Tag Archives: tarot

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.

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of July 16, 2023

Simone Leigh

The artist this week is Simone Leigh, @simoneyvetteleigh.  Leigh works in a variety of media including sculpture, installations, video, performance, and social practice to foreground black female experience.  She describes her work as auto-ethnographic extracting figures and architectural forms in bronze, ceramic, and raffia that reference sources from Pan-African culture.  Often, she combines “premodern techniques and materials—including lost-wax casting, salt-fired ceramics, and terracotta—with potent cultural iconographies such as cowrie shells, plantains, and tobacco.   As she has written “I am charting a history of change and adaptation, through objects and gesture and the unstoppable forward movement of Black women.”

She will have a show from Nov. 3rd 2023 to March 3rd 2024. at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC.

Your pondering for the week:  What cultural or generational icons do you identify with?  How does society perceive them and then how do you?  Do they move you forward or hold you back?

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Cancer – watch oversensitivity but great for reading a room.  On Tuesday it moves into Leo – great time to shine but watch boastfulness.   Then on Friday through the weekend it is in Virgo – work on your to-do list.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) joins Venus in Leo (expressing who you are, light). 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?  So, these two together would like you to do some studying, learning that will let you create more beauty in your life.

Mars (action) is Virgo until August 27th.  This combo makes getting things done on your to-do list easier.   Jupiter (growth) is 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) 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.  Cancer this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading  for your coming year.  And Capricorn 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
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

King of Water – The Muse of Emotional Maturity is asking you to be the adult in the room this week. She wants you to not only reflect on your reactions in situations but to apply empathy to the people’s circumstances around you also.  This week read the room before engaging.

 

Taurus
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

Six of Earth – The Muse of Reciprocity foretells this week is all about fair exchanges.  The more positive energy you put out in the world the more you get back.  This works with negative vibes too.  The challenge with this Muse is the path of return is not a straight route.

Gemini
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship is visiting you.  This energy shows up when your emotional cup needs a refilling that only good friends can do.  So, find time to hang out with your besties.

 

Cancerian
Simone Leigh

*Death – How appropriate for the final week of your birth month.  The Muse of Death comes not only to end old cycles but to fertilize the ground for new ones.  She asks what do you need to weed out of your garden to make space for new seedlings?  Remember when choosing your seedlings for a balanced garden, you need to plant nutritious vegetables as well as beautiful flowers to attract pollinators.  This change wants a balance of function and form

 

Leo
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

*Magician – As you enter your birth month the Muse of Manifestation has arrived.  She asks what do you want to manifest this coming year with the tools you have already in hand?  The challenge is this Muse wants these manifestations to be prompted by the celestials.  So, spend this week in quiet mediation, connect with the spirt realm and do some divine planning.

 

Virgo
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

*Temperance – The Muse of Moderation is here to help remix the balance in your life.  Some aspects of how, what, or the why you are doing something is unbalanced.  She reminds you, like a good cocktail or entrée, the ingredients are not in equal amounts.  To enhance the flavor, one uses a dash of this and that to make it tasteful and unique.  Somehow you have metaphorically over-salted a part of your life.  Take this week to get it back into “equilibrium”.

 

Libra
Simone Leigh

*Wheel – This week has aspects that you balance loving Libras do not like – surprises.  The Muse of Fortune comes when unexpected outcomes or aspects come into our lives.   They can seem to be good or unlucky.  But the amazing thing about this muse is she brings unexpected change into your life which in the long run sets you up for a win.    The challenge is allowing the unforeseen and uncontrollable to happen.

 

Scorpio
Simone Leigh

Ten of Air – This week has all the potential for a mishap.  The Muse of Instinct however is at your side.  She reminds you that your gut is very good at telling you what and what not to do if you would only listen and then trust it.  If you sense to not engage in something do not push through it.  This week is not about facing your fear or being strong but listening to your intuition.

 

Sagittarius
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

Ace of Air – This week holds a few decisions that you need to make with your head and logic and not your heart.  This is counter to what all the planets’ energy is giving out, so it may feel weird not to check in with your emotions.  But this week your emotions befuddle the situation.  Also Aces herald new beginnings and this one is about new thought processes, writing or knowledge in general.

 

Capricorn
Simone Leigh

Six of Fire – The Muse of Success is here to applaud what you have been doing.  However, she also warns before you jump into a new project, you need to celebrate your success and rest in your laurels.   Take this week to refresh, revive and relish the time before the next challenge or quest.

