Dean Mitchell is a painter that uses many mediums equally well, but his watercolors are especially evocative. We normal associate watercolor painting with portraits, landscapes, or cityscapes in the rain. Dean Mitchell does those classic scenes but he also has an eye for portraying the desolate lots of urban living. The images he paints have a sense of scarcity, much like the water he uses.
Even though since 2000 in the US we have steadily declined our water use, water is still scarce in certain parts of the US and the World. We get the majority of our water from surface water sources, and that water can be easily contaminated. Since 1990, 2.6 billion people have gained access to an “improved” drinking water sources, one that is designed to protect against contamination. But by data taken in 2015, 663 million people – one in 10 – still drank water from contaminated sources. Huge inequalities persist between and within countries: 8 in 10 live in rural areas, and there are large gaps between the richest and the poorest. In 41 countries, a fifth of people drink water from a source that is not protected from contamination.
Ways to help – there are many but here are three.
- lifestraws. These are cool. This is a personal filtration system that can last for about a year at full use. It doesn’t filter viruses or some chemical containment but it gets most. This is great idea for schools to sponsor get a pile of these and send to a school in the sub-Saharan or any place in need of clean water like areas recently struck by hurricanes. This organization also work within a community to make their water supply sustainability better.
- The Water Project worldwide organization which also sets up reliable water sources.
- Call your federal and state representatives and governor and get on them to spend your tax dollars to upgrade the infrastructure of your state’s water supply. Depending on what chemical you are looking for every state has an issue.
Aries – Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups is all about cleaning off your emotional slate and creating something new. For you single people out there ask someone out on a date. For those in relationships go enjoy the company of your special someone. And for single people who are taking a break from the relationship scene, treat yourself like you would want your lover to. For all you Aries this week is about healing and feeling the love.
Taurus – King of Cups
Last week, the Chariot advised you to correct the imbalances in your life so that the change that is happening would be smooth sailing. The King of Cups continues this theme with a focus your over-indulgences. At times we over-indulge and use it as a crutch for not healing the hurt. The balance you need to find is when to lay down your crutches. They are important when you are healing, however, once you have healed you need to let them go.
Gemini – Three of Pentacles
The Devil last week foretold that you would be tested on your resolves. This theme continues this week but the focus shifts to the Three of Pentacles. This is the card of cooperation and asking for help. The Devil is not testing you to see if you can do it alone. One of his tests is seeing if you can work with others to accomplish what you want to do. This is a week were 2 or 3 heads are better than one.
*Cancer – Sun
The Sun says you can overcome any obstacle or fear that your subconscious mind brings up. Cancers feel uncomfortable at times when the Sun shows up. It just can be too bright. But remember Moon child the Sun is how you gain your light. You need joy and success to shine it back on others. So take this week to bask in your successes, see the beauty of what you have, and see that the road you are creating is lining up many of the things you have wanted.
Leo – Ace of Wands
Last week the Sun challenged you to bask in the good things life has to offer. This week the Ace of Wands wants you to continue to do just that. The only challenge this Ace brings is asking you how will you will continue creating good vibe opportunities in the coming weeks.
Virgo – Queen of Cups
The Queen of Cups advise this week to speak softly, kindly, and with truth. Her challenge to you is to learn how to do that without spilling your emotions all you, others, and the table.
Libra – Queen of Swords
Queen of Swords is the strategist card. You have to look at this week like a scientist. You need a hypothesis/goal, make sure you have your materials, plan out your work, do the actual work, and then look over the results and tweak your procedures where needed or start over with a new hypothesis.
*Scorpio – Empress
The last two weeks have been heavy with change. With Death two weeks ago wanting you to clear your emotions for the change that is coming , and the Hermit giving you time to contemplate the change you want to happen and how to get there. Now, the Empress has arrived to start the process. The Empress is giving you about nine months to create the change you want to happen. Your only challenge is that with this pregnancy you are pretty much guaranteed a period of morning sickness. Realize whats make you sick for now should be avoided.
Sagittarius – Page of Swords
More intel gathering this week. Where last week the information came to you, this week be more like a spy. Be subtly to find out what is going on behind scenes. These two weeks are not decision-making weeks. There is obviously information you need before moving ahead.
Capricorn – Two of Wands
The Two of Wands advises you to have a broader perspective in all that you do. This card’s challenges you to see if what you are doing or have in planning actually fits into the world view you are trying to create.
Aquarius – King of Wands
The King of Wands asks you what kind of ruler are you. Are you kind but a bit of a push over, orderly but a bit of tyrant, or intellectual but not compassionate enough. This week look at how you rule your work place, your family and yourself and find ways to improve it. The King of Wands challenges you to be a better more balanced ruler while keeping in mind this is a year to heal and create a new order.
