Tag Archives: Photography

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Aug 11-24, 2024

Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

The artist is Rinko Kawauchi.  Kawauchi’s photography and books are images of the everyday, a mixture of abstract and portraits, that lead us as viewers to larger ponderings about light, memories, time and death.  She focuses on the small things that add up to our daily existence, but when we experience them, we often do not notice their awe, or their importance.  These recollections become reflective conjuries that we cherish when they reoccur.   The smell of pie or bread, an occasional rainbow from a glass by a window, the chirping of crickets, our parents calling us in from a night of play, the feel of cool water on a hot day…  These memories become our connective tissue within our lifetime. We feel cozy because they hold familiarity not only to our own timeline but connecting us to similar experiences in others.

Your pondering:  As summer is closing and the light begins to shift, now is the time to soak in the days and daily life of summer.  My favorite part of summer is the light that filters through the trees, the sparkle of water and that cozy hazy feeling you get waking from a summer nap.  What are your small memories that remind you of the “light” in summer?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins this week in Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – go exploring.    On Friday it moves into Capricorn – look at if your structures support your emotions.  On Sunday August 18th it moves into Aquarius – daydream.  Tuesday August 20th, it moves into Pisces – go with the flow.  On Thursday August 22nd the moon is in Aries – a great time to start a project.  And we finish with the moon in Taurus on Saturday – a time for enjoying the good things in life.

Mercury is now retrograde until August 28th.  Remember this is the universe’s rest-stop on the highway of Life.  A great time to recharge, reflect, and redo. Right now, it is in Virgo until August 14th.  This aspect is here to teach us how to be precise and direct in our conversations. The challenge is not to come off too harsh. Then it rolls back into Leo until September 9th giving us our second chance to shine in our storytelling skills and to highlight others.

Venus is in Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves.   But again, we have the challenge of being too harsh on others and ourselves.  And then Mars is 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.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And  Aquarius  it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in, now is the time. And 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
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*High Priestess – The Muse of Sacred Purpose comes when, in this moment in time, you are needed.  You may not realize that opening that door for someone reignites optimism in them, or that conversation changes someone’s perspective.  You are aligned with your higher purpose even when doing these little acts.  This Muse reminds you that these gifts of sacredness, of seeing someone, comes when you are being your most authentic self.  You are the change in the world.

Taurus
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*Judgement – The Muse of Transformation is assisting your hand, heart and mind to evolve an aspect of your life.  These transformation should feel refreshing, uplifting and liberating you from old paradigms.   This is a perfect alignment with Mercury’s retrograde aspects of relaxation, review and redo.  Take these next two weeks to look at what constructs you have, are they supporting you?  Are you getting to the next level with them.  Do they uplift you?  Time to redesign and refine.

Gemini
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Heart of Air – Use this time with Mercury in retrograde to do some investigative work.  This muse advises that you need more information before making any decisions during this time.   Now is the time to read between the lines, ask more questions, and do a deeper study into what vexes you.  The answers and solutions are out there but you will need to do the leg work and keep your eyes, ears and mind open for the information, data and clues.

Cancer
Rinko Kawauchi

*Empress – The Muse of Creativity is here to inspire you for the next two weeks.  She asks what you would like to grow for the next 9-10 months.  And with this planet configuration this is a great time to plan more than do.  So that means getting ideas for winter projects now.  And getting the supplies ready so you have a head start in the fall to just start creating.   Also, this muse reminds you to spend some time during these two weeks to nurture yourself.  Remember this retrograde is about relaxing, revisiting and redoing and for you less of the latter and more of the first two.

Leo
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Ten of Air – So the Muse of Drama will help you navigate these next two weeks.  For outside forces are sending some turbulence in your direction.  The key to navigating these waves is to follow your instincts.  If your inner self says no, then don’t go.  This is not a time to push through things.  Remember with Mercury in retrograde setbacks are heralds to what isn’t working, and this time is perfect for reworking and reflecting.   So, your best maxim is to avoid conflict, this is not the time to make waves.

Virgo
Rinko Kawauchi

Three of Air – The last two weeks had rough spots and hopefully you remained courageous by being truthful with your part of the creation of some of those bumps in the road.   And now the Muse of Healing has come to help you work on healing why those bumps were bumps at all.  This Mercury retrograde is in your sign for most of its time, so the spotlight is on you and how you get your ideas and feelings across.  The major key is touch versus talk.  So, this Muse would like you to find ways to express your affection with less convo and more hugs and hand holding.

 

Libra
Rinko Kawauchi

*Strength – These next two weeks are going to challenge you to know yourself, your limits, as well as your strengths.  The Muse of Courage is going to stand by you to help. She would like you to spend this retrograde pondering this quote from Brene Brown: “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”  Time to open up. 

Scorpio
Rinko Kawauchi

*Sun – Awesome you all get another two weeks to play in and with abundance. The Muse of Optimism would like to work with you during this retrograde by having you work with the ponderings:  What is the best that can happen?  And what if you look for the light/lite in situations?  So instead of worrying about the worst-case scenario, you look for the best-case scenario.