 

Aquarius
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

King of Fire – The Muse of Sovereignty advises that you take the lead this week.  Not only because it is easier but also because, to be honest, you are right.  You have the know-how, the smarts to know when you don’t, and the wherewithal to find the right help if you need it.  Lead on.

 

Pisces
Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh

Eight of  Water – The Muse of Cleaning is here with a broom, bucket, and mop.  Yep, this week you need to clean up.  Whether it’s your desk, your house, garage, inbox, or mind, clutter and debris are not your friends.  The more you clean the finer your focus and the easier the work.

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of May 7, 2023

Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

The month of May is mental health awareness month.  So, the artist this week is Anna Zemankova considered one of the prominent figures in Art Brut (outsider art).  Early in her life she painted landscapes as a hobby but gave that up when she had her children.  Pouring her creative spirit into their clothes, rooms, and conjuring fairy tales.  But as her children aged and left home, she lost her sense of self and depression set in.   So, she began drawing in her 50’s as a form of therapy.  She followed a strict routine where she produced pieces evoking botanical forms and portraying them in delicate hues.  Later she embellished her drawing with embroidery and beadwork.  Zemankova leads us as the viewer and seemingly herself to calmer spaces where flow and nature reside.  She worked at her art for the next 26 years, until her death in 1986.

Anxiety has been a been a visitor of mine since childhood.  And when I had a health scare in my mid-thirties, well, it decided to rent a room in my mental space.   It has taught me that I am an introvert trying to fit into an extrovert centric society, I need to create better boundaries and it brought art into my life.  I had always wandered the edges of art by surrounding myself with artistic people, but I never really tried it.

Until I got sick and came very close to full blown agoraphobia.  I started therapy and making sock monkeys.  And then I learned how to sculpt from a friend and re-discovered my childhood love of dioramas.   And then I took a class in scientific drawing and dabble in landscape paintings.  Art now is an integral part of my mental health regime.  It allows me to turn off anxiety’s soundtrack, reconnect with my flow, and do this blog.  Thanks for reading it!

 Your pondering for the week:  How do you support your mental health?

 

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Sagittarius – work on going with the flow.  On Tuesday it moves into Capricorn – where you can finally get into the work week with more focus.   Then on Thursday it goes into Aquarius – look for innovative ways or outside of the box thinking.  Then for the weekend it moves into Pisces – time to daydream and play.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) and in retrograde until May 14th – this period is useful to reflect, review and redo especially within the aspects of how to be calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions.  Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Cancer (self-care) until June 6th.  Mars (action) is also in Cancer so especially until May 21st, it is best to let your heart run the show.  At its best we can consciously act on what our heart needs. But be aware that at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact.

Jupiter (growth) is in Aries until May 16th – great for manifestation and expansion and during retrograde we can still get things done.  Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces to make sure our structures are 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, think like bamboo or jellyfish.

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 during this time.

 

***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 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. and I have a new 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
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

Four of Fire – The Muse of Happy Home would like you to focus your attention on creating a more comfortable home.  Whether that means doing spring cleaning, adding plants or a pop of color, or fixing that squeaky door, spend time this week making your physical home more comfortable and inviting.

 

Taurus
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

*Devil – This week has the potential to be something like Mister Toad’s wild ride with turns, mystery, adventure, surprises, and a bit of mayhem.   Be aware that these detours are liable to distract you from your goals.  So, the challenge becomes twofold.  First have a clear focus of what you want to happen.  And secondly if things de-rail, be flexible but have the resolve to get things back on track.

 

Gemini
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

Ten of Fire – The Muse of Burden comes when you are taking on too many responsibilities.  Some of these things you carry are actually your responsibility and then some are not.   So, she first advises you to put down what isn’t yours.  Then with the rest she has you put them in order of urgency, take off the last two items, and only then can you successfully tackle the rest.

 

Cancerian
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

*Hanged One – If you are trying to get something done with a sense of urgency, this week’s energy will be like swimming upstream.   However, the Muse of Suspension is the perfect energy for Mercury in retrograde vibe.  Like last week this is a time to slow down review, revise, and redo.  Now is not the time to move forward, but if you find the need to, carry flotation devices so you can take breaks from the opposing currents.

 

Leo
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

Seven of Air – The Muse of Stealth heralds that things are not as they seem.  She says this is not a malevolent situation, but more likely it is surround by an air of ambivalence, wariness, or unsureness.   So, she advises you to walk softly into situations this week until you can suss out the lay of the land.

 

Virgo
Anna Zemánková

Five of Water – This week you will need to let some disappointment go to see the positive in a situation.  The Muse of Partial Loss advises that though this week may have some burdens and frustrations there are at least two beautiful treasures within the situation.  You just need to look around and see them.

