Tag Archives: Tarot and Art

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 22, 2020

Miriam Schapiro
Miriam Schapiro Beauty of Summer

Miriam Schapiro was a painter, collage artist, and sculptor.  She was a forerunner in highlighting what was traditionally seen as woman’s craft is actually a form of “high art.”   By combing collage, painting, fabric, and other high and decorative art techniques, Schapiro created her most famous works.  She then named the technique femmage. Her use of fabric, what was at the time seen as a utilitarian and feminine material, alongside of paint and high art methods and styles elevated craft to Art.

We at this time are being shown that what is “basic”, possibly taken for granted, is vital to our existence.  That we need housing, family sick days, fiscal support that is equal to economic needs and basic health care, to name a few. But more important we are becoming aware of our neighbors and what they bring to our community.  How important our garbage people, postal workers, people in health care, teachers, and food workers who cook, stock and supply our food, etc…  My hope is that we start to see how each individual brings something to our collective community table, and that we see all of their/our work as high art.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Aries this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Libra it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

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

Nina

 

Aries

Miriam SchapiroKing of Swords – See the broader picture of situations and champion those that are being bullied.  Watch for people taking advantage of or manipulating those that are more misfortunate around you.  You can solve these predicaments as simply as sharing your toilet paper or getting the elder down the street groceries, so they don’t have to go out.

 

Taurus

Miriam Schapiro*Death – Another energy packed week.  The past couple of weeks have triggered your self-doubt and insecurities.  Then the energy shifted trying to guide you towards self and universal compassion, so you could believe in you and the world at large.  This week the energy embodies change and transitions. Things need to end so there is room for new projects/ideas/people.  Take this time to, figuratively and/or literally, weed and plant anew.

 

Gemini

Miriam SchapiroQueen of Pentacles – Last week, the energy surrounding you was materializing the divine.  Advising that conjuring for the greater good brings more ease to finding solutions.  This energy continues through this week; however, you will have to let go of trying of controlling the entire materialization process.  Watch the line between nurturing and smothering people and projects this week.  Whatever you create needs to work without your constant guidance and support to succeed and not suck all the energy out of you.

 

Cancer

Miriam SchapiroAce of Pentacles – Opportunities, abundance and prosperity are the energies to work with. This week has the potential of creation in it.  Think of this energy like a seed – this is a beginning.  What seed will you pick to plant and water as you go into this spring season.  What one thing can you hone your focus and energy into?

 

Leo

Miriam SchapiroTen of Swords – Normally this energy is harsh, but you seem to rise above the morass by getting out of your head and being there for others.  This week’s energy of regeneration and recovery lifts you above the banal and the suffering to a place that feels lighter and more hopeful.

 

Virgo

Miriam SchapiroKnight of Swords – To be truly courageous and unstoppable it is best to slow down.  You can easily be triggered into impulsiveness.  So, take a breath and survey your surroundings before you step into any situation this week.

 

Libra

Miriam SchapiroNine of Pentacles – Last week’s energy was about walking into your destiny.  And, the lessons were about when your luck is favorable grab it and when it is unfavorable let it go. While realizing neither outcomes had anything to do with you.  This destiny energy continues this week and adds that while things may look advantageous or not, that you need to watch overextending and/or overcompensating.  So, take only what you need and let go of what doesn’t work.

 

Scorpio

Miriam SchapiroTwo of Swords – The mist that surrounds you is making decisions hard and/or is adding undue confusion to situations.   So come to terms you are at a stalemate this week and it is best just to sit and wait out the bad weather.  The fog will lift, and the road will be clear soon.  Just not this week.

 

Sagittarius

Miriam SchapiroTwo of Pentacles – Take this week’s energy to slow down the spinning plates.   This is a time to look at what overwhelms you and where you are over committed.   You have the time to contemplate what are your true priorities and where can you be flexible in your commitments.  Life is a balancing act, and this is a good week to regain some of your balance and dexterity.

