Tag Archives: art

Tarotcast for Week of Jan. 28, 2018

Joan Mitchell

Above and below are the paintings by Joan Mitchell an abstract expressionist painter and print maker. She is one of the few female painters of her era to gain critical claim.  This post World War II art movement was the first time America, specifically New York, was put as the center of the western art world instead of Paris. Abstract expressionist art tries to articulate the complexity of our heart and mind clashing, melding, bleeding into each other.  The internal human experience without the defined image.

PS. Don’t forget the signs with an * it is a big week for you.

*Aries – Emperor

The Emperor tells us to stop procrastinating.  This is a week to build new bridges, create new civilizations, to conquer your fear and just do it.  The challenge is believing you can and asking for help when you can’t.

 

Taurus – King of Swords

The King of Swords says now is the time. Your challenge this week is to walk your talk, so be careful what you promise. Your words are now as loud and important  as your actions.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of Jan. 28, 2018

Tarotcast for Week of Jan. 21, 2018

path of lord of the rings Andrew DeGraff

Saturn has just entered Capricorn. For many astrologers, this planet is one of the big markers in our lives.   Saturn changes signs around two and half years, and it takes it a full 29.5 years to get through all of the zodiac.  So in an average life span we get two or three tries with the lessons Saturn is trying to teach us.  Saturn hasn’t been in Capricorn since 1989, and this made me think about the path of our lives.  How we twist and turn, visit new places, and revisit old ones. How our course can traverse the world or encompass a street.

Andrew DeGraff‘s art work reflects my pondering of paths. Above and below are some of his pieces where he maps out the path(s) of one or several characters in a variety of movies.   He  is a freelance illustrator and artist living and working in Maine. He recently published his second book, Cinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies.  What details of your path would be on your art piece?

Can you guess which movie corresponds with your picture?

To find out the answer just click on the picture and open it in its own window .

Aries – Ten of Cups

path of back to the future

Last week, the Judgment card pointed out the new steps to take in your life.  This week the Ten of Cups wants you to add the concept of joy into your new life’s structure.  Your challenge is to be mindful of what makes you smile and do more of it.

 

 

Taurus – Three of Wands

path of ghostbusters

 

The Three of Wands is about action and planning.  Your challenge this week is getting things in place.  Big things are on the horizon are you ready for them?

 

 

 

Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of Jan. 21, 2018

Tarotcast for Week of January 7, 2018

This time of year in the northern hemisphere objects cast long shadows.  The piece above is by Lordes Castro who worked with variations of shadow representation for the next 3 decades.  She started off as a painter, but in the early 1960’s she joined up with a group called the Nouveaux Realistes.  Then began to work with shadows.  She used light sensitive silk screen to capture people, worked with layering acrylic cutouts of shadows to make the shadow 3-d, and light sensitive prints of plants shadows to represent our memories, and also shadow theater.

Shadows have always fascinated us.  As a kid we investigate our shadow by playing with it, trying to run away from it, waving at it, and like the above photo trying to separate ourselves from it.  As adults we do all these things still though metaphorically or through psycho-chat of working with the shadow self.  We continue to run from it, play with it and try to disconnect from it.  When our “shadow” is part of us too intertwined to be seen as something so two dimension as what is cast upon the ground.

PS.  Remember those signs with an *, it is a big week for you.  Also  this is a perfect time of the year for your Astrological Tarot Reading.

Aries – King of Cups

They say that boys don’t cry, but this card wants you to get in touch and express your emotions this week.  You might think being a King means to rule over your emotions with a tight fist.  However, this King says you find more strength and courage by being friends with your feelings.

*Taurus – Empress

The Empress is the card of Gaia, the supreme mother and creation.  I know we are in the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere and creation seems buried in the snow, but in the southern hemisphere it is in the middle of fertile season.  The Empress embodies this flow where there is death she balances it with life.  The Empress’ challenge is to look at this week’s events and see the death in life and the life in death.  It takes both to create growth.

Gemini – Page of Swords

The Page of Swords advises you do more investigating before making any decisions this week.  The Page of Swords challenges you to dig deeper, for the solution of the problem is out there.  It is just hidden and not in the obvious places.

 

Cancer – Five of Pentacles

The Five of Pentacles challenges us when times are rough to ask for help.  This week help is just around the corner.  You  just need to walk a few more steps to see it.

Leo – Eight of Swords

The Eight of Swords challenge is what binds you.  Last week the tarotcast asked you to leave behind your obstacles.  Thinking that you have to settle for “what is” is part of your challenge. Remember change can as easily begin with a thought as an action..

Virgo – Page of Pentacles

Page of Pentacles is the card of the student.  This week you need to put on your observation goggles and hearing aids to aid you in finding what is lacking or needed.   There are new skills for you to learn so you can solve a question or two with more ease.

