Tag Archives: black history

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Nov. 26, 2023

November 25, 2023 Nina

The artist this week is Bill Traylor. Traylor started painting at 86 years old and continued to the end of his life, 1939-1949. His canvases were the discarded pieces of paperboard he found around his neighborhood. Through flat images he tells the story of the complex time between slavery and civil rights in Jim Crow South. For African Americans in the south literacy, personal agency, and personal expression were dangerous. Traylor’s body of work “is artistically unique, but its historical position is singular as well. When he started drawing it was a radical act.”

Traylor would be classified under outsider art. Outsider art is considered art made by someone not formally trained. But here is crux – though some artists are all about the technical aspects of a form of art. Most artists I know use art to express their creative voice. I do believe that we all can be in some form creative. But not so sure we can call everyone an artist. I also ponder around, as many art associated people do, what makes art so selective, categorically art? Is it like what Traylor did, expressing a viewpoint through satirical whimsy of what was happening around him without the technical prowess of say DaVinci? Or the intellectualism of Dadaism of making art that is anti- art? Or Abstract art expressing a feeling instead of the technicality of Realism? Is art just a form of expressing self, perspective, a radical act or possible all three? Then maybe we can all be artists in some way?

Your pondering for this week: What is your definition of art?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins the week in Gemini where exchange of knowledge is key On Wednesday it moves to Cancer highlighting self-care. On Friday it moves into Leo – get outside into the sun if you can, if not bask in your own light.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Sagittarius (exploration) until Dec 1^st, where we can experiment with our communication style. Don’t worry if you don’t get it Mercury rolls back for a replay at the end of December. Mars (action) is in Sagittarius (exploration) until the end of the year wanting us to investigate and expand our horizons. While Venus (beauty and harmony) is in her home sign Libra (relationships and harmony) until December 4^th, so finding and creating harmony plays a big role in the next couple of weeks.

The outer planets until the end of the year and into next are having us work on nurturing the pleasures in our lives, be aware of dipping into overindulgence, making our structures elastic and responsive to change, and lastly looking back to 2008 to see if any lose ends need to be tied up especially around the house and planets that sit in your natal Capricorn.

***Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Sagittarius, this is a perfect time to get a Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Gemini, it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you.

Nina

Aries

Seven of Water – The Muse of Dreams is challenging you to dream bigger. She is not asking you to unrealistically dream but just to expand the boundaries of your imagination. So, explore questions like – what would I do if I didn’t have to worry about money? Or what would I do if there were 3 more hours in a day?

Taurus

*Judgement – The Muse of Transformations challenges you to start evolving a part of your life this week. She is asking you to get a head start on what might be your intentions for the coming year. This exercise is meant to liberate you from only making resolutions on big occasions. She is asking you to start your evolution in small doable steps.

Gemini

Eight of Water – The Muse of Closet Cleaning comes when you need to make some physical space to allow new things to come in or to give your eyes a space to rest on. She reminds you that you may need to walk away from old thought patterns to free up some space in your environment. An example: is holding on to clothes that no longer physically or mentally fit who you are today.

Cancerian

Three of Earth – The Muse of Collaboration comes when you need to ask for help from those around you. This help can take any form. Physically needing more hands, mentally needing different perspectives, or emotionally some cheerleading and hugs. You are not in this alone.

Leo

*Tower – The Muse of Disruption is challenging you to shake things up. She reminds you that as a fire sign sometimes you need upheaval to gain revelation. But she would like you to control the commotion and not have it come from an outside source. If you don’t know where to start, look for an irritation. Like a chair you bump into all the time this muse advises rearrange your space, so nothing interferes with your dancing.

Virgo

*Sun – The Muse of Radiance would like you to turn up your shine. She would like you this week to focus your energy on things you do best and do more of that. Also if you can get some actual sun this too may give you more energy and ideas on what to focus on.

Libra

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum would like you to move a project or idea to the next phase. The issue is that the energy to ignite this entropy needs to come from you. Do not rely on others this week to get things done. It doesn’t mean you have to do everything, for it is also up to you to prioritize needs over wants.

Scorpio

Five of Air – The Muse of Ego comes when egos get in the way of creating balance. So, this week watch getting into discussions of who’s right. It is best when dealing with another’s ego-distortion to not confront it at all. If you do engage then you chance your ego getting bruised and fighting back.

Sagittarius

*Death – The Muse of Purification would like you to incorporate a monthly ritual of purification for your coming birth year. By literally or metaphorically sloughing off your old skin, you allow space and air for your new dermis to not only glow, but it will also be able to better protect you.

Capricorn

Ace of Fire – The Muse of Genesis would like you to list the things you would like to grow in your coming birth year. And then categorize them into needs and wants. The needs list this muse suggest start growing now, so you can propagate the wants in fertile soil.

Aquarius

King of Water – The Muse of Emotions is challenging you to get in touch with yours. You may think that because you have been distancing yourself from them or handling them alone that you have not been emotional. This muse reminds you that emotions are hard to damn up forever. The dam will break, so a little venting goes a long way this week.