 

Capricorn

Four of Cups – Meditation and retreat are key elements to your week.  And the atomic structure of this energy lies within the concepts of apathy and acceptance.   How do you allow acceptance into your life without feeling apathetic?   Contemplating on that goatfish will lead to avenues of ease.

 

Aquarius

Miriam Schapiro*High Priestess – Listening to your intuition is vital this week. However, figure out what your subconscious is trying to convey is hard to hear through all the static of everyday life.  So, find moments of silence, synchronicities and moon beams to guide you to opportunities and solutions that are hidden in the light of day.   For example:  There is a new Moon in Aries March 24; it’s a great day to start things.

 

Pisces

Three of Cups – The energy this week is about independence.  Your close ones and friends are important, but it must be balanced with some alone time.  And this energy whether with friends or alone is best utilized doing the activities you love to do.  This week is about filling your emotional cup.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 1, 2020

Marc-Le-Cornu_Infinity-Eight-Aerial photography
Marc LeCornu Infinity-Eight

This week I continue the theme of flying with a glimpse into aerial photography.  Aerial photography not only open ours eyes and mind to a unique perspective but it gives us a sense of awe of how we and our world are part of a bigger construct.

The highlight of this genre is the Drone Awards, which are now looking for submission for 2020.  This is a worldwide competition about aerial photography that is now on its third year.  This competition though called Drone Awards includes a variety of platforms, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, balloons, blimps, rockets, kites, parachutes and drones.  The winners are showcased at the exhibition Above Us Only Sky held in Siena in October.

Aerial Photography has been around since the 1860’s when James Wallace Black photographed Boston from a hot-air balloon.  The first drone or at the time called quadcopter was created by Jacques and Louis Bregut in 1907.  However, its limitations of being unsteerable and requiring 4 men to steady it, it only lifted two feet off the ground.  The first pilotless winged craft came about 10 years later and of course was evolved for warfare.  However, by 1960 with the breakthroughs in transistor technology decreasing the size of RC planes, unmanned aircraft became big with hobbyists.  By 2010 the AR Drone released by the French company Parrot, where the drone is controlled via WIFI using a smart phone.  This breakthrough has created a boon in amazing aerial photographs and videos.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Pisces this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Virgo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

 

Aries
Aerial photography
whale sharks-by-Bachir Moukarze

King of Wands – This week’s energy is boosting your abilities of envisioning a brighter future and the intentions that you will need to lay the foundation to manifest it.  However, we are still not out of the woods with Mercury in retrograde which slows creation, but by the end of the week you can start moving your visions into manifestations.

 

Taurus
Aerial photography
Benoit Stichelbaut Dourveil Beach

The Messenger – Where last week the world was harsh and unsupportive, this week the messenger comes with divine signs to guide your way through the chaos.  The other perk with this energy is it will protect you from the turmoil if you don’t jump into it.  Remember you always have choice, but at least the best choice will be well lit.

 

Gemini
Tuan Nguyen Tan- Burden Salt Harvest

Seven of Coins – The energy this week is all about perseverance.  If you keep your nose to the grindstone and do your due diligence you will reap your just rewards.  However, if you don’t do the preparational work, you will increase your workload and cause delays throughout this week.

 

Cancer
Yevhen Samuchenko 2 people-2 dogs and 4 shadows

Knight of Coins – Slow and steady is the energy to work with this week.  Go after your responsibilities one step at a time.  Patience is key.  Don’t rush; find a comfortable stride and continue on.

 

Leo
Khanh Phan – Flowers on the Water

Four of Cups – Well Mercury is still in retrograde until the 6th so last week’s Hanged Man, low or inert energy, is still hanging around with the Four of Cups – withdrawal and meditation. So, this is another week to catch up on anything already in progress or contemplate your next steps.  The skill you are honing is acceptance and utilization of the low energy weeks as much as those fiery energies you so love to dive into.

 

Virgo
Aerial photography
Jacek Deneka_A Shoal of Colorful Fish

Seven of Swords – This week’s energy has a hazy deception in the air.  First you need to realize that Mercury is still in retrograde, so miscommunication and an inertia prosper during this time.   Second, this energy has nothing to do with you, if you don’t get involved in other’s drama or even let your own pessimism get in the way.  You do not have to be the moral police 24/7.  This energy is best dealt with by seeing the small victories instead of everything looking like a hundred-year war.

