Weather has been on my mind as we are in the dog days of summer. Where I live huge thunderstorms can rage in the afternoons and are a brief respite to the heat of the day. You can feel them coming as the air cools, breeze picks up and you can smell the rain on the wind.
The phrase dog days comes from the Latin term Dies Caniculares referring to the time that Sirius, the Dog Star, rises before the Sun, and it referred to the time period of late July to late August, the hottest part of summer in ancient Greece. So the phrase through time has become associated with the hot and muggy days of August. Even though now, since the constellations have shifted, we see it before sunrise starting July 12th to August 12th.
Jane Wilson was an artist in tuned with the weather. She painted a wide variety of subjects but landscapes became her focus. Jane moved to New York at 25; however, growing up on an Iowa farm highly influenced how she saw our relationship with weather. She said that living on the farm you learn to feel the weather coming. So when she painted she would aim for moments of strong sensation ⎯ moments of total physical experience of the landscape, when weather just reaches out and sucks you in. When you look at her landscapes you can really feel the dew of dawn, the heat of the afternoon, the spray of a stormy ocean or the coolness of the air as the sun sets.
P.S. Please share. Also, I have put up another quote to download for your vision board. Enjoy.
Aries – Ten of Wands
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.
Taurus – Page of Pentacles
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.
Gemini – Queen of Pentacles
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.
Cancer – Four of Swords
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.
Leo – Page of Swords and Nine of Swords
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.
Virgo – Ten of Pentacles
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.
Libra – Seven of Pentacles
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.
*Scorpio – Queen of Swords and Justice
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.
Sagittarius – Six of Cups
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.
Capricorn – Eight of Pentacles
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.
Aquarius – Two of Rods
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.
Pisces – Page of Wands
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.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
A couple of years ago I told you all about the Library of Congress 
The Star is the card of healing and hope. With the Queen of Wands last week, this is another week of looking at your work and purpose and asking – is what I’m doing or saying inspiring hope and healing? The challenge is realizing that we need to go to through the Tower (destruction) to get to the Star. And in so doing, we should not hide the suffering and sorrow in the world but at the very least stand and say “you are not alone” or at the Star’s height to help find positive solutions.
This week’s artist is 
Last week the Magician challenged you to experiment and see that the key to success are learning and building on your mistakes. This week continues that theme with the focus shifting to relationships. The solution is not so much learning from past mistakes but finding new ways to connect. Remember unconditional love is to truly seeing and saying I like you just the way you are – Mister Rodgers. 
The Queen of Wands embodies spiritual creativity. Your challenge is being mindful of what you create. She asks- What are you communicating with your creation? Will it improve the world? That challenge is daunting unless you remember the quote from Mother Theresa- I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.
Take this week to experiment and bring your amazing imagination into the real world. The challenge is to let yourself experiment and know that the key to success is learning and building on your mistakes.
The Page of Swords is the most inquisitive of the cards. When it comes into a reading it means that you need to listen and ferret out information before putting anything into action. So your challenge this week is to ask question and really listen to the answers you get. You will need this information in the coming weeks.
The Two of Cups is about exploring relationships. Sometimes you do so well by yourself you forget to invite other people into your life. The challenge this week to get to know someone better or create some romance in your life.
These two cards tell you that you will feel more informed if you keep to yourself or only hang with a chosen few. Do not listen to the general public their information is not helpful to you this week. Heed your own counsel.
Oh you needed this card after the past couple of weeks. The Star is the card of healing and hope. Take this week to pull away a bit and heal. Your challenge is allowing the time to heal. If you do, you will gain the hope and insight you will need to carry on with a lighter load.
Last week, The Empress challenged you to grow by knowing what to sow, where to sow it and how to tend to it for the longer haul. This week continues that theme, but with the caveat that the end result should include creating joy. So your challenge is to be more of the wild horse this week then the human part of yourself. Run or drive with the wind blowing through your mane/hair.
The Queen of Cups focuses again on your emotions this week. Where last week the Page wanted you to play, the Queen wants you to pull from all your emotions to create. This week you might find that you can be pushed emotionally by outside sources. The challenge is to see that each of these encounters is a way to interact with and use your deeper emotions – think emotional alchemy. Overall, this card wants you to make friends with your heart.
The Justice card tells you that in the long view all things will balance out fairly in the end. The challenge this week is keeping your emotions off the scale during the process. Rely on the facts and your logic this week.
The Knight of Cups asks you to create some movement in your emotional life. However, the challenge with this knight is not to wear your heart on your sleeve while doing so. You can kick around in your emotional waters but don’t swim to the deep end.
The King of Pentacles is the mini version of the Emperor. This week is about building your empire whether that is your business, your home, or your home-life. The question is: are you happy with what you are building? If not take this week to reassess what you need to do to feel “self”-made.
Last week the Devil arrived for your birth month. This card came to show you the coming year will bring in your last act to the old, and begin a new life or evolution. This year will challenge to stay focus on your path and stand firm on who you are or want to be. So for this week the Five of Cups arrived to have you go through the emotions of letting go of the old way of life. This card reminds you that you need to go through a mourning period for the past before you move on to a brighter future.
The “building” energy of the past two weeks continues this week with the Ten of Pentacles. But this card reminds you that it is as important to enjoy what you build as much as building it.
The King of Wands challenges you this week with a question to answer or maybe a demand: How can you increase the creativity and passion to your work this week?
This week the Four of Wands recommends spending time at home or under the shade of an oak tree. This is the card of comfort, coziness, and a sense of well-being. The only challenge with this card is seeing the little details of life are as important as the big things.
The Five of Pentacles challenges us to ask for help when we are low in energy, funds, or resources. This card shows up to remind us when we are exhausted the first thing you need to do is stop and realize that you are, and then look to a peaceful space or friends for help.
It is another week of strategizing and preparing with the Queen of Swords. This queen is the personification of strategy and communication. The better prepared you are at what to say this week the easier the week will flow. Watch your words.
The Ace of Pentacles foretells new beginnings on the material plane. This is a great week to plant something, to start a project, or invest in your future. Things grow from each thing you do this week.
The Six of Swords challenges you to do some conscious exploration this week. Whether that is in your world or in your mind, pay attention to what surrounds you. The challenge is to take note or pocket those things or thoughts that grab and then keep your attention. You will find them useful trinkets for future wanderings.
Last week the Magician challenged you to experiment with new things. This week is the opposite with the Eight of Pentacles. This card advises you to spend this week honing your craft. The challenge is to only spend time on things you already are good at. Keep your magpie quality of collect and trying new bright and shine things at bay.
Last week, the Judgment card challenged you to be a more evolved and thoughtful you. This week takes on a lighter tone with the Seven of Cups. Sevens are the cards of explanation and contraction. This card has you explore how your dreams can expand or contract your future. We have a tendency to unrealistically dream or dream to small. The best advice with this card is to dream just out of reach, so with a bit of effort you will obtain your goals this week.
Last week you had the theme ‘beauty adorns virtue” This week continues that theme with the Knight of Swords This card suggest that you slow down and take time to smell the roses. Be in each moment.
The artist last week asked you to pay attention to the details. The Four of Wands wants you to focus on the details in your home. Focus on the how to create more harmony in your home. Whether that is adding a calming color or adding some pop, remember harmony does not equate to uniformity.
The painting last week was about standing up for you rights, even if it is seems hopeless. And that beauty arises outside the realm of judgment. The Three of Swords extends this theme by having you deal with three self-defeating thoughts. Your challenge is look at the reason of why you carry around these thoughts through a lens of self-compassion.
The artist’s theme last week was about being aware that you do not have control over reality, but you can nudge it towards your favor. And so the Emperor extends this thought for another week by having you add to and build upon the reality you are in. This can look as simple you have to go to work but can you manipulate the time or space that you do it in.
Last week’s art theme was to see parody(humor) in your life. The Eight of Wands continues that theme of bring in and accepting the positive even joyful energy in your life. Arms and minds open.
Dulle Griet’s hinted about being a bit devilish or against the social norm last week. The Hermit would like you to continue the exploration of the outer edges of societies’ norms, but in theory with meditation and reflection. This is a favorite card of Virgo, for this is a lifelong challenge of balancing your social and solo sides. The challenge with this card is not to seek solitude out of a reaction of being over social but to be proactive about scheduling your need of space and time to decompress. And the bigger challenge is do it without guilt.
Last week your challenge was to met people outside of your normal wanderings. This week the Four of Pentacles takes an about-face from the emotional realm to the physical one. Your goal is to save time, money and space anywhere you can. Your challenge is not to feel selfish about it.
Last week your challenge was two-fold, taking on a challenge and proving the “haters” wrong. This week, the Six of Pentacles’ lesson is around the “give and take” in your life. The goal is lowering your input to people or work that you are not getting something positive in return. The challenge is to do it without them noticing.
Last week your painting was about finding and bonding with your inner horse. The Judgment card challenges you to create a ritual or rite of passage that moves you on to the next act of your life. This can be as simple as lighting a candle and blowing it out to release the old, or as complex as burning all your old journals.
The art last week challenged you to see the boundaries you may be holding on to around your passions or your way of life. The Tower comes this week to break down those walls if you haven’t already. The Tower comes to shake things up because something you have not been dealing with and that doesn’t work, needs to change. The best way to deal with this card is to stand back and enjoy the destruction.
The painting last week advised you to see that your history or past experiences are useful in the present whether you see it or not. The Five of Swords this week continues this theme by challenging you that you can learn more from your mistakes and failures then you can from your successes.
Last week’s painting suggested to come at your life with softer edges. This theme continues with the Four of Cups this week. This card is the card of self-compassion and empathy. To see the world, its people and yourself without sharp edges.
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