 

Libra
Anna Zemánková
Anna Zemánková

Ace of Water – Last week the Muse of New wanted you to branch out and do something that you have never done before to expand your horizons.  You get to continue this quest of “the new” with this week’s energy.  The challenge is to find new ways that please your heart and deepen your emotional well.

 

Scorpio
Anna Zemánková

Knight of Water – The Muse of Flirtation would like you to practice this skill this week.  If you are partnered, time to reignite your relationship with flirtation and splashes of intimacy.  If you are solo, flirt with others and light up their shine.  Either way this muse challenges you all to flirt with yourself.   For example, each time you pass a mirror give yourself a knowing wink.

 

Sagittarius
Anna_Zemánková

*High Priestess – The Muse of Sacred Knowledge is passing down some info for you.  The challenge is that these messages are conveyed in paradoxes and synchronicities.  So, take time this week to wander in the philosophical realms of the mind.

 

Capricorn
Anna Zemánková

Six of Earth – The Muse of Karmic Reciprocity is playing with you this week.  She reminds you that kindness begats kindness, but the opposite is also true.   The challenge with this energy is that the path of reciprocity is never a straight one.

 

Aquarius
Anna Zemánková

Nine of Water – The Muse of Contentment is wanting you to ponder what would make you content. She is challenging you to recalibrate your happiness meter.  For you have either lowered your expectations too far or expect them to be an 11 on a 1 to 10 scale.   What small change could you make or ask for that would give you pleasure of satisfaction?  She advises to start there.

 

Pisces
Anna_Zemánková

Tower and Queen of Fire – The Muses of Fortification and Change would like you to stock up on resources and check your foundations.   This can mean as simple as checking your plumbing for leaks, tires to see if they are worn, or restocking your pantry.   Or it can be as complex as shoring up your mental health, getting your resume ready, or signing up for classes.  Change is coming, are you ready for it?

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 23, 2023

Willard Wiggan

Happy Birth-month Taurus.

The artist this week is Willard Wiggan, @willard_wiggan .  He has a show at Wollaton Hall Nottingham, UK, which houses the Nottingham Natural History Museum from April to October 2023.  Wiggan’s show “Disappearing World” is collection of sculptures that highlight endangered animals and the loss of biodiversity.  All his sculptures are viewed through microscopes and many within the eye of a needle.   For Wiggan is an artist of the small and minutia.  He sculpts and paints the world’s smallest art pieces.  He has been honored by the Guinness book of world records twice.

Wiggan’s show illuminates that not only every species matters but also if all of us do small acts of conservation we can make a difference.  In his words, “My micro-sized sculptures convey a bigger message to humanity.  An artful reminder that our world is disappearing, we need to act, and make changes. My tiny work engages a larger conversation, inviting visitors to consider a simple concept, small things matter.” E

Your pondering for the week:  This month we celebrate Earth and highlight how we can create and maintain a healthier home for all living creatures.  What is your contribution in maintaining a healthier coexistence on our Mother Earth?

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Gemini, good for conversations and relationship work.  Then on Tuesday it moves into Cancer – self-care becomes the focus.   Then on Thursday through the weekend it is in Leo – time to shine.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) and in retrograde – this period is useful to reflect, review and redo especially within the aspects of how to be calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions.  Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Gemini.  So, a deep dive into gratitude and working with the positive and nurturing aspects of all your relationships (this includes your relationships with all living things and your environment).  Mars (action) is in Cancer.  It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21st.  However, at its worst we can get emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.

Jupiter (growth) is in Aries until May 16th – great for manifestation, expansion, and action.  And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces to make sure our structures are 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, think like bamboo or jellyfish.  And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) is in Aquarius until June 11th, giving us a 3-month 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 during this time.

 

***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 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. and I have a new 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
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan,  Mount Rushmore

Three of Water – The Muse of Friendship is asking you to connect with your friends this week.  It can be as simple as inviting them over for a potluck, a game night or as deep as having a heart to heart.  Connection is key this week to not only fill your cup but others too.

 

Taurus
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan,  Albert Einstein

*Devil – This week can have aspects that feel overwhelming, unsettling, or challenging, so the Muse of Impulse has come to guide you through.  She reminds you that when you feel the above you try to gain more control, and thus you can react impulsively.  So, she asks you this week to work on your skills in “bull riding.”   Bull riders do not try and subdue or control the bull.  They just try to stay on, enjoy the challenge and get off without getting hurt.