Sagittarius
Rinko Kawauchi

Body of Fire – These next two weeks you are blessed with being at the right place at the right time.  The Muse of Adventure and Imagination is here to remind you that your timing is perfect for the coming weeks.  Even if you are stopped or challenged it has a greater purpose then what you might be seeing in the present.  This energy is about forward movement in innovative and creative ways.  The keys are following your intuition as well as being motivated for the things that are set into motion during these next two weeks.

 

Capricorn
Rinko Kawauchi

Five of Water – These next two weeks the Muse of Spilled Milk has come to help you clean up messes.  This energy could be used literally as a time to deep clean your house and/or metaphorically to tidy up your emotional self with restocking your emotional resources and finding time to rest.

 

Aquarius
Rinko Kawauchi

Six of Earth – The Muse of Kindness would like you to spend these two weeks racking up karma points by doing small acts of kindness.  This is about simplicity not extravagance.  Examples are picking wildflowers for your sweetie or bringing home a single Gerber daisy. Opening doors for strangers.   Leaving appreciation notes to your server or delivery person.  You can even leave anonymous and random good vibes notes in public places.

 

Pisces
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Spirit of Air – The Muse of Flow comes when you need to pay attention to the details to help things move along with ease.  This can be reading the fine print, listening to both sides of a story, immediately cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen, spending an extra five minutes getting ready, etc.  Spend these next two weeks attending to these small but useful tasks.  By taking the time to see and understand the micro, you’ll be able to handle the macro with more finesse.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for April 21 – May 4, 2024

nature photography
Amet Eshel Nubian Ibex

Happy birth month Taurus!

The artists this week are the winners of the World Nature Photography Awards.  Every year around Earth Day I highlight nature photography awards winners.  In the past the only way for people to see animals and plants from other places was museums and illustrations.  Now with photography we can get a literal birds-eye view of our world.   And the more we can see the world the more we can understand it and then protect it.  As Chief Dan George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation said: “If you talk to the animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” So go out, get close to the flora and fauna and do some of your own nature photography.

Your pondering for this week:  “We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren, and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish, and trees.”- Qwatsinas  (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation.  What do you or can you pledge to do this year to help care for Mother Nature?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Libra – harmony and balance are the focus. On Wednesday the moon moves into Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Friday it moves into Sagittarius – get out, explore, and let fun be the focus.    On Sunday April 28th the moon moves into Capricorn – great for prepping for the work week.  On Wednesday May 1st it moves into Aquarius helping us think outside the box.  And we finish the two weeks with the moon in Pisces starting on Friday – wanting us to go with the flow.

Mercury is in Aries until May 15th giving us a crash course in learning to say what we need in a non-reactive way and working on making sure our actions follow our words.  And we finish with it in retrograde April 25th.  Venus stays with Mercury until April 29th during this teachable moment, giving us more grace when we are attempting to better our communication skills. Then Venus moves into Taurus, it’s home sign prompting us to focus on grounding and how we love.

Mars is still in Pisces with Saturn until April 30th.   And they are prompting us to act on being adaptable, especially in our day-to-day life.  Then Mars will join Mercury pushing us into action around how we communicate. However, from April 30th to May 15th this push can be dangerous.  We need to be careful that our actions follow our words.   And that we can curb being judgmental and harshness in our communication. In our words watch your tongue.

EXTRA

*** 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. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

**** 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
nature photography
Tracey Lund – Gannets

Nine of Air – To finish off your birth month the muses would like you to work with your worries for the coming year.  They suggest you write all of them out. Then vehemently cross off the ones you have no control over.  And with the rest, prioritize the list, and when Mercury goes direct on April 25th you can start working through them one by one.  With all these planets in your sign you need to focus slowing your mind down.

 

Taurus
nature photography
Miki Spitzer – Iceland glacier

*Death – The Muse of Organic Change would like you to spend the next two weeks doing some composting of ideas and/or projects that no longer work for you.  The challenge is seeing that what “use to work” still contributes to what you are trying to change.  In essence your past feeds your future.  So, if you deny or toss it away you can not use it as fuel for your potential growth.

 

Gemini
nature photography
Jouni Erola – Swan

Heart of Air – The Twin Muses of Inhaling and Exhaling are asking for the next two weeks to breath.  Now the challenge from these two is about the silence between the breaths.  By tunning into these breaks internally, you can tune into the subtle silences around you.   Listen to “the feel” of the story instead of the plot.  Read between the lines in a conversation.  Be curious, ask questions and deep listen to the answers.

 

Cancer
Bill Klipp Sally Light Foot Crabs

Three of Earth – The last two week the Muse of Building had you looking at adaptability in what you are developing.  These next two weeks the Muse of Collaboration would like you to focus on what you need or are lacking in skill and knowledge to further this project or idea. Then ask for help to fill in the gaps.  As they say 2 heads are better than 1, but 3 heads and 6 hands are even better, so expand your resources for intel and support.

 

Leo
nature photography
John Seager – Marine Iguana and Lava Lizard

Six of Earth – The Muse of Giving would like you to take part in an exchange of knowledge, love, or resources for the next two weeks.  By helping someone else, you begin to see that you are worthy of being helped yourself.  Giving goes both ways or it becomes self-centered. And remember the exchange does not have to be tit for tat or linear.  Be open to receiving from a stranger and that giving or getting does not have to be solely a physical exchange.