 

Libra
Aerial photography
Jeremiasz Gądek_ Island of Love

King of Cups – Compassion is key to this week’s energy.   And here are some key points to remember.  You can not control everything.  You and most people are doing the best they can.  Situations and problems do balance out in the long view. And finally go with the flow with an open heart.

 

Scorpio
Aerial photography
Ming Li_Waltz of Overpass

Page of Cups – This is your second page so let’s look closer at the page energy.  Pages represent learning or coming at situations with a more open viewpoint.  Last week your passion needed reigniting so finding new ways to light your soul was key.  This week the Page of Cups wants you to view the world with more curiosity and love.  Seeing the world with rose-colored glasses actually open up more opportunities for you this week.

 

Sagittarius
Aerial photography
Dendrites by Branko Markovic

Seven of Cups – The energy this week is murky and full of illusions and misconceptions.  This is mostly due to Mercury still being in retrograde, so misinterpretation and self-misrepresentation still abounds.  This is not a week to make any decisions, but it is a great week do delve into fantasies and dreams. However, beware that you don’t try to bring your fantasies into the light of day.  These visions are just for enjoyment and expanding your mind to otherworldly possibilities.  They can plant seeds of potential for the future but not probability of the present.

 

Capricorn
Ningtai-Yu_Love-in-the-poem
Ningtai Yu_Love in the poem

Nine of Swords – This week’s energy is all about letting go.  Letting go of controlling every aspect of your life.  This is a hard one for you Capricorn especially because this year is so full of forward momentum.  But to cope with all the possibilities, all the positive energy, and all the hope, you must stop trying to control it all.  Worry will get you nowhere – not this week nor this year.

 

Aquarius
Aerial photography
Jie Zhang Game of The Earth TETRIS

*Death – Change is in the air, but it is slow in coming. Mercury is still in retrograde until the end of the week.  You cannot rush the universe, nor do you want to.  As they say there is a season… Take this time to weed and till your soul’s soil.  Trying to rush the change is due to a fear or a resistance on your part.  Take this week to look at your possible blocks and clear those from the road so the Universe has a clearer path to create the change that you are wanting and waiting for.

 

Pisces
Aerial photography
Diana Buzoianu_Alone

Three of Swords – Mercury is still in retrograde until the end of the week.  This energy feels as if you are bound to the assignment of Sisyphus – rolling a rock up a hill to only see it roll down time after time.  This week feels as if you are in a seemingly endless cycle of triumph and sorrow.  The key to working with this energy, if you feel stuck, move on to the next task and come back to “the rock” another day.

 

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

Nina

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Dec 29, 2019

On Kawara Today series

As we move from one year and one decade to the next, the series Today by On Kawara seemed appropriate.  He started this series on January 4, 1966 and worked on in for 48 years.  His Date Paintings are monochromatic canvas of red, blue or dark gray with the date in white, and composed in the language of the place he was in on that date.  The paintings took several hours following a meticulous process, and if it was not finished by midnight, he destroyed it.  He made a cardboard storage box with each painting that usually was lined with the local newspaper.  And he grabbed his titles from these newspapers, what was happening historically or personally.

Looking at the series, the viewer realizes that the dates picked (sometimes three paintings in one day) do not follow a pattern.  This series and his others nudge us to contemplate space and time as constructs.  That we all feel time flow differently therefore experience space and time individually.  So, as 2019 leaves us and 2020 rolls in…maybe we should reflect not on the time we spend but how and who we spend it with.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Capricorn this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Cancer it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

Ace of Cups – During this intermediary time and space this energy nudges you to contemplate emotional beginnings.  This is a great week to start new relationships or take a relationship to the next level.  Share the love you have with the lens for relationships to grow they must have a solid foundation to grow in and the freshness of air and water to sustain them.

