Tag Archives: art

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of May 8, 2022

Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt, Mother’s Kiss, 1890-1891; Drypoint and aquatint on paper, 13 3/4 x 9 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of John and Linda Comstock in loving memory of Abigail Pearson Van Vleck; Photo by Lee Stalsworth

This week I highlight the art of Mary Cassatt, painter and print maker.  She studied and showed her work in Europe in the late 1800’s.  And in 1877 was invited by Degas to join a group of independent artists, that became known as the Impressionists.  Cassatt was the only America to officially join the group.  During this time, she revised her technique, composition, and use of color.  She began to experiment with printmaking especially influenced by Japanese artisans.

Her subjects were taken from her life as a woman: her family, the theater and opera.  These were not the standard sitting portraits which she was also known for but showed her interest in figure compositions and movement.  However, her study of the relationship and everyday experiences of mother and child brought in an emotional quality to her paintings. She entices the viewer to reminisce our own experiences as a child and/or a caregiver.  A gentle touch, arms embracing you, sharing intimate moments of care.

 

Mother’s Day is not only a moment to honor our mothers, but also a day to honor nurturing.   Nurture is defined “as the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something.”  Whether you have children, are a mother, have a mother or none of the above, nurturing is a verb that needs strengthening in this world right now.

Your Pondering: How do you nurture for yourself and in your world?

 

Solar System Highlights

The Moon starts this week in Virgo – clean and organize your workspace to begin the week.  Then it moves into Libra on the 12th – relationships and balance are highlighted.  Then on Saturday it moves into Scorpio – great for imbibing in your passions.  Mercury is in Gemini it home sign, so conversations and knowledge are highlighted.  However, it turns retrograde on May 10th so from then on review, reflect and revise until June 3rd.  If you must start a project or have a deep conversation, remember patience is key during this time.  Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Aries (action and chaos).   So, Mars and Venus stop working with each other again until the end of month.  Mars (action) is still in Piscesian dream land while Venus wants to get going and see action steps.  Lesson in patience and compromise are still big this week.  Also, Jupiter moves into Aries on May 10th.  So, expansion and growth go from dreams to reality.   And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus for this year.

 

P.S. 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 Scorpio it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check-in, now is the time.

 

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

Nina

 

Aries
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

Five of Coins – The Muse of Challenges is creating more chaos than ease this week.  Luckily you had the Muse of Core Strength last week reminding you that you are a powerhouse, a force to be reckon with.  And this week’s Muse to point out that you are not using your resources well or not asking for help.  So, call in the troops.

 

Taurus
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

*Magician – Your fourth and so far, most powerful Muse is the Muse of Conjuring.   While the other Muses are helping you finish and release, this Muse is making you a conduit to the divine.  You will be provided all the tools you need this year, but it is up to you to experiment with them and bring ideas to life.

 

Gemini
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

*Star – The Muse of Oneness had you connect with the world last week and now another powerful Muse steps in to illuminate you.  The Muse of Healing and Illumination comes to soothe and help you cure old wounds, and she does this with inspiration and hope.  Connection is still key for this week.  So, foster the good relationships with nurturing care and the bad, they are reminders how not to act.  Be grateful for both for the latter shows you your wounds and the former, heals them.

 

Cancerian
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

Eight of Swords – Boundaries and bindings abound this week.  This Muse of Captivity points out that you however hold the keys to your freedom.  You do not have to be bound to the social constructs around you.  You know that some of them are causing harm.  Take this week to unbind these negative thoughts that never served you.

 

Leo
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

*Tower – The Muse of Disruption is here again to point out what needs changing in your life.  You have two choices with this energy.  You can let her run havoc and tear down what isn’t working.  Or you can work with this kali like energy as motivation to make the changes yourself. The former can be easier but the later creates less dust and general mayhem.  And remember the choice is always yours.

 

 

Virgo
Mary Cassatt

Six of Swords – The Muse of Transitions is here to move you to the next phase.  This can be adding one serving of a fruit or veggie to your diet or rearranging your space to be more feng shui.  Or, reordering your schedule so you can get in some exercise.  Little shifts need to happen this week so you can create more flow and ease.

 

Libra
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

Ace of Wands – The Muse of Vitality is pushing you to play with your creativity and ignite your imagination.   So, start that project you been thinking about.  Connect with your artistic side and play with paints or play in your garden.  Her point is to experiment and activate your mind with color and creativity.

 

Scorpio
Mary Cassatt

Seven of Coins – Last week the Muse of Construction came to help you expand your empire and build it better.   This week the Muse of Labor picked up the torch and is giving you the energy to continue the work.  She reminds you that, if you put in the work this week, accolades will follow.

 

Sagittarius
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

Three of Wands – The Muse this week would like to help you lay the foundation to a project or relationship.  This is a great week to do research, check out sites and plans for viability.  Mercury going into retrograde will help this process.  As they say measure twice and cut once.

 

Capricorn
Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt

Seven of Wands – The Muse of Advantage is with you this week.  Though you may feel in the right or positioned to win, be careful how you play the scenario.  Winning is wonderful if it is done with humility and grace.

