I often use the idiom waiting for the other shoe to drop. This saying comes from late 1800s tenement life. Because of the shoddy construction and floor layout of tenements, tenants below would hear one shoe hitting the floor then wait with baited breath for the other shoe to fall loudly above their head. I use this phrase by its definition to await a seemingly inevitable event, especially one that is not desirable. I use it to represent my anxiety and all of its negative connotations.

However, I have changed my idea around this saying after over 20 years of living in a variety of apartments. Good and bad things go along with apartment dwelling. One thing that always comes with it is noise. And I have come to love the noise. It makes me feel comfortable to hear the sounds of humanity around me. I now can tell which neighbor is coming up the stairs and sometimes depending on the steps I can tell if they have had a hard day. I have come to associate the sound of the other shoe dropping with a sense of comfort and kinship. Now when I hear that inevitable sound, I realize that my neighbor has gotten home safely and is about to relax. Instead of holding my breath and feeling dread waiting for the other shoe to drop, I now let out a sigh of relief.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Eight of Swords – The Moon’s lessons from last week – to lighten up the dark – continues with the Eight of Swords. This week look for thoughts and ideas that are binding you. It is time to bring those self-defeating thoughts out of the dark unconscious, so they are not so scary.

Taurus – King of Pentacles – Back to work with the King of Pentacles. The challenge with this King is procrastination, so your goal is to have some product to show off by the end of the week.

Gemini – Three of Swords – Last week, The Emperor had you materialize ways or things that can make your life better, and in so doing you found some roads blocks. You will be dealing with those this week with the Three of Swords. The challenge this week to discern and then fix three things that bar your progress.

Cancer – Ace of Wands – The Sun’s light continues to shine on you with the Ace of Wands. The Ace of Wands challenges you to grow or create something new. This week continues to do your own art, listen to music, get more nature in your life, and make some wonder in your life.

*Leo – The Magician – The Magician’s lessons are around experimentation. This week your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to play and experiment with different components of your life. Have a dinner party and bring together people who wouldn’t normally hang out, or introduce new foods to your diet. No matter what you choose to do, it’s a week to mix things up.

Virgo – Two of Wands – The Two of Wands card is the betwixt card, which is defined as in a middle or unresolved position. The challenge with this card is that you are at a stopping point. Whether this is self created or an environmental stop, it is a time to reflect, see how far you have come, and evaluate where you are going. Remember this life is either a series of sprints, a marathon or a mixer of the two. No matter which race you are running each of them take strategy and a sense of your terrain to run well.

*Libra – Strength – This week Strength is here to remind you to strengthen your inner core. Your challenge this week is to literally do Pilates or crunches to strengthen your core muscles, or strengthen your immune system with an extra dose of vitamins, sunlight or even a massage. This is a week to be in your body and/or heart and take care of the areas you feel that have weakened over the past 2 months.

*Scorpio – Justice – OK, you are back in the ring again with Justice. Justice challenges you this week with your timing and your inclination to pass judgment. This is a good week for filing taxes, doing paperwork, working on legal matters, or anything that has rules and regulations. This is not a week to say or do things outside the box, or pass judgments on others, for the sword of Justice may turn on you instead of hitting the appropriate target.

Sagittarius – Five of Wands – Chaos rules this week with the Five of Wands. The challenge around the Five of Wands is to go with the flow instead of against it. Visualize yourself riding a killer wave with ease and joy.

*Capricorn – Hermit – Another big week but this is less about tying up loose ends and more about re-grouping. Both Justice and the Hermit have lessons around timing. Justice is trusting and allows things to flow naturally, and the Hermit stands back and sees the timing of bigger cycles in your life. You will need to get some alone time this week to mediate and/or think. The Hermit advises that another way to see anew or focus is to blur your eyes, as in meditation and yoga directive to soften the eyes.

*Aquarius – Justice – Justice’s lesson is that all things end up fair in the end. The challenge with this card is understanding when to take part in the application of Justice and when to let things play out. A gentle reminder to you with this card: be careful of “throwing the first stone” before making sure you have not yourself “sinned” at some point. However, this is a great week to create and work on your own rules and regulations or deadlines with paperwork, taxes or with the law.

Pisces – Seven of Wands – I want to remind you of last week’s card, Strength. In 2017, your challenge and focus will be to strengthen your convictions and actions to become a Power Pisces. As a matter of fact, I recommend putting “Power Pisces” on your refrigerator, because this week is going to have many distractions you might just forget your goals. So set your goals for the week and do not let the distractions take you off course. This is one of your first steps to becoming a Power Pisces.

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

Nina