 

Gemini
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan,  Marie Antoinette

Two of Water – The Muse of Reciprocity would like you to engage in some love.  Whether that is self-love, partnered love or any relationship love, this week is about giving as much as it is receiving.

 

Cancerian
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan,  Trex

Seven of Air – The Muse of Stealth is asking you to walk lightly into situations this week.  There is more going on behind the scenes than you know.  So, this Muse advises to hope for the best, but expect the worst.  Your song for the week by Mel Brooks.

 

Leo
Willard Wiggan skateboarder on an eyelash 

*Fool – Adventure time continues with the Muse of Spontaneity.  This Muse would like you to turn left when you usually go right, try to find the end of a rainbow, say yes to a meandering walk or car ride.  The key is to go through this week without expectations and along the way you will find inspiration, hidden treasures, and possibly the feeling of freedom one finds when we leave our expectations on the side of the road.

 

Virgo
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan  Black Rhino

*Strength – This week the Muse of Instinct is your guide.  For the group of you in touch with following your gut, this should be an easy week.  But for those that question and don’t believe in their inner voice or moral compass, well this week can be a bit of a challenge.   No matter which group you are in, this muse would like you to flex your core muscle of self-confidence.  As Ru-Paul said, “Chin-up, shoulders back, tits out.”

 

Libra
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan

Four of Fire– The Muse of Home is asking you to invest in yours.  Spend time and energy to beautify the place you live in.  That can be a simple tidying up or jazzing up your digs with more plants, or a new color way.

 

Scorpio
Willard Wiggan
Willard Wiggan

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum would like you to spend this retrograde period in contemplation of what needs changing that only you can do and then make a road map to get there.  Self-reliance, a destination, and ambition are the key elements that you need to muster, so once this retrograde season is over (May 14) you are ready to roll.

 

Sagittarius
Willard Wiggan  Dragon 

Seven of Fire – So hopefully last week you took note on the areas that your accolades were pointing you to.  Because the Muse of Exertion is wanting you to use them to manifest or defend a stance.  Your willpower is what will power the next steps to advancing your cause.

 

Capricorn
Willard Wiggan,  Charlie Parker

Five of Water – The Muse of Reflection is here to help you work with this retrograde period (now until May 14).  Since your birthday you all have had a bit of a Mister Toad’s Wild Ride, ups, downs, and unexpected turns.  She advises using these next couple of weeks to process what you have experienced.  Letting go of what is lost or no longer useful and walking forward with what is rejuvenating and refreshing.

 

Aquarius
Willard Wiggan Falcon

Four of Water – The Muse of Stillness is sitting and waiting for you to sit with her for part of this week.  She advises you to split your time between introspection and interaction.  Doing only one will lead you to imbalance or overindulgence.  Where doing both, fairly evenly (remember there is no such thing as perfection), will bring contentment and stability.

 

Pisces
Willard Wiggan – Crown on a head of a pin

King of Air – The Muse of Far Perspective is here to remind you that this retrograde season instead of trying to manage with short term fixes, to turn your gaze and mind to long-terms solutions.  So, think less like applying band-aids and more like enacting life-changing choices.

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of April 2, 2023

Rain
Chushingara Series, Utagawa Kunisada

I don’t know about you but last week was hard for me to wrangle in my mind.  On the positive  side it has been great for my imagination though hard to focus on any one thing for long.   So, this tarotcast is an eclectic look at rain.  I have picked thirteen different visual artists’ interpretations of rain, 2 of my favorite poems about rain, my favorite song about rain, and of course a bit of science.

A Drop fell on the Apple Tree –
Another – on the Roof –
A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves –
And made the Gables laugh –

A few went out to help the Brook,
That went to help the Sea –
Myself Conjectured were they Pearls –
What Necklaces could be …

Emily Dickinson

 

Some fun facts about this atmospheric phenomenon.  After a storm, that rain smell is not the water but the molecule, geosmin, created by soil dwelling bacteria.  When rain falls it creates air pockets in the soil, trapping, releasing, and dispersing the geosmin into the air.  The name for this rain smell is petrichor.

The name raindrop is actually a misnomer.  Raindrops are not tear shaped but spherical.  As they fall and encounter air pressure it flattens or makes the bottom concave, they then take a hamburger bun or jellybean shape.  The height and size of raindrops differ but “at an average speed of 14 mph and average cloud height of 2,500 feet, it would take two minutes for a raindrop to hit the floor.” Very small raindrops would take seven minutes to reach the ground and large raindrops can fall at speeds of 20mph.

