Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Aug 25, 2019

Above is the iconic photograph Glass Tears by Man Ray.  He was born on August 27, 1890, a Virgo.  Not only did he influence fashion photography, he was also a painter, film-maker, collagist and sculptor but as he said I have finally freed myself from the sticky medium of paint and am working directly with light itself.  His exploration of photography and film became the birthplace in making his dreams a reality.  I would photograph an idea rather than an object, a dream rather than an idea.

That freedom is seen in how he styles the photograph and plays with techniques.  Like his technique of rayographs, placing a variety of objects and parts of himself and models on sheets of photosensitive paper and then exposing them to light.  Where his image of a spring (see Sagittarius)  highlights the concept of movement and three dimensions in one still image.  He begs the viewer not to judge his work solely on technique or to just see the subject in one dimension but expand your awareness and curiosity by prompting you to ask the why within the image.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Virgo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Pisces 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

Man RayKnight of Swords – Last week the Page advised finding out more information before moving forward. Now with that information, the Knight of Swords pronounces moving ahead but taking your time thinking before action. This is a week to slow down in general for you will miss vital information or missteps.  This card’s practical application also warns, watch out that you don’t hurt your extremities.  Look both ways when you cross the street.  Curl your fingers in when you cut veggies and be careful when you are walking.

Taurus

Man Ray*High Priestess – Last week the Chariot, card of change that you are sole responsible for, pulled up to give you another chance to make transformations happen around areas that you want to alter.  Now the High Priestess shows up advising that you need to do some deep reference work on the how and why of your changes.  The great thing about this card is, if you ask for signs from the heavens, she can scry you some answers either in your dreams, synchronicities or in deep contemplation.  This can look as simple as you need a new plumber for that drip in your bathroom sink, you see a black cat in the window, then you google a plumber near you and see one named Black Cat Plumbing.  Or as complex as doing dream work with your desires.  Motto: Insight and inspiration comes from many sources.

Gemini

Man Ray*Hanged Man – Last week, the Devil card came to test you on who you are and what you stand for.  This week the Hanged Man keeps you in a purgatory like state to let you contemplate how you were triggered last week.  You need to see the patterns and/or places that are working against you.  You can blame your failure on others, or you can see that maybe the game you have willingly played is rigged.  Time to figure out what really is important in your life and how you want to be seen in the world.  Take this week to center back to who you really are.

Cancer

Man Ray

Eight of Coins – The Eight of Coins is the card of mastery.  This week your focus should be around how to work smarter not harder.  This week do not start new projects but tweak and oil what is already in process.

Leo

Eight of Swords – Your thoughts get in your way this week.  The Eight of Swords advises to stop over analyzing a situation.  If you let old thought patterns go, you will make room for feelings that are more helpful then harmful.

Virgo

Ace of Wands – Last week you all got your first big card for your birth-year, the Strength card.   This card comes to help you ground yourself and acknowledge your resilience, self-compassion, and mental acuity.  By 2020’s birthday you will feel more comfortable in you own skin.  This week, the Ace of Wands joins the Strength Card having you strike the match to create passion in your life.  This year has the potential for new beginnings.  The question for you to answer is what is your deep desire?   Then write it on a scrap of paper and burn it on the Virgo moon, August 28th or 29th.  And then let the Universe finds ways to gift it to you in the coming year.

Libra

Page of Cups – Time to get out your rose-colored glasses.  The Page of Cups advises to look at the events and people in your life this week with compassion and empathy.  Everyone needs a little love.  The challenge with this card is being vulnerable enough to receive the love back.

Scorpio

Six of Wands – The Six of Wands is the card of victory.  Take this week to see all that you have accomplished and pat yourself on the back.  The only challenge with this card is even though you deserve this break and win, be aware that the battle is not yet totally won.

Sagittarius

Man Ray*The Magician – The Magician is the card of bringing the divine down into the material plane.  It is a great week to create! This can look as simple as making an exquisite meal that delights the senses.  Or as complex as writing the next great novel.  Then only challenge with this card is that your creation must have meaning behind.  This is not a week for mundane chores and to-do list.  If you reach with a higher purpose you will be able to grasp the brass ring.

Capricorn

Page of Wands – The Page of Wands comes when you need to create or live with a flourish of passion.  This card shows up to re-ignite your purpose and enhance your innovation. If you are not vibing with this energy or your muse has gone on vacation.  Time to immerse your self in the arts, music or nature to realign yourself with your passion.

