Tarotcast week of Sept. 18 2016

leonard-cohen

This week I have picked another Virgo songster, Leonard Cohen. He turns 82 on September 21. To me he has gotten better with age. In his later albums, his phrasing has become more deliberate but smoother and his voice has gotten grittier and more soulful. Leonard Cohen’s work is dark and smoky but he is a wordsmith all the same. In that I mean that his words take me somewhere. They conjure up a magical image for me or pluck at the strings of my soul. Below is one of my favorite stanzas, so I’ll let him speak for me.

“Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove Dance me to the end of love”

P.S. Remember, when signs have * it’s a big week for you. I have attached some of Leonard Cohen songs that may or may not go with your tarotcast.

*Aries – Emperor – This is week four with you all getting big cards. The past four weeks you have been trying out new experiences, making small changes, having some amazing epiphanies and now it’s about Creating. Yes, that is Creating with a big C. These four consecutive cards are here to challenge you to expand your vision of who you are and what do you want to do and then to do it.   This can be a simple exercise in redecorating your living room so you can actually enjoy it, creating a new project, or it can be as complex as expanding your career or life’s passion. The really cool thing that these card and even astrology has been saying is the Universe is challenging you to grow. And Aries, you thrive when you are challenged.   You like a fight as long as it is fair. And at this time, the cards and the stars are saying the fight is right. I’m your Man

*Taurus – The Chariot/Five of Swords – The past two weeks you have been working on honing your people skills. This continues just a bit with the five of Swords. The lesson of Five of Swords is to be aware of one’s ego and how it can impede what you want to accomplish. Now with your ego in mind The Chariot asks how can you move your ideas forward in a balanced and objective way? Amen
Continue reading Tarotcast week of Sept. 18 2016

Tarotcast week of September 11, 2016

freddy-2

I want to raise my glass to another Virgo artist, Freddy Mercury. I love Freddy Mercury as performer. He had style and panache. And we all know that he had an amazing voice. His voice was so remarkable that they did a scientific study on it.

Published in the journal Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology this year, “this study presents an acoustical analysis of his voice production and singing style, based on perceptual and quantitative analysis of publicly available sound recordings.” This posthumous study found that he had at least a three octave range and was a master at modulating his voice. He used the technique of vibrating the ventricular folds of his larynx and creating subharmonics. This technique is also used by Tuvan throat singers.  The musicality is from another plane.  If you listen to Bohemian Rhapsody with that in mind it adds another dimension to this classic rock song. It becomes almost heavenly and just adds to the fact that “God blessed a Queen”.

P.S. Remember, when signs have * it’s a big week for you. And of course I included some Queen songs that may or may not resonate with your tarotcast.

*Aries – Six of Swords/Judgment – This makes three weeks in a row with big cards. The past two weeks had you try out new experiences and then start making small changes, and now you get the Judgment card. Judgment’s lesson is around epiphanies. This week will provide you with information and opportunities that will give a better understanding on where you are and where to go next. And then you also got Six of Swords, this suggests that traveling will help the process. Six of Swords does not have to be “big” travel but short trip(s) works just as well. Also the Six of Swords means that water can guide you. Whether you go over a river to find something, spend the week at a lake house, or walk into a store to get a fresh water bottle, keep your eyes and ears open for some info. Bohemian Rhapsody
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Tarotcast week of September 4, 2016

GrandmaMoses

Our loving landscapes art is believed to be based in our genes. The theory of evolutionary aesthetics says that things like color preference, shapes, emotional ties with objects, and other aspects of the aesthetic experience can be explained with reference to our evolution.   A study that surveyed people from all over the world found that we preferred landscapes that showed a perspective from higher ground, water, trees, and animals. I wonder if that is what drove Grandma Moses to paint her landscapes.

Anna Mary Robertson Moses was a Virgo, born on September 7, 1860. She is one of my favorite painters and one of my inspirations. She is my muse because, like me, she start painting later in life and her “art life” started with embroidering pictures and quilting. Her landscapes remind me of quilts – simple patches of color that make you feel warm, safe and loved.