Libra – Six of Wands

If it hasn’t recently happened already, you will win a victory this week., so take time to rest on your laurels at the beginning of the week.  Then by the end, your challenge will be to take stock of what you have and restock if necessary, for there is another skirmish around the corner.

Scorpio – King of Wands

This week take control of your surroundings.  King of Wands challenges you to rule your environment and deal with the people with justice and integrity.  This is a test whether you are ready to handle more power.

Sagittarius – Eight of Wands

Lots of information coming at you this week.  Your challenge is to sift through it and pick out the bits that are useful.  An exercise to make this easier is set an intention and use only the information that pertains to it.  Motto: One intention at a time.

Capricorn – Four of Wands

Time to work on or in your home.  The challenge this week is to stoke the fires of your hearth and heart.  Your goal is to daydream, create and get comfy in your home. If you can’t to make your home a place where you can reconnect to yourself with ease, then find a substitute structure whether that is your car, a cafe or the park.

*Aquarius – Strength

The Strength card advises you to look within, see your strength then strengthen your sense of self.  This challenge can look as simple as doing a contemplative exercise like yoga that also works your core, or as complex as writing a list of your accomplishments.  As the film director and producer Billy Wilder said “You are as good as the best thing you have done.”

Pisces – Five of Swords

There will be chaos this week that will be hard to avoid.  The Five of Swords advises the best thing is to stay out of it as long as you can, realize most of it is due to outside influences, and observe before stepping into it.  This is like playing Double Dutch with five jump-ropes instead of two.

 

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

Nina

Tarotcast for Week of December 10, 2017

Crows in park

My fascinations with crows started in San Francisco. A friend of mine used them as an omen to keep her eyes and ears open for messages from the Universe. As soon as she said it, I started seeing crows in city. When I moved to Troy NY, I was introduced to the phenomena of crow migration in the winter.  Crows are typically solitary birds. However, in the winter at night they come from their various regular digs to the riverfront and one of those places was a park right across the street from me. The above picture is a murder (a group of crows) of crows in NYC, because lol all my pictures are too dark. To me, they look like beautiful black flowers on the blooming on leafless trees, and I loved walking in the park when they were there, though carefully. It felt magically.

The other time that crows come together is when another crow dies. They hold what looks like a crow’s “funeral” Researchers at the Avian Conservation Lab found that if a crow sees one of its brethren dead it will call out and other crows will come. The researchers also found that crows have amazing human facial recognition (See article on how they used caveman masks), so they have theorized that this behavior has come about for crows to communicate about threats in their territory. This discovery gives a twist as to  why a group of crows is called a murder.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. Need a great socking stuffer get the Pull the Trigger reading for only $5. For any gift reading I can email you a printable gift certificate.

Aries – Three of Wands

You can take a break in manifesting with the Three of Wands. This card advise you to tie up loose ends and work on making sure everything is prepared for the near future. This is a perfect challenge for you this week to do more oiling the wheels before you continue to move forward.

Taurus – Page of Swords

Last week Judgment wanted you to take the more enlightened path without saying I told you so. The Page of Swords continues these theme, for your challenge is to find out more about a situation before you decide to enter into discourse. This is an eyes and ears open – mouth shut kinda week.
Continue reading Tarotcast for Week of December 10, 2017

Tarotcast for Week of December 3, 2017

Vik Muniz

We are official in the Holiday Season. The season of gift giving. The word gift has three definitions. One being a thing given willingly to someone without payment. The second also a noun is a natural ability or talent. And the third gift in its verb form is give something as a gift as a donation or bequest.

In a scientific study published earlier this year a geologist, Jan Zalasiewicz, has found that the human made “technosphere” or manufactured goods has now surpasses the natural biosphere (nature that includes us) in mass and variety. There is approximately 506 million metric tons of all living humans but the stuff we have made weighs 60,000 times more than we do.

How can you lighten your contribution to the technoshpere’s mass and still give gifts? The clue is in the second and third definitions of gift. You can take your gift and share it with another. If you are amazing singer, go out caroling to an old folks home, or say you are great with numbers give someone’s child free tutoring lessons. Have your kids donate one of their gifts to some child in need, or add to the biomass instead by giving a tree, a plant, seeds, food. Is it so hard to take just one thing off your gift list and give yourself instead? The ultimate point is The Gift that means the most this seasons Is You.

P.S. The art work is done by Vik Muniz. He repurposes everyday objects to create his art pieces.  These are not photo-shopped in but the actual objects

P.P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you. If you need a gift for someone think about giving them a one of my Readings by phone, or as a great socking stuffer the Pull the Trigger reading for only $5. For any gift reading I can email you a printable gift certificate.