 

Virgo
nature photography
Richard Lee Cheetah

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation is hanging with you for the next two weeks.  She usually shows up to help you in the process of creating.  Because either the universe doesn’t know what you want because you don’t, or there is an aspect(s) that needs to be tweaked. So, she suggests writing down what you are wanting to manifest or if you are in the process of creation what isn’t flowing.  The latter can look like you have missed a vital step in creation or a step in the process isn’t viable and needs an alternative.  This period is about experimentation.

 

Libra
nature photography
Chatree Lertsintanakorn – Thismia thaithongiana

Nine of Fire – The Muse of Resilience would like you to assess where you are at and what you need for the coming weeks.  She usually shows up when things are about to become busy.  So, she prompts to do things like fill up your freezer with readymade dinners and your pantry with on-the-go snacks.  Or do you have all the components for the coming projects?  Now is the time to chop wood and carry water to prep for the press of the coming months.

 

Scorpio
nature photography
Ivan Pedretti – Iceland

Six of Fire – The Muse of Celebration would like you to take these next two weeks and bask in all that you have accomplished since 2022.  She especially shows up for some of you that feel as if you have not accomplished anything.  Looking at the steps big or small that you have taken to get to the here and is pretty amazing.  Take a moment to reconnect and enjoy what you have created, for you need the rest and jubilation to ready you for the coming challenges before your next birthday.

 

Sagittarius
nature photography
Nicholas Remy Angler Fish

*Strength – The Muse of Poise has arrived on your doorstep to have you show off your best side.  Poise is defined as “a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company. Synonyms: refinement, grace, polish, self-confidence, steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.” So Centaurians these next two weeks the muses advise to be less like the freewheeling half-horse and more like Chiron the great educator. Show your demurer side so people can see your true strength.

 

Capricorn
Rafal Dymarkowski -Frog

Ten of Water – The Muse of Happiness is visiting you these next two weeks, to remind you that all work and no play makes Jill/Jack a dull person.  This is not an ease card for you goats.  For most of you after “kid” hood forget how to frolic and kick up your hooves.  You have replaced it with the perpetual mountain climbing that you innately do.  So, your challenge for the next two weeks is to find some time to enjoy life too.

 

Aquarius
Giovanni Crisafulli – Jellyfish

Four of Air – Holy Moly it has happened again, the Muse of Rest is back. This is now 8 weeks of the muses begging you to relax.  Yes, you all took some time off because the big momma of rest the Muse of Healing backed-off.  But you still need to pay attention to your output in comparison to your input.  Health and rest are still your focus for another two weeks.  Some examples can be as simple as getting massage, taking a three-day weekend, having a designated daily unplug time, or scheduling more activities that lighten you up without tiring you out.   (And just the statistic it is a 3 out of a 10 million chance that I would pull the same card 4 times in a row.  So, if you can’t listen to the Woo listen to the math.)  Get some rest.

 

Pisces
Philip Hamilton – Humpback Whale

Four of Fire – The Muse of Happy Home would like you to focus on making your environments cozy.  You can concentrate on your home, neighborhood, workspace, and the ultimate goal of the world at large.  She asks what support you need to feel safe, secure, and stable in your environment(s).   So, examples are finding like-minded people to hang with, decorating a corner nook in your house that helps you relax or getting to know your way around a new part of the city.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Dec 10, 2023

Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

The artists this week is Marcin Nagraba @marcin_nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa @agnieszkaosipa.  Nagraba is a photographer and visual artist.  He often uses his mother as a model, outfitting her in Osipa’s otherworldly costume designs that are steeped in the darkness of Eastern European forests, fairytales, myths, and legends.  These mystical and exquisite photographs remind us of mythos like Baba Yaga (Slavic), and Cailleach (Scottish and Irish an aphorismic representation of Winter).  Both these deities represent wisdom, nature, pathways to the past and wishes made towards the future.

Lately it seems there is some age positive rediscovery that is happening in parts of the world that were lost in the culture of youth.  We are seeing more mature models in couture like @daphneselfe and sites like @advancedstyle rebuilding the respect of maturation.   This kind of art and Instagram sites like these are helping us re-establish and hopefully recreate our connection to aging as a natural part of life, that also doesn’t have to be bound by social dogma of what age should be or look like.   But proves that aging has its own beauty and wisdom to give.

Your pondering for this week:  And as we head into this season, notice and honor your own maturation and evolution from this year’s experiences.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins the week in Sagittarius wanting us to explore possibilities.   On Wednesday it moves into Capricorn to put that exploration into good use.  On Friday it moves into Aquarius, great for being social and thinking about the world at large.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Capricorn (discipline) until Dec 23rd, so we move from experimentation of our communication to implementation on what we learned. Don’t worry, you get to re-tweak and experiment when Mercury rolls back into Sagittarius at the end of December.  Mars (action) is in Sagittarius (exploration) until the end of the year wanting us to investigate and expand our horizons.  While Venus (beauty and harmony) has moved into Scorpio (passion and release) until the end of the year so this is a perfect time to enjoy the height of the winter/summer season.  And a time to release what causes disruption in your life.