Taurus

On Kawara Today series Eight of Coins – As the years switch your contemplation is around mastering your skills.  You have achieved much this past year.  Going forward is less about learning something new and more about fine tuning skills or projects you already have mastered.  What do you want to work on in the coming year? What do you want to take to the next level.

Gemini

*Devil – As you transition from one year to the next, the cards have you look at how you successfully passed tests of 2019, and contemplating if you had to be tested on something for 2020 what would it be.  You see once you pass a test you do not have to do it again.  Contemplate the freedom of that.

Cancer

Ten of Wands – Your transitional contemplation is the area of burden.  What do you carry that you do not have to?  Does the sense of obligation, expectation or ego make you do more than you need to?   You do not need to do it all in 2020.

Leo

Ace of Swords – As the world turns for another year the cards have you pondering.  Pondering is great if you are learning, communicating and making decision.  The time for pondering for pondering sake is done.  In 2020 new thought moving to new action is required.

Virgo

Eight of Wands – Your transitional mediation is around information.  When you look back what information do you load your quiver with for the coming year. And then with that information what positive outcomes would you launch into 2020.  What would be the prize at the end of those arrows arc?  Shoot for the stars.

Libra

On Kawara Today series Nine of Coins – This transitional week’s contemplation is about prosperity and isolation.  For the sign that is all about relationships, this is a come to Jesus moment that you do better work with fewer people around. And if this is impossible your mediation is on creating a sacred space where you can prosper and have control on who gets in for 2020.

Scorpio

Two of Swords – This transitional energy for your musing is about making decisions.  What decisions would you have changed last year or didn’t make because you felt you didn’t know which was the right one?  With that information, in 2020 make decisions that go more for how you want to feel and less about the outcome or goal.

Sagittarius

On Kawara Today series Four of Swords – Did you get enough sleep?  Are you eating well?  Have you taken care of yourself?  These are the questions that you need to contemplate in this transitional period.  In 2020 you will need to be in tip top shape, but it is up to you to take the time to take care of your body, mind and spirit.

Capricorn

Six of Swords – The energy during this transition of time is about simplification.  2020 will hold a lot of motion and for you to sail smoothly, you need to carry less cargo and have a narrower focus.  Your contemplation is around what do you need that is vital to you going forward and put your energy into that.

Aquarius

Two of Cups – Your interim contemplation is around harmony and cooperation in your close relationships and with yourself.  Do you feel like your relationships were emotional balanced in 2019? Was there enough romance?  If yes or no feeding those bonds of love are vital.  You all tend to pull back or stay in the air to cope and concentrate.  Love is what grounds you.  Invest in it in 2020.

Pisces

On Kawara Today series *Hanged Man – Your contemplation is the concept of suspension.  Are you ever truly inert? Is there a mind-space where you can stop your thoughts?  Can you just be?  Why does the feeling of not “going” bother you?  Can you find peace in a moment? Just think, if you allowed yourself the time, space and belief to brainstorm, ponder and think outside the box, what 2020 might feel like. Meditation is the key to 2020.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Oct 13, 2019

Johann Heinrich Fussli
Johann Heinrich Fussli

The Nightmare by Johann Heinrich Fussli is eerie. The Demon sitting on the chest of a woman in the throes of a bad dream.  We have all felt that weight of waking up from a nightmare.  The word, nightmare, comes from the Old English mare, a mythological demon or goblin who torments others with frightening dreams.  The prefix of night was added to stress the dream aspect. Most of Johann’s work has that sense of creepy. His figures seem to pop out of shadowy backgrounds, as if a flash of light has revealed them out of the darkness.

To add to Fussli’s spookiness, he was famously known for being pursed by Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the founding feminist philosophers.  She died at the age of 38, eleven days after giving birth to her second daughter Mary Shelly author of Frankenstein.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Libra this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Aries it is your half way mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

Johann Heinrich Fussli*Magician –Last week the Sun card lent its energy to make you and what you focus on grow and expand.  Now the Magician takes the Wand supporting you on manifesting skills.  This card foretells that the power is your hands to create the divine onto this earthly plane.  This can look as simple as, your goal was to be a better cook last week you looked over cookbooks and found that baking was the thing.  This week you practice baking pies until you make one that would make your great great grandmother proud. Or this can be as complex as you deciding to start your own business and this week you write up your mission statement.