Aquarius

Two of Coins – This week can get out of balance.  The challenge is figure out what you need to do to stop your internal and/or external vertigo.  This card suggests juggling one thing well before picking up another.  Or even better, don’t multitask at all this week.

Pisces

Queen of Wands – Last week the Tower, card of change coming from an outside source, shook up something that was not working.  But if you were proactive in initiating the change, the Tower promised it would lessen the blow.  So, if you did nothing and shit hit the fan, the Queen of Wands advises to use your intuition to help clean up the mess this week.  If you did initiate the change, then she helps by staking out the easier path with the breadcrumbs of synchronicities. Making you surer of the path you are now on and more instinctive with every step.  Either way your Spidey Sense is key this week.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Aug 18, 2019

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field

This week’s artist is Helen Frankenthaler an abstract painter.  She is one of the artists who developed the Color Field painting style which emerged in the 40’s and 50’s.  Color Field painting is related to abstract expressionism and many people including Helen started in this style.  But Color Field artists started to move from color expressing feelings or emotions to color becoming the object itself.  This style is characterized by large fields of flat solid color spread or stained into the canvas.  Though many artists expanded upon this idea using a variety of methods and mediums like spray paint, oils, acrylics and in Helen’s case woodblock prints.

Frankenthaler’s goal was to have each piece look like it happened at once.  A really good picture looks as if it’s happened at once. It’s an immediate image. For my own work, when a picture looks labored and overworked, and you can read in it—well, she did this and then she did that, and then she did that—there is something in it that has not got to do with beautiful art to me. And I usually throw these out, though I think very often it takes ten of those over-labored efforts to produce one really beautiful wrist motion that is synchronized with your head and heart, and you have it, and therefore it looks as if it were born in a minute.

Above is her piece Madame Butterfly which is consider her masterpiece in technique, the print took 102 different colors and 46 woodblocks to make. Not only does it show her mastery of woodblock printing but also represents her idea of creating an image that looks as if it just appears like magic.  I find her goal much like the one we strive for in life.  When we look back at our lives, one should not just see it as a series of events, but a true life lived is seeing those actions as a whole – a soul’s journey.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Virgo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

 

Aries

Helen Frankenthaler Page of Swords – This week is about information gathering.  The Page of Swords is the card of truth.  Though to obtain that truth one will have to do some undercover work.  When this card shows up ask questions and listen closely to the answers.  The truth does not lie on the surface.

 

 

Taurus

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*Chariot – Lol, you all got the Chariot, card of change, two weeks ago.  This repeat of cards happens for two reasons. Either it has come by again picking up where you left off, or you didn’t take up the reins last time and you get a do-over.  The Chariot proclaims again that it is time to make transformations happen around areas that you want to alter, and it is your sole responsibility in powering that change.  I highly suggest you take up the reins and make stuff happen.  Life rarely gives us do-overs.  Motto:  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Ghandi

 

Gemini

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*Devil – The Devil card comes when one is getting tested around who you are and what you stand for.  This week plays out like finals week.  You have gone through all the hardships.  And now situations and people will test you around your resolves.  This can look as simple as a co-worker asking you out for lunch when you are trying to save cash, or boss asking you to work another long day or weekend when your child hasn’t had time with you all week.  Or this can be as complex as speaking up when you see/hear discrimination happening at the bus stop. You will have to walk your talk.

 

Cancer

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldSix of Swords – The last two weeks have been all work and no play.  This week the Six of Swords still has movement, but advises that you need to step back, gain some perspective and simplify your process/life.  You need this paring down so you can be more focused.   Also, this is a great week to hang in or around a water source.

 

Leo

Five of Wands – The Five of Wands ends your birth month with a bit of chaos.  This week is just a hint of some things you need to focus on and straighten out in the coming year.  On a positive note with all that isn’t working and bring chaos into your life this week, you have a whole year to lay the foundations and structures. By 2020 birthdate you can begin to create your empire on what you accomplish this year.

 

Virgo

Helen Frankenthaler Color Field*Strength – Right out of the gate your first big card for the coming birth year.  The Strength card helps you ground yourself and acknowledge your resilience, self-compassion, and mental acuity.  This year you will have opportunities to show you how far you have come.  That though you have been bent you have never broken.  By 2020’s birthday you will feel more comfortable in you own skin.  And to do so the best exercises are ones that keep you in your body.  If you don’t have those practices this is the week to start them.  This can look like doing body scan meditations each night, learning how to rock climb, or start journaling.  Just find a way to notice how you walk and feel on the Earth in the day to day.