The outer planets until the end of the year and into next are having us work on nurturing the pleasures in our lives, be aware of dipping into overindulgence, making our structures elastic and responsive to change, and lastly looking back to 2008 to see if any lose ends need to be tied up especially around the house and planets that sit in your natal Capricorn.

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Sagittarius, this is a perfect time to get a Astrological Tarot Reading  for your coming year.  And Gemini, it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading  for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Seven of Earth – The Muse of Rewards would like you to give you some benefits, but she does require you to work for it.  This week put your best effort in what you do, and you will see compensations in the coming weeks.

 

Taurus
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Ten of Water – The Muse of Appreciation requests that you list at least ten things you appreciate in your life right now.  She reminds you that the act of appreciation is recognizing the full worth of something.  For example, I appreciate indoor plumbing because I don’t have to go outside to pee, but this also includes the system that supplies the water and takes away the refuse, the invention of the toilet and copper pipes etc….. This exercise helps you see and acknowledge the complexity of ease and happiness.

Gemini
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Eight of Fire – The Muse of Messages comes when there is an abundance of information coming at you.  The challenge is some of this information is yours and important, but others are to be passed on or even ignored.  So, this muse advise to start this week off asking the questions you most want answers for and then collate the correct information just for those foci.

Cancerian
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Knight of Earth – The Muse Pace advises that this week you should slow down and steadily walk forward with a narrow focus.  She recommends you plan out your route/tasks for the week, properly prepare and then gradually go after them.

Leo

*Fool – The Muse of Possibilities would like you to start something.  Really you pick it can be anything:  a puzzle, a project, exploring your surroundings….  You pick.  The challenges are that it needs to lead to or through something new and then for you to have faith that even though it is unknown it’s gong to be okay.

Virgo
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Five of Earth – The Muse of Refuge comes when life is a bit rough.  She reminds you that you are not alone, but you will need to ask for help to get you through this time of need.  You are human so ask for that hug, comfort, helping hand this week.

 

Libra
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

*Hierophant – The Muse of Structures is asking you to look at yours this week, for something is not supporting your needs.  Maybe your schedule is not giving you enough sleep or quiet time, your finances are stretched, or you aren’t eating well.  Find what isn’t supporting you and make the changes needed so they do.

Scorpio
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Ace of Earth – This week is a perfect time to start something new on the material plan.  It could be a new work project, a business endeavor, investing, building something, a new savings account.  This week plant the physical seeds that lead to prosperity and/or more ease on the material plan.

 

Sagittarius
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Two of Earth – The Muse of Juggling advises not to muti-task this week.  She recommends this tactic for a two reasons.  You are having trouble focusing thus getting anything done, or something needs your full attention. Either way no more than two tasks at a time.

 

Capricorn
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

*Death – As you head into the final weeks of this birth year.  The Muse of Weeding would like you to clear some space to make room for the new.  This Muse would like you to discard and simplify activities or physical items to create open slots/plots in your time and space.  So, she recommends prioritizing needs first and adding just a few wants.  Pursue minimalism.   By doing so you are freeing up energy in which, at the beginning of your coming birth year, you can utilize in the next growing phase.

 

Aquarius
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Six of Water – The Muse of Memories comes when information needs to be gathered from the past.  Spend some time in nostalgia.  You will need this information in the coming weeks, to not make any prior mistakes.

 

Pisces
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Seven of Air – The Muse of Small Success advises to break down everything you do in the coming week into small bite size pieces.  By doing so you not only create an air of efficiency but also complete more than you would tackling the big stuff.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Nov. 12 2023

Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems Matera

The artist this week is Carrie Mae Weems. Weems uses her art to bear witness to the presence or absence of black woman in history. She used photography, video, performance, installations, and social practices to explore this subject. Trained in dancing and photography in the mid-1980s she became interested in the observation methods used in the social sciences.

By the early 1990s, she began placing herself in her photographic compositions in an “attempt to create in the work the simultaneous feeling of being in it and of it.”2 She has since called this recurring figure an “alter-ego,” “muse,” and “witness to history” who can stand in for both the artist and audience. She helps us explore the concept of who is doing the looking and for what reason or end?  Watch the video explaining her work From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried (1995). Weems work could be summed up in this quote from an interview with Dawoud Bey, “My work endlessly explodes the limits of tradition… I’m determined to find new models to live by. Aren’t you?

Your pondering for this week:  What models do you live by?

 

Solar System highlights

The moon is still in Scorpio at the beginning of this week – keep your passions lit.   On Tuesday it moves to Sagittarius – find time to explore something new.  On Thursday the moon moves to Capricorn – giving you the drive to finish up the work week.  And on Saturday, the moon moves into Aquarius – spend time in society.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Sagittarius (exploration) until Dec 1st, where we can experiment with our communication style.  Mars (action) is in Scorpio (passion and letting go) until November 24th. Wanting us to check that our actions are supporting the expression of our passion.  While Venus (beauty and harmony) is in her home sign Libra (relationships and harmony) until December 4th. So, November is a big month in exploring how to harmonize our communication to help us harmonize our relationships while we make time in our life for things that make us zing.

