I have a thing for octopuses as you know if you have been reading this blog for awhile. So, of course I was drawn to this woodcarving above by Jeffrey Michael Samudsky. This piece is a replica of an Enteroctopus dofleini, Giant Pacific Octopus. JMS carved it from a single fallen Redwood. On his site you can see the process and how he work with and left many parts of the natural curve of the tree. He does most of his work with a chain saw, but his artwork goes farther than what you typically see on roadsides traveling through tiny towns of the Northeast. His pieces seem to personify the majesticness of not only the tree but also the animals he is carving. Many of his of his pieces riff off of the traditional art form of totem poles.
Totem poles are an indigenous art form of the Pacific Northwest Americas. They were carved out of the Giant Cedar tree, though due to the North Pacific weather few examples still exist before the 1900’s. Before the 1700’s and the introduction of iron and steel tools, they were carved with tools made from stone, shells or beaver teeth. The carvings symbolized the ancestors, clan lineages, notable events, cultural beliefs, myth and legends of that group. They were also used as architectural supports, welcoming signs to guests, or held the remains of ancestors. Though some of them were used for a way to ridicule a person or group who had done that clan wrong. So in essence, Totem poles were the highway billboards of today.
P.S. Please share. Also, I have put up another quote to download for your vision board. Enjoy.
Aries – Ace of Swords
Pulling an Ace of Swords foretells that the decisions you make ripple out into the next year. So take time to think through any decisions this week, even little ones. Think Butterfly Effect.
Taurus – Two of Pentacles
The Two of Pentacles is the card of balance. This card advice you to pick and then balance out juggling two of the main needs/projects in your life before you add in any more.
Gemini – Three of Cups
Last week, the Star card asked you to bring a little self-compassion and care into your life or challenged you to dive into your soul and heal karmic wounds so you can carry on with life a lot lighter. The Three of Cups continues this theme but asks you to search out close friends for support while doing this.
Cancer – Seven of Wands
The Seven of Wands is about expanding and contracting one’s passion. This week be aware of how your environment tries to get you to react. Your challenge is to be proactive and not reactive.
*Leo – Chariot
The Chariot says now is the time to start moving into your new year in a balanced, conscious and determined way. You all have until November 8, 2018. While the nodes, in Leo and Aquarius, are pushing you to make the changes you want to care on for the next 18.5 years.
*Virgo – Magician
The Magician is your first karmic card for the coming year. He represents the experimenter, the divine creator. The Magician asks: what do you want to pull down from the divine into the real world? Your challenge is to make sure what you manifest in the coming year aligns not only your passions but also with your morals.
Libra – Six of Wands
The Six of Wands wants you to enjoy the bounty that surrounds you. Your challenge is to make sure more than you benefits from it. Sharing is caring.
Scorpio – Knight of Swords
The Knight of Swords advice to you is to slow down and notice what is going on around you. There is information, that due to your chaotic life, you are missing. Your challenges – slow your roll and look left and right before crossing the road. Side note this can also mean to be careful not hurting your extremities.
Sagittarius – King of Cups
The King of Cups wants us to open your arms and give everyone a bear hug. Your challenge this week is making as many people in your life smile and feel comfortable in your presence. The goal of this card is to make you better gauge how your emotions affect others.
*Capricorn – Empress
The Empress is not the easiest card for Capricorns. This card challenges you to turn on your sensuous mojo. And this is hard because you all want to be practical or have an outcome while doing it. Asking how will this effort give me physical results? Well sensuality is about feelings and your senses. So the simple way to “turn on” is eat your favorite meal or drink and really savor it- take at least an hour to take in your nutrients. Or a more complex and challenging way is spend all day in bed with the one you love and involve all your senses.
Aquarius – Eight of Pentacles
The Eight of Pentacles is the card of mastery. Take this week to hone your skills and get better at what you already know.
Pisces – Eight of Cups
The Eight of Cups ask you to let go of emotions that no longer serve you and strength the ones you that do. An easy exercise to do this process is throw eight things away you no longer need.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
Take this last week of summer and enjoy yourself with the Page of Cups. This card wants you to get a fresh outlook on what is going on in your life right now. Try to have the perspective of a child who is discovering something for the first time, where everything is new and amazing.
