This week’s artist is Helen Frankenthaler an abstract painter.  She is one of the artists who developed the Color Field painting style which emerged in the 40’s and 50’s.  Color Field painting is related to abstract expressionism and many people including Helen started in this style.  But Color Field artists started to move from color expressing feelings or emotions to color becoming the object itself.  This style is characterized by large fields of flat solid color spread or stained into the canvas.  Though many artists expanded upon this idea using a variety of methods and mediums like spray paint, oils, acrylics and in Helen’s case woodblock prints.

Frankenthaler’s goal was to have each piece look like it happened at once.  A really good picture looks as if it’s happened at once. It’s an immediate image. For my own work, when a picture looks labored and overworked, and you can read in it—well, she did this and then she did that, and then she did that—there is something in it that has not got to do with beautiful art to me. And I usually throw these out, though I think very often it takes ten of those over-labored efforts to produce one really beautiful wrist motion that is synchronized with your head and heart, and you have it, and therefore it looks as if it were born in a minute.

Above is her piece Madame Butterfly which is consider her masterpiece in technique, the print took 102 different colors and 46 woodblocks to make. Not only does it show her mastery of woodblock printing but also represents her idea of creating an image that looks as if it just appears like magic.  I find her goal much like the one we strive for in life.  When we look back at our lives, one should not just see it as a series of events, but a true life lived is seeing those actions as a whole – a soul’s journey.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Virgo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

 

Aries

Page of Swords – This week is about information gathering.  The Page of Swords is the card of truth.  Though to obtain that truth one will have to do some undercover work.  When this card shows up ask questions and listen closely to the answers.  The truth does not lie on the surface.

 

 

Taurus

*Chariot – Lol, you all got the Chariot, card of change, two weeks ago.  This repeat of cards happens for two reasons. Either it has come by again picking up where you left off, or you didn’t take up the reins last time and you get a do-over.  The Chariot proclaims again that it is time to make transformations happen around areas that you want to alter, and it is your sole responsibility in powering that change.  I highly suggest you take up the reins and make stuff happen.  Life rarely gives us do-overs.  Motto:  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Ghandi

 

Gemini

*Devil – The Devil card comes when one is getting tested around who you are and what you stand for.  This week plays out like finals week.  You have gone through all the hardships.  And now situations and people will test you around your resolves.  This can look as simple as a co-worker asking you out for lunch when you are trying to save cash, or boss asking you to work another long day or weekend when your child hasn’t had time with you all week.  Or this can be as complex as speaking up when you see/hear discrimination happening at the bus stop. You will have to walk your talk.

 

Cancer

Six of Swords – The last two weeks have been all work and no play.  This week the Six of Swords still has movement, but advises that you need to step back, gain some perspective and simplify your process/life.  You need this paring down so you can be more focused.   Also, this is a great week to hang in or around a water source.

 

Leo

Five of Wands – The Five of Wands ends your birth month with a bit of chaos.  This week is just a hint of some things you need to focus on and straighten out in the coming year.  On a positive note with all that isn’t working and bring chaos into your life this week, you have a whole year to lay the foundations and structures. By 2020 birthdate you can begin to create your empire on what you accomplish this year.

 

Virgo

*Strength – Right out of the gate your first big card for the coming birth year.  The Strength card helps you ground yourself and acknowledge your resilience, self-compassion, and mental acuity.  This year you will have opportunities to show you how far you have come.  That though you have been bent you have never broken.  By 2020’s birthday you will feel more comfortable in you own skin.  And to do so the best exercises are ones that keep you in your body.  If you don’t have those practices this is the week to start them.  This can look like doing body scan meditations each night, learning how to rock climb, or start journaling.  Just find a way to notice how you walk and feel on the Earth in the day to day.

 

Libra

Eight of Pentacles – The Eight of Pentacles is the card of mastery or bettering your skills at how you make money.   This week is not about learning new things but more about tweaking, so you work smarter not harder.

 

Scorpio

The Seven of Cups – Last week, the Hanged Man card of stagnation and inertia ruled the roost.  This week with the Seven of Cups movement is still on hold.  But where last week the goal was using the time-out enjoying whatever life brought you or listening in silence to your inner voice for some enlightened contemplation.  This week’s card suggests your contemplation focusing on your dreams.  The goal is to investigate if you are dreaming big enough while at the same time making sure you are not being delusional.  Motto: head in the clouds – feet on the ground.

 

Sagittarius

Five of Pentacles– Two fives in a row, so first lets stress fives represent chaos.  So last week it was looking at emotional chaos.  This week the Five of Pentacles are focusing on loss on the material plane.   This can be as simple as you misplace your keys or wallet. But it also can be complex as loosing time or losing confidence in your work.  The big way to work through this week is asking for help.  I know you all like to do things on your own, but four hands or eyes are better than two.

 

Capricorn

Nine of Cups – Last week, the Empress wanted you to start planting seeds for projects/relationships you want to produce in 10 months. While challenging you that you must commit to it for the next 10 months to get a well-formed outcome, and it must have a component of helping others.   Well the Nine of Cups continues that theme of growth and is begging you to drop your perfectionism down a half a notch this week.  Remember this “project/s” is supposed to represent how you want to grow and what you want to grow.  And no “baby” can grow without the freedom of learning from missteps.

 

Aquarius

King of Wands – The King of Wands comes to remind you how special you are.  You have gone through a lot this past year.  And this week you can build upon your successes. This is a week for you to take back some control you may have given away.

 

Pisces

*Tower – The Tower is the card of change that comes from an outside source, to shake up something that is not working.  This is the energy of Kali, goddess of destruction and rebirth.  There are a couple ways to deal with this card.  One way is do nothing, let the shaking happen and deal with the aftermath.  The Second way is to say, “nope I would like not to deal with this”, some tiny shit will hit the fan and this card will come back around with more force next time.  Or lastly see what needs to be changed and initiate that change before an outside source does.  This is as simple as seeing that engine light on your dashboard lit up and then getting your car fixed this week.  Or as complex as seeing that your relationship is not based on equality and having a discussion about it.

 

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

Nina