 

So what if it drizzles
And dribbles and drips?
I’ll splash in the garden,
I’ll dance on the roof.
Let it rain on my skin,
It can’t get in—
I’m waterproof.

Shel Silverstein

 

Your pondering for the week:  When was the last time you played in the rain?

 

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Virgo.  Making the start of your week very productive.  On Wednesday it moves into Libra – where clear communication becomes important.   Then on Friday through the weekend the moon is in Scorpio – perfect for having fun and focusing on your passions.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus (grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions.  Mars (action) is in Cancer.  It is best to let your heart run the show until May 21st.  So, at its worst we can get very emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.   Venus (beauty and harmony) is also in Taurus.  This is where it loves to be.  It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

Jupiter (growth) is also in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action.  And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces.  So now all that work you did with structures, building and innovating them the past 5 years, it is time to make sure they are elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too flexy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish.

And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) moves into Aquarius giving us a 3-month 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 during this time.

 

***Signs with an * it is 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. and I have a new 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
Rain
Wassily Kandinsky landscape-with-rain-1913

*Wheel – The Muse of Maybe visits you this week.  This energy is tricky, sometimes it brings ups and sometimes downs, but it always leaves a gift or insight that will bring you fortune for the future.   The key to working with this energy is to try on everything that comes your way.   She reminds you do not have to commit but just dip your toes in with a maybe.  I.e.: Test the water.  If you do work with this energy you will realize, finding out you when you don’t like something is as important as finding out what you do like.

 

Taurus
Rain
Edgar Degas Jockeys in the Rain

Knight of Earth – This week slow and steady is the challenge.  The Muse of Rock-steady comes to help you ground yourself and move forward with restrained but surer steps.  She recommends taking off your shoes or sitting on nature’s ground and root yourself.  Draw energy up from the Earth, find your focus and then walk with determined steps throughout the week.

 

Gemini
Rain
Van Gogh-rain

Queen of Air – Details are very important this week.   The Muse of Minutia has come to help you focus on the “little things” with love, compassion, and curious awareness.  This attention to the finer details will help you in all aspects of your life.  Whether that showing love with a touch or intimate note, reading and bargaining about the fine print on a contract, or asking for more details in a plan, you will prosper or avoid unnecessary challenges with this microscopic optic.  The challenge is tuning the focal point down too close where it can be felt like micromanaging.

 

Cancerian
Rain
John Constable, Seascape Study with Rain Cloud

Seven of Air – The Muse of Motivation comes when you need to be aware of the “why” behind what you do this week.  For each task to make a difference, it must be done with a considered purpose.  Otherwise, you will be motivated by outside sources instead of your own goals or ones that don’t align with your morals.

 

Leo
Rain
Turner. Rain, Steam and Speed

King of Water – The Muse of Emotions comes to help you navigate yours.  This week has a lot of feelings and your lesson with this Muse is how to moderate and negotiate with yours.   The challenge is not spilling them on others while you also bring them into the light to work with.  This is not a week to ignore your feelings or shut them down but to transmute them to be more helpful.   This week invite them in and discuss what your goals are and how they can help obtain them.  This muse relays examples like worry can be transmuted to hope and anger to passion.

 

Virgo
Gustave Caillebotte, The Yerres Effect of Rain

Seven of Earth – This week is all about Work.  The Muse of Labor comes when you need to focus on getting things off your to-do lists.  This energy paves the way to get things done if you have a list.  So put your work boots on and get to it.

 

Libra
Gerhard Richter, rain-1988

Page of Fire – The Muse of Sparks would like you to bring some passion back into your life.  She asks what truly, happily gets you going?   What makes your life worth living for?  This is the week to focus on what lights your fire.

 

Scorpio
Danie Wood, After Storm

Two of Air – Decision, decision, decisions.    The Muse of Choice comes when you need to readjust your direction. She advises you to follow your intuition more than logic this week.  This is less about the choice, left or right, and more about how you would feel on either path.

 

Sagittarius
Franz Marc In the Rain 1912

Ace of Water – New beginnings are available to you this week.  The Muse of the Heart would like you to call in your heart’s desire.  The challenge is this desire must be fresh, and it requires you to go with the flow to obtain it.  A great week for writing wishes and tossing them into a body of water.

 

Capricorn

Four of Earth – The Muse of Resources comes when you need to pay attention to yours.  This muse governs the resources of time, money, and space.  This is a great time to save or replenish these resources.  The challenge is you can spend but be careful not to over-spend.  Think quality over quantity.

