The artist is Mary Delany. She started later in life, at 73, collaging colored paper to make botanically accurate flowers. “Collage” is the technique and art form of gluing overlapping pieces of paper, fabric, or photographs to create a new image. This technique started in China after they invented papermaking around 200 BCE. And by the 11th century Japanese artists were creating vibrant collages made with torn (chigiri-e) or cut (kiri-e) paper. Some were further decorated with color pigments or metallic dust. These provided the under-drawing for aristocratic calligraphy. Collage became popular in European cultures in the 1800’s as hobbyists were using it to create memorabilia books.
So even though “big A art” proclaims that Braque and Picasso made collage an art form in 1912, other cultures were collaging for centuries. And then we have Mary Delany, who created these exquisite painterly collages of flowers in 1770’s. She used colored paper, watercolor and for some images parts of the plant itself to create her art. Her work was claimed by botanists at that time to be more useful than some scientific illustrations. Her work, 958 pieces, can be seen by appointment at the British Museum or online.
Your pondering: What is your favorite flower? Mine is daisies. And if we use collage as a metaphor to life, how do you see your pieces fitting together or not? Fun exercise: make a collage that represents your life now and the new pieces you may want to add to it. You can be literal with images, figurative just using color and shape, or both. And don’t forget the flowers.
Solar System highlights
The moon begins in Gemini – exchanges of information are highlighted. Wednesday it moves into Cancer- self-care is your top priority. On Saturday the 31st it moves into Leo – spend some time in the sun. Then on Monday September 2nd the moon moves into Virgo and a new moon – a perfect way to start the week and this moon cycle, organize and prioritize. And then it moves into Libra on Tuesday the 5th – focusing on harmony and balance. And then we head into Saturday September 7th with a Scorpio moon –let your passion guide you.
Mercury is still retrograde until August 28th, so relax, revisit, revise is still on the agenda. It is also in Leo until September 9th giving us our second chance to shine in our storytelling skills and to highlight others. The it moves back into Virgo until September 26th. Once again sharpening our conversation skills to be precise and direct but not harsh.
Venus is in Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves until the August 29th. But again, we have the challenge of being too harsh on others and ourselves. Then Venus moves into Libra – this is her home and a good time for us to readjust and balance our lives. Harmony is the key and the gift. And then Mars is still in Gemini making sure our actions follow our words or our thinking.
Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Gemini until June of 2025. This aspect is here to help us work with opportunities to grow and succeed through intellectual, verbal, and written pursuits. However, we must also watch its challenging aspects: not following through, gossip, too much information and fickleness. And lastly Saturn is in Pisces until February 2026 teaching us how to be more fluid and inclusive in our structures.
EXTRA
** Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Virgo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Pisces it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time.
*** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.
**** I am experimenting. I have switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire. Also, I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards. So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).
May light be on you, around you, and within you.
Nina
Aries
Heart of Earth – The Muse of Study comes when it is in your best interest to learn something new. Take these two weeks to read a book, take a class, listen to someone not in your group. This muse shows up to help us gather information and new skills so that we can better our lives as well as those around us.
Taurus
Five of Water – All fives in tarot deal with the chaos and how to handle it. The Five of Cups speaks to the chaos of emotions. The Muse of Spilled Milk is here to help navigate these watery times. She reminds us not to focus on the three cups that have spilled, representing sorrow, missteps, and loss, but to focus on the two cups that remain upright. These are the positives and the hope of a brighter future. She asks you to pick them up and create positive action in moving forward.
Gemini
Body of Fire – The Muse of Action comes when your timing is spot on. She reminds you that for the next two weeks if you are authentic to who you are, what you believe in, and are supporting your passions then you will be in the right place at the right time. The challenging thing with this energy is that it may not always feel that way. You may find yourself staled or misdirected. This period is about faith in yourself. The circumstances are stilled filled with information and energy to spur you forward to becoming truer to who you are and where you are going.
Cancer
Four of Earth – The Muse of Resourcefulness has come to help you for the next two weeks. This period taxes your resources of time, money and space. Your challenge is to be frugal with all of them. This is a time to examine how you spend your finite resources and prioritize what is actually important to you. She reminds you needs before wants.
Leo
*Sun – This energy is one of your lifelong teachers. Most people think that you lions are super social and meant to shine. And these aspects are true, just not 24/7. You also require basking in the sun’s rays without an agenda. Like a cat laying in a morning-lite window, relaxing and just enjoying the rest and warmth. So, the Muse of Radiance would like you to work with these two aspects of the Sun these next two weeks. One, go out there and show off your personal shine. Send out resumes, smile and laugh with friends, promote your passions. And then balance that with some lazy hazy basking in the energy of simple existence.
Virgo
Heart of Fire – The Muse of Art would like you to investigate whatever forms you enjoy. Take these two weeks to go to a museum, concert, play, opera, record store, art store or national park. Usually, this muse comes when your soul’s batteries are low, and you are not realizing it. You need a jolt of creative adrenaline to help energize your spirit.
Libra
Ace of Earth – All aces signify a beginning. The muses are whispering this is a prime to time to start the seed of something you want to manifest on the physical plan. Examples can be starting a savings plan or adding to the one you have, looking for a new job, taking a class in a subject that interests you, maybe looking into moving or taking a vacation to a place you have never been. She suggests you spend these next two weeks thinking about what you would like to physical manifest in the next 10 months to a year. And then taking an active step towards it during this time.
Scorpio
Seven of Water – The Muse of Wishing is spending these next two weeks hanging out with you all. Her challenge is getting you to dream bigger. She asks you to ponder what you would like to happen if you had all the money you needed? Had the career you wanted? Were emotional supported to do the things that makes your heart zing? What if there were no boundaries to the possibilities you would like to see? The muses send this energy often when you have settled on an aspect of your life and/or you don’t really know what would make you happier, more fulfilled. So, spend this Mercury retrograde time daydreaming and imaging so the universe has an idea how to help.
Sagittarius
Nine of Earth – The Muse of Affluence is hanging out with you for the next two weeks. She often comes when you need to spend time thinking about what has made you content and does that still hold true? She challenges you to not only look at your past accomplishments, but also do they still support where you are now or where you want to go. This muse shows up when you are preparing for a change or reevaluation of what is important. Or answering the question is here okay for now?
Capricorn
*World – The Muse of Integration comes when you are on a precipice of endings and beginnings. She challenges you to finish up anything that needs to be done before you move on to the next phase. She reminds you that projects/lessons we have done in the past need time to be incorporated into the present before you are ready to move into the future. Spend these two weeks contemplating cohesion and contentment before jumping into the next phase.
Aquarius
Four of Fire – During these next two weeks, the Muse of Happy Home challenges you to enjoy the place you live. Spend this time working on house projects, decorating the places you reside in, gardening, visiting sites that makes your town/city special… By the end of this period this muse would like you to feel cozier, calmer and that your needs are supported in the place you call home.
Pisces
*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum wants to work with you for the next two weeks. Her work is giving you the energy and transport you need to move to your next destination. The challenge is the destination is all on you. She asks where you want to go next. She would like you to take this retrograde period to be a “tripadvisor” to your next 6 months. You need to know where you would like to end up by your next birthday and the stops along the way to getting there. Use these two weeks as a planning period. So by mid-September you are not doing donuts in the parking lot of life.
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