The outer planets until the end of the year and into next are having us work on nurturing the pleasures in our lives, be aware of dipping into overindulgence, making our structures elastic and responsive to change, and lastly looking back to 2008 to see if any lose ends need to be tied up especially around the house and planets that sit in your natal Capricorn.

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Scorpio, this is a perfect time to get a Astrological Tarot Reading  for your coming year.  And Taurus, it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading  for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems, From Here I saw What Happened and Cried

Three of Air – This week has the potential to trigger old wounds.  This energy is not a warning of things to come but a place where healing should begin.  The Muse of Healing recommends that you dive deep into the why behind your frustration, anger, or sadness, find its source, and give yourself the love that was denied or never given.

Taurus
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems, African Jewels

Seven of Earth – This week’s energy gives you the stamina and resilience to get stuff done.  The Muse of Work reminds you there is a harvest at the end of this push.  A time to enjoy what you have sown and rest from the work, but this week is not the time.  Carry on and get sh*t done.

Gemini
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems, The Louvre

Six of Air – The Muse of Transition comes when it is time to move on. Whether it is a project, relationship, way of thought or action.  Something is not working for a reason.  Now is not the time to push through.  Let it go for this week and see if by week’s end it resolves or it is no longer a problem. If it does not, then you can reassess and simplify.

Cancerian
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship would like you to enjoy yours.  Spend time with the ones that you love that love you back.  This is a time to share emotions and deepen bonds.

Leo
Carrie Mae Weems, A Distant View

Page of Earth – The Muse of Study would like you to pick up a book, listen to a podcast or watch a documentary.  This muse comes when you are doing to much internal gazing and/or skimming social media.  This muse challenges you to deep dive into something interesting.  There is a spark for you there, but it’s up to you to do the homework.

Virgo
Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems, 2 Playing Cards

Seven of Air – The Muse of Scheme is pushing you to plan.  This muse is not using scheme as a verb but as a noun ie:  a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect. Pull a hope or wish off the shelf and start to make plans for how to bring it into existence.

 

Libra
Carrie Mae Weems, African Jewels

Four of Earth – The Muse of Resources comes when your resources of time, money, and/or space are limited.  She advises that you budget them better this week or you will run out of one or all of them before you can finish what you started.

 

Scorpio
Carrie Mae Weems, From Here I Saw What Happened and I Cried

Eight of Air – The Muse of Bondage asks you what old thought paradigms are holding you back?  If you need help, she reminds you they are not yours but were placed there by others and you have now adopted them.  Maybe at some time they worked, but now they are more like burdens.  She advises that all you have to do is let go.

 

Sagittarius
Carrie Mae Weems 

Tower – The Muse of Deconstruction comes when some part of your life is on a shaky foundation.  Is your sleep schedule off?  Are you eating right?  Have you had enough physical contact?  Have you had time to just relax?  All these components are necessary supports for you to do you out in the world.  Shore up what is missing this week.

Capricorn
Cara May Weems – Not Manet’s Type

High Priestess – The Muse of Sacredness comes when you need to tap into your spirit.  She advises finding a mundane task you do every day and making it sacred.  Things like brushing your teeth become an act of loving kindness to your body.  Or taking out recycling becomes a ritual of honoring the earth.  She challenges you to make the mundane – sacred.

 

Aquarius
Carrie Mae Weems – In De Sica’s Light, Roaming Series

*Devil – Last week’s energy was around starting a new project or idea.  However, this week life is throwing some distractions to take you off course.  So, watch surfing the internet for hours, your social media intake, dealing with other people’s problem and not your own or any other rabbit holing that you may do.  This week is about staying focused.

 

Pisces
Carrie Mae Weems – A Single Waltz in Time

King of Wands – The Muse of Charisma challenges you this week to turn up yours.  There is a vibrance in you that can move mountains and break down walls.  She does advise to watch that your compliments reside in truth and your goals are not solely self-center.  This exercise is for the good of the whole as well as you.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of August 13, 2023

Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

The artist this week is Maria Svarbova @maria.svarbova.  Svarbova creates dream-like portraits of people doing routine actions.  In this series she used communist-era architecture, a swimming pool, and swimmers to portray a scene that has the duality of tension and stillness.  In which she adds the use of symmetry, reflection, and an aqueous pastel color palette to sooth the viewer’s eye.  “The overall effect evokes a contemplative silence in an extended moment of promise and awareness- a quality difficult to achieve in the rapid pace of contemporary life.” As she states she is trying to “harmonize humans and space.”

Your pondering for the week:  Svarbova also says “people fascinate me, Space has no meaning without humans.  It becomes empty- something is missing.  I personally believe that is only true in urban spaces, and maybe that is her point.  That urban spaces are usually solely made with humans in mind.  Of course, this could be said of a beaver.  Who damns a river, but then their work creates new biome, ponds.  So, my pondering is how can we create our spaces within nature – that can act like a beaver’s dam?  Or how as humans do we harmonize within the space that created us?

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Libra – harmonization and balance are key to start the week.  On Tuesday it moves into Scorpio– where the focus turns to our passions.   Then on Thursday, the moon moves into Sagittarius – go on adventure this weekend..