 

Libra

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldEight of Pentacles – The Eight of Pentacles is the card of mastery or bettering your skills at how you make money.   This week is not about learning new things but more about tweaking, so you work smarter not harder.

 

Scorpio

Helen FrankenthalerThe Seven of Cups – Last week, the Hanged Man card of stagnation and inertia ruled the roost.  This week with the Seven of Cups movement is still on hold.  But where last week the goal was using the time-out enjoying whatever life brought you or listening in silence to your inner voice for some enlightened contemplation.  This week’s card suggests your contemplation focusing on your dreams.  The goal is to investigate if you are dreaming big enough while at the same time making sure you are not being delusional.  Motto: head in the clouds – feet on the ground.

 

Sagittarius

Helen Frankenthaler Color FieldFive of Pentacles– Two fives in a row, so first lets stress fives represent chaos.  So last week it was looking at emotional chaos.  This week the Five of Pentacles are focusing on loss on the material plane.   This can be as simple as you misplace your keys or wallet. But it also can be complex as loosing time or losing confidence in your work.  The big way to work through this week is asking for help.  I know you all like to do things on your own, but four hands or eyes are better than two.

 

Capricorn

Nine of Cups – Last week, the Empress wanted you to start planting seeds for projects/relationships you want to produce in 10 months. While challenging you that you must commit to it for the next 10 months to get a well-formed outcome, and it must have a component of helping others.   Well the Nine of Cups continues that theme of growth and is begging you to drop your perfectionism down a half a notch this week.  Remember this “project/s” is supposed to represent how you want to grow and what you want to grow.  And no “baby” can grow without the freedom of learning from missteps.

 

Aquarius

King of Wands – The King of Wands comes to remind you how special you are.  You have gone through a lot this past year.  And this week you can build upon your successes. This is a week for you to take back some control you may have given away.

 

Pisces

*Tower – The Tower is the card of change that comes from an outside source, to shake up something that is not working.  This is the energy of Kali, goddess of destruction and rebirth.  There are a couple ways to deal with this card.  One way is do nothing, let the shaking happen and deal with the aftermath.  The Second way is to say, “nope I would like not to deal with this”, some tiny shit will hit the fan and this card will come back around with more force next time.  Or lastly see what needs to be changed and initiate that change before an outside source does.  This is as simple as seeing that engine light on your dashboard lit up and then getting your car fixed this week.  Or as complex as seeing that your relationship is not based on equality and having a discussion about it.

 

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

Nina

 

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Aug 11, 2019

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"

They say when life gives you lemons make lemonade.  But what if the lemons are bad?  The artist this week is painter Deborah Passmore.  Above and below are her watercolors of fruits and nuts when she worked for the US Department of Agriculture in Pomology. Her collection and others are stored in the national Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland or online in the USDA Pomological Watercolor collection.

Pomology is the science of growing fruit.  And at the turn of the 1900’s US agriculture was making its mark in the newer domestic and international market of fruits and nuts.   So, the USDA hired over 50 artists from 1886 to 1942 to document and help standardize the variety of fruits and nuts growing in the US.  The USDA did not only want examples of the perfect fruit but also needed farmers to see mis-shaped, or rotten fruit from being mishandle, stored or shipped incorrectly.

Passmore quickly went up the ranks at the beginning of this endeavor became the head of the art staff in the Division of Pomology and was the most prolific illustrator.  She was known to do as many as 100 washes to get the right texture of the specimen.  Her watercolors are now seen as a national treasure and history of the variety of fruits grown in the early 1900’s.

All images are from “U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705”

PS. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

Aries

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"Seven of Cups – The Seven of Cups is the card of dreams and illusions.  My dear ram this week you need to be really grounded about where you go and/or what you have planned to do this week.  The paradox with this card is you are not dreaming big enough but at the same time some of your hopes and dreams are not based in reality  This week if you are more flexible with your outcomes, things will proceed with more ease and you will gain more than you are expecting.

Taurus

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"Two of Pentacles – Last week, the Chariot, card of change, proclaimed that it was time to make transformations happen around areas that you want to alter, but you had sole responsibility in powering that change.  This week the Two of Pentacles continues that thread but cautions you that you need the modification to have more balance.  So, rest with work, veggies with your proteins, equal left and right brain time, etc…

Gemini

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"Three of Pentacles – The Three of Pentacles card foretells that this week collaboration is the key to success.  This should be easy for you if you turn on your Gemini charm.  And my dear twins, you all are fully aware that two minds are better than one.