Taurus

Eight of Swords – The Eight of Swords has you looking at what is holding you back.  This week the best use of your time is to find out why, what or who is part of your inertia, realizing why you have been holding on to these chains of the past, and then letting them go.

Gemini

Johann Heinrich FussliFour of Swords – The Four of Swords advises that you need to rest this week.  This card shows up when your energy/immune system is being drained, but you are not aware of it. The best way to handle this card is eat well, take your vitamins, get 8 hours of sleep, and avoid energy vampires.

Cancer

Johann Heinrich FussliEight of Wands – The Eight of Wands foretells a plethora of information is coming at you.  The challenge is trying to process it all.  There are two ways to work with this energy.  Either funnel it with a focus in mind or take everything in and prioritize next week. The key is eyes, ears and mind open.

Leo

Queen of Cups – The last three weeks were full of energy.   First, the Justice card came pointing out decisions that needed to be made but you needed more background information to make a justified decision.  The Devil card challenged your morality, integrity and purpose. Then Judgement pronounces it is time to act and evolve to the next level.  With the Eight of Coins advising you to up your game by honing your skills to mastery.  Finally, this week you can relax with the Queen of Cups.  She helps you find the fun in your life.  Take this week to enjoy your friends, family and/or the solitude of a good book.  Your motto:  Live and Love

Virgo

Johann Heinrich Fussli*Moon – The Moon, the card of emotions and subconscious, calls to you this week.  This card comes to tell you something is hidden from you.  The best use of this energy is taking a deep dive in to your subconscious.  When you do this exercise, you can find pearls of wisdom. These gifts help you sync up with your intuition, purpose and the universe’s flow. The challenge this week is getting lost in contemplation without a guiding light.  This light can be as simple as finding the positive within the dark or as complex as finding the dark within the light.    Your motto:  all things in the shadow are not bad but they are relevant.

Libra

Johann Heinrich FussliAce of Cups – The Ace of Cups is another perfect birthday month card.  This is your second Ace for your birthday month so this coming year will be perfect for new beginnings. Also, though your cards were all minor (this means no big karma for you this year) they stayed in the realm of the material and emotional plane.  The Ace of Cups this week added that this coming year is a place where new relationships and love will prosper and grow. The work with this card and the year is about how you feel in your skin and life.  The key to success with these four cards is making decisions and plans by how you want to feel in the physical world.  So, if something doesn’t feel right then it isn’t in the cards for your divine life.  This is challenging for you as an air sign because you usually judge things with your mind, but 2020 is all about feeling how you walk on this Earth.

Scorpio

Ten of Coins – Last week the Hanged Man advised contemplating before moving forward and helped with this process by making your surroundings inert, or at least feel like moving through molasses.  The Ten of Coins is a 180 degree turn of energy.  Where the Hanged Man wanted you to contemplate the Ten of Coins wants you to complete.   This is a perfect week to finish up projects already in process.  The challenge is not starting anything new but taking time to enjoy the finished product.

Sagittarius

Johann Heinrich Fussli*High Priestess – The High Priestess brings the energy of the sacred, knowledge of the ancients and a broad perspective for interpreting cycles. This week look to synchronicities for guidance, texts for knowledge, and your soul for cyclic behavior.  By doing this you become more sync with your divine purpose and the Universe’s helping hands.  This is a great week to ask your guides for messages.  This can be as simple as seeing a black bird meaning stop, look and listen, for there are clues and messages for you.  Or this can be as complex as looking to your ancestors for family cycles of behavior that need to be purified.

Capricorn

Knight of Wands – The Knight of Wands is telling you: you are in the right place at the right time.  When this Knight shows up, look around and know that everything around you right now is here for your enlightenment.  Your challenge is to grasp it.