 

Aquarius
Camille-Pissarro-Boulevard-Montmartre-Afternoon-in-the-Rain

Nine of Water – The Muse of Contentment is here to help you lower your expectations just a bit.  Maybe you think something should be moving faster or that you are missing just one more thing to make everything perfect. The interesting thing is that you have it pretty good this week if you dial back your expectations.  She would like you to realize “that you can’t always get what you want…but you might find you get what you need.”

 

Pisces
Mikhail Fiodorovich Larionov Rain

Eight of Earth – You got this week in the bag if you just focus on what you do best.  The Muse of Mastery comes when you are required to use your superpowers.  You might have to tweak them a bit to fit the situation, but you are ready for the challenge.

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of March 26, 2023

Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage Realization 1938

The artist this week is Augusta Savage. Savage was a sculptor, teacher, and community organizer.  Whether it is the crinkle of a shirt, the lines created by a body or the steady gaze of her piece John Henry, Savage’s sculptures are the essence of the sublime.   She brings natural beauty and emotions to her portrait sculptures, with a simple curve of the mouth or how we can feel the cold water the boy is about to jump into (see below).  This is the goal of portraits in all their forms, to not only portray a person but to engage us in our collective humanity.

Savage was a seminal artist.  Though an artist since her youth, it wasn’t until she was 29 when she was awarded a scholarship to Cooper Union in 1921, before 142 men on the waiting list.   Where she earned her 4-year degree in 3.  Then in 1929 and 1931 she was granted two fellowships in Paris.  In 1934 she became the first African American member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors and opened her own studio becoming an influential teacher in Harlem.

In 1937, she was asked to be the first director of the Harlem Community Art Center.   Also in 1937, Savage was one of four women and only two African Americans to receive a professional commission for her work to be included in the 1939 NY World’s Fair.  She spent two years creating Lift Every Voice and Sing (see Aries below), an homage to the influence of Black music in American culture.   But why do most of us not know her?  And if we do only know her through these smaller pieces.  What would not only Savage’s legacy, but our society be like if works like hers were not only in historical representation but also in the present public eye?

The above work is called Realization.  Though stunning, Savage was never able to bring it into the world, due to the absence of consistent funding and support for women artists, which still rings true today.  Realization is defined as an act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact. Only 11% of all acquisitions at 26 prominent US museums over the past decade were of work by women artists.  When will we truly realize as a society that there is not equal representation of women?  Not until we see fifty percent of what we support and see in any museums and public spaces are created by women, and not just in highlighted shows for Women’s month.

Your pondering for the week:   How can you better experience and implement a truer representation of equal representation in your life?

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Gemini – communication is key.   On Tuesday night it moves into Cancer – watch that your emotions don’t block your drive.  Then on Friday through the weekend the moon is in Leo, your time to play in the sun.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Taurus(grounding) – this is a 7-week course on being calm and focused as you convey your thoughts and intentions.  Mars (action), after its 7-month stay in Gemini, shifts our focus from creating action not reaction through communication, moves into Cancer.  Now instead of our mouth running the show are hearts are.  So, at its worst we can get very emotionally charged and overreact, and at its best we can consciously act on what our heart wants.   Venus (beauty and harmony) is also in Taurus until April 3rd.  This is where it loves to be.  It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

Jupiter (growth) is also in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action.  And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces.  So now all that work you did with structures, building and innovating them the past 5 years, it is time to make sure they are elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too flexy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish.  And lastly Pluto (the hidden, death, wealth, and shadow) moves into Aquarius giving us a 3-month 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 during this time.

***Signs with an * it is 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. and I have a new 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
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage Lift Every Voice and Sing

King of Water – The Muse of Emotions is challenging you to be the mature person in the room.  You are being asked to circumnavigate and direct others’ emotions out of the more shadowy lands that are laid out for you and yours this week.  That means you need to step up your compassion and speak from heartfelt empathy to gain any ground or consensus.

Taurus
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage The diving boy

Ten of Water – The Muse of Bliss is asking you to highlight what brings you joy this week.  First, she reminds you that you are successful in more than a few aspects of your life, and you need to honor those accomplishments.  Secondly, she asks you before you move to the new “next…”, take this week to have a bit of fun.

Gemini
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage

Two of Fire – The Muse of Future is asking you to take a moment this week and do some pondering on what your plans and intentions are for 2025?  She knows we are just ending month-three of 2023, but she asks  – are you doing what needs to be done to get to where you want to be by the end of next year?  This week is the perfect time to readjust if your actions and goals are not lined up, or you might find you need a whole new game plan.