Pisces

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Mastery comes when you need to hone your strengths instead of focusing on your weakness. She reminds you that you have learned some handy and unique skills, so use them.

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Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Feb 19, 2023

February 19, 2023 Nina

Happy Birth-month Pisces.

This week’s artist is Kerry James Marshall. @kerryjamesmarshs Marshall is an artist and professor best known for his mix media portraits of Black America especially around themes and depictions that have been historically omitted from the American and Western Art history. A mission he calls the “counter-archive” of the painting of black subjects. ‘Part of what I’m doing in my work is about attending to this absence of black representation in the historical narrative. But the question is always then, when you put black people in a picture, what should they be doing?’

Marshall answers this question in two ways ideologically and technically. Ideologically he shows black people going about their day, creating “a sense of simple presence.” ‘Part of my project is to escape this kind of imperative that everything you do as a black person is always about lack. That there’s never a moment in which you have simple pleasure – where you’re just there, where you’re just simply being. And your being is not fraught with all these other layers of historical meaning.’ Though in some of his paintings like The Garden Projects (see Aries and Pisces below) shows us the conundrum between the history of black people in America and his mission.

Technically, he plays with the color black chromatically. First in the choice of saturation and then his use of varying shades of black placed masterfully next to each other. ‘If you looked at the palette, I was using you’d think, “Well, that’s black, black and black next to each other.” And they don’t look so different. But when I use them in a painting next to each other, the differences become more apparent. Because the iron oxide black is inherently red. And if you stack that on top of carbon black, it obviously looks red. Or I’ll mix in cobalt blue, a chrome oxide green, an earth tone like raw umber or yellow umber. What I’m doing is changing the temperature, from cool to warm and warm to cool.” Not only is his art a master class in color theory and painting but it also makes the viewer think about the color black and how we visually see it in the world.

Cite Apollo article.

Your pondering for the week: What is color? What does each color mean to you? And then when you apply it to a person’s skin does that change its context or that person?

Solar System highlights

This week begins with a new moon in Pisces on Monday – perfect for daydreaming and wandering in the realms of the unconscious and spirit. On Wednesday it moves into Aries – a great time to start projects. Then on Friday through the weekend the moon is in Taurus – perfect for working or playing in the outdoors.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) has now moved into Aquarius (innovation and society) – a great time to talk about personal and social change. This should also help Mars in Gemini’s lessons. For Mars (action) is still in Gemini (communication and knowledge), until March 25^th, 2023. This is a 7-month stopover instead of it’s usually 1-2. Mars is pushing us to truthfully talk and follow up with actions. The challenge with this time is your politeness filter has been switched off. So, it is having us double down on how to be constructive with our voice – to promote action not reaction.

Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Pisces until Wednesday, so we move from going with the flow to Aries firing up our passion and pushing us to action. Jupiter (growth) is in Aries until May 16, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action. And lastly, Saturn (structures) spends its last weeks in Aquarius until March 7^th – so innovating and modernizing your everyday life is its intention.

PS. Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Pisces this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Virgo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time. and I have a new tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

May light be on you, around you, and within you. Happy Solstice no tarotcast next week so I’ll “see” you all in 2023.

Nina

Aries

Kerry James Marshall The Garden Projects series

Five of Fire – The unruly currents are still around this week. Where last week was more anticipatory challenges, this week you are faced with known challenges. However, you have the Muse of Chaos to guide you through this turbulent time. Her advice is to take your ego out of the mix. Some chaos you cannot control but what you can manage is your headspace and your ability to ride them out. You have done these tasks before; they are more bothersome than detrimental. So, get out your soul surfboard, calm your mind and ride the waves.

Taurus

Seven of Earth – This week is the perfect combination of work and rest. The Muse of Satisfaction reminds you that the rest after labor can be more satisfying than lazy days’ rest. She advises that after each focused exertion to equally attend to the blissful moments that that this work has gotten you to.

Gemini

Seven of Air – The Muse of Small Steps advises you to simplify your projects into bite size pieces. By seeing this week incrementally, you are more likely to gain success than by aiming for a broader goal. Put on your metaphorical “reader glasses” and focus on the minutia.

Cancerian

Ace of Earth – This is a great week to start a project, plant something, look for a new way to make money, or learn a new skill. The Muse of Material Beginnings is here to help organize and fertilize this new project or skillset.

Leo

King of Earth – Another productive energy week for you. The Muse of Construction comes to help you move a project to the next phase. However, this is not a fly by the seat of your pants kind of week. The key to this energy is knowing the inventory of the resources needed to do so. Take time at the beginning of the week to gather what is needed.

Virgo

Queen of Earth – The Muse of the Senses would like you to enjoy yours this week. Her assignment is to find ways to luxuriate in each sense. So, indulge in saturating smells, sensualizing sight, enchanting your ears, and titillating your tastebuds and touch.

