Fall is highlighted by County Fairs. As a kid I loved them especially the farm animal exhibits, so much so, I begged my parents to let me have chickens. I eventually showed my own Bantam hen and Plymouth Rock Rooster at that fair. She won first place and he third. Elkanah Watson earned the title of the “Father of US agricultural fairs.” He organized the first US fair in Pittsfield MA in September of 1811. It still is held and now known as the Berkshire Fair. Not only was it a place to show and share advances in agriculture but he held the first competition for $70 for the best exhibit of oxen, cattle, swine and sheep. These fairs promoted and spread the love for breeding in the US.
We all know the wildlife painter John James Audubon. At some point I will highlight his work, for I consider him one of the top ten technical painters in the world. But today I’m going to highlight the amazing paintings of A. O. Shilling and L. Stahmer. They painted breeds of fowl livestock, especially chickens to help standardize the look of the breeds. These oil paintings were commissioned in the mid 1920’s by WATT publishing company (now WATT Global Media) for their Poultry Tribune. There are now 13 recognized breeds of the American Chicken.
P.S. Please share. The pictures above are a variety of breeds of Chickens from around the world painted by AO shilling and L. Stahmer.
Aries – Seven of Cups
The Seven of Cups is the card of dreams. This week spend some time day dreaming and imagining. There are some fantastic ideas up at the castle in the sky. The challenge with this card is finding the ones you can bring back and materialize.
Taurus – Page of Cups
Last week, the Emperor card of manifestation, wanted you to work on the what is instead of what could be. This week the Page of Cups wants you to add in some play with the work. Remember all work and no play makes Jill/Jack a not so well rounded individual.
Continue reading Tarotcast Week of September 23, 2018
The Four of Cups asks you not to spend too much time gazing at your belly button. You do need to check in with your emotions all this week, but in doing so, don’t stay too long in your internal emotional landscape. Look up and out or you will miss some good loving from the outside.
The Emperor is the card of manifestation, so this is a pivotal week in your material plane. This week work on projects that are already in play. By working with what is instead of what could be will carry you farther in the following weeks.
Workers are fixing a pothole outside my house and they had to stop multiple times because it began to rain. A paradox of mine is I hate the smell of an asphalt roads being laid, but I am also fond of the smell of rain hitting asphalt. During my urban sojourns, it was a sign of a respite from the summer heat. Both these experiences are unique to the modern world and drew me to the photography of Franco Fontana’s asfalti. He is famously known for his 
The Three of Swords continues the theme from the Moon card last week. This week this card advises to continue working with only three of the hidden thoughts you have discovered. This card also advises that these beliefs be not only removed but destroyed. They are based in negative triggers placed in your thought patterns by others.
Messages are the theme for this week. Keep your eyes and mind open. There is a lot of important information coming at you that you will need in the near future. Be the sponge.
This week it is time for you to do a deep dive into your unconscious and/or emotions. The Moon card arrives when you need to rescue information that was in the dark. To tap into this it could be as simple as sitting in the dark and wandering with your mind, or taking a more complex step into the wilderness to uncover your expansive unconscious under the stars.
The Queen of Wands wants you outside in nature. The wilderness is calling you by name to come and play in the woods, park or garden. Unleash your inner nymph or satyr.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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