The planets are doing the same thing as last week.  Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Virgo (analyzation) for a 10 weeklong stay.  So, this is around lessons with getting to the point when communicating.  Being clear and concise is the goal.  Mars (action) is also in Virgo until August 27th.  This combo makes getting things check off your to-do list easier.   While Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Leo until October 8th.  This is a four-month exploration on the question: Does your outward expression of yourself harmonize with who you are within?

Jupiter (growth) is in Taurus, an aspect that nurtures expansion of pleasure in our lives.  The challenge is dipping into overindulgence while investigating this aspect.  So, we have until May 2024 to work on perfecting our balance between work and play.  Then Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint with Pisces so we can make our structures elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too bendy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) in Capricorn (work, structure, business, and discipline) until January 2024.  So, Pluto is back to playing in the world of business and capitalism. This cycle started in 2008, so whatever you started back then this is the time to tie up any lose ends especially around the house and planets in Capricorn in your natal chart.

 

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading  for your coming year.  And Aquarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading  for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

Queen of Fire – The Muse of Practicality would like you to be reasonable this week.  With all this Leo fire energy around, you could be caught up in the exuberance.  But this week the muses would like you to be the metaphorical designated driver.

 

Taurus
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

*Sun – The Muse of Radiance would like you to let the spotlight be on you.  As a sign goes you all are very supportive, maybe so much so that people forget to bathe you in the radiance and gratitude you deserve.  So, this week you need to ask and allow the light to shine on you.  That means if you get a compliment, say “thank you I’m glad you appreciate my hard work and dedication, ie: no humble pie.

 

Gemini
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

*Wheel – This week will have its ups and downs.  So, the Muse of Chance advises you to participate in it all.  Her reasoning is you can’t win if you don’t play.  And the interesting thing with this energy, no matter up or down, in the long run the outcomes are positive.

 

Cancerian
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

Queen of Earth– The Muse of Abundance would like you to experience the abundant sensations of your five senses this week.  Her assignment is each day to highlight a sense and practice using it to enjoy your world.  You are part of the cosmos.  This week is the time to encounter its wealth.

 

Leo
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

*Fool – What a fantastic way to end your birth month with the Muse of Possibilities.  First, she would like you to spend this week as spontaneously as possible.  Even if that is only taking a different route home.   Secondly, this muse has you ponder, like last week, how to clean the slate of the past.  And lastly, if you can do the latter, begin your new year walking forward without as much baggage and with little expectations, ie: pack lightly.

 

Virgo
Maria Svarbova

*World– What a great way to end your birth year with the Muse of Integration.  She would like you to ponder what are your success from the past year?  What have you learned?  What needs to be left behind?  And what are you going to carry forward?

 

Libra
Maria Svarbova
Maria Svarbova

*Moon – The Muse of Subconscious has some intel for you this week.  Her information is often in your dreams, as one falls asleep or just before one wakes.   The challenge with this Muse is that you never get a totally clear picture, and you can’t take these informational bits literally.  She deals in metaphors, riddles, and allegories.  Curiosity is key.

 

Scorpio
Maria Svarbova

*Justice – The Muse of Accountability comes when it is necessary to take every action you do this week seriously.  For this muse reminds you for every action there is a reaction.  This is especially important if you are making any big decisions.  Weigh both sides and make sure you have thought things through thoroughly.

 

Sagittarius
Maria Svarbova

Queen of Water – The Muse of Fun has come to play.  She reminds you not to take life so seriously.  As a personification of this Muse Robin Williams said “You are only given a little spark of madness.  You mustn’t lose it.” Your motto:  In-Joy

 

Capricorn
Maria Svarbova

Eight of Air – The Muse of Abandonment comes when you need to walk away from something that no longer serves you, but you feel obligated in some way to keep it.  This can be as simple as a gift from a loved one, or old clothes, or as complicated as a project you just can’t get off the ground.

 

Aquarius
Maria Svarbova

Six of Swords– The Muse of Transition comes when it is time to wrap up a project or task.  It is time to move on.

 

Pisces
Maria Svarbova

*Star – The Muse of Healing is here to help you heal from previous trauma.  She usually does this through illuminating thoughts or inspirational messages.  So, the very first thing she asks you to do is go out in the night and make a wish on a star.  Then spend the week doing things to pamper and give your mind space to relax.   Lastly, watch for inspiration that comes from the cosmos.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of August 6, 2023

Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

The artist this week is Emily Irving-Swift.  I came across her when researching underwater museums. Swift did a free dive and took pictures of Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa, Cyprus.  In 2020 Ayia Napa, commissioned Jason deCaires Taylor (I have highlighted his work before) to create an underwater sculpture park. The park consists of 130 figurative sculptures amongst sculpted trees and plants. Taylor used pH neutral cement that facilitates coral growth on what was an empty sand seabed.  According to the website it is “a symbol to enhance the story of Ayia Napa’s newly created Marine Protected Zone, whilst acknowledging the deforestation practices of the past.” This sculpture park will bring what was once a desert in the ocean to a thriving sea community.

However, the photos drew me in to investigate who this person was who took these amazing pictures at MUSAN.  And I found Swift’s Instagram @emilyirvingswift.  I fell in love with her abstract sea photos though I couldn’t find much more of her work.  One of arts’ gifts is it puts us in a state of contemplation or deep reflective thought.  That is what drew me to Irvign-Swift’s work.  So, I hope you enjoy and ponder on them as well.