Libra

Queen of Fire – The Muse of Practicality advises that it is time to stop theorizing and go do it. You may have been sitting on an idea or project and this energy is heralding that the time is ripe for action. Go make things happen.

Scorpio

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation would like you to conjure something from your imagination into reality. You have all the tools necessary for this invocation. The only caveats are that you will need a connection to the divine and the Force of Will to make it happen. So, declutter your mind from the “what ifs” so you have a clear link to your imagination and begin creating.

Sagittarius

Queen of Water – The Muse of Fun is here with you this week. This energy usually comes when life has become mundane, and you are finding yourself in an endless repeating cycle of wake-work-sleep. She recommends finding time to frolic throughout this week. She wants you to reconnect with the real meaning of life – finding your joy.

Capricorn

*Chariot – The Muse of Movement is here to help you focus. This week supplies tons of to-dos and luckily the universe is giving you the gas to make a run of it. However, it is solely up to you to have a direction, route, and do all the driving. So, before this week starts make sure you have mapped out what needs to be done and where you need to go, or you will be doing metaphorical donuts in the parking lot. And she reminds you rest stops are necessary for any trip so plan those in too.

Aquarius

Six of Earth – The Muse of the Ripple Effect has come to visit this week. She comes when you need to be mindful of how you are treating people. As a sign, you all are uber-conscious of being respectful in society; however, this week it is important to bring that mindful kindness to the folks closer to you. You might find it hard to connect because your mind is elsewhere. But it would be beneficial to create moments of intimacy and connection not only for your people, but it will ground you too.

Pisces

Kerry James Marshall The Garden Projects Series

Five of Earth – This week comes with some challenges, but the Muse of Refuge is here to help you. First, she reminds you that you are not alone, but you will have to put some effort into connecting with people. Secondly, she reminds you that all of humanity deals with challenges and hardships, so your difficulty is not unique. She is not trying to diminish your feelings. But she just doesn’t want you to isolate yourself while you are having them. The big lesson with the challenges you will face this week is seeing that people have your back if you let them.

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Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Feb 5, 2023

February 5, 2023 Nina

The artist this week is Margaret TG Burroughs, 1915-2010. Not only was she an artist, teacher, and writer, she also co-founded the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, the South Side Community Art Center and Chicago’s Lake Meadows Art Fair. Not only did these establish the first venues for African American art but also centered around the exploration of the Black experience and especially centered around children having a place to appreciate their cultural identity and grow their awareness of art.

Burroughs is best known for her linoleum block prints emphasizing family, community, and history. Many of her characters are half black and white. These prints put forth her philosophy that “the color of skin is a minor difference among men which has been stretched beyond its importance.” Burroughs’ art prompts us to ponder diversity, how cultures intersect and the barriers that divide and prevent community. Her goal, “I wish my art to speak not only for my people- but for all of humanity.”

Your pondering for the week: What is your definition and examples of community? Is it inclusive?

Solar System highlights

This week begins with a full moon in Leo – release insecurities and reinforce positive belief systems. On Tuesday it moves into Virgo – great for organizing and getting work done. Then on Thursday through the weekend the moon is in Libra – focus on your relationships and emotional equity within them.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in its last week in Capricorn (work and discipline) – compromising is key to grease your work wheels. Mars (action) is still in Gemini (communication and knowledge), until March 25^th, 2023. This is a 7-month stopover instead of it’s usually 1-2. Mars is pushing us to truthfully talk and follow up with actions. The challenge with this time is your politeness filter has been switched off. So, it is having us double down on how to be constructive with our voice – to promote action not reaction.

Venus (beauty and harmony) is in Pisces. Helping us go with the flow especially around activities that we enjoy. We will have two weeks to appreciate this configuration. Jupiter (growth) is in Aries (action) until May 24, 2023 – great for manifestation, expansion, and action. And lastly, Saturn (structures) remains in Aquarius until the beginning of March 2023 – so innovating and modernizing your everyday life is its intention.

PS. Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Aquarius this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Leo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time. And if you need a quick stocking stuffer. I can supply gift certificates for all my readings.

May light be on you, around you, and within you. Happy Solstice no tarotcast next week so I’ll “see” you all in 2023.

Nina

*****I have changed using the RWS version of the tarot names and now call the suits: pentacles/coins is now Earth, cups is now Water, swords is now Air and wands is now Fire. I did this because I want to work more closely with the elements that these suits represent.

Aries

*Sun – The Muse of Attainment has come to shine her blessings on you. This week is all about following only the things, projects, relationships that have the aura of success. By doing so you liberate yourself from the toils of the mundane and challenges that do not deserve your energy.

Taurus

Four of Earth – The Muse of the Miser comes to help you reallocate your resources. Somewhere there is a leak, and this muse advises to plug it before it becomes a gusher. So, look where you spend your energy, time, money, and space. Find ways to make how you spend more efficient so that your resources’ balances are not in the red.

Gemini

King of Fire – This week you will be called to lead, advise, or mediate this week. The Muse of Meaning has come to help you navigate these situations. She asks you to focus on the concept of win-win. Where both sides find a solution by caring about each other’s perspective and then partaking in reciprocity.

