The artist this week is Selma Burke. Her pieces express an overall emotionality and truthfulness created from her interesting nuanced choices. Selma’s subject with a furrowed brow conveying the rawness of intention, or the curiosity of raised eyebrows, or the tilt of a child’s head expressing innocence. With her more experimental pieces like The Torso her choice of figure and tilt articulating a more realistic view of a women’s form, or the tenderness of a mother holding a child. This is a lesson in the subtleness of choice conveying powerful emotional content. Each of us effect change in our lives and maybe the more subtle, more nuanced may just have a more lasting a broader effect then we think.
She started her education by becoming a nurse in Raleigh, N.C. and moved to NYC after graduation. There she became associated with the Harlem Renaissance and began teaching art appreciation and education to New York youth. Then during the 1930’s she traveled across Europe honing her own artist skills. By 1940 she opened the Selma Burke School of Sculpture in NYC while graduating from Columbia with her own arts degree.
In 1942 she joined the Navy become one of the first African American women to enroll and worked in the shipyard during the war. During that time, she won a competition to do a bronze relief of FDR. Historically this is her most famous and controversial piece. Many say her piece was the inspiration for the dime; however, it is detested by the artist who designed it. She returned to roots and from 1968 to 1981 she founded and ran the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh, continuing to provide art to the youth of the undeserved communities there.
P.S. Signs with an * it a big week for you. Gemini this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Sagittarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
Aries
Queen of Wands – This week the energy can invigorate anything you put your focus to. It also supplies you with the courage and fierceness to take charge of all that you survey. The challenge is doing it alone. It is not necessary, but you can if you must.
Taurus
*World – The world is your oyster this week. But it is up to you prying it open to reveal its’ pearls. This is big energy for moving outcomes into triumphant directions. The challenge with this card for you Taurus is that you do have the work ethic and commitment to move things to completion. But are you flexible enough to know when to let it go if it isn’t working or allowing it to evolve into an unknown ending? To utilize this energy, go for the feeling of a job well done without attaching it to a material completion.
Gemini
Two of Swords – Confusion flies through the lines of communication and thought. This causes stalemates and indecision not only for you but for those around you. The best way to work with this energy is either flipping a coin or waiting until next week to decide if you can.
Cancer
Eight of Swords – Self acceptance is key this week. You might be feeling entrapped, but this time is meant for healing. Sometimes the inertia of life has nothing to do with you as long as you don’t take it on as your story. Let go of the collective thought patterns. They are not part of your narrative.
Leo
Queen of Cups – Last week your brain was taxed. The energy takes a 180 degree turn to your heart this week. Compassion, calm and comfort are the keys to ease. Find time daily to invite in the 3 Cs. This is no time for martyrdom – take time off and have some fun.
Virgo
T
en of Wands – Another week spending energy in completing old projects and cleaning your desk/mind/spirit. The challenge is being responsible for your obligations to those close to you but also to yourself. This week is setting you up for new beginnings once your plate is cleared from the old.
Libra
Four of Swords – This energy shows up when you need to recuperate and relax. You are being drained and are not aware of the source or how much it is taking out of you. The best way of finding the leaks is by walking away from all your responsibilities for a small amount of time. Then once you return the seepage will be more obvious and easier to fix.
Scorpio
*Temperance – The energy that surrounds you this week is excessive. This overload unbalances you, so emotional outburst may be necessary to vent and re-calibrate. However, be careful, impatience can trigger more negative and unworthy outpourings. The key is purposely vent before the pressure makes you burst.
Sagittarius
*Sun – The sun will come out tomorrow and shine on you all week. So that is great if you are ready to play in the sunlight. However, there is a distinct possibility you may also want to hide in the shadows of pessimism. The challenge is that more you try to be happy the less you accomplish it. In other words, you are thinking to much. Sag your free spirit is needing airing, a drive in the car with windows down, a picnic in the woods, or anything outdoorsy without any goal setting is required. Try spotlighting your focus on things you want to do – not things you have to do.
Capricorn
*Justice – Last week organic change was asking you to not resist or fear transformation. Letting things end so others can begin. You are hopefully now moving with a more natural pace and to a more comfortable place. Luckily, you get another week to work on this shift by focusing on cause and effect. For each decision you are making imagine the possible or impossible outcomes. Why focus on the impossible? Because your mind wants to think of the what ifs and this is the week to let it. Those out-there worst-case scenarios need airing. Not to bring them in to being but to see the truth of their outlandishness.
Aquarius
*Chariot – Wow four weeks in a row with big energy. It started with summoning you to take a bit of control over your destiny by showing up. Then Temperance energy suggested creating your life like a refined meal that has many notes to balance in the creation of a delectable dining experience. Then Justice had you looking for the grey areas to find a true sense of fairness and harmony. Now self-determining change has arrived. This energy is giving you control. The good side is that you have more sway then you think. The bad side is it is all in your hands. This week if you want movement to happen you will need to take the reins. If you look at all of May/June’s forecast now is the time to be flexible and delicate when applying energy but continue moving forward.
Pisces
Two of Wands – Discovery is the name of the game this week. The challenge is that you are still in a place that is neither the past nor the future; however, you are not inert. You are just taking a moment finding needed items and planning for the move forward. The only challenge is while you are doing this be mindful of the precious moments this pause has given you.
Eight of Coins– This week is all about work. You got skills and you need to use them. So, now is the time to get things done. The challenge is being humble enough to know you always have something more to learn
Two of Cups – It is all about partnerships this week. This time holds possibilities of unity and connection, but if emotions are not attended to, it can also hold tension and disharmony. Be aware it takes two to tango or waltz. One can lead but the other must agree to follow.
Ten of Cups – This week’s energy is around family bliss. Spend these coming days cultivating harmony and happiness. Find ways to enjoy the company of others, whether that is with a web wine meet up or a virtual game of cards. Companionship is key this week.
*Star – Last week’s energy is about bring the divine down into practical applications. Using your resourcefulness and skills to create action. Now the card of healing joins the mix. For last week’s energy was a mix bag of actions. This week you can step back and see why your creative fires did not light or burn as brightly as you intended. Do not be discouraged. This is part of the process of action you need to learn before your new birth year starts. Understanding and mending is needed as much as action to create a healthier future.
Eight of Swords – Ok week two of moody thoughts and feelings surrounding you. The key to this week’s feeling of being trapped is again around self-acceptance. You are allowed to have feelings, but overthinking those feelings is where the trap gets triggered. Take this time to discern and disengage from the entwinement of your heart and your mind.
*Empress – Creativity is calling to you. But something is holding you back. This week find out how to mother and not smother that creativity. It is natural for you to nurture others but when it comes to yourself you stop. Why? Let loose of the structure and cultivate organic expression.
Ace of Wands – Last week’s energy was about creating new beginnings if you are not reckless or naïve in its undertaking. The energy continues this week. However, so does the energy of distraction. Why are you hesitating on moving to the next level, beginning a new project, or just being creative without any goals? Again, the key and conundrum is around planning. You do have to plan the whole project. This energy is about taking one step at a time and enjoying the process hopefully as much as or more than the result.
Knight of Swords – You are unstoppable this week, and that has two potential outcomes. Either you can impulsively rush in without thinking and either bruise yourself or another. Or you can swoop in with heroic and selfless actions and save the day. The key is thinking before you act.
Four of Coins – Conservation is the energy you will need to work with this week. Your resources are limited, so use them wisely. This isn’t about being miserly but being frugal. Frugal in the sense of simplifying and focusing your energy, within the context of what you feed grows.
Ace of Swords – The energy this week is about breakthroughs. There is clarity in the air which brings new ideas and thoughts into your mix. The challenge is deciding either surfing the chaos like a Zen wave rider or diving into the depths letting the waves roll above the contemplative stillness you have found. The choice is yours.
*Temperance – Last week, it was time to take a bit of control over your destiny by just showing up. The high energy continues this week but with less of a roller coaster feel. This energy asks you what is your purpose? The keys to finding these answers is patience and balance. Your life is complex, so balancing out different aspects and aspirations is important to moving forward in the year to come. Think of your life like a refined meal that has many notes to balance its tastes into a delectable dining experience.
Two of Swords – Decision making time. There is a stalemate that is about to happen but just being decisive about what you want and how you want to feel will avoid later confusion. Do not avoid what you know needs to be done.
Two of Coins – Last week, change was in the air if you didn’t try forcing it. The energy wanted you to work with the ebbs and flows of natural cycles. Sharing the job of creating movement with the universe continues this week. If you share the burden, you will feel less like you are spinning plates and/or overwhelmed. The part is to work on your balancing act and be flexible.
*Death – Change is in the air this week if you would just let go of trying to force it to happen. This energy wants you to work with the ebbs and flows of natural cycles. Though this downturn in energy feels like stagnation, it is actually waiting for you to sort out what you fear will change. Take your hand off the wheel and let the universe drive. 
*Judgement – Again big energy and I know you might be feeling wiped out. All of March was a roller coaster of forces guiding you through your triggers, compassion for the universe and yourself, challenged you to weed to find room for the new, and then asked you to connect deeply with your spirit to gain more information on how to lead by example. And now this week’s energy is about rebirth. Your challenge is to answer what has this past month taught you? What has awakened you to be closer to your calling and the understand of it? 
*Hanged Man – You are resisting using this time as a moment to gain perspective. You are percieving this energy delaying you, but it challenges you by asking delaying you from what? This is big energy and has the potential for you to stockpile this inert energy like a pulling back a rubber band. This time is just a pause a place to reset or to reimagine your destiny. Take this time to gather your strength and gain perspective on where to you want to go after this pause. 
Nine of Swords – Last week you were feeling the chaos like energy of the worldwide change. And you had to wrestle with the idea of not having control over these big outside forces of change. The forces advised controlling only your small sphere and then allowing the rest to wash over you like a wave. This week you are still grappling with letting go. Worries still needle you like tiny gnats. The energy this week advise you to focus on hope instead of hopelessness. 
Six of Coins – Last week you needed to heed and hone your inner voice. Looking for the hidden truths, the synchronicities and cycles. Your discoveries have you feeling as if you do not have enough resources to deal with this week’s energy. However, if you put selfcare first, you don’t have to be stingy with the rest of your energy. So, heed the phrase put the air-mask on yourself first before helping others with theirs. But keep in mind they do need help and you can expend yours. 
Ace of Coins – The energy of grounded beginnings is rumbling under you. This is a great week to start a new project. Do not loss this opportunity even though you may be staying at home. All seeds are started in the dark. This is a time to water some ideas and see what sprouts in the coming weeks. 
Messenger – There are messages all around you this week. Your spirit guides are in your midst, protecting and divining to you what is and isn’t important. You will get some straightforward clues but also look for hidden meanings in synchronicities. 
Nine of Coins – This week energy is about abundance and finding ways to reward yourself and others. However, luxuries have a new meaning at this time. What were you taking for grant that now this week has become a luxury? And how can you share and enjoy them with yourself and others? 
Four of Cups – The energy this week continues your need for mediation. Where last week you needed to pull away from the everyday to gain perspective, this week you will need to occasionally look to your outer sphere to gain a fuller picture. Try to divide your time in to ¾ introvertive behavior and the last 1/4 as an extrovert. 
Three of Coins – Relationships and creation are again the resonating energy this week. However where last week your investigation where in the notions of contentment and choice respectively. Putting energy into relationships that bring serenity and envisaging the implementation of creating is based in choice. This week there is less contemplation and more active collaboration. Even if you are stuck inside take time to zoom, skype or face time with others. You need people as bouncing boards and to challenge you to get to the next level, not to mention some playful banter to liven your spirits. 
Page of Cups – This week’s energy is about looking for the brighter side of things. Your sign is the one that inspires humanity and raise us up to the next level. So, use your curiosity and rose-colored glass envisioning you and us a brighter future. 
Page of Wands – Pull out your paintbrushes, crayons, pencils, scissors, glue, wood tools and create. The challenge with this creative energy is not about having a goal but about investigating your mediums. This energy is best used in discovery and exploration. Doing so will bring you closer to a place where movement can happen.
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