Vik MunozAries – Seven of Wands

Last week, the Emperor paved the way for manifestation to come with ease. The Seven of Wands continues this theme but highlights areas in your life that divide you and/or your attention. This week work on your personal integrity, and keep out of the chaos and competition laid out by others.

 

Vik Muniz*Taurus – Judgment

Judgment foretells you will have many opportunities this week to prove you have grown into a more enlightened and compassionate person. Your challenge is to take the high road without saying I told you so.

Vik Muniz*Gemini – Emperor

Two weeks ago your fortune changed for the better, and last week you had to gather new information to help formulate your new strategy/path. This week the Emperor has show up to say The time for action is now. Your goal is to Just do it. Take out your lists and stat checking things off. The Emperor challenges you with your motto for the week: No time like the present. (LOL He loves a good motto or slogan.)

Vik MunizCancer – Three of Cups

The Three of Cups is all about friendship. Your cup needs to be filled and the Three of Cups advise the best place to do that is with your close friends.

Vik MunizLeo – Eight of Wands

The last two weeks the Empress and High Priestess had you emulate, contemplate and integrate the best nurturers you know. This week, the Eight of Wands is saying you need more time to do just that. Your challenge is to be receptive to the messages about nurturing from the past and future. This is hard subject for Leo’s because your potential for needing nurturing and giving nurturing can push the boundaries of infinity, and even you with all your energy there is a limit.

Vik MunizVirgo – Ace of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles foretells this is a get week to start new projects, new habits, go shopping, redecorate. Get your hands dirty. Discover new places. There are deals and new opportunities out there for you just need to hunt for them in new places. This Ace’s challenge is to start creating before the New Year starts.

Vik MunizLibra – King of Cups

Last week the Sun wanted you to pick one area of growth and put all your energy into that. The King of Cups continues this theme except this time you need to get your heart in on the act. If you are not loving what you are doing then you are focusing on the wrong things.

 

Vik MunizScorpio – King of Swords and Nine of Wands

There is a bit more preparation this week with the Nine of Wands. Only after you feel that you are fully prepared then you can take the stance of the King of Swords and make a decision. The challenge is to hold off from making a choice until you are 95% sure of the outcome.

Vik Muniz*Sagittarius – Wheel

Second big card for you all for your new birth year. Last week the Fool challenged you this coming year to grow, experience life, keep your mind, eyes, and opinions open. And now the Wheel joins the party saying your choice of action or inaction in the coming year’s will affect you for years to come. This coming year if you want to create a new you it is the year to do it. Your actions in the coming year will change your fortune for the better and continue rippling for years to come. Your challenge is to create good karma in 2018.

Vik MunizCapricorn – Page of Cups

Last week the Judgment card challenge you to start the process of fulfilling your higher calling so you move closer to the You that you really are. This week the Page of Cups helps by having you incorporate what made you play as a child. Your challenge is making sure your higher calling has an aspect of play in it, or it won’t have the purity you are striving for.

Vik MunizAquarius – Knight of Wands

All the Knights are about moving forward. The Knight of Wands is about conscience movement. As Martha Graham said All that is important is this one moment in movement. Make the moment important, vital, and worth living. Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused.

Vik MunizPisces – Queen of Swords

The Queen of Swords is the information gatherer and assimilator of that knowledge. This week she advise you put your ear to the ground and listen to the humming undercurrent of situations. There is more information for you, but you will need your intuition and understanding of the human mind to interpret what is actually being said.

 

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

Nina

Tarotcast for the Week of November 26, 2017

Above is the art work Starburst by Barbara Morgan. She is widely known for her photographs of Martha Graham’s Dance Troup: Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs. However, her worked is varied from Summer’s Children: A Photographic Cycle of Life at Camp to her abstract photographs of dancers and light. The thread that runs through her work is ability to capture the power of transient gestures of movement.

Her work transcends the subject – it stirs the soul. When we watch a dance performance or live through a summer at camp we take with us a holistic feeling of what we have experienced. But when we see that movement in mid-form, it transcends the concept of the whole dance. In that suspension of time, we see our spirit

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

Aries – The Emperor – The Emperor paves the way for manifestation to come with ease. At work this can look like getting a project finally started or make a big headway with one already begun. This week opportunities will arise that will help you lay the foundations for a successful future. Your challenge is to take advantage of them when they come up.

 

Artist : Barbara Morgan (United States of America, b.1900, d.1992)

Taurus – Eight of Wands – Last week, the Chariot wanted you to bring more balance and control into your life. The Eight of Wands continues that theme. This card wants you to take action. Aim for your goals around balance and control and take the steps to setting them in motion. Your challenge is to divide the path or journey into manageable and obtainable mini-goals.
Continue reading Tarotcast for the Week of November 26, 2017

Tarotcast for the Week of November 19, 2017

Juan Gris Cubism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

Nina