 

Aquarius
Mary Cassatt

Five of Cups – The Muse of Silver Linings has come to help you navigate this week’s chaos.  She comes when events do not always work in your favor.  But she points out that in all cases they are only partial losses.  The cup is half full, rain must happen for the rainbow etc.…

 

Pisces
Mary Cassatt

*Temperance – The Muse of Harmony is here to help you sort through this week.  Harmony is defined “as pleasing arrangement of parts.” This can be as simple as playing with new spices in your food, working with different color combinations with your wardrobe, or as complicated as rearranging the priorities in your life.   So, this week as you view your surroundings how can you combine and arrange them to be more pleasing to your eye as well as your soul?

 

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of April 24, 2022

Mabel Allington Royds
Water Lilies Mabel Allington Royds

The artist this week is Mabel Allington Royds.  Royds is painter and printmaker.  She began creating color woodcuts using the traditional Japanese ukiyo-e printmaking process.  However, instead of a three-person collaboration on a print (artist, artisan, printer), she learned from Frank M. Fletcher how to do all three stages independently.  Royds innovated the technique further by applying pigment to the woodcuts by paintbrush rather than using a roller. And instead of using more expensive cherrywood blocks she bought six-penny pastry boards from Woolworth’s.  And as her technique evolved, in this multi-block process, she began omitting the key board (often the first step in the printing process that establishes and prints the outlines of the piece).  This allowed for the colors to merge in a more painterly fashion.  She preferred to produce prints as people wanted them, adding even more variation and uniqueness to each print.

The pondering for the week:  If you outline every aspect of your life are you missing the possibilities of spontaneous or experimental creation? So practice coloring without lines.

 

Solar System Highlights

There is a solar eclipse on April 30th in Taurus. Things can slow down around this time lucky it’s on the weekend.  The Moon starts this week in Pisces – daydreaming is easy but maybe not so great if you have a lot of work to get done.  Then it moves into Aries on the 27th – great time to power through the work week and make up for lost time at the beginning.  Then on Friday it moves into Taurus – great for family, gardening and getting out into nature.  Mercury is in Taurus until the weekend, so it moves from getting to the root of conversation and grounding relationships through dialogue to a freer flowing conversation.   Mars is in Pisces with Venus.  So, these two are working with each other again.  Mars by having you work with your intuition to create movement, and Venus wanting us to create more beauty and harmony in our environment and relationships.  Jupiter is in Pisces until May 10th; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

P.S. 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 Scorpio it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check-in, now is the time.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Mabel Allington Royds
Trees on a slope Mabel Allington Royds

King of Coins – The Muse of Domain is advising you this week to metaphorical walk your perimeters and survey your land.   This week to create more ease you need to have a better understanding of what you have built so far and what your needs are to build going forward.  Do you need more space, better equipment, help?  And start working on checking off those action steps.

 

Taurus
Mabel Allington Royds
White Lilies Mabel Allington Royds

Ace of Coins – Your second Muse to work with for the coming year is the Muse of Material Plane Beginnings.  Whether that is a new house, space, or project.  This year you are supported in creating new things on the material plane.  Think money, space, resources, and time.  Take this week to write lists of what you want to physically grow this year.

 

Gemini
Grapes Mabel Allington Royds

Ten of Cups – Happiness is all around you this week.  It is up to you to tap into it and enjoy those moments.  These can be big causes for celebration like finishing a project or a gathering of friends and family.  Or it can be in those little moments of watching flowers grow from your porch, sitting and having a beverage with a friend or having the time to finally take a nap.  Enjoy these moments of bliss they don’t come often or as easily.

 

Cancerian
Mabel Allington Royds
Magnolia Mabel Allington Royds

Six of Coins – The Muse of Mini Karma sits on your porch this week. This muse reminds you that acts of kindness not only improve the world but also improve your mood.  But she also states to be aware that negativity spreads and rebounds just as easily.

 

Leo
Mabel Allington Royds
Dandelions Mabel Allington Royds

Four of Cups– The Muse of Saturation has come to warn that you are internalizing thoughts, actions, and emotions.   You have saturated yourself with too much news, tv, overthinking, comfort eating, etc…  Being overwhelmed has led you to state of vibrating numbness.  Time to get out of your bed, head, belly button, or emotions and go do something.  Preferably something that involves nature, kittens/puppies, or small children.

 

Virgo
Mabel Allington Royds
Honeysuckle Mabel Allington Royds

Eight of Swords – Circumstances this week trigger you to feel bound or stagnate.  The Muse of Bondage has come with the keys to free you.  The issue is you are holding onto the locks of thought or work patterns.  Time to let go of old patterns put there by others and take your power back.

 

Libra
Mabel Allington Royds
Columbines Mabel Allington Royds

Queen of Swords – You are going to need your mind sharp this week, for the Muse of Details has arrived.  This energy comes when you need to magnify the small stuff.  It is important to deal with the specifics, for if that is sorted the larger picture falls into place more easily.  If by chance this week you are dealing with contracts, the law, or signing deals make sure you read the fine print.  It is not that it is essential bad, but it can be a place to negotiate aspects in your favor.

 

Scorpio
Tiger lilies Mabel Allington Royds

Queen of Cups – The Muse of Fun is here to liven up the party.  She is nudging you go out have fun, laugh, and partake in the world.  Sometimes you water signs soak in too much emotionality of others, so this week is about letting go of some steam.  So, find a batting cage, break-room, dance floor, swimming hole or sweat lodge and transmute those hotheaded negative emotions of others into something more enjoyable.

