indulge our senses with the natural world to the relationship world. Mars (action) is in Cancer. It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21^st. So, at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.

Jupiter (growth) is in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action. And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces. So now with all that work you did with structures, building and innovation over the past 5 years, it is time to make sure those structures are elastic and responsive to change. The challenge is our boundaries can get too flexy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish.

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

Nina

Aries

Ten of Earth – The Muse of Success is helping you this week. If you have just finished a project or a difficult time, take this week to honor that success. If you are close to completing a project this is a great week to make major progress or even finish it off. The challenge is enjoying your successes before jumping into the next thing.

Taurus

Eight of Air – Some thing or thought will try to bind or stop you this week. The Muse of Bondage reminds you that in this area you have some control. The challenge is figuring out where the knot is and acting on that. Look towards healing the areas you feel insecure in.

Gemini

Three of Earth – The Muse of Cooperation is having you find collaborators this week. She reminds you that you do not need to do this alone. In fact Gemini, relationships are one of the reasons you are here. Not only to learn from them but you all are meant to help the collective innovative on all kinds of relationships. This muse reminds you that two heads are better than one but three is better still.

Cancerian

Ace of Water – New beginnings are possible this week especially in areas of the heart. If you are not in a relationship this Muse would like you to climb out of your shell and meet new people. If you are in a relationship this Muse would like you to do something new with your loved one(s) that will make a memory of the heart. And no matter which of the above, you all are good at making sentimental gestures, use that super-power this week.

Leo

Ace of Air – New beginnings are possible for you this week especially in areas of thought, purpose, and knowledge. So, whether you decide to go on a vision quest, follow fact tunnels, or have philosophical conversations with others, you will come out with some aspect of thought that could lead you to a brighter future. Dive deep into that incredible brain of yours and come back with new treasures and ideas.

Virgo

Page of Earth – The Muse of Goals is here to help you set some. The challenge is finding a way to make you do what is on your to-do list. So, this muse advises as you list each goal attach a reward. Whether you go for a gold star, your favorite snack, or quiet time, make sure it motivates you enough to get your tasks done.

Libra

*Star – The Muse of Healing and Hope comes after going though trying times. She advises you to pull back a bit and do some personal healing this week. Sometimes we get a break in the storm and at others we must pull off the side of the road to rest, storm or not. Either way this Muse is the harbinger that you are on the other side of something big, but you need to restore a bit before moving forward.

Scorpio

Four of Earth – The Muse of Resources comes when you need to pay attention to yours. This Muse governs the resources of time, money, and space. This is a great time to save or replenish these assets. The challenge is if you do need to spend, be careful not to over-spend which ironically leads to stinginess and greed in the long run.

Sagittarius

Eight of Earth – You got this week if you just focus on what you do best. The Muse of Mastery comes when you are required to use your superpowers. The challenge is over-working your solution. You might have to tweak a bit to fit the situation, but over-all you are ready for the challenge.

Capricorn

Five of Fire – This week has the potential to be full of turmoil. The Muse of Chaos is here to help you navigate it. First, she reminds you that you always have a choice not to participate, but unfortunately this can set off other turmoil. So, the challenge is first navigating to participate or not, and then either way she advises it is all about timing. Like a karate bout know when to weave, block or punch, or like paragliding read and use the air currents to really soar.

Aquarius

Seven of Cups – The Muse of Dreams is here to get you to do some daydreaming. She usually comes when you are in a rut. You are being too realistic and only imagining can help. She asks what needs to be done to make your dreams better and what new way of thinking needs to happen to manifest them?

Pisces

*Lovers – The Muse of Relationships is here to help you navigate yours. She reminds you of the tale of Beauty and the Beast. Where the plethora of emotions are investigated within a relationship: hate, anger, love, loneliness, sadness, companionship, and ultimately trust. She challenges you in all your relationships to honor and work with all the emotions and thus expand on the concept of trust.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 2, 2023

April 2, 2023 Nina

Rain — Chushingara Series, Utagawa Kunisada

I don’t know about you but last week was hard for me to wrangle in my mind. On the positive side it has been great for my imagination though hard to focus on any one thing for long. So, this tarotcast is an eclectic look at rain. I have picked thirteen different visual artists’ interpretations of rain, 2 of my favorite poems about rain, my favorite song about rain, and of course a bit of science.

