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

nature photography
Amet Eshel Nubian Ibex

Happy birth month Taurus!

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

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

Solar System highlights

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

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

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

EXTRA

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

**** I am experimenting.   I have switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire.  Also, I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards.  So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).

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

Nina

 

Aries
nature photography
Tracey Lund – Gannets

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

 

Taurus
nature photography
Miki Spitzer – Iceland glacier

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

 

Gemini
nature photography
Jouni Erola – Swan

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

 

Cancer
Bill Klipp Sally Light Foot Crabs

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

 

Leo
nature photography
John Seager – Marine Iguana and Lava Lizard

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

 

Virgo
nature photography
Richard Lee Cheetah

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

 

Libra
nature photography
Chatree Lertsintanakorn – Thismia thaithongiana

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

 

Scorpio
nature photography
Ivan Pedretti – Iceland

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

 

Sagittarius
nature photography
Nicholas Remy Angler Fish

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

 

Capricorn
Rafal Dymarkowski -Frog

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

 

Aquarius
Giovanni Crisafulli – Jellyfish

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

 

Pisces
Philip Hamilton – Humpback Whale

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