Aquarius

Johann Heinrich Fussli

Knight of Coins – The Knight of Coins advises that slow and steady wins the race this week.  Pace is the challenge.  So not too fast and not too slow, find your groove and stick with it.

Pisces

Nine of Wands – The Nine of Wands portends that preparation is key this week.  So, before you leave the house make sure you have everything you need.    Before you go into a meeting look over your notes/agenda.  The more prepared you are the easier your week will flow.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Sept 22, 2019

Bill Mayer Gouache painting

Happy Fall Equinox and Happy Birthday Libras.

This week’s artist is Bill Mayer.    I first saw his work on the cover of the Smithsonian magazine a year ago.  When I did more research on him, I feel in love with his gouache portraits.  The one above is an illustration for one of my favorite books Animal Farm.  Though when I first saw it, I thought it was the Three Little Pigs gone awry.  The aspect of the blood on the pig’s feet and snow are brilliant details in visual storytelling.  His work has a sense of humor along with a dark emotional quality.

Then that these are in gouache*  and look as if they are done in oil reminiscent of Dutch painters of the 17th century is a nod to his skills in technique and composition.  Gouache painting is similar to watercolors but is modified to be opaquer; therefore, it can have more reflective qualities.  However, the hard part with this medium is lighter tones general dry darker and darker tones dry lighter.  So, painting over multiple session can get very tricky.  These portraits are also small in size which again is a nod to 9th century Persian miniatures and their use of gouache. These portraits are a great start to the beautiful and spooky season of Fall and Halloween.

*Note: He says that some of his earlier pieces have been photo-shopped a bit.  When you look at his more recent portraits, Taurus and Gemini for example, you can see his manual technique outshines the computerized bits of his earlier work.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Libra this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Aries it is your half way mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

Bill Mayer Gouache painting*Emperor –The Emperor is the card of building on the material plane, and with the collaboration you hopeful built last week, construction will be easier.  To take advantage of this energy, continue building on projects in the works or finishing up projects.  The challenge is not to start new ventures.  The emperor suggest work with the now and leave the future for another week.

Taurus

Bill Mayer Gouache painting*The Chariot – Last week the Hanged Man had you take a time out and work on piddlingthe art of just sitting or puttering around for no other reason than just because. And now the Chariot pulls up for the third time for you in the past 2 months.  Time to get back in the saddle, again.  I cannot emphasize enough if you have not taken advantage of making something happen or go to the next level in your life, this set of Chariot cards in such a short time frame just doesn’t happen. To get the card of movement that solely lays in your hand this many times is destiny calling.  You have no roadblocks but yourself.  Maybe you are not feeling as if your project is as important as other things that are in your life.  Don’t let your loyalty to others and your nurturing nature be in the way of making some ground on your own stuff.  Time for using some of that hard headedness in protect and taking care of others redirected towards you and your work in the world.  Take heed the world needs to hear your voice as much (or to be honest since you all got this card 3 times maybe more at this particular time) than the people you are supporting.

Gemini

Bill Mayer Gouache paintingSeven of Swords –The choices you make this week demonstrate your moral make up.  You will be tested.  Which way are you going to choose?  The path of indiscretion or apathy or the action of righteous action. The choice is yours.

Cancer

Bill Mayer Gouache paintingTen of Cups – The Ten of Cups is the card of bliss.   This week seek out the things/people that bring bliss into your life. This card gives you permission to enjoy a bubble bath, have an extra scoop of ice cream, garden, cuddle with your family/pets on the couch, go take a walk on the beach, etc… Statistically, this card has a chance of showing up 5 times in a year.  Your challenge is take advantage of it.  Don’t miss a chance to indulge in the good in your life.

Leo

Bill Mayer Gouache painting*Justice – The Justice card comes when decisions need to be made but you need more background information to make a justified decision.   So, the challenge comes after you do your investigative work, by the end of the week the choice needs to be made. If you stay true to the information and your heart, things will end up fair in the end no matter how the journey plays out.  This card reminds you to have faith and stay true to yourself.   Never lose faith in yourself, and never lose hope; remember, even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back, there is still always hope. -Pittacus Lore

Virgo

Two of Wands – The Two of Wands advises you to step out of your comfort zone this week.  This card is a very positive card if you take the steps to expand your horizons.  This can be as simple as trying zip lining for the first time, reading a self-help book, or going to an event you never would.  The challenge with is expanding your horizons.  They can be small or big steps, but they must develop your mind/soul.