A Drop fell on the Apple Tree –
Another – on the Roof –
A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves –
And made the Gables laugh –

A few went out to help the Brook,
That went to help the Sea –
Myself Conjectured were they Pearls –
What Necklaces could be …

Emily Dickinson

Some fun facts about this atmospheric phenomenon. After a storm, that rain smell is not the water but the molecule, geosmin, created by soil dwelling bacteria. When rain falls it creates air pockets in the soil, trapping, releasing, and dispersing the geosmin into the air. The name for this rain smell is petrichor.

The name raindrop is actually a misnomer. Raindrops are not tear shaped but spherical. As they fall and encounter air pressure it flattens or makes the bottom concave, they then take a hamburger bun or jellybean shape. The height and size of raindrops differ but “at an average speed of 14 mph and average cloud height of 2,500 feet, it would take two minutes for a raindrop to hit the floor.” Very small raindrops would take seven minutes to reach the ground and large raindrops can fall at speeds of 20mph.

So what if it drizzles
And dribbles and drips?
I’ll splash in the garden,
I’ll dance on the roof.
Let it rain on my skin,
It can’t get in—
I’m waterproof.

Shel Silverstein

Your pondering for the week: When was the last time you played in the rain?

Solar System highlights

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions. Mars (action) is in Cancer. It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21^st. So, at its worst we can get very emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants. Venus (beauty and harmony) is also in Taurus. This is where it loves to be. It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) moves into Aquarius giving us a 3-month taste of what the next 20 years will bring. Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures. Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch during this time.

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

Nina

Aries

*Wheel – The Muse of Maybe visits you this week. This energy is tricky, sometimes it brings ups and sometimes downs, but it always leaves a gift or insight that will bring you fortune for the future. The key to working with this energy is to try on everything that comes your way. She reminds you do not have to commit but just dip your toes in with a maybe. I.e.: Test the water. If you do work with this energy you will realize, finding out you when you don’t like something is as important as finding out what you do like.

Taurus

Knight of Earth – This week slow and steady is the challenge. The Muse of Rock-steady comes to help you ground yourself and move forward with restrained but surer steps. She recommends taking off your shoes or sitting on nature’s ground and root yourself. Draw energy up from the Earth, find your focus and then walk with determined steps throughout the week.

Gemini

Queen of Air – Details are very important this week. The Muse of Minutia has come to help you focus on the “little things” with love, compassion, and curious awareness. This attention to the finer details will help you in all aspects of your life. Whether that showing love with a touch or intimate note, reading and bargaining about the fine print on a contract, or asking for more details in a plan, you will prosper or avoid unnecessary challenges with this microscopic optic. The challenge is tuning the focal point down too close where it can be felt like micromanaging.

Cancerian

Seven of Air – The Muse of Motivation comes when you need to be aware of the “why” behind what you do this week. For each task to make a difference, it must be done with a considered purpose. Otherwise, you will be motivated by outside sources instead of your own goals or ones that don’t align with your morals.

Leo

King of Water – The Muse of Emotions comes to help you navigate yours. This week has a lot of feelings and your lesson with this Muse is how to moderate and negotiate with yours. The challenge is not spilling them on others while you also bring them into the light to work with. This is not a week to ignore your feelings or shut them down but to transmute them to be more helpful. This week invite them in and discuss what your goals are and how they can help obtain them. This muse relays examples like worry can be transmuted to hope and anger to passion.

Virgo

Gustave Caillebotte, The Yerres Effect of Rain

Seven of Earth – This week is all about Work. The Muse of Labor comes when you need to focus on getting things off your to-do lists. This energy paves the way to get things done if you have a list. So put your work boots on and get to it.

Libra

Page of Fire – The Muse of Sparks would like you to bring some passion back into your life. She asks what truly, happily gets you going? What makes your life worth living for? This is the week to focus on what lights your fire.

Scorpio

Two of Air – Decision, decision, decisions. The Muse of Choice comes when you need to readjust your direction. She advises you to follow your intuition more than logic this week. This is less about the choice, left or right, and more about how you would feel on either path.