Your pondering for the week:  I’m experimenting a little this month.  So, it is a little different.  I wrote the ponderings down below for each sign.

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Taurus – time to ground yourself.  On Thursday it moves into Gemini – where the focus turns to communication and information.   Then during the weekend, the moon is in its home sign Cancer – perfect for finding your cozy spot and naps.

The planets are doing the same thing as last week.  Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Virgo (analyzation) for a 10 weeklong stay.  So, this is around lessons with getting to the point when communicating.  Being clear and concise is the goal.  Mars (action) is also in Virgo until August 27th.  This combo makes getting things check off your to-do list easier.   While Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Leo until October 8th.  This is a four-month exploration on the question: Does your outward expression of yourself harmonize with who you are within?

Jupiter (growth) is in Taurus, an aspect that nurtures expansion of pleasure in our lives.  The challenge is dipping into overindulgence while investigating this aspect.  So, we have until May 2024 to work on perfecting our balance between work and play.  Then Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint with Pisces so we can make our structures elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too bendy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) in Capricorn (work, structure, business, and discipline) until January 2024.  So, Pluto is back to playing in the world of business and capitalism. This cycle started in 2008, so whatever you started back then this is the time to tie up any lose ends especially around the house and planets in Capricorn in your natal chart.

 

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading  for your coming year.  And Aquarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading  for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

 

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

Nina

 

Aries
Emily Irving-Swift

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum pondering for you this week.  No matter the challenge, you have the will and intelligence to be balanced as you move forward on this journey.

 

Taurus
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship pondering for you this week:  Embrace being part of something larger than yourself.

 

Gemini
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

Six of Earth – The Muse of Karma pondering for you this week:  What you have sent forth in love comes back to you from unexpected resources.

 

Cancerian
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

Eight of Water– The Muse of Intention pondering for you this week:  When you have chosen the path that flows, instead of the one that tempted you, you felt obligated to walk, or stagnated you, you begin to walk the path of destiny.

 

Leo
Emily Irving-Swift

Five of Water – The Muse of Grief pondering for you this week:  What is holding you back from fully forgiving yourself and others?  Time to emote, release, and carry only the good parts forward.

 

Virgo
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

Eight of Fire – The Muse of Intel pondering for you this week:  See everything this week as a gift of information.

 

Libra
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

Ten of Water – The Muse of Serenity pondering for you this week:  Try for just this week to truly believe that well-being is your natural state.

 

Scorpio
Emily Irving-Swift

Page of Air – The Muse of Theory pondering for you this week:  For just this week say and be okay with the statement: “I don’t really know.”

 

Sagittarius
Emily Irving-Swift

*High Priestess – The Muse of Intuition pondering for you this week:  You were put here on purpose as you are.  Dive deep into that gift.

 

Capricorn
Emily Irving-Swift

Queen of Fire – The Muse of Creative Collaboration pondering for you this week:  Every time you have created or felt something you are collaborating with the collective conscious not only for your own growth but for the benefit of the collective.

 

Aquarius
Emily Irving-Swift
Emily Irving-Swift

*Tower– The Muse of Deconstruction pondering for you this week:  Every time something has blown up your life you have used your power of innovation to create something new and improved.

 

Pisces
Emily Irving-Swift

Five of Earth – The Muse of Poverty pondering for the week:  Scarcity has taught you gratitude, grace, the ability to dream and then conjure up a better future.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of June 6, 2023

Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber July comet with fireflies

The artist this week is Radim Schreiber.  Schreiber is a photographer and videographer.  His main subjects are insects but for the past 15 years it has been fireflies.  It wasn’t until 2008 did the technology evolve so he could photographs his subjects.  He now can use standard photography techniques and with no flash.  Fireflies hold a special place in our hearts, and it is Schreiber’s vision in his words: “I believe that fireflies open doors to joy, magic, and deep connection with nature.  It is my mission to use the latest technology to represent fireflies in the best light possible, understand and communicate their message to the world.”

The Lampyridae are a family with more than 2,000 species. They are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms for their conspicuous production of light, mainly during twilight, to attract mates.  Fireflies are found in temperate and tropical climates, usually in areas that are damp or have a close water source.  While all known fireflies’ glow as larvae, only some species produce light in their adult stage, and the location of the light organ varies among species and between sexes of the same species.

It is not just the magic of their glow heralding the beginning of summer, but also fireflies’ light-producing talent, luciferase, that has provided invaluable tools for improving public health, for facilitating innovative research, and for advancing medical knowledge. Beginning in the 1960’s it was used as detection of noxious bacteria in food.  Then when the genetic blueprint for luciferase was decoded in the 1990s it has been used to detect cancer, genetic activation, and helps in deciphering when a drug is working on a disease.

Cite:  ted talk

 

Your pondering for the week:  If you can’t find fireflies in your area to go watch.  Find something else magical or awe inspiring to help you light up the beginnings of summer.