Cancer

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"King of Pentacles – Last week the Empress asked you to plant the seeds that would gestate in 10 months’ time. And had you ask yourself:  What do you want to grow?  How will you sustain that growth for the next 10 months? Does this growth have an aspect to help others?  And if this growth doesn’t happen what is your plan B.   The King of Pentacles allows you another week of planting, but he also challenges you to fertilize the growth of at least one seed.

Leo

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"Two of Swords – The Two of Swords comes when you are at a fork in the road but feel as if you can’t make a decsion.  This card reminds you that it is not actually the decision of left or right but of which journey would you like to take.  Begin taking the perspective of it is more about the journey than the destination.  (Even though this is a lower arcane card I think it is important for your birthday month/year, so when making decision this week think more about how you want the year going forward to be than a weeklong outlook.)

Virgo

Page of Wands – The Page of Wands comes to you when you are needing to light up your passion.  This week this Page advises you to take time out to do something that ignites you.  And wand cards always suggest that either that is communing with nature or some art form.  This week go dancing, to a concert, a museum, or state park your soul needs expanding and inspiration.

Libra

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"Four of Swords – The Four of Swords is the card of rest and relaxation.  This week it is vital that you relax.  Whether that is 15 minutes- twice a day you lock yourself away to breath or if possible, a whole day where you stay in your PJs or swimsuit.  It is important that you rest.  Because, whether you admit it or not, your immune system is taxed, and you need to replenish your body and mind before you get seriously tap out your internal resources.

Scorpio

Deborah Passmore "U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705"*The Hanged Man – The Hanged Man is the card of stagnation and inertia.  This week will be hard completing or even progressing any project.  However, when you go with the inertia and take time out this week, you will find this can be helpful and enlightening.  In its simplest form this can look like being stuck in traffic. So the Hanged Man’s solution would be taking an alternative route that takes you out of the way, but you find a great place to eat or see a beautiful rainbow.  Or in a more complex form, you might just lay down your tasks for the week, sit in silence, and listen to your inner voice for some enlightened contemplations.

Sagittarius

Five of Cups – The Five of Cups is the card regret or seeing the cup as half empty.  This week can be triggering you to be regretful, sorry, bummed, or more negative than your usual self.  The interesting thing with this card is that is telling you to acknowledge the spilled milk in your life.  But it is also requesting you acknowledge that you have pretty amazing things in your life.  This card comes to remind you that your outlook can be more positive by feeding the emotions/ideas/projects/people that are working and stop feeding the things that are not.

Capricorn

*The Empress – Ok, last week I hope you got to rest because this week you need your energy.  The Empress declares now is time to start planting seeds for projects/relationships you want to produce in 10 months. In its simplest form it can be planting a tree that you can harvest fruit in late spring or working on redoing your garden so in late spring you can plant the best garden ever.  In its more complex form this can be a great time to get pregnant or start a new project that you can harvest from in 2020.  The challenge with this card is committing to the growth for the next 10 months to see substantial and well-formed outcome and it must have a component of helping others.

Aquarius

Two of Wands – The Two of Wands is the card of planning for the near future.  This card challenges you to daydream about where you want to go, do or be within the next 5 months until 1/11/ 2020.  Take this week to architect and plan what needs to happen for you to feel balanced and ready for 2020.

Pisces

Three of Cups – The Three of Cups comes when you need a little support from your friends.  You might be feeling lonely or melancholy.  There is no need. You have a good support system around you.  You just need to call them up and enjoy their company.  PS.  This week is also a great time for making new friends.  All you must do is smile and use that award-winning charm/sarcasm of yours.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of August 4, 2019

The idiom stop and smell the roses advises us to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life.   This week’s artist, Tiffanie Turner requests us to stop and see the complexity of what we perceive as beauty through her flower creations.  Her paper sculptures are not always of the perfect flower, which is hard to come by and when found is short lived.  She pulls from the rhythms and patterns found in nature, as well as the wonderful gestures formed by missteps and irregularities in nature like decay, rot, wilt, dormancy, death, and genetic and viral mutations like phyllody, petalody…

She expands the scale and scope of the beauty in nature to bring us face to blossom, floret and stamen with an Alice in Wonderland gauge.  Like the Lewis Carol tale, her playing with scale shifts our perceptions of reality. Turner’s pieces jar us out of our paradigms of beauty, symmetry and rightness. By taking a distressed or deformed head of a flower she weaves tales of the beauty and transience, of life.  And then by contrasting it with perfect, gigantic head of a flower to offer some hope, however flitting.  These sculptures help us to examine our beliefs of beauty, transitions, abnormality and hope that often we too narrowly perceive.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

