Barbara Kruger uses contemporary mass media and its strategies to create sexual, social, and political messages.  She challenges the viewer to examine stereotypes, classism, gender roles, social relationships, political issues, constructs of power, identity, consumerism, and sexuality.  Most of her work consists of black and white photographs overlaid with bold captions.  Kruger did the above piece 19 years ago in 1991. Her pieces are even more relevant now, even in the context of race, because she pulls her images from mass media where the lack of POC voice still challenges us as a society.

I normally let the pieces speak for themselves, but I would like to share why I particularly picked the above piece as my hero shot.  Yesterday there was a lot of hate rhetoric around the celebration of July 4^th.  Though I agree with the anger behind it, I fear we might be losing the hope and sentiment that those 13 colonies fought for, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.   I have lived in a place where at the time woman where not allowed to drive or vote.  So, when I came back, I had a new respect for America’s quest as a nation.

So, are we still asking these questions Kruger poses? Yes!  But we are also in a system where we can and should always ask them. For this questioning helps us in aligning our government and our citizenship with equality and humanity. Just look at what is happening now to freedom of speech in Hong Kong or Russia.  Do not let our pride in our concept of America create contempt for our fellow compatriots, the nations within this nation, or the nations that we co-habituate with on Earth.  Keep asking these questions of identity, society, who is holding the power, and strive for the truths that are said below.  For in a true Democracy the power is with its people.

Below is the preamble to the Declaration of the Independence (with a few words tweaked- which is my unalienable right).  Re-read it, for it is still a very powerful statement for a creed on how to live and govern.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men Humanity, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind humans are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

P.S. Signs with an * it 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.

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

Nina

 

Aries

*Death – Another high energy week for you.  The past couple of weeks’ focuses had you pondering your purpose and aligning your plans of action to that that purpose.  However, before you take your steps into this new landscape, the energy this week is wanting you to slough off the old.  Do a thorough cleansing of body, mind, and spirit of all that feels dusty and of no use.  This can look as easy as cleaning your house and/or doing a full body scrub.  Or this can be as challenging as letting go of old habits or mind sets that are no longer relevant or useful.

 

Taurus

Nine of Wands – The energy this week is perseverance.  Make your boundaries strong and follow through on what work needs to get done.  This is a great week to complete projects and/or conversations.  The challenges with this energy are feeling overwhelmed, hyper-vigilant and/or defensive.   You can make a boundary without making it life or death.  You can be prepared but you can not control the outcome.

 

Gemini

Three of Wands – This is your second week of threes, so a quick check in with that numerology.  Threes are stability through expansion.  Last week you were advised to reach out to friends to fill your cups.  This week the focus is expanding your dreams and faith will be its stabilizing force.  Things will get better; the universe is working behind the scenes.  However, it is up to visualize what you want in the future.  This imagining helps the universe include you in the plans.

 

Cancer

Queen of Wands – This week the energy is giving you a bit of a birth month reminder.  You are here for the soul purpose of being you.  The energy summons your creativity, self-expression, self-acceptance, and compassion.  The challenge is asking: What edges do you want to explore?  This is a great week to set those intentions and inspirations for your coming birth year.

 

Leo

Four of Wands – This week’s energy is designed to connect with home and family.  Take this time to give a nod to those family groups that surround you.  Also is a great time to find moments where you can nestle into your den and curl up with your favorite form of entertainment and cup of fluid.  This is a nesting type of energy use it to acknowledge and hang with your pride.

 

Virgo

Four of Cups – Use the energy that surrounds you well this week by pondering, meditating, and seeing the bigger picture/purpose/cycles.  The challenge is that this energy can also feel like quicksand if you do not tether yourself with hope.  If you can see your place in the bigger picture, that the arc of evolution is long and heads towards the positive, then you can use this pause to hone your talent of visualization and creativity while being in the moment of stillness.

 

Libra

*Emperor – The energy that surrounds you this week is manifestation.  This is a great time to build and expand your empire.  One challenge is that you need to lead, and therefore you making decisions solo.  Thus, making your go-tos of compromise and negotiation nearly impossible.   And the other challenge, though for you all might be joy, is your creation must be for the greater good of those around you.  Go get things done.

 

Scorpio

*Justice – This week’s energy has you utilizing the concepts of cause and effect and/or big karmic.  Take this week to ponder and plan is your life-path aligning with your integrity and your goals.  However, this week is not time for big action.  But it is perfect for imagining your choices, what path they will lead you to in 2021, and taking small steps in the now to get closer to your soul path.  Side note: For any of you about to do legal stuff or contracts get it ready this week make sure all is in order and works to your goals, so you can jump once Mercury is out of retro on July 12^th.

 

Sagittarius

*Temperance – Another big energy week for you.  Last week your muse asked you to explore the physical, mental, or spiritual plane.  This week the energy turns to harmony, balance, and patience.  If you can accomplish this Zen like composure you will attract/see meaningful events and people.  Enhance attributes and circumstance that bring you that sense of Ah.

 

Capricorn

Five of Cups – The energy this week can come at you a bit hard and you might just be a bit sensitive to it.  The key to this week is to let your emotions out like the rain but look for the silver lining in every cloud. This is not being Polly-anna but a nod to the emotions you are feeling without them sweeping you away.

 

Aquarius

*Hermit – Deep thoughts are useful this week.  Now is the time to process and learn from your experiences since your last birthday.  You might have to pull away from the masses to do this kind of work.  The keys to enlightenment are in the simple things you do daily.  Find the extraordinary in the ordinary.  Listen not only to your inner muses but also wise words can come from people passing by.  Ears and heart open; mind sharp.

 

Pisces

Ten of Wands – This week take advantage of the energy of ending cycles.  For those items that are no longer of use, let them go.  For those items that are too burdensome, delegate them.  Simplify so you can focus on what is a priority and move that to completion.