******Just a heads up I am moving in this month, so I cannot guarantee what June will look like when it comes to the tarotcast. However, I will try to still put up some form of it, though it might be very abbreviated.  Also, I am booked for readings until July 14th.  However, I will have my cards with me during the move for Quick Draws so you can text or email me.  Though realize my response may take over 24 hours for me to get back to you.  And thanks again for reading the tarotcast.

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Capricorn – great for starting full throttle into the work week.  On Wednesday it moves into Aquarius – work on thinking outside the box.   Then on Friday through the weekend it is in Pisces – do something that connects you to what you see as spirit.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding), so do your words follow with actions?  Venus (beauty and harmony) moves into Leo (expressing who you are, light) until October 8th.  This is a four-month exploration in the question: How you outwardly express yourself, does it harmonize with who you are within?  Mars (action) is also in Leo, so find a few (2-3) tasks that you want to finish by July 10th and put your focus solely on them.  This combo guarantees success.

Jupiter (growth) in Taurus an aspect that nurtures expansion of pleasure in our lives.  The challenge is dipping into overindulgence.  So, we have until May 2024 to work on perfecting our balance between work and play.  Then Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint with Pisces so we can make our structures elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too bendy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) is in Aquarius until June 11th, giving us a taste of what the next 20 years will bring.  Pluto is considered a generational planet and takes its time doling out its challenges and treasures.   Pluto is bouncing back and forth from capitalistic Capricorn to socialistic Aquarius, so politics, technology and societal whims should be interesting to watch until November 19th, 2024.

 

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Gemini 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. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber

Queen of Wands – Last week the Muse of Sacred Wisdom guided you to important information.  Now the Muse of Practice is asking you to put it into action.  The challenge is if you missed the window of information gathering last week.  So, this Muse gives you another chance, but she requires you to gift your guides while asking for their guidance.  That can be simple acts of giving them a bit of your dinner or drink or just dusting off your altar.

 

Taurus
Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber

Queen of Earth – The Muse of the Sense would like you to engage with the abundance that surrounds you by engaging with your five senses.  Work on giving yourself the time to linger and truly enjoy what you are tasting, seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching.   The world is truly your oyster.

 

Gemini
Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber

*Chariot – The Muse of Motion has pulled up to your door and is beeping her horn for you to climb in and go.  This can be as simple as having a joyride or two or as complex as making a bigger move like changing careers or locations.  This Muse reminds you that the world awaits you, but you need to get out of the parking lot and press the petal to the metal.

 

Cancerian
Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber

*Star – The Muses of Hope comes to grant you a wish.  However first you must ponder what is that one thing you really hope for?  Then go out into the night and make a wish.  As the cricket sings “when you wish upon a star your dreams come true.”

 

Leo
Radim Schreiber
Radim Schreiber

Ten of Air – All tens herald the ending of something.  This Muse of Drama declares there is an ending of sorts in the areas of discourse or understanding.  This muse observes that you have tried to get something across, and it is falling on immature (in like the not ready to hear it way), or noncompliant ears.  And because it takes two to tango, how you are saying something isn’t working.  So, you have two options:  walk away or find another way to speak and listen.

 

Virgo
Radim Schreiber

Page of Earth – The Muse of Learning comes when you have something to absorb to make a project easier in obtaining success.  So hit the books, find a mentor or teacher, or dive into the internet.  No matter who you pick to learn from, make sure they have mastered the skill or are knowledgeable in that area and then keep your own mind and ears open.

 

Libra
Radim Schreiber

Five of Water – Last week the Muse of Structures wanted you to reevaluate yours.  And now the Muse of Loss is here because something in your emotional plane is creating waves.  This could be due to you not doing your homework last week.   Or a sign that you have done it, but the process is not complete.  This Muse challenges you that even though there is a loss, there is also a gain that you are not embracing.  This week find the silver lining.

 

Scorpio
Radim Schreiber

*Death – The Muse of Organic Change is one that Scorpios deal with your whole life.  This is the process of dissolution, purification and then rebirth.  This week you are in the process of that change.  Figure out which part you are in and move to the next stage.

 

Sagittarius
Radim Schreiber

Queen of Cups – The Muse of Fun is here and wants you to find ways to indulge her.  Whether you play dress up, color outside the lines, watch comedy, climb something, play games, or hang with people that make you laugh, laughter and joy is what she would like you to focus on creating this week.

 

Capricorn
Radim Schreiber

*High Priestess – The Muse of Spiritual Purpose would like you to spend time partaking in a form of scared mysteries.  That could be ponder ancient manuscripts, hiking deep into nature, creating altars, or finding time for meditation.  No matter the path you take she will impart some needed wisdom.  The challenge with this Muse is that she hides this knowledge in synchronicities, faint but persistent whispers, and intricate thought exercises.

 

Aquarius
Radim Schreiber

Ace of Water – All aces signify a new beginning.  This Ace represents a new emotional start.  The challenge is that you need to fill the cup before you take part in your journey.   This week gather and list all that you love and brings you joy, so you can walk forward nourished with gratitude and delight.

 

Pisces
Radim Schreiber

Two of Air – The Muse of Choices comes when you are ruminating or stalling on deciding.  She reminds you that at least in this case it doesn’t matter if you go left or right, both will get you where you want to go.  It is the movement more than the decision that holds importance.