 

Aries

Ace of Swords – This is a great week for communication and decision making.  The Ace of Swords brings new beginnings in the land of communication and information.  If you can keep your mind open and sharp you can discover new pathways for thought and ideas.  Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in. Isaac Asimov

 

Taurus

Tiffanie Turner  flowers*The Chariot – The Chariot is the card of Change.  This is a great week to start a journey, travel, and/or move along projects.  In other words, it is a great week to make things happen to change things that you want to alter.  The only issue with this card is to make this transformation happen it is all up to you.  No outside force will swoop into help.  This train is run solo by the power of your engines, but don’t worry you will have the energy to power this modification.  PS on a practical note this card does have you literally check your means of transportation before setting off – check tire pressure, gas, make sure your shoes are appropriate, check your tickets etc…

 

Gemini

Seven of Swords – The Seven of Swords is the card of small victories.  This week you will have a surfeit of small successes.  The only challenge with this card is that though you come out victorious there is more to be won in the near future.  So, save some of your resources this week for the battles to come.

 

Cancer

Tiffanie Turner *Empress – The Empress represents the Goddess of Growth and Abundance.  This is a great week to plant seeds for growth you want to see happen in 10 months’ time.  The big questions this card has you answer this week are:  What do you want to grow?  How will you sustain that growth for the next 10 months? Does this growth have an aspect to help others?  And if this growth doesn’t happen what is your plan B.

 

Leo

Tiffanie Turner Nine of Swords – Okay Leos, what’s up this is your birthday month and this week you are letting worry play outdated sad songs for your party.  This is where that Hierophant that showed up two weeks ago can help.  First sort through your worries and only pick out which ones have a possible solution.  Second dump what is left over, for they are not worth your Leonian gaze.  Lastly, take those workable worries and set up structures and timelines (starting next week) to take them from worrying nightmares to doable to-do list items.

 

Virgo

Five of Wands and Four of Swords – Chaos is in the air this week with the Five of Wands showing up.  So, you as always have a choice jump into it or walk around it.  However, the Four of Swords advises that you walk around it or even better turn around and walk away from it.  If you do decide to jump in- take your vitamins and make sure you get lots of sleep because your immune system will be taxed.

 

Libra

Tiffanie Turner Ace of Wands – Ace of Wands is the card of passion and all things that light up our lives – bring us awe.  This is a great week for any kind of beginning – projects, relationships, roads, experiences.  The only caveat is that the things you focus on this week must bring or ignite some zing in your life.  Otherwise, why are you doing it?

 

Scorpio

Knight of Wands – All Knights foretell that travel is good for this week.  And the Knight of Wands loves it when you travel to events or places that bring awe into your life.  This card also comes when you are on the right path doing the right thing.  So, keep on keeping on and try taking to the road and letting your soul pick the place.

 

Sagittarius

Eight of Wands – The Eight of Wands foretells that whatever you focus on this week will hit the mark.  This is a great week to send out correspondence or PR – it will be well received.  It is also a great time to open conversation that normally are not easy to discuss – they will play out with ease and balance out power struggles.  Or a great time sending out wishes for they will come true.  The only thing to be cautious about is if your goal is not clear then your outcome may not be what you were aiming for.

 

Capricorn

Queen of Cups – The Queen of Cups is the card of fun and parties.  This is a great week to celebrate your halfway point of your birth year.  Take this time viewing all that has happened since your last birthday.  I sure you will find a few things to celebrate about.  Therefore, take this week off and raise your glass to yourself, what you have accomplished and to the prospects of the next 6 months.

 

Aquarius

Four of Swords – After last week’s Moon card, where you felt a little lost and moody, the Four of Swords advises you to take this week to rest and build up your immune system.  When this card shows up you are fooling yourself that you are fine or bad-ass enough that this week’s stresses won’t get to you.  This card highly suggests that bed-rest and vitamins are vital.  You are running on fumes and you need this week to recharge.

 

Pisces

Page of Swords and Ace of Pentacles – The Page of Swords is the card of information gathering and the Ace of Pentacles is the card of new material beginnings.  Together they mean that this is a great week to start new projects that are on the material plane.  Any projects you start will bring money in the future. However, the Page of Swords also says to start this project you need more information that maybe behind the scenes.  The best way to work with this Page is, before you start this project, ask questions and listen to the answers with open ears and mind for something is not exactly as logical as it would seem.

 

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

Nina