Sagittarius

Ace of Water – New beginnings are available to you this week. The Muse of the Heart would like you to call in your heart’s desire. The challenge is this desire must be fresh, and it requires you to go with the flow to obtain it. A great week for writing wishes and tossing them into a body of water.

Capricorn

Four of Earth – The Muse of Resources comes when you need to pay attention to yours. This muse governs the resources of time, money, and space. This is a great time to save or replenish these resources. The challenge is you can spend but be careful not to over-spend. Think quality over quantity.

Aquarius

Camille-Pissarro-Boulevard-Montmartre-Afternoon-in-the-Rain

Nine of Water – The Muse of Contentment is here to help you lower your expectations just a bit. Maybe you think something should be moving faster or that you are missing just one more thing to make everything perfect. The interesting thing is that you have it pretty good this week if you dial back your expectations. She would like you to realize “that you can’t always get what you want…but you might find you get what you need.”

Pisces

Eight of Earth – You got this week in the bag if you just focus on what you do best. The Muse of Mastery comes when you are required to use your superpowers. You might have to tweak them a bit to fit the situation, but you are ready for the challenge.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of March 26, 2023

March 26, 2023 Nina

The artist this week is Augusta Savage. Savage was a sculptor, teacher, and community organizer. Whether it is the crinkle of a shirt, the lines created by a body or the steady gaze of her piece John Henry, Savage’s sculptures are the essence of the sublime. She brings natural beauty and emotions to her portrait sculptures, with a simple curve of the mouth or how we can feel the cold water the boy is about to jump into (see below). This is the goal of portraits in all their forms, to not only portray a person but to engage us in our collective humanity.

Savage was a seminal artist. Though an artist since her youth, it wasn’t until she was 29 when she was awarded a scholarship to Cooper Union in 1921, before 142 men on the waiting list. Where she earned her 4-year degree in 3. Then in 1929 and 1931 she was granted two fellowships in Paris. In 1934 she became the first African American member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors and opened her own studio becoming an influential teacher in Harlem.

In 1937, she was asked to be the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center. Also in 1937, Savage was one of four women and only two African Americans to receive a professional commission for her work to be included in the 1939 NY World’s Fair. She spent two years creating Lift Every Voice and Sing (see Aries below), an homage to the influence of Black music in American culture. But why do most of us not know her? And if we do only know her through these smaller pieces. What would not only Savage’s legacy, but our society be like if works like hers were not only in historical representation but also in the present public eye?

The above work is called Realization. Though stunning, Savage was never able to bring it into the world, due to the absence of consistent funding and support for women artists, which still rings true today. Realization is defined as an act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact. Only 11% of all acquisitions at 26 prominent US museums over the past decade were of work by women artists. When will we truly realize as a society that there is not equal representation of women? Not until we see fifty percent of what we support and see in any museums and public spaces are created by women, and not just in highlighted shows for Women’s month.

Your pondering for the week: How can you better experience and implement a truer representation of equal representation in your life?

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Gemini – communication is key. On Tuesday night it moves into Cancer – watch that your emotions don’t block your drive. Then on Friday through the weekend the moon is in Leo, your time to play in the sun.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus(grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions. Mars (action), after its 7-month stay in Gemini, shifts our focus from creating action not reaction through communication, moves into Cancer. Now instead of our mouth running the show are hearts are. So, at its worst we can get very emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants. Venus (beauty and harmony) is also in Taurus until April 3^rd. This is where it loves to be. It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

Jupiter (growth) is also in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action. And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces. So now all that work you did with structures, building and innovating them the past 5 years, it is time to make sure they are elastic and responsive to change. The challenge is our boundaries can get too flexy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish. And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) moves into Aquarius giving us a 3-month taste of what the next 20 years will bring. Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures. Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch during this time.

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

Nina

Aries

King of Water – The Muse of Emotions is challenging you to be the mature person in the room. You are being asked to circumnavigate and direct others’ emotions out of the more shadowy lands that are laid out for you and yours this week. That means you need to step up your compassion and speak from heartfelt empathy to gain any ground or consensus.

Taurus

Ten of Water – The Muse of Bliss is asking you to highlight what brings you joy this week. First, she reminds you that you are successful in more than a few aspects of your life, and you need to honor those accomplishments. Secondly, she asks you before you move to the new “next…”, take this week to have a bit of fun.