Libra

Ace of Coins – The last two weeks have been about completion, so it is appropriate that you all would get the Ace of Coins, a card of new beginnings and planting seeds (literally and metaphorically).  This is a great week to begin any projects, do anything with your hands, invest in something, increase your presence at work, and really anything on the material plan.  You will harvest more later the more you ground yourself into the material plane now.

Scorpio

Six of Wands – Last week was all about Justice – balancing right from wrong by looking behind the scenes.  With that information and perspective, you have an advantage to come out on the positive side of Justice this week.  The challenge with the Six of Wands is though you won this battle and bathe in positivity this week, you haven’t won the war. So, don’t take anything new on and enjoy this week.

Sagittarius

Two of Pentacles – Last week, the Strength card flung you into situations that you felt you couldn’t handle or befuddled you.  However, that was not the case, this exercise helped you identify your strengths and weakness helping you navigate not only last week with more ease but the rest of the year. This week the Two of Pentacles advises you that even though you have found your superpowers don’t go multi-tasking just yet.  You need to take one or two items and try your superpowers on them.  This week is about balance, practice and restraint.

Capricorn

Eight of Swords – The Eight of Swords advises you that you need to look at how you are binding yourself.  This can be as simple as checking how you talk to yourself when you make a mistake, or as complex as finding old thought patterns put there in the past by others that you still hold on to.  Your motto: Let that sh*t go.

Aquarius

Ace of Pentacles and King of Wands – Last week, The Fool, card of new beginnings, challenged your thinking through new beginnings and being careful of naiveté when making decisions. Well the Ace of Pentacles continues the theme of new beginnings. All Aces are beginnings and Pentacles rule the material plane.  So any beginnings that have to do with work, money or material plane projects are great to start this week.  The King of Wands has also stepped in continuing the theme of the Fool’s advice.  You have gained the wisdom to think things through before acting on them. This card says you rule your destiny.   So this week is pretty much the same energy as last week without the intensity.

Pisces

*Star – The Star Card is the card of hope and healing.  This is a great week to make wishes and realize you are on the other side of a major hardship.  This card advises you to relax and have faith in the Universe.  This is a great time to take healing baths, massages, eat well, get the sleep you need.  And it is a great time to ask the Universe for help for the next phase of your life.  Your challenges – Relaxing, asking for want you want now to happen and looking for synchronicities to help you move to the next level.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Aug 25, 2019

Above is the iconic photograph Glass Tears by Man Ray.  He was born on August 27, 1890, a Virgo.  Not only did he influence fashion photography, he was also a painter, film-maker, collagist and sculptor but as he said I have finally freed myself from the sticky medium of paint and am working directly with light itself.  His exploration of photography and film became the birthplace in making his dreams a reality.  I would photograph an idea rather than an object, a dream rather than an idea.

That freedom is seen in how he styles the photograph and plays with techniques.  Like his technique of rayographs, placing a variety of objects and parts of himself and models on sheets of photosensitive paper and then exposing them to light.  Where his image of a spring (see Sagittarius)  highlights the concept of movement and three dimensions in one still image.  He begs the viewer not to judge his work solely on technique or to just see the subject in one dimension but expand your awareness and curiosity by prompting you to ask the why within the image.

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.  And Pisces it is your half way mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

Man RayKnight of Swords – Last week the Page advised finding out more information before moving forward. Now with that information, the Knight of Swords pronounces moving ahead but taking your time thinking before action. This is a week to slow down in general for you will miss vital information or missteps.  This card’s practical application also warns, watch out that you don’t hurt your extremities.  Look both ways when you cross the street.  Curl your fingers in when you cut veggies and be careful when you are walking.