The Knight of Swords warns you not to rush into anything this week. Take things slow; consider all aspects before moving ahead. Usually when this card shows up you are moving too fast and are missing some important pieces to the puzzle. Or you are literally just not watching where you are going and can bruise your extremities or mess up projects.
The Ten of Wands tells you that this week might feel like an uphill battle. It will be full of responsibilities. Your challenge is to figure out which ones are yours and which are others, and then make the conscious choice as to which you will do first.
The Page of Pentacles is the card of the student. Take time to learn something new. The area where you need to do your studies is in the material plane: your work or environment.
The Queen of Pentacles is the gardener of the deck. You need to tend to your personal environment. These activities for example are deep cleaning part of your home, putting up shelves, stock your pantry, or gardening. The challenge is enjoying the space you are creating.
The Four of Swords would like you to take a respite. For some, you will need to take time out to reconsider something and for others you will just need the rest.
This week is a two card week and that means that there is a couple of messages for Leos. For all Leos, it is a week to do some investigative work. There are messages that are hidden out there. They just need you to do a little digging to find them. And for some of you this info will help you with what has been worrying you. The challenge is realizing what to actual worry about and what is just in your head.
Last week, the High Priestess challenged you to see the bigger picture while seeing the synchronicities in the details. This week the Ten of Pentacles shifts you from watching to doing. This is a great week to finish projects, which is appropriate for Virgos, because you are in your wind down month before your birthday. The challenge is finishing things you don’t want to carry into another year.
The Seven of Pentacles is the card of hard work. This week is a nose to the grind-stone week. The challenge is that the work you do is more of a long-term investment than an immediate return. But it will be worth the wait.
Okay, two cards for you again this week. Last week Hierophant came to the rescue advising you the more organized and prepared you are the easier it will be to navigate in and around the chaos. The Queen of Swords continues this theme that prep and strategy will be needed this week. And Justice comes in to warn you that things are more black and white then what they seem. Your challenge with both cards is not to be too harsh or cold to those around you or yourself.
The Six of Cups has two parts. One is that the past holds some important information for you to use this week, so no need to create new tricks. And the second is you need to take a child-like view to freshen your perspective. This card advises, if you have forgotten how to freshen up your point of view, get on the floor, color outside the lines, spin in circles or go swinging.
The Eight of Pentacles wants you to feel and practice your mastery this week. This is not a week to learn new tricks but hone the ones you already have.
The Two of Rods foretells success though it also involves a lot of waiting. The challenge is keeping busy during the waiting periods. This is a great time to catch up on your to do lists, read or start little projects.
The Page of Wands comes around when your Awe meter is low. Your challenge this week is get yourself into nature, go to a museum, a music show or anything that has to do with nature or art. Your passion for life needs to be re-lit. Life is good Pisces you just need to be reminded.
The Nine of Wands is about perseverance. For some reason this week you believe you need to take on more than you actually need to do. You have nothing to prove about your strength or your can do ideas of how you run your life. This card challenges you to lay just one thing aside this week to lighten you load. And for some of you rams you literally need to be careful of straining your back.
The Nine of Swords is the card of worry. Worry is just an aspect of fear. Take this week to look at your fears and see if there is any truth in them in the here and now not the past and future. Then take action with the present worries, and let the past and future worries disperse in the mist of unchangeable and uncertain.
Where last week collaboration was the key, this week the Nine of Pentacles says you get more done alone or with just a chosen few. Your challenge is to see your successes and bask in them before you get back to work.
The Page of Cups is the card of innocence. The challenge with this card is seeing things with fresh eyes and if you do you will find the solution or answer you need. If you are having a hard time with this – hang out with children, watch Anne with an E, or anything out of Miyazaki’s animation studio.
The journey continues with the Knight of Pentacles. The Knight of Pentacles means you are on the right path and your challenge is to get into the grove of your personal pace. All the Knights (movement) are all easy cards for your sign, so enjoy the journey and the wind in your hair.
The Six of Rods advises you to take a moment this week to notice how far you come from the beginning of this year. This is your half way point from your birth year. The challenge is not to sit on your laurels, but to ask what am I going to do with the next 6 months.
Companionship is the key this week. You have been out of the loop. It is time to call old friends and lift the glass even if it’s on FaceTime.
The Six of Swords’ lesson is about lightening the load that you carry with you. Whether that is mental or physical, you need to prioritize and hone down what you are carrying into your future. One thing with this card is that being by water can help in this process.
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