Gemini

Two of Fire – The Muse of Future is asking you to take a moment this week and do some pondering on what your plans and intentions are for 2025? She knows we are just ending month-three of 2023, but she asks – are you doing what needs to be done to get to where you want to be by the end of next year? This week is the perfect time to readjust if your actions and goals are not lined up, or you might find you need a whole new game plan.

Cancerian

King of Fire – The Muse of Leading is calling you to take the lead this week. She reminds you that being a leader does not mean having to do everything. Delegation, teamwork, and cheerleading are vital.

Leo

Nine of Air – Your second nine, so a little on that number. Nines are about preparation. Last week was about preparing your soul/fire to create a new spark. This week you are asked to prepare your mind. The Muse of Worry is here to help with your over-thinking. Science has proven that worry and hope ignite the same part of the brain, so they are linked. Why we worry is because we have an investment/hope for the future. However, where that goes haywire is when we continue to worry about possibilities that are beyond our control. So, this week, focus only on the things you have actual control over and leave the rest to hope.

Virgo

Five of Earth – Lat week had the potential for some storms and hopefully you were prepared for them. This week you are dealing with the aftermath. The Muse of Low Resources comes when your assets are at a low point. This can be your energy, time, space and/or money. She reminds you that you do not have to do this by yourself. It is okay to be not okay this week. You have friends and loved-ones that can give you a variety of resources, but it is up to you to ask for it. And then not to feel less than for the asking.

Libra

*Devil – This week can have a few deja’vu events for you. The Muse of Tests comes to see if you have learned your lessons. If you find yourself irritated, confused, lost, or tempted, she advises you to step back and think about the lesson behind the troubles. You have already learned the lesson. You are just being asked to respond correctly to what has challenge you in the past.

Scorpio

Eight of Air – The Muse of Bondage comes to release you from old thought patterns that no longer work for you. This can be as easy as an ah-moment or as complicated as feeling trapped. However, you should pay attention to both those feelings, for this energy is highlighting negative inputs from others that you are holding onto. And it will help you finally find your sovereignty from these thoughts and situations.

Sagittarius

Six of Earth – The Muse of Pay Back is asking you to pay forward this week. Whether that is paying for someone’s coffee or calling a friend or smiling at a stranger. This week she asks you to emote as many positive vibes as possible out into the world. For this muse will give you back positive energy three-fold. The challenge with this muse is that the path of return is never direct or straight so keep your eyes open for money at your feet and smiles in the streets.

Capricorn

*Tower and Seven of Water – The Muse of Destruction and the Muses of Dreams are working together this week. As a team they are asking you to lower your expectations of what you are dreaming. Outside forces are not willing or able to work for your usual perfectly controlled outcomes or goals this week. So, it is best to be as prepared as possible for twists and turns and then go with the flow.

Aquarius

Two of Water – So last week the Muse of Relations wanted you to focus on all your relationships. Well, the energy has not switched that much this week. The Muse of Love is now here and wanted you to invest some positive emotions into your closest relationships. By filling your loved one’s cup, they can also fill yours. And if it feels not equitable, now is the time to have a heart to heart around each other’s definitions of sharing and how you like affection to be given to you.

Pisces

Queen of Water – The Muse of Fun is asking you to have some. You are taking life too seriously and this muse is advising to find friends and loved ones to do something fun or silly with.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023 Nina

Happy Spring and Happy Birth-month to Aries

Louise Nevelson is the artist of the week as we leave winter and enter into spring. Nevelson tenacity helped her surmount the sexism and ageism of the art world that still reverberates today. At 42 she had her first solo-show, and her big break came when she was 60 when she was included in the “Sixteen Americans” at the MOMA in 1959. She is best known for her large monochromatic abstract assemblages made from street salvage remnants of urban life: baseball bats, milk crates, driftwood, picture frames, toolboxes, cardboard, toilet seats, newel posts and gingerbread carvings etc…. She also designed jewelry, painted, drew, and used textiles in lithography. Her themes are often around marriage, royalty, the cosmos, mortality, and displacement. But her most astonishing aspect of her work and her life is the ability create a new existence out of a death, much like what spring does every year.

Your pondering for the week: How does ageism effect your life? What can you bring to life that society has cast off?

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Pisces – start your week intuitively. On Tuesday night there is a new moon in Aries – great time for new projects. Then on Friday thru the weekend the moon is in Taurus, plant your seeds, play outdoors, and make time for family outings.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Aries – watch your tone when trying to push through a project or get your point across. Especially since Mars (action) is in its last week of a 7-month journey in Gemini (communication and knowledge). Mars is pushing us to truthfully talk and follow up with actions. The challenge with this time is your politeness filter has been switched off. So, it is having us double down on how to be constructive with our voice – to promote action not reaction. Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Taurus until April 3^rd. This is where it loves to be. It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

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

Nina

Aries

Four of Air – The Muse of Refresh comes when you are not realizing how depleted you are. She advises to take time this week to unplug, slow down, and recharge your battery. She reminds you this is the beginning of your birth month and before you soar into your new year you need time to wind down, check your engines and refuel.

Taurus

Eight of Air – So last week was a bit of a bear and now you may feel a bit stuck. Aspects of your life and/or perspective might be holding you back. The Muse of Bondage comes to help you untie yourself from these limiting thoughts. She asks what can you do just this week to lighten the atmosphere? The way to get untangled is to untie one knot at a time.

Gemini

Seven of Air – The Muse of Hope has come to help you through the miasma of this week. She advises to break your tasks into small doable chunks. By focusing on the one step in front of you, you will gain more success than trying to navigate the broader fogger landscape.

Cancerian

King of Earth – The Muse of Grounding has come to help you get done whatever you focus on. She does require that you have a to-do list. Once you have a good plan the process will come with ease.

Leo

Nine of Fire – This week will require that you need to power through an aspect of your life or project that is just not flowing. The Muse of Perseverance invites you to understand and flex how resilient you are. All fire signs have this amazing ability to create energy from the smallest spark. Time to gather some tinder and create the fire within.

Virgo

*Tower – So, this week has some powerful forces that you have no control over. The Muse of Fortification is here to advise. She recommends first to survey your surroundings and see if you see any fault lines, underlying stress fractures or structures that need to be reinforced. Secondly, fix them. Then lastly if the storm becomes a tempest, batten down the hatches until it blows over and deal with the reconstruction after the storm.

Libra

An American Tribute to the British People 1960-4 Louise Nevelson 1899-1988 Presented by the artist 1965 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00796

*Star – After last week you all need this energy. The Muse of Healing has come to help heal and restore your body, mind, and spirit. This Muse will help illuminate the positive aspects of your surroundings and guide you to places of solace and joy. The only thing you need to do is accept it. She advises sitting on the couch and watch comedies interspersed with naps throughout your week. As an old Irish proverb says: A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.

Scorpio

*Judgement – Hopefully the Muse of Destruction made last week a light rainstorm instead of a cyclone of trouble. Either way the Muse of Evolution is here to uplift you to the next transformation. Take this week to look what was torn down and how would you make it better. If last week was smooth sailing, then look to oiling what is creaking. The keys to this week are improving ease and evolving to the next phase.

Sagittarius

*Hierophant – The Muse of Tradition is here to point out that an aspect of your day-to-day structures has become antiquated. Now is the time to create a new tradition, ritual, or practice. Take advantage of this Aries new moon with Saturn in Pisces pushing flexibility and update your tenets to serve you better.

Capricorn

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Productivity is here to push yours. This is a great energy to use to strike off items on your to-do list or start new projects if you have extra time to kill. Your song: Super Model (You better Work) by RuPaul

Aquarius

*Lovers – The Muse of Relations is here to get you to focus on all your relationships. Take this week to get in touch with loved ones and deepen your connections. This is not always easy for air signs; you still need your space. And this Muse is not asking you to give it up totally but try to stay on the ground when you do interact. So, you can give your loves some focused attention.

Pisces

Seven of Waters – The Muse of Dreams is here to have you work with yours. For some of you, you need to dream wider and bigger. For others you need to turn down your expectations. And this muse has the same advice for both of you. Ground yourself and focus on the emotion you want to feel more than the object you want to obtain.

Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Share this:

Like this:

Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian