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
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
*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
*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
Six 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
*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
Eight 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
The 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
Five 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
The artist this week, 
King of Cups – Last week the Death card had you clear some space, weed out the plants/projects/ideas that you do not want to grow this year. And then prep the soil/mind-space/physical-space where the budding will happen. The first seeds to plant and or tend are the ones in the emotional realm this week. Whether this deals with work or personally, your heart wants to be part of it. Your motto – is if it doesn’t make you feel than you ain’t doing it right.
King of Pentacles – Last week the Knight of Pentacles wanted you to work on your environment, your work that brings in money, your health and/or any physical project that creates a physical item. The King of Pentacles continues this momentum. However, he wants to see at the very least some aspect of a the product finished, so finish a project or move it to a place where you can see the end, or double down on your fitness regime. Your motto – Do it.
*Death – This week is a great place to start prepping areas where you want change to happen. I think of Death as the gardening card. First you need to weed and prepare the soil for your seeds. That is your mission this week to clear some space, weed out the plants/projects/ideas that you do not want to grow this year. And then prep the soil/mind-space/physical-space where the budding will happen. If you get that done, you can start growing the seeds of change.
Knight of Pentacles – The Knights come to tell us we are on the right track and to keep on keeping on. This specific knight is in the realm of the material world. So, the areas to work on this week are your environment, your work that brings in money, your health and/or any physical project that creates a physical item.
Page of Pentacles – Last week, the Hierophant wanted you to create structure and the Eight of Pentacles wanted you to work on mastery at what you are doing. Now the Page of Pentacles arrives to remind you that learning is part of the process of growing. This week use this page’s power to help you hit the books and learn something new.
Three of Cups – This week’s energy is all about enjoying friends. The Three of Cups comes up when your soul needs to be refilled and no one better to make you smile then friends. Take this week to reconnect with your chosen loved ones.
Ten of Wands – Two tens in a row. Let’s look at tens for a second. Tens tell us that cycles are on their final chapters. This is a great time to use the energy to enjoy what you have sown. Last week it had you recognize how far you have come and how good your life is. This week is about prioritizing and letting go a bit of your what’s on your plate. Think of this like a 12-course meal. The concept is to take your time savoring each course, but with this card realize if you are full you can take home a doggy bag for later.
Eight of Cups – The Eight of Cups’ energy for this week is letting go of emotions or relationship expectations that just aren’t working. This card comes when we are feeling drained or frustrated and not seeing that somethings just can’t be worked on right now and maybe for a while. This week’s motto let go.
Four of Pentacles – This card warns us when we need to conserve our energy, money and time. Take this week to save and simplify. The less you do the better the flow.
Eight of Wands – Last week, the Empress challenged you to plant seeds – start big ideas/projects that will bud in about 9-10 months from now. The Eight of Wands continues this theme by building on the energy of inspiration through the acts of communication and sharing. Use this energy to bounce off ideas with comrades, partners and mentors. Revel in the exchange of information and inspiration.
Queen of Swords – Strategy and standing up for yourself is your focuses this week. The Queen of Swords comes up when you need to draw lines in the sand and then strategize how to negotiate when boundaries are questioned or stepped over. Your challenge is this strategy and maneuvering is for the long game, so kind but firm is the key.
King of Wands – The King of Wands’ energy brings the concept of the mindful and compassionate ruler. He challenges you to focus on one main goal that will both benefit the world and yourself. By doing this exercise this energy will help a spectrum of personal and universal goals, but with only one point of force. Think of this like a laser that has a ripple effect – focused but far-reaching.
The Page of Swords comes to advise that you need to uncover information that is hard to find without inquiry and a bit of sleight of hand. The Page of Swords is the card of the spy. So some sleuth work is needed before you make any decision or move forward this week.
The past two weeks the World wanted you to finish up the old to create room for new, and then the Lovers card wanted you to start creating with others. Now the energy shifts to the Two of Pentacles, the card of balance and juggling. This card advises you to juggle just two things this week and get very secure with your balance between these two items before you add another item or project into your hands.
The Page of Cups comes when you need to be reminded about the joy in life. This card wants you to see, hear, and touch with the senses of a child. This is week get out your coloring books, Playdough, Legos, or your favorite toy and play.
Last week, the Fool challenged you to acknowledge and let go of the excess so you can pack lighter for the road ahead. The Lovers continues this theme. Its challenge is for you to pick companions on this journey. Take this week to make sure the ones around you support you. This can be as simple as making sure you have the right people to work on a project or as complex as evaluate the broader community around you. Your motto: Love is my guide.
Last week, the Empress wanted you to find something that you truly love doing and do it bigger and better. The Queen of Swords continues this theme but has you hone in on the strategic part of your plan. This week stay in your mind and plan than worry about actions of the future.
The theme continues with more building and growing with the Sun, last week the Magician called in new ideas and processes to continue building on what you started. This week the Sun not only continues this theme but ignites it with energy. Your challenge is how to harness this energy and use it like a laser. Your motto: Keep growing and expanding.
The Ace of Pentacles is the last card of your birth month and declares this year as a year of planting seeds for projects to grow until 2020. So take this week to figure out what seeds you want to plant and tend in your garden for the coming year.
The King of Wands challenges you this week to be more creative and passionate about what you are doing. The conundrum comes when what you do brings no passion into your life. If this is so then this week might be the time to make some changes in what rules your daily life.
The Four of Cups is the card of disenchantment or not seeing what is offered is pretty darn spectacular and ultimately what you feel is missing. The challenge with this card is getting into and enjoying the rhythm of the everyday emotional tides or currents. By seeing the paradox of stability in motion or ” emotional flow” and then devoting yourself to it gives you the last piece of your puzzle. Motto: In the ordinary I see the extraordinary.
The Knight of Pentacle is the card of methodical and thoughtful movement. The challenges with this card are pace and the movement forward. This week all your activities should move you forward at a slow and steady pace. If they are not this is the week to get rid of or adjust them so they do.
The Wheel is the card of change of karma and fate. When this card shows up it means this is a turning point in your life that no matter what it feels like your fortune is changing. The challenge with this card is to see the only control you have is to spin the wheel. You cannot control the spin or pick the price. What comes this week is your gift how you use it is up to you. Your motto: Doesn’t hurt to try.
Last week, the High Priestess challenged you to pull into your inner-scape and plug into your intuition; you will be able to sync yourself with your life path. Now we know why, the World has shown up to challenge you to close old doors and open new ones. You got the World almost to the date last month, so you get another crack at it. This week take this energy and finalize some old projects or people and at the same time go out and look for new projects or people. The World wants to help your challenge is you will need to go to new haunts to greet it. Your motto: I am open to the new.
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.
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