Cancerian

*Moon – The Muse of Reflection comes to you this week to help you cast light into the shadows. Your unconscious has some information for you, and you will need to investigate your shadow side to find it. You are repressing some thought or emotion which is rippling out into reality causing more disruption than necessary. By allowing your emotions to rise and then reflect on them you can calm your emotional waters.

Leo

*Death – Change can be challenging but the Muse of Transformation would like you to usher in this needed shift. She asks what weeding needs to happen in your life? There is a need to create space and let go of negative aspects that have overgrown or outgrown its purpose. This metamorphosis is a personal change, something you know hasn’t been working and now needs to be composted for new growth. Time to let go, so you can grow.

Virgo

Ace of Earth – This is a great time to start a new project or adventure, especially if it has the potential to grow your resources. You have all the tools needed. This week is the fertile time to plant the seed, goal or idea.

Libra

Ten of Earth – This week you are supposed to bask in your successes. This is not a time to start something new but to take advantage of and restitution of your hard work. This Muse asks: Why do you work so hard if you don’t takt time to enjoy the product of that energy?

Scorpio

*Tower – This week will have moments where you have no control over a situation or two. The Muse of Acceptance advises letting go of the ego and sense that you are not responsible for every outcome. Sometimes there is nothing one can do other than deal with the aftermath of change. However, she does remind you this is where your spirit shines. Embody the calm after the storm.

Sagittarius

*Fool – The Muse of the Wanderer entices you to investigate the world around you. Take time this week to explore your surroundings. Enjoy new sights, sounds and tastes. Your environment has unbound potential waiting for you to discover it.

Capricorn

*Strength – This week you will confront a fear or two. However, the Muse of Inner Strength is here to help you surmount any dread or doubt. She reminds you that you have tamed wilder beasts than what you will confront this week. These challenges are more kittens than lions.

Aquarius

*Hierophant – You may be asked to conform to someone else’s idea of right or wrong or be asked to fit into a schedule or law that does not work with your timing or morals. The Muse of Compliance reminds you that you should only agree with others if that action doesn’t work against your principles and standards. Compliance does not mean submittal. It should look more like a compromise or agreement.

Pisces

Five of Air – The Muse of Privilege has you working on the concepts of deserving and owing. She reminds you they both have aspects that include the ego and reciprocity. When seen with the light, they can be generous and earnest; however their shadowy side holds na

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Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Jan 16, 2022

January 16, 2022 Nina

This week’s artist is Betye Saar. Saar is an assemblage artist and print maker. As she says: I’m a person who walks looking down, because you can find lots of great things on the ground. I’m basically a recycler… I find other people’s stuff and junk and recycle it into my stuff and junk.’ But how she puts them together creates deeper more complex meaning, a story. Saar believes that that an object carries its past. Not only it’s physical past of where it has been and who held it, but also it mystical past why did someone make, buy, and then discard the object.

Saar by assembling these disparate items, they become reborn with a new voice. Her visual storytelling ranges from political like The Liberation of Aunt Jemima (1972) or delves into mysticism like Legends in Blue (2020). It her unique ability to combine items from society that can disparage and reimagining them to tell stories of freedom and spirit that makes her a remarkable artist.

We all create our own assemblages in our homes, souvenirs, knickknacks, photos, etc… Your pondering for the week: Look around your space and what things have you put together? What personal altars have you consciously or subconsciously created? What do these altars represent?

Solar System highlights: The Moon starts this week in Leo –time to shine into the world. Then moves into Virgo on the 20^th – organize and clean. Onto Libra for the weekend- perfect timing for bonding with partners and friends. No major planetary changes from last week. Except Mercury is retrograde in Aquarius – not a great time for action but a great time for your mind: Review, Reflect, and Reassess. Venus is in Capricorn – where beauty and harmony are achieved through practicality. Mars is in Sagittarius a lovely time to expand and explore not only your environment but your mind. Jupiter is in Pisces; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck. And Saturn is still in Aquarius – so innovating and upping your game is its focus for another year.

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Capricorn this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Cancer it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check-in, now is the time.

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina

Aries

*Chariot – The Muse of Self Propulsion is handing you the keys to your future this week. However, the challenge is you need a direction/focus to apply this energy towards. If you do not, you will drive in circles. If you do then everything is within your reach. So ready, steady, go.

Taurus

*World – The Muse of Endings and Beginnings is here to help you tie up loose ends and clean your plate, so you may start anew. Take this week to tidy your desk, inbox, entry ways, etc.… Literally or metaphorically you need to clean your portals so “the new” can walk in unimpeded.

Gemini

*Strength – To get through the next couple of months with more ease you need to strengthen your core. This can be as simple as starting an exercise regime to work on your abdominals. Or it can be as complicated as re-working your life’s mission statement and/or goals. These exercises in inner strength will lead you to more ease not only this week but also well into your birth month.

