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 17^th 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 9^th 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

*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

*The Chariot – Last week the Hanged Man had you take a time out and work on piddling– the 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

Seven 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

Ten 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

*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