Pisces – Three of Swords
Last week, Judgment and the Four of Swords reconfirmed that you are on a journey to rebirth and reminded you that you need to take care of yourself along the way. Well, guess that advice was hard to swallow, because you got the Three of Swords this week. This card says that you are holding on to three concepts that are holding you back. I bet one of those is that anytime life hurts you somehow you are responsible for it. This card challenges you that you can’t control the getting hurt but you can control the healing.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
The last two weeks, the Emperor and the Empress challenged you to use your creative energy. This week the Page of Swords tells you to step off doing and to listen. This card foretells that there is some information that you need to find. Your challenge is to ask questions but in the most subtle of ways. It is not words that will be telling you what’s going on but subtle body cues.
The Chariot brings change that you are in control of. This week is all about moving forward with balance. This in its simplest form tells you to check your tires or eat a more balanced diet, but in its complex this is seriously doing something about imbalances in your life. 
Last week, the Emperor told you to build, create, and conquer. Now the feminine version of that creative energy, the Empress, appears this week. The Empress’s energy is less of the hustle and bustle of Emperor last week energy and more about tending, grooming, and coaxing along your work. The challenge with the Empress is being open to a more organic approach then sticking to plans.
The Ten of Pentacles brings prosperity to those that finish their work. This card is about finishing up projects. Your challenge is to work on the projects that are close to finish first, before starting anything new. You will find the more you can check off your list the more new prosperity will begin to grow.
The Emperor tells us to stop procrastinating. This is a week to build new bridges, create new civilizations, to conquer your fear and just do it. The challenge is believing you can and asking for help when you can’t.
The King of Swords says now is the time. Your challenge this week is to walk your talk, so be careful what you promise. Your words are now as loud and important as your actions.
The Judgment card heralds it is time for you to take the next step in your evolution. You are awakening to what new steps to take in your life. This can look as simple as changing your diet or it can be as complex as decreasing your carbon footprint. The challenge is whatever decisions you make – make sure they alter your life for the better – not only for you but the world. Joke: …so I gave him the flipper.
Last week, the Empress challenged you to see the ends in beginnings and the beginnings in ends, and that it takes both to create growth. This week the Knight of Cups carries on the Empress’ concept of duality by focusing on emotions. The Knight of Cups challenges you to be aware on how you emote your emotions through action and movement. This week see how your emotional actions cause reactions and your emotional reactions cause actions. Joke: …no, he did what…
They say that boys don’t cry, but this card wants you to get in touch and express your emotions this week. You might think being a King means to rule over your emotions with a tight fist. However, this King says you find more strength and courage by being friends with your feelings.
The Empress is the card of Gaia, the supreme mother and creation. I know we are in the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere and creation seems buried in the snow, but in the southern hemisphere it is in the middle of fertile season. The Empress embodies this flow where there is death she balances it with life. The Empress’ challenge is to look at this week’s events and see the death in life and the life in death. It takes both to create growth.
The Page of Swords advises you do more investigating before making any decisions this week. The Page of Swords challenges you to dig deeper, for the solution of the problem is out there. It is just hidden and not in the obvious places.
The Five of Pentacles challenges us when times are rough to ask for help. This week help is just around the corner. You just need to walk a few more steps to see it.
The Eight of Swords challenge is what binds you. Last week the tarotcast asked you to leave behind your obstacles. Thinking that you have to settle for “what is” is part of your challenge. Remember change can as easily begin with a thought as an action..
Page of Pentacles is the card of the student. This week you need to put on your observation goggles and hearing aids to aid you in finding what is lacking or needed. There are new skills for you to learn so you can solve a question or two with more ease.
If it hasn’t recently happened already, you will win a victory this week., so take time to rest on your laurels at the beginning of the week. Then by the end, your challenge will be to take stock of what you have and restock if necessary, for there is another skirmish around the corner.
This week take control of your surroundings. King of Wands challenges you to rule your environment and deal with the people with justice and integrity. This is a test whether you are ready to handle more power.
Lots of information coming at you this week. Your challenge is to sift through it and pick out the bits that are useful. An exercise to make this easier is set an intention and use only the information that pertains to it. Motto: One intention at a time.
Time to work on or in your home. The challenge this week is to stoke the fires of your hearth and heart. Your goal is to daydream, create and get comfy in your home. If you can’t to make your home a place where you can reconnect to yourself with ease, then find a substitute structure whether that is your car, a cafe or the park.
The Strength card advises you to look within, see your strength then strengthen your sense of self. This challenge can look as simple as doing a contemplative exercise like yoga that also works your core, or as complex as writing a list of your accomplishments. As the film director and producer Billy Wilder said “You are as good as the best thing you have done.”
There will be chaos this week that will be hard to avoid. The Five of Swords advises the best thing is to stay out of it as long as you can, realize most of it is due to outside influences, and observe before stepping into it. This is like playing Double Dutch with five jump-ropes instead of two.
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