Cancerian

King of Coins – The Muse of Fiscal Abundance has come to help you set goals for your finances. They ask what do you need to make yourself feel financial safe? It could be getting your taxes ready early, paying off your debt, having a larger savings goal, or buying a house. Take this week to review, reflect and reassess your finances.

Leo

Six of Cups – This is your second six so a quick dive into six. Sixes in tarot represent the give and take that happens in the world. Last week it was about the balance of the cost and profit of success. This week it is about the balance of the past and future. The past has valid information for your future, but the lesson is not caring the pain or expecting repeated patterns. You bring the lesson and tools forward to use, so you do not have to relive past experiences.

Virgo

Four of Swords – The Muse of Rest is here again after also coming two weeks ago. This is a divine week for you to pull back and work with the Mercurian energy of Review, Reflect, and Reassess. Pull in and ponder to your hearts content. Healthy food, plenty of rest and a comfy couch or chair are your friends this week.

Libra

Six of Swords – The Muse of Mini-Transitions has come to get you out of a rut. This week make little changes that will affect your life in big ways. Releasing the past and finding new paths are key. This can be done by rearranging your furniture, finding a new places to hang, and/or releasing things that no longer work for you.

Scorpio

King of Cups – The past two weeks had you update your prime directive, a past paradigm or thinking process. And gave you clues either through dreams or synchronicities. Well, that theme continues this week with the Muse of Emotions. This energy asks you to make friends with your emotions because each of them that arise this week do so with a message. And as always with this muse Rumi’s poem Guest House is a reminder of how to do this.

Sagittarius

*Fool– Ok so third big energy week. The past two weeks the muses asked you to use your intuition or spiritual practice to tap into the flow of information masked in synchronicities, riddles, and Fae energy. Then the Muse of Mixology had you honing the skill of spontaneity with knowledge by experimenting and combing different aspects of your life (ex: shadow/light, rest/action). And now with these skills and information the Muse of New Adventure is pushing you out the door to find new experiences. This can be as simple as finding new routes home or as complex as making a leap into a new job field or lifestyle.

Capricorn

Two of Swords – This week with each of your decisions you need to get in touch with how that decision feels with all your senses. This muse reminds you that it is not the goal but the journey that is important.

Aquarius

*Hierophant and Page of Swords – The muses this week want you to investigate your structures. This can look as simple as looking through Zillow for new places to live, finding a new way to organize your life (did someone say bullet journal), or health blogs for new workouts. Or it can look as complex as doing some research into how you prioritize the structures of your life. For example, you say family is important but spend most of your time at work?

Pisces

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation is here to help you bring the divine into existence in your life. Even though Mercury is in retrograde you all can begin manifesting. The challenge is that with each item, wish, manifestation you conjure it must also have a broader divine aspect to it. That can be as simple as you want a raise, but you also give more to charity this year. Or as complex that your new path has a higher purpose then survival.

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Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 7, 2021

March 7, 2021 Nina

I know why the Caged Bird sings Bisa Butler

If you all have been with me for a while skip down to the 4th paragraph, I have ranted on this before. But if you are new…… I was an elementary coach for teachers and I am not fond of the emphasis and exaltation of a “minority” history months in American public schools and on Google. Before you get mad please read on. Though I understand its necessity when this movement started, back in 1926 as Black History Week by historian Carter G. Woodson. Where he saw little to none African American representation in the “white halls of history” and probably was seeing the whitewashing of the Red Summer. History week has now grown to a month, added new months for other minorities and spreading outside of America. But have we now fallen into Hallmarking ™ history? In our political correctness, lost the thread?

Textbooks and curriculum of American schools still teach basically the same history– white-male-centric – but now in February you teach about MLK, in March about Susan B. Anthony, and Native American Heritage Month in November, so you can get it close to Thanksgiving – UGH. This does the “minority’s history” an injustice. First it loses its context in history as a whole. The “minority” becomes not part of our shared history but as a parallel thing happening alongside predominately white male history or is only seen for a month in bubble in and of itself. We lose the why it came about and the reverberation of that action now.

Secondly, it supports instead of works against our biological perspective of tribalism. And we lose the perspective of the history of the individual within the collective. The acts of an individual echoing through time and space. Lastly, this undermines teaching the student not only Socratic thinking which hinges on contextual information, but also disempowers the student to see that they can change the course of the future in ways they would never imagine.

The artist this week is Bisa Butlers @bisabutler should be used as a history teaching tool. She takes everyday photos of African Americans throughout history and contextualizes them by using exquisite fabrics and an skilled illustrative thread. Take for instance the art above I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she uses a Vlisco fabric called “Michelle’s shoes” for the woman’s skirt on the far right. The fabric is inspired by West African textiles, done with and Indonesian batik and made in the Netherlands.