Cancerian
Augusta Savage, John Henry

King of Fire – The Muse of Leading is calling you to take the lead this week.  She reminds you that being a leader does not mean having to do everything.  Delegation, teamwork, and cheerleading are vital.

Leo
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage

Nine of Air – Your second nine, so a little on that number.  Nines are about preparation.  Last week was about preparing your soul/fire to create a new spark.  This week you are asked to prepare your mind.  The Muse of Worry is here to help with your over-thinking.  Science has proven that worry and hope ignite the same part of the brain, so they are linked.  Why we worry is because we have an investment/hope for the future. However, where that goes haywire is when we continue to worry about possibilities that are beyond our control.  So, this week, focus only on the things you have actual control over and leave the rest to hope.

 

Virgo
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage

Five of Earth – Lat week had the potential for some storms and hopefully you were prepared for them.  This week you are dealing with the aftermath.  The Muse of Low Resources comes when your assets are at a low point.  This can be your energy, time, space and/or money.   She reminds you that you do not have to do this by yourself.  It is okay to be not okay this week.  You have friends and loved-ones that can give you a variety of resources, but it is up to you to ask for it.  And then not to feel less than for the asking.

Libra
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage The Musican

*Devil – This week can have a few deja’vu events for you.  The Muse of Tests comes to see if you have learned your lessons.  If you find yourself irritated, confused, lost, or tempted, she advises you to step back and think about the lesson behind the troubles.  You have already learned the lesson. You are just being asked to respond correctly to what has challenge you in the past.

 

Scorpio
Augusta Savage

Eight of Air – The Muse of Bondage comes to release you from old thought patterns that no longer work for you.  This can be as easy as an ah-moment or as complicated as feeling trapped.  However, you should pay attention to both those feelings, for this energy is highlighting negative inputs from others that you are holding onto. And it will help you finally find your sovereignty from these thoughts and situations.

Sagittarius
Augusta Savage Gamin

Six of Earth – The Muse of Pay Back is asking you to pay forward this week.  Whether that is paying for someone’s coffee or calling a friend or smiling at a stranger.  This week she asks you to emote as many positive vibes as possible out into the world.  For this muse will give you back positive energy three-fold.  The challenge with this muse is that the path of return is never direct or straight so keep your eyes open for money at your feet and smiles in the streets.

Capricorn
Augusta Savage
Augusta Savage The Singer

*Tower and Seven of Water – The Muse of Destruction and the Muses of Dreams are working together this week.  As a team they are asking you to lower your expectations of what you are dreaming.  Outside forces are not willing or able to work for your usual perfectly controlled outcomes or goals this week.  So, it is best to be as prepared as possible for twists and turns and then go with the flow.

Aquarius
Augusta Savage

Two of Water – So last week the Muse of Relations wanted you to focus on all your relationships.  Well, the energy has not switched that much this week.   The Muse of Love is now here and wanted you to invest some positive emotions into your closest relationships.  By filling your loved one’s cup, they can also fill yours.  And if it feels not equitable, now is the time to have a heart to heart around each other’s definitions of sharing and how you like affection to be given to you.

Pisces
Augusta Savage

Queen of Water – The Muse of Fun is asking you to have some.  You are taking life too seriously and this muse is advising to find friends and loved ones to do something fun or silly with.

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of March 19, 2023

Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson Night-Flight

Happy Spring and Happy Birth-month to Aries

Louise Nevelson is the artist of the week as we leave winter and enter into spring. Nevelson tenacity helped her surmount the sexism and ageism of the art world that still reverberates today.  At 42 she had her first solo-show, and her big break came when she was 60 when she was included in the “Sixteen Americans” at the MOMA in 1959.  She is best known for her large monochromatic abstract assemblages made from street salvage remnants of urban life: baseball bats, milk crates, driftwood, picture frames, toolboxes, cardboard, toilet seats, newel posts and gingerbread carvings etc….   She also designed jewelry, painted, drew, and used textiles in lithography.  Her themes are often around marriage, royalty, the cosmos, mortality, and displacement. But her most astonishing aspect of her work and her life is the ability create a new existence out of a death, much like what spring does every year.

Your pondering for the week:    How does ageism effect your life? What can you bring to life that society has cast off?

 

Solar System highlights

This week the moon begins in Pisces – start your week intuitively.   On Tuesday night there is a new moon in Aries – great time for new projects.  Then on Friday thru the weekend the moon is in Taurus, plant your seeds, play outdoors, and make time for family outings.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Aries – watch your tone when trying to push through a project or get your point across.  Especially since Mars (action) is in its last week of a 7-month journey in Gemini (communication and knowledge).  Mars is pushing us to truthfully talk and follow up with actions.  The challenge with this time is your politeness filter has been switched off.  So, it is having us double down on how to be constructive with our voice – to promote action not reaction.  Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Taurus until April 3rd.  This is where it loves to be.  It wants us to indulge our senses especially with the natural world.