 

Sagittarius
Foxglove Mabel Allington Royds

*Judgment – This week has an evolutionary vibe to it.  You may be asked life changing questions, make decision that change your trajectory, or be challenged to evolve to the next level.  Remember you have a choice to stay where you are at or move on.  But no matter which choice you make this Muse advises the answer should liberate you in some way.

 

Capricorn
Artichoke Mabel Allington Royds

Two of Wands – The Muse of Future Casting calls for you to gaze out the window and imagine new plans and outcomes.  This week carve out some time to plan your garden, next project, or go big your life’s hope and dreams.  This Muse asks: What’s next?

 

Aquarius
Cyclamen Mabel Allington Royds

Three of Coins – Last week you needed personal insight.  This week is all about asking for advice and help from others.  The Muse of Collaboration comes when getting other people’s help or opinions is vital in creating more ease in your work and life.  You don’t need to know everything or do everything.  At the very least, use those second set of eyes and ears to check your work.

 

Pisces
Cineraria Mabel Allington Royds

Two of Coins – The Muse of Equilibrium comes for two reasons.  One you need to focus on one thing at a time this week.  And something is off kilter that needs to be re-balanced.  This could be work and play, work and sleep, nutrition, or literally your balance sucks.  So, maintain a tight focus and practice standing on one foot.

 

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of April 3, 2022

Hegel’s Holiday Rene Magritte

As the saying goes April showers bring May flowers so this week, I wanted to focus on the umbrella.  Historically the first umbrella was actually a parasol. By definition, parasols are used for sun protection and umbrellas for rain. The earliest known parasols were in Egypt (2450 BCE).  They were shaped like a fan on a long handle often attached to chariots or carried over a person of the Egyptian elite while walking.  Usually, they were made with feathers or palm leaves.  The first apparent collapsible parasol appears in archaeological record in Persia around 100 years later.  The parasol spread to ancient Greece then Rome as status symbol mostly used by woman but for the first time referenced in shielding one from sun and rain.  These semi-umbrellas were made of leather.

The prototype of the modern-day umbrella was invented in China in the 11th century BCE.  Where the first silk and waterproof umbrellas were used by the nobility. After the fall of Rome, the umbrella disappeared from European fashion, until the mid-17th century and was reintroduced into Europe from China where now it was used by a wide variety of the social classes.  But the umbrella didn’t gain popularity until 1710.  Where a Persian merchant, Jean Marius, created the first light-weight umbrella, and 40 years later a French scientist, Navarre, invented the automatic push button designed umbrella we still use today.

This week is a variety of artist that use the umbrella.  Your pondering for the week:  what is your metaphorical umbrella that protects you from the harsher aspects of life?

Solar System Highlights

The Moon starts this week in Gemini – conversations can run deep and healing if you spend the time.  Also, it is a great time for brainstorming.  Then it moves into Cancer on the 7th – in the workplace watch mood swings but by the time you are into the weekend things calm down.  Nestling at home, self-care and curling up with loved ones (movie night and a nice meal?) are recommended.  Mercury is in Aries until April 11th – great for hashing out ideas but watch bossy tones. Mars (action) is in Aquarius (innovation, perspective, and long-term thinking). This is a period to experiment with innovations, but if you are trying to get something done quickly, be aware that for the next couple of weeks there might be more talking then doing.

Venus moves into Pisces on Tuesday and for most of April.  So, we move from experimenting and long-term planning to dreaming and creating more beauty and harmony in our environment and relationships. Jupiter is in Pisces until May 10th; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And from the 8th to the 18th (exactly on the 12th) Jupiter and Neptune are conjoined for the first time in 166 years. This a time for creativity, art, spirituality and hopefully will boost our collective spirit.  (Personally look at where Pisces is in your natal chart).  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

 

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Umbrella
Relief of Xerxes Persepolis, Iran

Seven of Coins – This is your third boots on the ground energy for your coming year.  The Muse of Satisfaction has come to join the ranks.  This energy is about putting in the work, but its real benefit is the harvest you achieve in doing so.  So, this year will be busy, but you will see positive profit in all that you do.

 

 

 

Taurus
Umbrella
Utagawa-Hiroshige

*Tower and Eight of Swords – The Muses of Deconstruction and Bondage has come in during your last month of your birth cycle.  Together these muses focus on fixing places where you give others power over your life.  This is about how you are not aligned to your truths like: your negative though patterns reinforced by others for their benefit or not seeing your self-worth as important as others.  Take time these next weeks, get your power back and equalize your goals with others’ aspirations before your birthday.

 

Gemini
Umbrella
Angie’s Umbrella Pridgeon and Shaw

Five of Swords – This is your second five so a quick dive into this number.  Five represent disorder.  Last week it was the disorder of your emotions and this week it is chaos of the mind.  There is a situation in your environment this week that sends your mind and possible your voice spinning.  And this muse reminds you to remove your ego before you speak or act, for if you don’t you will add to the chaos.

 

Cancerian
Umbrella
Gustave Caillebotte Paris Street Rainy Day

Eight of Coins – The Muse of Craft comes when you need a reminder that you got this.  You have mastered an aspect of your life and this week is only about tweaking your skill set.  Her motto:  work smarter not harder.