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

Halloween GM 7*Aries – Death – Another big week for you with the Death card. Last week, The Wheel of Fortune had you try out new experiences without judgments or expectations. That should have given you a fresh perspective at what is possible. Now the Death card’s lessons around organic change can go more smoothly this week. Now again, this is two big cards in a row, so take heed – something needs to change in an essential way. The Death card recommends making small changes that will lead to a major shift. This can look like getting a new organization system that will expand your productivity and then brings you recognition at work, or getting rid of all the processed food in your cabinets because you need to improve your health. The Wheel gave you big picture ideas. And Death is giving you the time to make that change happen – one step at a time.
Continue reading Tarotcast week of September 4, 2016

Tartocast week of August 28, 2016

vivien-leigh-as-anna-k

“… if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.” Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Happy birthday month Virgos.

I just finished watching Anna Karenina the 2012 version back to back with War and Peace the BBC mini-series. Of course you all know the Virgonian Leo Tolstoy wrote these works. I have watched Anna Karenina in six different versions. The Vivien Leigh version and this new one in some way are the most striking to me. The Vivian Leigh adaptation is the Russian version of Gone with the Wind- all dressing and drama. However with the 2012 version I found myself stopping to rewind for gems of phrases. I am not sure if these are from the book since I have never read either of these works.

They are now on my reading list. Not to actually read the story but as a new friend of mine said “reading to read.” I plan to read for little gifts of words or phrases that sing to me. Many of the books I borrow are from the online library and the peculiar thing is my kindle app keeps the highlighted text that other people have done in their reading. I find it fascinating. I ponder on why did they highlight this?- what resonated with them so much in these words? I look at phrase with a different layer. It’s like Russian dolls – reading a book within a book.

P.S. I have attached some Tolstoy’s gems for each sign that may or may not coincide with you reading. Remember, when signs have * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – The Wheel – Hopefully last week you tied up loose ends because this week the universe has dealt you The Wheel card which is all about the New. The Wheel’s lesson is to try out new things without a goal in mind. This can be as simple as go play lotto, try a new route home, go investigate a new place, or go out and meet up with some friends. The challenge with The Wheel is doing new stuff without judgments or expectations. This week try to keep your eyes and mind open the New.   “Boredom: the desire for desires.”
Continue reading Tartocast week of August 28, 2016

Tarotcast week of August 21, 2016

Pulse room Rafael Lozano Hemmer

I wanted to bring you all some energy in the form of light to celebrate the last day of Leo. One thing that has always fascinated me about light was color. When I was very young my first science fair experiment was the effect of different colored lights on plant growth.  Ever since then I have been fascinated with – do we actually see color in the same way and the effect of color and light on our moods.

The art above is Pulse Room by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. It is an array of incandescent light bulbs that flash at the exact rate of the participant’s heart when he or she holds the interface. How cool that something that is so personal is brought to light. In your tartocasts are more artists that use light and color in cool ways. I find this art form an interesting twist since all art is dependent upon light and the mixture of color and these artists bring to light how those simple components of art can still move us.

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

Olafur Eliasson Your rainbow panoramaAries – Nine of Cups – Now that last week’s challenge to build a simpler and more balanced solution is over. You have a week to tie up looses ends and contemplate your next move. The challenge with the Nine of Cups is to balance your “work life” with your “play life.” Even if you love your work, you have got to give your mind a break to reset. Olafur Eliasson Your Rainbow Panorama

Night-Sky-Saturn-North-from-Earth Angela BullochTaurus – Eight of Pentacles – The Eight of Pentacles heralds another busy week for you, the last couple of weeks were about asking for help. This week you have a choice to collaborate or not. But I recommend trying to find some time alone to improve your skills. The Eight of Pentacles’ challenge is to improve a technique you need at work. For artists it can look like working on your sketching skills, for others it will be learning something new on computer or for teachers it can be learning a new way to teach fractions. Angela Bulloch-Night Sky Saturn North from Earth   
Continue reading Tarotcast week of August 21, 2016

Tarotcast week of August 14 2016

Watching the Olympics is one of my high points every two years. I watch it not because I am “Go USA” but because it is a place and time the whole world is doing something collectively. I love that vibe. Also, the scientist in me is fascinated by what makes an Olympian and when will we see the limit to what is the fastest.  What are the physical limitations of the human body and mind?