Taurus

Man Ray*High Priestess – Last week the Chariot, card of change that you are sole responsible for, pulled up to give you another chance to make transformations happen around areas that you want to alter.  Now the High Priestess shows up advising that you need to do some deep reference work on the how and why of your changes.  The great thing about this card is, if you ask for signs from the heavens, she can scry you some answers either in your dreams, synchronicities or in deep contemplation.  This can look as simple as you need a new plumber for that drip in your bathroom sink, you see a black cat in the window, then you google a plumber near you and see one named Black Cat Plumbing.  Or as complex as doing dream work with your desires.  Motto: Insight and inspiration comes from many sources.

Gemini

Man Ray*Hanged Man – Last week, the Devil card came to test you on who you are and what you stand for.  This week the Hanged Man keeps you in a purgatory like state to let you contemplate how you were triggered last week.  You need to see the patterns and/or places that are working against you.  You can blame your failure on others, or you can see that maybe the game you have willingly played is rigged.  Time to figure out what really is important in your life and how you want to be seen in the world.  Take this week to center back to who you really are.

Cancer

Man Ray

Eight of Coins – The Eight of Coins is the card of mastery.  This week your focus should be around how to work smarter not harder.  This week do not start new projects but tweak and oil what is already in process.

Leo

Eight of Swords – Your thoughts get in your way this week.  The Eight of Swords advises to stop over analyzing a situation.  If you let old thought patterns go, you will make room for feelings that are more helpful then harmful.

Virgo

Ace of Wands – Last week you all got your first big card for your birth-year, the Strength card.   This card comes to help you ground yourself and acknowledge your resilience, self-compassion, and mental acuity.  By 2020’s birthday you will feel more comfortable in you own skin.  This week, the Ace of Wands joins the Strength Card having you strike the match to create passion in your life.  This year has the potential for new beginnings.  The question for you to answer is what is your deep desire?   Then write it on a scrap of paper and burn it on the Virgo moon, August 28th or 29th.  And then let the Universe finds ways to gift it to you in the coming year.

Libra

Page of Cups – Time to get out your rose-colored glasses.  The Page of Cups advises to look at the events and people in your life this week with compassion and empathy.  Everyone needs a little love.  The challenge with this card is being vulnerable enough to receive the love back.

Scorpio

Six of Wands – The Six of Wands is the card of victory.  Take this week to see all that you have accomplished and pat yourself on the back.  The only challenge with this card is even though you deserve this break and win, be aware that the battle is not yet totally won.

Sagittarius

Man Ray*The Magician – The Magician is the card of bringing the divine down into the material plane.  It is a great week to create! This can look as simple as making an exquisite meal that delights the senses.  Or as complex as writing the next great novel.  Then only challenge with this card is that your creation must have meaning behind.  This is not a week for mundane chores and to-do list.  If you reach with a higher purpose you will be able to grasp the brass ring.

Capricorn

Page of Wands – The Page of Wands comes when you need to create or live with a flourish of passion.  This card shows up to re-ignite your purpose and enhance your innovation. If you are not vibing with this energy or your muse has gone on vacation.  Time to immerse your self in the arts, music or nature to realign yourself with your passion.

Aquarius

Two of Coins – This week can get out of balance.  The challenge is figure out what you need to do to stop your internal and/or external vertigo.  This card suggests juggling one thing well before picking up another.  Or even better, don’t multitask at all this week.

Pisces

Queen of Wands – Last week the Tower, card of change coming from an outside source, shook up something that was not working.  But if you were proactive in initiating the change, the Tower promised it would lessen the blow.  So, if you did nothing and shit hit the fan, the Queen of Wands advises to use your intuition to help clean up the mess this week.  If you did initiate the change, then she helps by staking out the easier path with the breadcrumbs of synchronicities. Making you surer of the path you are now on and more instinctive with every step.  Either way your Spidey Sense is key this week.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Aug 18, 2019

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field

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

Helen Frankenthaler 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

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*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

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*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

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldSix 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

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*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

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldEight 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

Helen FrankenthalerThe 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

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldFive 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