 

Leo
Umbrella
Umbrella Project Cristo and Jeanne Claude

King of Swords – The Muse of Long-Term Planning comes with telescopes and star maps to help you plot your course.  Use this week’s energy by setting long-term goals (like next time this year and in 2025).  Engage with that Jupiter-Neptune energy and start planning for the next big thing.

 

Virgo
Utagawa_ToyokuniIi The poetess Ono-no Komachi in the rain

Four of Coins – This week can drain your resources.   The Muse of Saving advises to spend your time and/or money only on the important things this week.  Save your resources if you can and if you must spend, do so wisely.

 

 

 

 

Libra
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, The Umbrellas

Six of Cups – The past is important this week to help you create ease.  The Muse of Memories comes when the answers you seek lie in past experiences and lessons. As she loves to quote W. Wordsworth – Life is divided into three terms – that which was, which is, and which will be.  Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.

 

 

 

Scorpio
Emile Bernard Breton Woman with Umbrellas

Four of Swords – Take this week to relax and catch your breath.  As the world whirls around you find a spot to sit back and just watch.  The Muse of Restoration comes when your tanks are nearing empty, so find time to nap, turn off electronics, stick to an early bedtime and/or stare out the window.    Don’t forget to hydrate and eat well too.

 

Sagittarius
Georges Seurat woman with umbrella

King of Coins – All hands-on deck for the Muse of Building comes with her toolbox.  Use this energy to get things done on the material plane.  Whether that is actually building something or a project on your to-do list, this Muse helps you push it to the finish line.

 

 

 

 

Capricorn
Salvador Dali sewing machine with Umbrellas

Nine of Swords – The Muse of Worry visits when there is something niggling in the background of your mind.  She would like you to work it out in your conscious thoughts rather than it bubble in your sub-conscious. So, she suggests talking it through or writing copious stream of conscious notes until you no longer feel the itch.  In most cases you will find that the fuss was about paying a debt you never owed.

 

Aquarius
Bansky Grey Rain

Ten of Swords – This week will have its rough moments, but you will find that mostly it come from outside sources. So, your challenge is not to dive into the drama but skirt around it.  The bright side is that this cycle is coming to an end, healing and a new understanding is right around the corner.

 

Pisces
Jack Vettraino The Singing Butler

Ten of Cups – The Muse of Happiness has come with sunshine and rainbows.  Something in your life is ending and it is setting you up for a new beginning.  This Muse advises enjoying the moments here at the end of this chapter before you jump to the next book.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 20, 2022

Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Audrey Hepburn

Happy Birthday Aries!  And Happy Spring and Nowruz!

Nowruz (new day) is a Spring festival that dates to ancient Persia 3,000 years ago.  Nowruz is celebrated in a variety of countries that marks not only spring but also the beginning of the Iranian solar calendar.  Celebrations begin two to three weeks leading up and including the Vernal Equinox.  People preform ritual dances, fill vessels in the home with water to banish bad luck and set up tables covered with the seven symbolic items: seed sprouts – rebirth, senjed (Persian olive)- love, garlic – protection, apple – fertility, sumac – love, vinegar – patience, and samanu a pudding made from sprouted wheat = wealth.   And celebrators on the Wednesday night before the Equinox jump over fire to scare away a bad luck.

Therefore, to continue the use of light and in honor of Nowruz tradition of jumping over fire we focus on photographer Philippe Halsman and his Jumps series.  A Halsman portrait is easy to identify.  It has strong lightening, often a sense of the absurd and his unique stamp in the darkroom. As in his words: For me, lighting is what a brush is to a painter.  I want my light to give an awareness of the 3rd dimension, that it shows volume and depth.  Above all I consider light as a means of characterization.” In the 1930’s he also designed his own camera with a quicker click speed and that had the photographer look through the lens, instead of standing beside the camera.  By doing this it made his sitter look into the camera and gave Halsman more control over what he could capture in the moment.

In the early 1950’s Halsman started asking famous people to jump and capture it using his distinctive lightening, sense of humor and his talent for bring out unique and often hidden aspects of his subjects.  “I was motivated by a genuine curiosity.  After all, life has taught us to control and disguise our facial expressions, but it has not taught us to control our jumps.  I wanted to see famous people reveal in a jump, their ambition or their lack of it, their self-importance or their insecurity, and many other traits.”  Your pondering for this week:  What characteristics come to play when you are asked to jump?

Solar System highlights:  The Moon starts in Scorpio – spring has sprung.  Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – get outside to take breaks from the grind. On Thursday it goes into Capricorn to help us finish up projects and our work week.  Then for the weekend the Moon is in Aquarius a perfect time to investigate the arts, read a book expand your mind. Mercury is in Pisces until March 27th – talk through dreams with friends but not so great if you are trying to pin down action plans or solutions.

Mars (action) is in Aquarius (innovation, perspective, and long-term thinking). Time to experiment with innovations.  But if you are trying to get something done quickly, be aware that for the next couple of weeks there might be more talking then doing.  Venus (beauty, relationships) is also in Aquarius this can be a great time to do long term planning with your significant others or dabble in creative endeavors with them.  But still remember not to push for solutions or set goals in stone – brainstorming is key.   Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Philippe Halsman Duke and Duchess of Windsor

Eight of Cups – Time to clean up and organize this week.  The Muse of Simplifying and Letting Go is knocking at your door. This Muse comes when your emotional or physical space is cluttered.  She asks what your priorities are and do you have the space and time for them?  If not time to clean house and make space for the new.

 

Taurus
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Marilyn Monroe

Ten of Coins – This week is a great opportunity to finish up projects and dangling participials.  This is not a week to start something new.  Whatever unfinished business you have focus on those only.  And then by the weekend celebrate their completion with friends and family.

 

Gemini
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Dali

Eight of Wands – Last week the Muse of Inner Strength wanted you to strengthen your resolve physically or morally.  If you did,  then this week you will be able to receive and deal with the massive download of information in the moment.  If not, then take good notes and prioritize the information on the weekend.

 

Cancerian
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Eartha Kit

Knight of Cups– The Muse of Vulnerability has come to help you open your heart and deal with the emotional puddles within.  You can share with others as long as you watch comparisons and what ifs.

 

Leo
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman
Robert Oppenheimer

* Death – Last week the Muse of Shadows and Mist reminded you that what you saw on the outside was merely reflections on your inner work.  Hopefully you did this internal investigation for this week change is here.  However, to initiate this momentum you must release old baggage that no longer serves you.  There are things you are not letting go of.  This Muse pushes for change but it is up to you to let go of the past and self-doubt.

 

Virgo
Philippe Halsman Muhammad Ali

Four of Pentacles – The Muse of Resources is giving you a piggy bank.  It is important this week to save your money, space, time, and energy.   Your resources are finite do not spend them on items, projects or people that do not serve or help you get things done.

 

Libra
Philippe Halsman Edward Steichen

Two of Wands – The Muse of Adventure has come to push you to broaden your horizons.  She suggests find new ways to get home, eat at new places, engage in conversations with strangers, get lost and meander through new avenues.  By expanding your outlook, you are activating new potentials.

 

Scorpio
Philippe Halsman Peter Ustinov

Nine of Wands – The Muse of Preparation comes when there is a lot of energy around you and to tackle it you need to be ready.  She advises to make sure you have sustenance each day, gas in your tank, the right shoes for the job, etc.. Spend the beginning of your week prioritizing your jobs and then stick to your game plan.

 

Sagittarius
Philippe Halsman Richard Nixon

*Justice – The Muse of Truth and Fairness is the prominent player this week.  Her advice is: though aspects of life vary in shades of grey, to create forward motion this week it is vital that you choose a side.   This is a week to trust your logic over feelings. And if you need to advocate for a side be clear, concise and stick to the facts.

 

Capricorn
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Grace Kelly

*Temperance – The Muse of Moderation and the Middle Path comes to help calm the waters both externally and internally.  She reminds you that we often do not have control of the external nor our inner emotions, but we can moderate or influence them.  Gentleness and grace are key this week.

 

Aquarius
Philippe Halsman Shirley MacLaine

Queen of Cups – This week the Muse of Fun has come to get you to reconnect with life’s beauty and abundance.  This is a week to walk on the beach, hang with friends, watch sunsets and spending time doing what you love to do.  You have a bevy of joy to encounter, now is the time to do so.   Stop and smell the roses, for they do not bloom all year long

 

Pisces
Philippe Halsman John Steinbeck

Four of Cups – Last week was all extroverted energy work with the Muse of Realization and building your empire.   This week the energy shifts to the internal.  During the week it is good to pull the shades and put your phone on silence so you can think things through and get things done.  However, by the weekend reenter into society, so you don’t get stuck in belly button gazing.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 13, 2022

Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

Continuing with artists who focus on light, this week’s artist is Elioth Gruner. Gruner is one of the most recognized Australian landscape painters.  His painting style is en plein air, the technique of painting the entire piece outside at the site usually in one session. Gruner liked to get up in the early morning to catch the long shadows of the rising sun and the atmospheric quality of morning light. The exception is when he painted at the beach.  There the light quality drifts from early morning to mid-day heat to the cooler late-afternoon.  With his paintings we can sense aspects of the landscape by his use of light as if we were there, and how that light influences our mood and taps into our collective memories.

Spring and Fall, Dawn and Dusk these times of transitions are when the value of light becomes the most noticeable.  Where we see and feel the cycle of life most clearly.  This week’s pondering: find a spot in your house or surrounding environment and watch how the light and shadows move through it.  Think about how light and darkness have moved though your life.  How these times of change hold significance.

Solar System highlights 

The Moon starts in Leo – time to shine.  Then on Wednesday it moves into Virgo – good for cleaning and organizing. Then for the weekend the Moon is in Libra a perfect time to be with the beings you love. Mercury is in Pisces until March 27th – great for talking through dreams with friends but not so great if you are trying to pin down action plans or solutions.  Mars (action) is in Aquarius (innovation, perspective, and long-term thinking). This is a period to experiment with innovations, but if you are trying to get something done fast, be aware that for the next couple of weeks there might be more talking then doing.

Venus (beauty, relationships) is also in Aquarius this can be a great time to do long term planning with your significant others or dabble in creative endeavors with them.  But still remember not to push for solutions or set goals in stone – brainstorming is key.   Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Pisces 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.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

Six of Swords – Finally the energy is calming down around you, but it is not finished pushing you forward.  The past three weeks you have been working with change, growth, and the patience and perspective to do it right.  And now the Muse of Transitions is here with her boat to help you move to the next phase.  This is a perfect week for you to move something or yourself to the next level.  The key is this transition should create more ease.  If not, simplify your plans/steps more before moving forward.

 

Taurus
Elioth Gruner

Seven of Cups – The Muse of Wishes is here to have you dream bigger.  The hard part for your sign is at times you all can be too practical.  This energy needs you to dream outside of your boundaries.  This Muse reminds you that if the Universe can’t provide the exact thing it goes for the essence of your wish. So, what Seven things would you like to come into your life?   Write them down then burn it or say them out loud so the universe can get the message.

 

Gemini
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

*Strength – The Muse of Inner Strength comes this week for you to strengthen your resolve physically or morally.  This week is not a week to wavier or be indecisive.  Now is the time to exercise your body and your will.

 

Cancerian
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

Two of Cups– This week find time to bond with those that are the nearest and dearest to your heart.  The challenge with this Muse is that she reminds you that the equitable relationships are the ones that you learn the most from.  That each person in the relationships finds not only joy and comfort, but that energy is mutual given and received.

 

Leo
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

*Moon – The Muse of Shadows and Mist is visiting you this week.  This can make you feel lost or uncertainty, roaming the shadowy halls of the unconscious and reading between the lines of conscious thought and conversations.  This Muse reminds you not to look outward for answers but to look inward.  What you see on the outside are mere reflections on what you should be looking at inside.  The world is your mirror.

 

Virgo
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

Ten of Swords – The Muse of Drama has come, and you do not have to answer the door.  This week can bring up old triggers and trauma that you thought you have dealt with.  Well, you have, so you do not need to respond to their call.

 

Libra
Elioth Gruner

Seven of Coins – The last three weeks have been full of energy.  You have had the Muse of Destiny bring in opportunities and challenges, the Muse of Perspective to help you see the big picture and the Muse of Stagnation stopping you to do some inner reflection.  And this week the Muse of Reward has come at the very least for you to take a breather if not reap the rewards of your labors.

 

Scorpio
Elioth Gruner

Ten of Coins – You have gone through a lot in the past three weeks – dealing with strengthening your emotional honesty, setting up structures that support you and moving forward with more gusto.  This week you get to sit back a bit and reconnect with family and loved ones.  By visiting your roots, you feed your growth.

 

Sagittarius
Elioth Gruner
Elioth Gruner

Four of Swords – The Muse of Tranquility reminds you that inertia can be as good for the body and soul as momentum.  Find time this week to unplug from technology and society to charge your batteries.  It is time to recline.

 

Capricorn
Elioth Gruner

Page of Swords – The Muse of Inquiry comes with mind sharpening challenges.  This week you need to use your Spidey senses when to ask questions and when to listen.  Some bits of information are hidden, not on purpose, but you will still need your surgical sleuth skills honed to get to solutions and answers.

 

Aquarius
Elioth Gruner

Three of Wands – The Muse of Enterprise comes with maps, a compass, telescope, and astrolabe to help you expand your horizons.  This is a great week to think about your short- and long-term plans of your enterprises and how you want to live in the bigger schema of life.  Vison board required.

 

Pisces
Elioth Gruner

*Emperor – The Muse of Realization has come to help you build your empire.   Think of various ways you can expand your realm of business:  networking, project creation, building your portfolio or resume, etc…   And then do them.  Now is the time.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb. 27, 2022

Allora and Calzadilla
Hope Hippo Allora and Calzadilla

Continuing with the theme of collaborators for the last two days in February, the artists are Allora and Calzadilla.  They have been working together for over 20 years.  They are multi-media artists and work in a variety of forms sculpture, photography, performance art, sound, and video.  Allora and Calzadilla take on big concepts like art history, geo-political dynamics, colonialism, war, and culture.  Often their work is the juxtaposition of metaphor and literalism. Thus, as viewers we are pulled into their creative process.  We become co-creators with them.  By interacting with the literal form, we manipulate the metaphor, or at the very least contextualize it to our own life experiences. At some level we do this with all art, but Allora and Cazadilla bring this dialogue to the forefront.

 

I find it’s interesting that all these artists consider their work in some part sculpture.  Is it that the collaborate work leans towards the concept of a 3-D object?  Something we can immerse ourselves in and experience with multiple senses.  One of the reasons I do this blog is my belief that art and the tarot are linked on a variety of levels.  The concept of the Lovers card in tarot is that of relationship and collaboration.  And when its path is taken with the highest and purest intent, it represents the act of combining  things/people to create something new and unique, even though it consists of the “DNA” of the original pairing.  This new and distinctive thing often ends up becoming a dimensional object, something we can see, hear, feel, smell and touch.

Collaboration is a constant of nature, survival, and legacy.  So again, I would like us to ponder this act by the question: In your partnerships what have you birthed?

Solar System highlights

The Moon starts in Aquarius and moves to Pisces by Tuesday.  So, this week will start in a dreamy mode. Then it moves into Aries on Thursday – lots of energy and action for the weekend. This is the last week the inner planets will be in this configuration.  Mercury is in Aquarius for some of us it is a time to pull back for perspective, for others working with communication styles that are more outside the box.  We have two planets left in Capricorn until March 6th.  Venus – where beauty and harmony are achieved through practicality.  And Mars – where it provides momentum in our workplaces.  After this week we will be more with our heads in the air then our feet on the ground, so getting things done will be easier than in the coming weeks.  Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

 

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Pisces 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.

 

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Allora and Calzadilla
Allora and Calzadilla

*Empress – Last week change was in the air but you needed to release or complete projects so you can move on.  This week the Muse of Creation has come to help you start growing what you want to produce.  The challenge with this Muse is she needs time to cultivate this project with you.  So, what do you want to grow that you can commit to for the next 10 months?

 

Taurus
Allora and Calzadilla

*Death and Eight of Wands – The Muse of Composting and the Muse of Downloads are with you this week.  First the Muse of Composting comes when change is about to happen, but you need to clear your decks to allow it space.  So, whether that is cleaning your inbox and/or desk.  You are needing to clean your workspaces.  Then the Muse of Messages comes downloading information to distract you from create this very space.  So, this is not a time to process the new, jot down ideas and inspirations if they come, and only work with emails of the highest priority this week.  The lesson around these two energies is completing what is already on your table and not adding more to your pile.

 

Gemini
Allora and Calzadilla
Allora and Calzadilla

*High Priestess – The Muse of Purpose comes to have you realign with why your soul has selected this time and place to be on Earth.  We all have multiple purposes to be here, our family, job, friends, the kind of person we want to be.  Take time to meditate.  Are there any places you feel unfulfilled?   Have you lost your sense of the divine?  Now is the time to ask for help if you have.  The Muses await to reconnect you, they just need your permission.

 

Cancerian
Allora and Calzadilla Chalk

Knight of Cups – This week is emotional but in that good cleansing way that ends with laughter.  Unless you don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable.   Heart and arms open this week.

 

Leo
Clamor Allora and Calzadilla

Five of Wands – Last week the Muses asked you to specify – why do you do what you do?  And how does it better the world around you?  The Muse of Competition and Chaos comes to add her two-sense by asking you to look how your ego may be diverting you from your higher self.  Compassion is key for not only others, but it also unlocks it for yourself.

 

Virgo
Allora and Calzadilla
Allora and Calzadilla

*Chariot – The Muse of Movement has brought gas to fill your tanks, but it is up to you to supply the direction.  Find focus this week before you start it.  For you will find yourself driving in circles without a destination.   And remember road stops are allowed at certain intervals.

 

Libra
HyperFocal Allora and Calzadilla

*Hermit – The Muse of Kismet walked with you last week and now the Muse of Contemplation comes with reservations for some quiet time to gain perspective.  Maybe you need to ponder what you learned last week, and/or you need to stand back from life to gain insight that only distance can give you.

 

Scorpio
I Have Forgotten my Umbrella Allora and Calzadilla

*Hierophant – Last week, the Muse of Backbone reminded you that you are an amazing emotional conduit, and not to hide these emotions or hide behind them.  Hopefully you have seen some of your strengths, for this week you will need to look at your structures – how you live, work and play.  Then do some adjustments so that they better support the real you.  Fortify the ones that do and reconstruct the ones that don’t.

 

Sagittarius
Solar Catastrophe Allora and Calzadilla

*Sun – Take time this week to count your blessings.  The Muse of Optimism is here to point out the silver linings in all that you do, have, and are experiencing right now.  Even if times are tough you have gone through worse.  You are strong, vibrant, and we as a world need your light.  Let the sunshine in by the Fifth Dimensions

 

Capricorn
Allora and Calzadilla

*Temperance – This week’s focus is Harmony.  The Muse of Soothing comes with bath salts, sounds of waves, chamomile tea, the loosing of muscle after a good workout, and blue skies with fluffy clouds.  Even though the planets are very much in your work wheelhouse this week so is the time to relax.  This is not a week to push things through but to take the Middle Path.  Moderation in all things is key.

 

Aquarius
Allora and Calzadilla

Three of Wands – Last week the Muses had you look at your structures and make sure they are modernized for supporting you.  Luckily the Muse of Patience and Preparation has given you another week to clean up your act, diet, or environment, so you can fine tune your support structures and get on with your new year.

 

Pisces
Allora and Calzadilla
Allora and Calzadilla

Ten of Swords – Your second ten so a quick dive into that number.  Tens come when we are in a stage of endings or completions.  There is still some work to be done to start new, but this is a cycle change.  Last week the Muse of Responsibility came so you could lighten your load and whole-heartly commit to the responsibilities/goals that are truly yours.  This week outside sources are diverting you from your path.  This is not a time to listen to them or let your ego make decisions.  This Muse asks: what needs to be finished up to allow the space to grow into this up-coming new cycle?

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb. 13, 2022

 

Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher winding towers

Continuing with the theme of collaborators for February this week artists are Hilla and Bernd Becher.  They started collaborating when they meet in 1959.  She was a commercial trained photographer and he studied painting and typography.  After two years of collaboration, they married and continued working in partnership for the next 50 years.   They are known for photography of industrial structures throughout Europe and North America.  The Bechers exhibited their work in sets or typologies.  They called their subjects “anonymous sculptures.”

Technically their work is photography, but it is viewed as sculptural.  Their unique combination of form, black and white photography, similar perspective, and grouping in sets, illustrates the sculpture properties of architecture.  Also, by choosing how they present their subjects, mimicking cataloguing flora and fauna in the sciences, these typologies emanate to the viewer the beauty of functional architecture, the relationship between form and function, and the effect of architecture on the economy and the environment. The amazing thing about their work is both have said they do not know which picture was taken by whom. Their collaboration is without the seams of the ego. Your pondering for the week is how ego or ownership affects us when working together?

 

Solar System highlights:  The Moon is in Leo will be full on 16th – time to shine.  Then it moves later that day into Virgo – good for organizing and cleaning.  Onto Libra for the weekend – perfect time for friends and family.  Mercury moves into Aquarius for some of us it is a time to pull back for perspective, for others working with communication styles that are more outside the box.  We have two planets left in Capricorn until beginning of March.  Venus – where beauty and harmony are achieved through practicality.  And Mars – where it provides momentum in our workplaces.  Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

 

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Aquarius this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Leo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check-in, now is the time.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Coal Bunkers 1974 Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007

Four of Swords – Where last week was all about gaining momentum, this week is about rest and restoration.  Take this week slow.  Make sure you feed your body well and rest your mind.  Try to turn off all technology for at least an hour a day.  Bask in natural light and ambient noise.

 

Taurus
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Water Towers 2009 Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007

King of Wands – Last week the Muse of Inertia wanted you to take moments to slow down, providing you time to think and readjust before moving forward. If you were able to gain this new perspective, you will be able to navigate this week well.  However, if not, this week opportunities will give you second chances to learn how to harness energy and use it for good, but it will feel like you are flying by the seat of your pants.

 

Gemini
Hilla and Bernd Becher Gas Holders

Ten of Wands – The Muse of Burdens has come to help you navigate your obligations this week.  First, she points out you have taken other people’s task/responsibilities and you need to let go of your responsibility to those.  Then she tells you to prioritize the rest of your list and see what you can realistically do in this week.  So, ten tasks now look more like a doable four.

 

Cancerian
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Two of Wands – The Muse of Future Planning has come to help you navigate your next steps.  Pick a long term goal and map out the timeline and tasks you need to do to get there.

 

Leo
Hilla and Bernd Becher Cooling Towers

*Tower – Change is in the air again.  Where the last two weeks the change was about working with perspective and letting go, this week the change comes from outside sources.  Yes, this Muse has Kali like energy.  If you can not make the changes for growth necessary for your wellbeing, then this energy will step in to force you to do it.  So, you can work with this energy to navigate where you would like the change to occur.  Or you can let her tectonic tremors show you the cracks in your foundations and tear down what isn’t working.

 

Virgo
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher Gas holders

*Sun – The Muse of Vitality is here to warm you up and make you thrive.  This Muse rises to feed you the positive energy you need to personally bloom.  She wants you to realize and utilize your brilliance.  You are a creator so put your energy towards what you want to flourish.

 

Libra
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Knight of Cups – Time to get your flirt on.  The Muse of Amour is here to create some excitement and romance in your relationships.  Take time this week to connect to the ones you love and have some fun.  Make food together, play games, or go somewhere awe inspiring.  And for those with pets don’t forget their companionship could also do with some recognition.  Did someone say candlelight and tuna/steak?

 

Scorpio
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Nine of Swords – The Muse of Worry has come to lighten your mental load.  She reminds you that to take each worry and ask these questions.  Could it happen?  If so, can I do something about it?  And if so, what steps do I need to take to do it?  And the ones left over are beyond your control so time to let them go.

 

Sagittarius
Pitheads 1974 by Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007, 1934-2015

Three of Swords – The Muse of Old Wounds comes around when you need to do some mending.  There are either negative thought forms, emotions, or relationships that you still need to do some personal healing around.  Watch for places you feel irritated or triggered this week.   These are the areas to investigate and mend.

 

Capricorn
Hilla and Bernd Becher Silos

Queen of Coins – The Muse of Luxury has come to ask, after your hard work how do you reward yourself?  Her go to is often retail or self-care oriented also she knows how to combine luxury with practicality.  So, she prompts you to follow in her footsteps this week by not only working but also revealing in its rewards.

 

Aquarius
Hilla and Bernd Becher

*Lovers – This is your last energy to work with this year.  Let’s review.  First the Muse of Fortune said this year will have its ups and downs and not feel totally in your control.  But whether karma or luck, it is not the occurrence but what you do with it that is key.  Then the Muse of Friendships and the Muse of Pleasure are prompting you that friends, love, and laughter need to be woven back into your life.  And lastly, the Muse of Relationships re-emphasis that this year is all about you connecting with the ones you love.  Your work is to spend quality time with your “peeps” while fine tuning your people skills in general.  She reminds you this quality time promotes intimacy.  Connection and Joy are your key words word to work with this year.

 

Pisces
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Queen of Swords – The Muse of Details has come with magnifying glass and tweezers. Here motto is the devil is in the details.  This means that there are hidden aspects or that something may seem simple but in fact is more complicated and can cause problems.  So things like, re-reading your emails before sending, cleaning your keyboard, being conscious of your accessories and deep looking into contracts (written or verbal).  Watch what you promise, and be aware of your personal nuances if they are appropriate with what you are trying to convey.