The above is a picture from the photo book The Athlete –  more of Howard Schatz photos  I love the photo because it shows that there are many body types that make an Olympiad. But what it doesn’t show is that “the most perfect body type” for the sport does not guarantee the gold. The person’s drive, resilience, mind-set add to the athletic package. As we look at the picture above we natural try to type the body with the sport.

But here is where we all need to be really aware in our Olympic discussions – that body type does not bleed into color of skin, where one comes from or becomes a stereotyped fact. It is great that Simone Manuel won the gold. But we need to realize why we haven’t seen a lot of African American swimmers is for societal reason around the sport. One reason being – it is easier to finance a track then it is to finance a pool. I do think these discussions need to happen! The more we talk about “what makes an good Olympiad” the more we unearth our bias and open up the competition to all the people of the world.

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

*Aries – Seven of Pentacles and Justice – Last week you all got The Tower which represented a change from an outside source. This shift resulted because things were too complex and unbalanced. This week born from rubble comes the time and resilience to rebuild – Seven of Pentacles. Also, the Justice card challenges you to build simpler and more balanced solutions to the problems of last week.

Taurus – Four of Pentacles – The Four of Pentacles heralds another busy week for you, except that your energy level will not be as high as last week. Again like last week you will get more done with the help of others.   If you put the effort in last week – seeing that not everyone is at the same energy level as you – you will have an easier time asking and getting help this week. If you didn’t, then the best strategy for you is to do less of the work and do it alone. You will be less frustrated.
Continue reading Tarotcast week of August 14 2016

Tarotcast week of August 7, 2016

podcasts

I love podcasts because I love to hear about new information, ideas, and thoughts. I also think that it’s a great format for comedians. A podcast is “a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.” The roots of podcasts have been around since the1980’s, but really all the parts came together for the masses in 2000. Sixteen years later articles say there are 180K- 250K podcasts, with approximately 75 million subscribers per month.

The podcast I am listening to now is Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell. He wrote the books Blink and The Tipping Point. He says it a podcast about unknowns and misunderstandings. For example, the Uncontrollable Acceleration(UA) Toyota recall was basically wrong. The reason for all the UA incidents was that drivers didn’t realize they were pushing on the wrong pedal. The short version of the podcast is if you find yourself accelerating take your foot off whatever pedal and reapply it to the brake. Brakes trump the gas pedal every time. If you are interested you can listen to the whole podcast on ITunes for free.

P.S. I have attached some podcasts that are on my “listen to” list. They may or may not have to do with your tarotcast. Remember, when signs have * it’s a big week for you.

*Aries – The Tower – The Tower represents change from an outside source. Now the cool thing about The Tower is it comes around when things need to be shaken up because something is not working. This week something that is not working in your life is going to shift, and your challenge is to except it. Now this can be as easy as an “aha moment” in solving a problem or as complex as a move or a relationship shift. Ted Radio Hour- a mash up of Ted talks that make sense together.

Taurus – Ace of Wands – So after your “learning week”, comes the Ace of Wand’s insight. Insight brings with it energy, a sense of eagerness and inner strength. These you will have in abundance this week. Your challenge is not everyone is on the same energy level as you so introduce your ideas/projects with some humility. You will need people to help you get done what you have envisioned.   Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People – the name says it all.
Continue reading Tarotcast week of August 7, 2016

intentions are the children of desire and the grandparents of destiny