Jupiter (growth) is also in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action.  And Saturn (structures) is in its two-year stint in Pisces.  So now all that work you did with structures, building and innovating them the past 5 years, it is time to make sure they are elastic and responsive to change.  The challenge is our boundaries can get too flexy or have gaps, so we need to work on being flexible but resilient, think like bamboo or jellyfish.

 

***Signs with an * it is 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. and I have a new 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
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

Four of Air – The Muse of Refresh comes when you are not realizing how depleted you are.  She advises to take time this week to unplug, slow down, and recharge your battery.  She reminds you this is the beginning of your birth month and before you soar into your new year you need time to wind down, check your engines and refuel.

 

Taurus
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

Eight of Air – So last week was a bit of a bear and now you may feel a bit stuck.  Aspects of your life and/or perspective might be holding you back.  The Muse of Bondage comes to help you untie yourself from these limiting thoughts.  She asks what can you do just this week to lighten the atmosphere?   The way to get untangled is to untie one knot at a time.

 

Gemini
Louise Nevelson

Seven of Air – The Muse of Hope has come to help you through the miasma of this week.  She advises to break your tasks into small doable chunks.  By focusing on the one step in front of you, you will gain more success than trying to navigate the broader fogger landscape.

 

Cancerian
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

King of Earth – The Muse of Grounding has come to help you get done whatever you focus on.  She does require that you have a to-do list.  Once you have a good plan the process will come with ease.

 

Leo
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

Nine of Fire – This week will require that you need to power through an aspect of your life or project that is just not flowing.  The Muse of Perseverance invites you to understand and flex how resilient you are.  All fire signs have this amazing ability to create energy from the smallest spark. Time to gather some tinder and create the fire within.

 

Virgo
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

*Tower – So, this week has some powerful forces that you have no control over.  The Muse of Fortification is here to advise.  She recommends first to survey your surroundings and see if you see any fault lines, underlying stress fractures or structures that need to be reinforced.  Secondly, fix them.  Then lastly if the storm becomes a tempest, batten down the hatches until it blows over and deal with the reconstruction after the storm.

 

Libra
An American Tribute to the British People 1960-4 Louise Nevelson 1899-1988 Presented by the artist 1965 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T00796

*Star – After last week you all need this energy.  The Muse of Healing has come to help heal and restore your body, mind, and spirit.  This Muse will help illuminate the positive aspects of your surroundings and guide you to places of solace and joy.  The only thing you need to do is accept it.  She advises sitting on the couch and watch comedies interspersed with naps throughout your week.  As an old Irish proverb says:  A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.

 

Scorpio
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson atmosphere and environment

*Judgement – Hopefully the Muse of Destruction made last week a light rainstorm instead of a cyclone of trouble.  Either way the Muse of Evolution is here to uplift you to the next transformation.   Take this week to look what was torn down and how would you make it better.  If last week was smooth sailing, then look to oiling what is creaking.  The keys to this week are improving ease and evolving to the next phase.

 

Sagittarius
Louise Nevelson Sky Cathedral

*Hierophant – The Muse of Tradition is here to point out that an aspect of your day-to-day structures has become antiquated. Now is the time to create a new tradition, ritual, or practice.   Take advantage of this Aries new moon with Saturn in Pisces pushing flexibility and update your tenets to serve you better.

 

Capricorn
Louise Nevelson

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Productivity is here to push yours.  This is a great energy to use to strike off items on your to-do list or start new projects if you have extra time to kill.    Your song:  Super Model (You better Work)   by RuPaul

 

Aquarius
Louise Nevelson Wedding chapel

*Lovers – The Muse of Relations is here to get you to focus on all your relationships.  Take this week to get in touch with loved ones and deepen your connections. This is not always easy for air signs; you still need your space.  And this Muse is not asking you to give it up totally but try to stay on the ground when you do interact.   So, you can give your loves some focused attention.

 

Pisces
Louise Nevelson
Louise Nevelson

Seven of Waters – The Muse of Dreams is here to have you work with yours.  For some of you, you need to dream wider and bigger.  For others you need to turn down your expectations.  And this muse has the same advice for both of you.  Ground yourself and focus on the emotion you want to feel more than the object you want to obtain.