She vividly leads us to see the complex connected thread of these woman’s history, African roots to Maya Angelo and Michelle Obama to our multi-cultural world. She brings these “everyday” people into a contextual history. In her words: …I am telling the story— this African American side— of the American life. History is the story of men and women, but the narrative is controlled by those who hold the pen. ……..My community has been marginalized for hundreds of years. While we have been right beside our white counterparts experiencing and creating history, our contributions and perspectives have been ignored, unrecorded, and lost. It is only a few years ago that it was acknowledged that the White House was built by slaves. Right there in the seat of power of our country African Americans were creating and contributing while their names were lost to history. ………My subjects are African Americans from ordinary walks of life who may have sat for a formal family portrait or may have been documented by a passing photographer. Like the builders of the White House, they have no names or captions to tell us who they were.

Your ponderings for the week: Learn the why behind something in your own history, and see how it affects you now and would you tweak it to change the future? And the Planets: New Moon in Pisces on March 13^th great day for daydreaming.

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you. Pisces this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Virgo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

*Chariot – This is the week to make change happen. The Muse of Movement is here to help grease the wheels. Momentum is not problem. The only challenge with this energy is you must drive it and have a destination to drive it to. If you do not have a focus you may run around in circles this week.

Taurus

Knight of Wands – This Muse comes to say you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. You may not see it, but your timing is perfect. Whether you are standing still, trotting along or in full gallop allow your spirit to guide you.

Gemini

King of Cups – The Muse of Emotional Acceptance has come to help you heal old wounds of the heart. This muse celebrates the hardest emotion that we deal with as humans: grief. There is something you need to grieve. This energy wants you to dive deeply into this emotion of loss. When we grieve, we empty the cup fully and by doing so allow the cup to be refilled.

Cancer

Ace of Coins – The Muse of Material Beginnings is here. This is a perfect week to start a new project, re-plan your garden, buy something to fix up your house or start a savings account. The key to this energy of sustainability is to create with the concept of quality over quantity.

Leo

Queen of Swords – The Muse of Details has come to help guide you through this week. This energy comes when it is important to read the fine print, plan out a project in detail, and sweat the small stuff. You can find pleasure if you pay attention to the details of your life. Time to get out that metaphorical (or literally if you must) fine-toothed comb or cleaning toothbrush and tease out the specifics.

Virgo

King of Swords – The Muse of Long-term Planning is here to set up your itinerary for the rest of the year and three- and five-year goals. This week do not get caught in the morass of minutia. Turn your gaze to the horizon and the dreams of tomorrow. Vision boards out, daydreaming on, and no boundaries in vastness of your future.

Libra

Four of Cups – Last week the Muse of Divine energy was here to grow whatever you wanted to focus on. You get another week to do just that. But this week’s Muse ask you to go back and relook over what you are working on. There is something that does not feel quite right. That thing or idea needs some more introspection. The challenge with this is after you have done a pass with your internal eye, turn outward to get another person’s opinion. Though make sure it is with someone you trust with your dreaming.

Scorpio

Ten of Coins – The Muse of Finishing is here to help you complete a project. Either find the oldest thing on your to-do list or finish up something that has been nagging at your subconscious. This is a great week to move a project forward to completion or at least a big leap towards it.

Sagittarius

Ten of Cups – The Muse of Bliss is here to point out all the good things in your life. This week sit back and enjoy all that you have worked hard to get. If you have a roof over your head start there, food on the table you are doing great; and a job that is getting your needs meet, Whoot. And if you do not have these things, help is on the way. You just need to ask and then open your door; you have friends that are wanting to pay you back some of the kindness you have given in the past.

Capricorn

*Fool – The Muse of Leaps is here to help you out of a rut you may not realize you are in. The key to this is to do the non-routine. Sleep late or get up with the sunrise, turn off all electronics after sunset for a night, eat for one day without cooking unless over an open fire, do not look at your emails for a 24-hour period. I know you all love your routines, but this week shake it up and see what new ideas sprout from the cracks.

Aquarius

Queen of Coins – The Muse of Physical Pleasures is here to help you through this week. This muse comes when you need to ground yourself. She reminds you to connect with your five senses if you can daily. Eat good food, see beautiful things, feel something textural, smell some aromatherapy, and listen to your favorite music. Enjoy the simple things in life.

Pisces

*Death – Ok so this rarely happens but the Muse of Organic Change arrives again during your birth month to remind you how important this year is to make big changes happen. And to do so you need to release, release, and release some more. And while you are doing all this releasing you are using this “stuff” to compost new soil to grow from. The challenge with this energy is having the patience and attunement with your surroundings like a gardener. You need to pay attention to the cycles of growth and harvesting. This can be a year where you are planting and harvesting each season.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of May 31, 2020

May 31, 2020 Nina

The artist this week is Selma Burke. Her pieces express an overall emotionality and truthfulness created from her interesting nuanced choices. Selma’s subject with a furrowed brow conveying the rawness of intention, or the curiosity of raised eyebrows, or the tilt of a child’s head expressing innocence. With her more experimental pieces like The Torso her choice of figure and tilt articulating a more realistic view of a women’s form, or the tenderness of a mother holding a child. This is a lesson in the subtleness of choice conveying powerful emotional content. Each of us effect change in our lives and maybe the more subtle, more nuanced may just have a more lasting a broader effect then we think.

She started her education by becoming a nurse in Raleigh, N.C. and moved to NYC after graduation. There she became associated with the Harlem Renaissance and began teaching art appreciation and education to New York youth. Then during the 1930’s she traveled across Europe honing her own artist skills. By 1940 she opened the Selma Burke School of Sculpture in NYC while graduating from Columbia with her own arts degree.

In 1942 she joined the Navy become one of the first African American women to enroll and worked in the shipyard during the war. During that time, she won a competition to do a bronze relief of FDR. Historically this is her most famous and controversial piece. Many say her piece was the inspiration for the dime; however, it is detested by the artist who designed it. She returned to roots and from 1968 to 1981 she founded and ran the Selma Burke Art Center in Pittsburgh, continuing to provide art to the youth of the undeserved communities there.

P.S. Signs with an * it a big week for you. Gemini this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Sagittarius it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina

Aries

Selma Burke Queen of Wands – This week the energy can invigorate anything you put your focus to. It also supplies you with the courage and fierceness to take charge of all that you survey. The challenge is doing it alone. It is not necessary, but you can if you must.

Taurus

PhotoCredit: John Wilson White

*World – The world is your oyster this week. But it is up to you prying it open to reveal its’ pearls. This is big energy for moving outcomes into triumphant directions. The challenge with this card for you Taurus is that you do have the work ethic and commitment to move things to completion. But are you flexible enough to know when to let it go if it isn’t working or allowing it to evolve into an unknown ending? To utilize this energy, go for the feeling of a job well done without attaching it to a material completion.

Gemini

PhotoCredit: John Wilson White

Two of Swords – Confusion flies through the lines of communication and thought. This causes stalemates and indecision not only for you but for those around you. The best way to work with this energy is either flipping a coin or waiting until next week to decide if you can.

Cancer

Selma Burke Eight of Swords – Self acceptance is key this week. You might be feeling entrapped, but this time is meant for healing. Sometimes the inertia of life has nothing to do with you as long as you don’t take it on as your story. Let go of the collective thought patterns. They are not part of your narrative.

Leo

Selma Burke Queen of Cups – Last week your brain was taxed. The energy takes a 180 degree turn to your heart this week. Compassion, calm and comfort are the keys to ease. Find time daily to invite in the 3 Cs. This is no time for martyrdom – take time off and have some fun.

Virgo

Ten of Wands – Another week spending energy in completing old projects and cleaning your desk/mind/spirit. The challenge is being responsible for your obligations to those close to you but also to yourself. This week is setting you up for new beginnings once your plate is cleared from the old.

Libra

Four of Swords – This energy shows up when you need to recuperate and relax. You are being drained and are not aware of the source or how much it is taking out of you. The best way of finding the leaks is by walking away from all your responsibilities for a small amount of time. Then once you return the seepage will be more obvious and easier to fix.

Scorpio

Selma Burke *Temperance – The energy that surrounds you this week is excessive. This overload unbalances you, so emotional outburst may be necessary to vent and re-calibrate. However, be careful, impatience can trigger more negative and unworthy outpourings. The key is purposely vent before the pressure makes you burst.

Sagittarius

*Sun – The sun will come out tomorrow and shine on you all week. So that is great if you are ready to play in the sunlight. However, there is a distinct possibility you may also want to hide in the shadows of pessimism. The challenge is that more you try to be happy the less you accomplish it. In other words, you are thinking to much. Sag your free spirit is needing airing, a drive in the car with windows down, a picnic in the woods, or anything outdoorsy without any goal setting is required. Try spotlighting your focus on things you want to do – not things you have to do.

Capricorn

*Justice – Last week organic change was asking you to not resist or fear transformation. Letting things end so others can begin. You are hopefully now moving with a more natural pace and to a more comfortable place. Luckily, you get another week to work on this shift by focusing on cause and effect. For each decision you are making imagine the possible or impossible outcomes. Why focus on the impossible? Because your mind wants to think of the what ifs and this is the week to let it. Those out-there worst-case scenarios need airing. Not to bring them in to being but to see the truth of their outlandishness.

Aquarius

Selma Burke *Chariot – Wow four weeks in a row with big energy. It started with summoning you to take a bit of control over your destiny by showing up. Then Temperance energy suggested creating your life like a refined meal that has many notes to balance in the creation of a delectable dining experience. Then Justice had you looking for the grey areas to find a true sense of fairness and harmony. Now self-determining change has arrived. This energy is giving you control. The good side is that you have more sway then you think. The bad side is it is all in your hands. This week if you want movement to happen you will need to take the reins. If you look at all of May/June’s forecast now is the time to be flexible and delicate when applying energy but continue moving forward.

Pisces

Selma Burke Two of Wands – Discovery is the name of the game this week. The challenge is that you are still in a place that is neither the past nor the future; however, you are not inert. You are just taking a moment finding needed items and planning for the move forward. The only challenge is while you are doing this be mindful of the precious moments this pause has given you.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb 23, 2020

February 23, 2020 Nina

Faith Ringgold Tar beach — Faith Ringgold Tar Beach

We all at some point in our lives have flying dreams. Dream experts believe that flying dreams represent control, new perspectives, freedom and/or escape. One of my favorite children’s book is Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. It is about an eight-year-old girl, Cassie, in Harlem. Not only does this loosely autobiographical book give the reader a glimpse into Harlem circa 1939 but it inspires us to transcend and soar. As Ringgold writes it’s very easy, anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can’t get to any other way.

Ringgold is an accomplished artist and activist. She started in tradition oil paintings but by 1970 she began experimenting with painting acrylic on unstretched canvas with fabric borders, much like the Tibetan Thangkas (silk paintings with embroidery). She expanded this technique to her painted narrative quilts which she is now most famous for. Her pieces are usually heavy in symbolism and full of historical references of African American culture.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you. Pisces this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year. And Virgo it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time.

Aries

Five of Cups – Last week’s energy came to help you destroy the edifices that bind you, and strengthen your resolve to create new structures (time, space and how use your energy) that will sustain the work that needs to be done. You are going to need those structures to ground you this week from the chaotic emotional energies whirling internally and externally. The goal to traversing these waters is within each wave of churning emotion is a pearl of wisdom and truth.

Taurus

Ten of Swords – Well Mercury is in retrograde and you might be feeling the barbs. This week’s energy can bring on confrontation if you are not mindful of your intuition warning you to duck. If the hairs on the back of your neck raise up or you get a tingling feeling not to broach a subject or walk down that street, follow that warning. People and your environment can be sharp this week. Your challenge is to be aware of your triggers and avoid the clashes.

Gemini

Four of Swords – The energy this week is all about rest and healing. This energy warns you that your immune system, soul and mind needs rest. Take time to pull away from the maddening crowd (this includes social media) and relax.

Cancer

Two of Swords – Making choices or at least feeling as if you must are in the air this week; however we are in the midst of a Mercury in retrograde. The key to this week is not focusing on the decisions you feel you need to make, but about faith in yourself. Whatever you decide or not decide you will end up where you should be. This week go with the flow.

Leo

*Hanged Man – With Mercury in retrograde you might find it difficult to go forward. But this week that will work in your favor. This is great energy to catch up on anything already in progress or contemplate your next steps. A break in the action when used correctly can feel like a breakthrough.

Virgo

King of Swords – The energy this week is best used by planning for the long term. Though it doesn’t actively move you into the future it does want you to gain perspective and/or a clear focus on the future and how to get there. This is a great week for planning out the rest of the year or five.

Libra

Six of Cups – This energy is best used in play. Get down on the floor with a child and challenge your perspective of time, work and space. This isn’t about being naïve but about being open to seeing the world with a more inquisitive viewpoint.

Scorpio

Page of Wands – Your passion needs reigniting. When this energy shows up it is telling you that your soul’s spark, the reason you get up in the morning- i.e. your purpose(s), is waning. Take this week to do things that set your soul on fire. Nature and the arts are great venues to help you re-discover why you are here.

Sagittarius

Page of Swords – The last two weeks the energies have been around freedom, newness and metamorphosis. Now with Mercury fully in retrograde you are giving this time to decipher what has been going on in your outer life and inner mind. This energy foretells there is information to help you solve a problem or two. But it will take subtle and persistent inquiry to find it, for the truth is hidden by half-truths and denial. The key is being kind with your queries both to yourself and to others.

Capricorn

Faith Ringgold, Coming to Jones Road Part II: Our Secret Wedding in the Woods, photography by Benjamin Westoby

Four of Wands – Last week the energy was about expanding your horizons by integrating your inner and outer worlds. Diving into the energy and concept of interconnectedness. You are building on the old world and creating a new paradigm. So, to move to this new music you must let the composition enter you, let your body and soul find the new rhythm, and then dance. That energy is still reverberating through this week. But this energy focuses you on creating a foundation that is more fluid and more accepting of stress. Think of being more like bamboo then like an oak.

Aquarius

Faith Ringgold Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles

Eight of Wands – Now that you know that 2020 is about igniting new passions, new ways of being on the physical plane, and bringing the divine down into reality. That definition of divine is of, from or like God, excellent or delightful. So, 2020 will be a year where new not only grows, prospers but lifts others with delight. This week is about starting to send out those messages and inquires to the world. However, since this week Mercury is in retrograde, its not about starting these new projects but more like sending out feelers to see what might bite. The more arrows you let fly the more likely you will hit upon illuminations.

Pisces

Five of Swords – Mercury in retrograde is creating chaos and you with a few other signs are being affected by it. Chaos has a way of being attracted to you this week, so the challenge is not reacting to other people’s yuckness. Your hackles can easily be triggered. The solution is putting on soothing music, light some incense/sage and escape when necessary.

May light be on you, around you, and within you,

Nina

Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Solar System highlights

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancerian

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Like this:

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

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Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra