Tag Archives: Photography

Tarotcast

Tarot and Artcast for Jan 18-30, 2026

Hiroshi Sugimoto
Baltic Sea, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Hi All,

The artist this week is Hiroshi Sugimoto.  Sugimoto is a photographer and architect.  In his art he experiments with the science of photography, light, shadow and darkness.  By using extremely long exposures he plays with the concept of time and timelessness and thus plays with our eye’s sense of reality.

On a side note: There is a fascinating video of a conversation with Sugimoto and his printer which shows the interdependence and collaboration of artists.

Solar System highlights for the next two weeks

The inner planets, Earth, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all moving into Aquarius time to innovate areas in your personal life.  Upgrade.

Neptune moves into Aries until June of 2026 where we can now work on using our imagination to bring things into the material plane.

 

EXTRA

In case you missed it in the last cast: A few changes to the cast for now, as I figured out how I want to move forward with the cast and my other offerings.  I am only going to do the solar system highlights section when something big changes.  If you want a more in-depth look into the planets and how they affect you, you can get those with my yearly Astro reading or if you sign up for my monthly new moon readings. I am diving deeper into a big project around tarot and oracle cards.  So, I’ll be switching back and forth with Oracle and Tarot decks in the coming year. This is so I don’t get stagnant with your forecasts and I keep learning.   I still love showcasing artists, so for now that is still in and then of course each sign’s cast every other week.

*Signs with an * it is a big week for you.    Capricorn/Aquarius this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Cancerian/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.

 

**** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

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

Nina

 

Aries 
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Hyena and vultures Diorama in Natural History Museum, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Partake in the garden of life.  Take these two weeks to ground yourself in the earth, call in wealth and abundance.  However, it is also your duty to provide for nature and those you love around you.  Share the wealth.

 

Taurus 
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Villa Mazzacorati, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Connect the spaces of your heart to the world around you, so you may seek alignment with your actions, words and thoughts.  This is not an easy road but a necessary one for you.  The goal is to connect and do without taking on other’s emotional states.  Otherwise, you will lose your connection to your inner joy and glow.  Which is so necessary in this world right now.

Gemini
Electrifying a photo plate, Hiroshi Sugimoto

You are full of ideas as well as responsibilities.  And you have helped and inspired others.  However, now is the time to ask for help and input.  This is not a time to carry the load by yourself.  Sharing is imperative so you have the energy and clear focus to accomplish what is ahead.

 

Cancerian
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Bay of Sagami

The Muses want you to know that you are worthy of abundance and love.  This is not a time to doubt what you have accomplished or give up hope if aspects have not worked out. You have developed into your own nurturer and provider.   And it is time to step through the door confidently.

 

Leo 
South Bay Drive in San Diego, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Memories hold a mirror up to our present.  Every time you access your memories you color and edit them just a bit.  In this way you have been altering the past since your first recollection.  So, the muses ask you why not choose to remember in a way that heals instead of harms.

 

Virgo 
In Praise of Shadow, Hiroshi Sugimoto

Completions are called for during these two weeks.  You are preparing to be the Fool who jumps into the unknown.  However, the muses are asking you to take a moment and celebrate the end of this cycle.  So, you can clean the slate for the new to enter.

 

Libra 
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Earliest Human Relatives Diorama at Natural History Museum, Hiroshi Sugimoto

The Muses would like you to call in love and connection.  The challenge with this request is you must be willing to say yes.  You have learned what you don’t need, so now call in what you do.  If you are in a relationship then use this energy to deepen the connection, ask for what you need and in turn listen to what their needs are.

 

Scorpio 
Staircase Villa Farnese, Hiroshi Sugimoto

What structures in your life are failing you?  As the societal planets are changing signs in proximity, which haven’t occurred during human existence, they are calling on you all to lead us to new more inclusive constructs.  Some of you will be doing this on a larger platform while others will be modeling personal how to do it in our day to day.  This is the beginning of that transformation, and you all are being called into your phoenix form.  Light the way.

 

Sagittarius 
Union City Drive-In, Hiroshi Sugimoto

You are a mosaic of parts.  You understand this and are comfortable with it.  And the muses would like you to use your alchemical ways to help others understand and balance theirs.  Whether this is through example or philosophical discourse, you are being called to guide, cheerlead, support others to create their own delightful medley of humanness.

 

Capricorn 
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Sea of Buddha, Hiroshi Sugimoto

You are called to quiet your mind.  For the next two weeks, be mindful of your circadian clock and stay in the present as much as you can. If your mind starts to worry about the future use only the thoughts that you can do something about.  The rest write down and then let them go.

 

Aquarius 
Ligurian Sea, Hiroshi Sugimoto

As you enter your birth month, allow the old, tired, irrelevant to decay.  Let decompose what no longer serves you to create the nutrients for the new year.  This can look like cleaning out your closet or house and reselling or donating it.  Or relocating everything in your inbox to “look at later” folder.  The key is creating space to grow new ideas, relationships, projects in open fertile ground.

 

Pisces 
Hiroshi Sugimoto
CARIBBEAN SEA, Hiroshi Sugimoto

The Muses are asking you to hold steady and push through.  You are almost at the end of a cycle.  I mean your birthday is coming up; however, you have loose ends to tie up, projects to finish and goals to meet.  So, for these two weeks, set up some strong boundaries to get things done and off your list before the end of February comes and you begin a new year.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Artcast for December 2025

Amit Eshel Artic Wolves

Hi All,

Due to my surgery and my annual soul retreat during Winter Solstice to the New Year, this is the last forecast until the first week in January.  This cast I am asking the muses to give you a word or saying to ponder on the lessons, challenges and warnings to wrap up 2025 and begin 2026.

Also, I just want to express how grateful I am for you all walking with me through my exploration of art and tarot.  I wish you all great joy and happiness as we finish off 2025 and begin our journey into 2026.  See you in January 2026.

The art the cast is from winners of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photography competition.

 

Solar System highlights

Mercury is back in Sagittarius until the end of the year – chatty Cathy is in the house.  Mars also moves into Capricorn on December 15th – great to tie up loose ends and plan for new beginnings. Venus is in Sagittarius until December 24th – wanting us to be curious and then moves into Capricorn where we focus on making beauty more tangible in our lives.

Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Cancer until June 2026.  This placement is exalted, because Cancer boosts Jupiter’s positive aspects and vice versa.  Jupiter creates more ease in our emotional growth, intuition, feeling nurtured as well as giving it.  However, the two-fold challenge is that growth needs time to cultivate and may bring growing pains.  So be kind and patient with others and yourself as we grow into our abundance.

Lastly, Saturn is back in Piscis until February of 2026.  So, we are back to our structures having trouble being…well… structured.  And I am sending out extra feel-good vibes for you all with a Saturn in Aries or Pisces and are dealing with this erratic Saturn return.

 

EXTRA

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

**** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Simone Baumeister Orb weaver Spider and car lights

Three of Fire – Lesson: Patience and preparedness   Challenge:  The challenge with this card is being aware of timing and then all you have to do is make sure everything is set up for your egg to hatch.    Warning: Be flexible for things to change.

 

Taurus
Luca Lorenzo Harbor Seal

Heart of Water – Lesson: Playfulness.  Challenge: Take a lighter outlook on life.  Keep your heart open.   Warning: Don’t be naïve about the power of your emotions or others.

 

Gemini
Lubin Godin Alpine Ibex

Hermit – Lesson: Gaining perspective.  Challenge: Contemplate the bigger picture to work out the details.  Ie: plan backwards.  Warning: This action requires solitude without being antisocial which can lead to loneliness.

 

Cancerian
Roberto Machegami Great Blue Heron

Mind of Fire – Lesson:  The quest of balancing being a Zen master and a Sovereign.  Challenge: Working on increasing your spiritual practice and governing your life with authority.  Warning:   how do you make things happen without using force?

 

Leo
Quentin Martinez and Lesser Tree frogs

Supporter – Lesson:  Culture does not make people. People make culture. ― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists. Challenge: Creating structures that can support your soul’s quest.  Warning: Being so rigid with those structures you cannot evolve.

 

Virgo
Georgina Steyder Bower bird

Moon– Lesson:  The gleaming stars all about the shining moon; Hide their bright faces, when full-orbed and splendid; In the sky she floats, flooding the shadowed earth with clear silver light. ― Sappho.  Challenge: Bring the hidden softly into light.  Warning: Tether yourself before you dive into the shadows.

 

Libra
Roberto Marchegiani Baringo Giraffes

Partners – Lesson:  Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anais Nin   Challenge: Maintaining your sovereignty while compromising.  Warning: If you can’t love yourself how the hell you gonna love somebody else – RuPaul

 

Scorpio
Chien Lee Pitcher plant shot with ultraviolet light

Heart of Air – Lesson:  Investigate and gather information. Challenge: Opening your mind and digging deeper for the truth. Warning:  Not acknowledging real and/or perceived facts.

 

Sagittarius
Bence Mate European Roller and Little Owl chase

Two of Water – Lesson:  Balancing romantic relationship or close partnerships.  Challenge: Two people dance well together, when they have the same goals.  Warning: Watch when dancing with another that even when you are leading you do not overpower, assume, or stop listening to your partner’s voice/body language.

 

Capricorn
Kutub Uddin Slime Mold

Mind of Earth – Lesson:  Construction is the art of making a meaningful whole out of many parts – Peter Zumthor architect.  Challenge: Manifesting systems to realize your desires.  Warning:  Misunderstanding the why or who you are building for.

 

Aquarius
Alexy Kharitonov Russia’s northern Swamps

Mind of Water – Lesson:  Family and self-compassion.  Challenge: This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. – Rumi.  Warning: Self-medicating to deal with the feeling of being overwhelmed by emotions or using it to escape those emotions.

 

Pisces
Minghui Yuan Hairy moth cocoon

*Evolution – Lesson: Shedding the old you so you have room to grow.  Challenge: Let go of judgement, apathy and regret.  Warning:    Neptune has been urging you to create balance between the mystical and reality and has been playing with your Sun (identity) sign for the past 14 years.  You are on the final stretch because it leaves Pisces in January and does not come back for another 160 years.  So, your challenge is having a clear and realistic dream of who you want to evolve into.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Artcast for Sept 28-Oct 11

Yury Ivanov

Every year I pick a photo contest to highlight.  This year it is the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awarded by OceanGraphic.  The winner is Yury Ivanov’s photo of two amphipods from the Cyproideidae family (above), each measuring around 3mm in body length, resting on a coral. Commonly called ‘ladybugs of the sea’, they are related to shrimp and crabs.  Ivanov speaks about the process of taking this photograph. “It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly. It was taken at a depth of 19 meters, during a sunny day with calm sea conditions. In total, it took me six dives to get the shot I wanted. The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked.”

 

Your pondering: Lately I have not been feeling present or possibly not wanting to be.  So, to be in the now I am immersing myself in the small stuff.  I stop to say hi to the bees, I spend extra minutes petting our animals, I hold my mother’s hand, I watch a leaf fall all the way to the ground.

And I am working to attract more bugs into my garden, well at least some of them (lol I am not fond of the blood sucking variety.)   Every fall I let my garden seed out and create little piles of nature’s detritus to give the insects a place to overwinter or a comfy place to lay their eggs.  And this fall our little acre is alive with chirps, clicks and buzzes.  These small co-habitants are vital to a healthy ecosystem. And as we approach winter these sounds and visitations will go dormant.   So knowing this helps me connect to being present- that the small things are a place to find joy or at the very least contentment.   What is your small stuff?

Solar System highlights

We start the week with the moon in Capricorn – good for all things that have to do with money making.  Thursday it shifts into Aquarius – think outside the box.  Saturday the moon is in Pisces – daydream. On Monday October 6th the moon moves into Aries – time to create momentum.  The Full moon on October 7th is also in Aries. Full moon is about completion, so try to push a project to the next level or finish it. Then Wednesday October 8th it shifts to Taurus – ground yourself.  On Friday and through the weekend the moon is in Gemini – communication and friends are highlighted.

Mercury is in Libra until Oct 5th. This energy is best used to work on balancing and equalizing listening and speaking.  Then it moves into Scorpio until October 28th.  A great time to bounce ideas around, strategize, research and truth seek.  Just be careful that you do your research with a delicate touch when it involves emotionally fraught subjects.

Mars is Scorpio until November 4th. This aspect is a perfect time to work on our passion projects.  Venus is in Virgo helps us focus on making our environment welcoming.

Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Cancer until June 2026.  This placement is exalted, because Cancer boosts Jupiter’s positive aspects and vice versa.  Jupiter creates more ease in our emotional growth, intuition, feeling nurtured as well as giving it.  However, the two-fold challenge is that growth needs time to cultivate and may bring growing pains.  So be kind and patient with others and yourself as we grow into our abundance.

Lastly, Saturn is back in Pisces until February of 2026.  So, we are back to our structures having trouble being…well… structured.  And I am sending out extra feel-good vibes for you all with a Saturn in Aries or Pisces and are dealing with this erratic Saturn return.

EXTRA

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

**** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

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

Nina

 

 
Aries
Giancarlo Mazarese

Eight of Earth – The Muse of Production is here to cheer you on. This muse reminds you that you have unique skills. And her arrival foreshadows that these exceptional skills will be needed soon. So, she asks you to claim and exercise these talents. While she chants “Practice, practice, practice”, to remind you to hone and innovate your gifts to the next level.

 

Taurus
default

*Hermit – The last two weeks the Muse of Momentum was your co-pilot and gave you the gas to get things started. Now the Muse of Insight asks you to step back and gain perspective on the project(s) you have been doing. She asks is your work on the right path.  How does it fit into your bigger perspective? Does it serve the people you want it to? Use this time to pull back and look at the bigger picture and make tweaks before you enter back into society.

 

Gemini
Rafael Armanda

*Moon – These next two weeks will be a deep dive into your emotional realm. The Muse of Reflection would like to work with your heart. She asks what emotions have you been bottling up? She recommends using this time to work through them before these emotions bubble over into reality and make a mess.  Your emotions have intel, but they are disguised in reaction instead of reflection.

 

Cancerian
Andrey Shpatak

*Fool – The coming weeks have the potential for inviting in the new. The Muse of Possibilities challenges you to be open to the unfamiliar.  Yes, you crabs do not always feel comfortable changing shells and being vulnerable.  But she reminds you to have more faith in yourself when you step into the unknown, for you will find stable ground and a bigger frontier even if you cannot see it.

 

 

Leo
Laszlo Foldi

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation is your co-conspirator for these coming weeks.  The key with working with this muse is to first connect with the why behind what you would like to manifest.  Is it aligned with divine inspiration/your soul?  The second task is to allow for experimentation. She reminds you that mistakes often bring more insight and therefore bigger gains.  And lastly to realize you have all the tools you need to do this task. Utilize what you have around you.

 

Virgo
Luis Arpa Toribio

*Fool/Body of Fire– Okay some of you still either are not trusting the process of jumping into the unknown or you need more of this energy.  That means some of you still need to accept invites, strike up conversations with strangers, take new routes going home, or take a passion project off the back burner.  Use this energy to be let go of perfectionism and goal orientation.  And then the rest of you that have made that jump into the unknown you have the Muse of Perfect Timing as your companion.  This muse loves to put you in the right place at the right time for opportunities and lessons.  Even if it feels negative/challenging by the end of the year you will see them as the gifts that they are.

 

Libra
Yuka Takahashi

Six of Earth – The Muse of Kindness comes when you need to balance the back and forth of giving and receiving.  Yes, it is within your nature to be kind, but it is also important to give or receive what is actually needed.  This muse suggests trying this experiment.  When in a conversation, instead of just empathizing or being self-effacing, ask others to clarify what they need or be clearer on what you need, i.e.  to fix it, brainstorming, emotional support, or just an ear to vent to.

 

Scorpio
Sho Otan

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation is your companion for the coming weeks.  This muse shows up when you either need to clarify what you want to manifest; you are having trouble focusing or you are not allowing for experimentation and variability in your work.  If it is clarification, do some brainstorming with a trusted friend.  If it is a focus issue, take a break and come back to it later.  And if it is that you are too controlling of the outcome or process work on trusting the flow and allowing yourself to learn from the mishaps.

 

Sagittarius
Richard Smith

Nine of Fire – Preparation is the key for the coming weeks.  The Muse of Endurance will help by enhancing your resilience when you need it.  And your responsibility will be to think of what you may possibly need to support you for the next two weeks.  Think of things like preparing food that can be reheated.  Make your lunch or pick out your clothes the night before. Doing things as they come up instead of “doing it later.”  By doing so you will increase your efficiency and your time for work and balance that out with rest.

 

 

Capricorn
Toni Bertran Regas

Four of Air – For the next couple of weeks it would be beneficial if you spent some time recouping and unplugging when you can.  Your brain needs a break from thinking, dealing and deciding.  So, whatever your key to calmness and relaxation is, make the time to do it.  Your brain will thank you.

 

Aquarius
Marcia Riederer

Mind of Air – The Muse of the Big Picture comes when you need to ponder, possible adjust, or clarify what your goal or big idea is.  This longer, broader view will help you in finessing the details and steps that need to do to manifest this aim.  So, start with the goal and work backwards.  This is also important when conveying an idea to others.  They need to see the big picture, so they can help or at least get out of your way.

 

Pisces
Ysabela Coll

Five of Earth – All fives have to do with chaos, and this one is on the material plane.  The Muse of Poverty Mindset is your companion to help combat this challenge.  Because things are a bit unsettled you are believing that you do not have enough – money, time and/or space.  However, this muse reminds you that is your perception but not actually the reality.  She suggests trying to recognize and then verbalize your abundance and the potential of plenty.  Then to fall prey to seeing this fleeting chaos as set in stone or not ultimately to your advantage.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for May 25 – June 7, 2025

Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

Since the dogs had there day and June is Adopt a Cat month, the artist highlighted this Tarot and Artcast is Evgeniya Gor @evgenya.gor.  One of the subjects she photographs is street cats. She explains: “most of the adorable animals in my photos are homeless.”  Not only does she highlight these animals’ plight, but she also carries food to them and supports shelters by donating.  She strives to show us not only the strays’ resilience amidst the harsh winters of Astana but also the vital role animals play in our lives – a way to connect with another living being.

Your pondering: We have four indoor pets, and a variety of hummingbird and bird feeders (which are also frequented by squirrels and chipmunks) in our yard.  And this year I planted a hummingbird and butterfly garden to strengthen my stewardship and companionship with other beings of earth.  How can you increase your stewardship for the cohabitants of the little piece of earth you live on?

Solar System highlights

On Sunday the Moon moves into Taurus – time to ground yourself and set your goals.  On Tuesday it is a new moon in Gemini – time to voice your emotions and work on your emotional intelligence.  On Thursday the moon is in Cancer – self-care is the focus.  On Saturday it moves into Leo – get out in the sun.  Monday June 2nd the moon moves into Virgo – great time to organize and prioritize for the week.  On Thursday June 5th it is in Aries – great time to start a project.  And on Saturday June 7th it moves into Scorpio – explore your passions.

Mercury is now in Gemini – its home.  This aspect is great for enhancing your communication skills and networking.  Venus is back in Aries until June 6th, for round two of implementing action steps that bring more harmony and beauty into your daily routines.  Mars is in Leo until June 17th, so there is an energy surge for action, change and new beginnings.

Our longer aspects: Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Gemini until June 9th.   This placement helps us to work with opportunities to grow and succeed through intellectual, verbal, and written pursuits.  However, we must also watch its challenging aspects: not following through, gossip, too much information and fickleness.   Saturn is moving into Aries for its first round hoping to up your energy level. This is about calibrating how you burn your “candle”, so that you don’t burn out.

 

EXTRA

*Signs with an * it is 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. `

**** I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the tarot & art-casts.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

*Emperor – Hopefully you all rested because the Muse of Building and Work is here.  She helps with projects and any kind of construction move along.  She challenges you by asking is what you are spending all this energy on is it durable?  Does it help in the realization of what you want to materialize?  If so, great steam ahead.  If not use this time to recalibrate and shift energy to what does.

 

Taurus
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

Body of Air – The Muse of Rushing In comes when you need to slow your horses and think before you speak or act.  The challenge with this energy is defining when you need to be the heroine/hero of the day or put in your two sense.  This muse advises to ask yourself does the person I am helping actually need my help or my opinion.  This energy is a lesson around where the lines sit between co-dependence, interdependence and self-reliance.

 

Gemini
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

*Star – The Muse of Hope has landed on your doorstep.  This muse challenges you to find and then write down what in your life promotes hope.  Then she would like you to post these inspirations and illuminations all around your home.  For this birthday-month is about healing, resting and filling your cup of inspiration.

 

Cancerian
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

*Temperance – The next couple of weeks will have some serious energies that feel as if they are trying to push you off-kilter.  However, the Muse of Harmony has come to help.  This Muse reminds that in music harmony is defined as the combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord progressions having a pleasing effect. And to resonate with this energy you need to recalibrate your notes to make your chord of life ring truer and stronger.  So, she asks what part of your life is missing or imbalanced as you play your symphony of life? And remember the silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

 

Leo
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

Three of Water – Where the last two weeks the muses wanted you to step back and gain perspective. These next two weeks the Muse of Friendship wants you to hang out with people.  She prompts you to socialize and especially catch up with friends.  Whether that is an lazy late lunch or going out and dancing until dawn.  This energy is about finding/creating the joy of the hang.

 

Virgo
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

*Empress – The Muse of Gardening comes when you need to tend to your life garden.  She challenges you to weed out what no longer serves you and then seed the empty beds.  Then she pushes you to grow something new.  Something that you were too scared or tired to start.  And she reminds you that while you are doing this work of growth and creativity that patience is a much-needed virtue in this process.  Patience with yourself and the process.

 

Libra
Evgeniya Gor

Five of Air – The Muse of Ego shows up when the chaos that surrounds you is partially your fault.   Whether you put in your two sense when it wasn’t needed or accidentally stepped on toes.  This muse advises to step back, see your part in the problem and fix just that.  For this is just partially your problem.  The rest is totally up to the other party and their ego to wrestle with.

 

Scorpio
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

Nine of Earth – Sometimes things just work out and these coming weeks there will be frequent occasions for this to happen.  The Muse of Discernment comes to help you make them more likely to occur.  Discernment is defined as the ability to judge well.  The key to enhancing that quality is honing your self-awareness.  The muses ask, are you capable of handling these situations of potential positive progress solo?  Or do you need help or more information?  Judge your next steps wisely.

 

Sagittarius
Evgeniya Gor

Four of Fire – The Muse of Happy Home is here to help you implement stability into your personal environment.  This can be as simple as tidying up your space or fixing a leaky faucet. This muse advises you to look around your personal space and fix the minor things that can make your home cozier and ease instead of dread and a list of to-dos.

 

Capricorn
Evgeniya Gor

Mind of Fire – The Muses would like you to spend the next two weeks planning what are your needs so that the implementation of your intuition can come with more ease.  Whether that is having a flexible plan for the coming months that allows for progress but also the agility to course correct when needed.  Or removing mental obstacles that hinder your ability to feel the freedom of believing in yourself.  Or enough resources to keep your creative fires burning for longer stints.  These two weeks are a combination of structuring, confidence and resourcing so that you can follow your intuition as it bobs and weaves.

 

Aquarius

Five of Fire – These next two weeks have the potential to be very chaotic.  The Muse of Chaos advises, if you can, not to participate in the competition and commotion. Use this time to survey the lay of the land.   However, if you must play the game the key is to commit to playing but while having sight of a clear exit strategy if needed.

 

Pisces
Evgeniya Gor
Evgeniya Gor

Five of Earth – The Muse of Poverty comes when you think you do not have the resources to carry on.  She advises if this is financial, look over your budget.  If this is time oriented, look over your schedule.  And if it is about physical space, doing something like rearrange your furniture.  These are things you can do solo.  But she also advises that you should have a support group that helps you emotionally and/or on the material plane for the bigger/overwhelming stuff.  For this is also a time to ask for help and take advantage of collaboration. Teamwork makes the dream work.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for Aug 11-24, 2024

Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

The artist is Rinko Kawauchi.  Kawauchi’s photography and books are images of the everyday, a mixture of abstract and portraits, that lead us as viewers to larger ponderings about light, memories, time and death.  She focuses on the small things that add up to our daily existence, but when we experience them, we often do not notice their awe, or their importance.  These recollections become reflective conjuries that we cherish when they reoccur.   The smell of pie or bread, an occasional rainbow from a glass by a window, the chirping of crickets, our parents calling us in from a night of play, the feel of cool water on a hot day…  These memories become our connective tissue within our lifetime. We feel cozy because they hold familiarity not only to our own timeline but connecting us to similar experiences in others.

Your pondering:  As summer is closing and the light begins to shift, now is the time to soak in the days and daily life of summer.  My favorite part of summer is the light that filters through the trees, the sparkle of water and that cozy hazy feeling you get waking from a summer nap.  What are your small memories that remind you of the “light” in summer?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins this week in Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – go exploring.    On Friday it moves into Capricorn – look at if your structures support your emotions.  On Sunday August 18th it moves into Aquarius – daydream.  Tuesday August 20th, it moves into Pisces – go with the flow.  On Thursday August 22nd the moon is in Aries – a great time to start a project.  And we finish with the moon in Taurus on Saturday – a time for enjoying the good things in life.

Mercury is now retrograde until August 28th.  Remember this is the universe’s rest-stop on the highway of Life.  A great time to recharge, reflect, and redo. Right now, it is in Virgo until August 14th.  This aspect is here to teach us how to be precise and direct in our conversations. The challenge is not to come off too harsh. Then it rolls back into Leo until September 9th giving us our second chance to shine in our storytelling skills and to highlight others.

Venus is in Virgo where we can work on being authentic within our relationships and thus ourselves.   But again, we have the challenge of being too harsh on others and ourselves.  And then Mars is in Gemini making sure our actions follow our words or our thinking.

Jupiter, the planet of abundance and growth, is in Gemini until June of 2025.   This aspect is here to help us work with opportunities to grow and succeed through intellectual, verbal, and written pursuits.  However, we must also watch its challenging aspects:   not following through, gossip, too much information and fickleness.   And lastly Saturn is in Pisces until February 2026 teaching us how to be more fluid and inclusive in our structures.

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And  Aquarius  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 tarot & art-casts.

**** I am experimenting.   I have switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire.  Also, I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards.  So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).

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

Nina

 

Aries
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*High Priestess – The Muse of Sacred Purpose comes when, in this moment in time, you are needed.  You may not realize that opening that door for someone reignites optimism in them, or that conversation changes someone’s perspective.  You are aligned with your higher purpose even when doing these little acts.  This Muse reminds you that these gifts of sacredness, of seeing someone, comes when you are being your most authentic self.  You are the change in the world.

Taurus
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

*Judgement – The Muse of Transformation is assisting your hand, heart and mind to evolve an aspect of your life.  These transformation should feel refreshing, uplifting and liberating you from old paradigms.   This is a perfect alignment with Mercury’s retrograde aspects of relaxation, review and redo.  Take these next two weeks to look at what constructs you have, are they supporting you?  Are you getting to the next level with them.  Do they uplift you?  Time to redesign and refine.

Gemini
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Heart of Air – Use this time with Mercury in retrograde to do some investigative work.  This muse advises that you need more information before making any decisions during this time.   Now is the time to read between the lines, ask more questions, and do a deeper study into what vexes you.  The answers and solutions are out there but you will need to do the leg work and keep your eyes, ears and mind open for the information, data and clues.

Cancer
Rinko Kawauchi

*Empress – The Muse of Creativity is here to inspire you for the next two weeks.  She asks what you would like to grow for the next 9-10 months.  And with this planet configuration this is a great time to plan more than do.  So that means getting ideas for winter projects now.  And getting the supplies ready so you have a head start in the fall to just start creating.   Also, this muse reminds you to spend some time during these two weeks to nurture yourself.  Remember this retrograde is about relaxing, revisiting and redoing and for you less of the latter and more of the first two.

Leo
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Ten of Air – So the Muse of Drama will help you navigate these next two weeks.  For outside forces are sending some turbulence in your direction.  The key to navigating these waves is to follow your instincts.  If your inner self says no, then don’t go.  This is not a time to push through things.  Remember with Mercury in retrograde setbacks are heralds to what isn’t working, and this time is perfect for reworking and reflecting.   So, your best maxim is to avoid conflict, this is not the time to make waves.

Virgo
Rinko Kawauchi

Three of Air – The last two weeks had rough spots and hopefully you remained courageous by being truthful with your part of the creation of some of those bumps in the road.   And now the Muse of Healing has come to help you work on healing why those bumps were bumps at all.  This Mercury retrograde is in your sign for most of its time, so the spotlight is on you and how you get your ideas and feelings across.  The major key is touch versus talk.  So, this Muse would like you to find ways to express your affection with less convo and more hugs and hand holding.

 

Libra
Rinko Kawauchi

*Strength – These next two weeks are going to challenge you to know yourself, your limits, as well as your strengths.  The Muse of Courage is going to stand by you to help. She would like you to spend this retrograde pondering this quote from Brene Brown: “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”  Time to open up. 

Scorpio
Rinko Kawauchi

*Sun – Awesome you all get another two weeks to play in and with abundance. The Muse of Optimism would like to work with you during this retrograde by having you work with the ponderings:  What is the best that can happen?  And what if you look for the light/lite in situations?  So instead of worrying about the worst-case scenario, you look for the best-case scenario.

Sagittarius
Rinko Kawauchi

Body of Fire – These next two weeks you are blessed with being at the right place at the right time.  The Muse of Adventure and Imagination is here to remind you that your timing is perfect for the coming weeks.  Even if you are stopped or challenged it has a greater purpose then what you might be seeing in the present.  This energy is about forward movement in innovative and creative ways.  The keys are following your intuition as well as being motivated for the things that are set into motion during these next two weeks.

 

Capricorn
Rinko Kawauchi

Five of Water – These next two weeks the Muse of Spilled Milk has come to help you clean up messes.  This energy could be used literally as a time to deep clean your house and/or metaphorically to tidy up your emotional self with restocking your emotional resources and finding time to rest.

 

Aquarius
Rinko Kawauchi

Six of Earth – The Muse of Kindness would like you to spend these two weeks racking up karma points by doing small acts of kindness.  This is about simplicity not extravagance.  Examples are picking wildflowers for your sweetie or bringing home a single Gerber daisy. Opening doors for strangers.   Leaving appreciation notes to your server or delivery person.  You can even leave anonymous and random good vibes notes in public places.

 

Pisces
Rinko Kawauchi
Rinko Kawauchi

Spirit of Air – The Muse of Flow comes when you need to pay attention to the details to help things move along with ease.  This can be reading the fine print, listening to both sides of a story, immediately cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen, spending an extra five minutes getting ready, etc.  Spend these next two weeks attending to these small but useful tasks.  By taking the time to see and understand the micro, you’ll be able to handle the macro with more finesse.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-cast for April 21 – May 4, 2024

nature photography
Amet Eshel Nubian Ibex

Happy birth month Taurus!

The artists this week are the winners of the World Nature Photography Awards.  Every year around Earth Day I highlight nature photography awards winners.  In the past the only way for people to see animals and plants from other places was museums and illustrations.  Now with photography we can get a literal birds-eye view of our world.   And the more we can see the world the more we can understand it and then protect it.  As Chief Dan George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation said: “If you talk to the animals, they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.” So go out, get close to the flora and fauna and do some of your own nature photography.

Your pondering for this week:  “We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren, and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can’t speak for themselves such as the birds, animals, fish, and trees.”- Qwatsinas  (Hereditary Chief Edward Moody), Nuxalk Nation.  What do you or can you pledge to do this year to help care for Mother Nature?

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Libra – harmony and balance are the focus. On Wednesday the moon moves into Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Friday it moves into Sagittarius – get out, explore, and let fun be the focus.    On Sunday April 28th the moon moves into Capricorn – great for prepping for the work week.  On Wednesday May 1st it moves into Aquarius helping us think outside the box.  And we finish the two weeks with the moon in Pisces starting on Friday – wanting us to go with the flow.

Mercury is in Aries until May 15th giving us a crash course in learning to say what we need in a non-reactive way and working on making sure our actions follow our words.  And we finish with it in retrograde April 25th.  Venus stays with Mercury until April 29th during this teachable moment, giving us more grace when we are attempting to better our communication skills. Then Venus moves into Taurus, it’s home sign prompting us to focus on grounding and how we love.

Mars is still in Pisces with Saturn until April 30th.   And they are prompting us to act on being adaptable, especially in our day-to-day life.  Then Mars will join Mercury pushing us into action around how we communicate. However, from April 30th to May 15th this push can be dangerous.  We need to be careful that our actions follow our words.   And that we can curb being judgmental and harshness in our communication. In our words watch your tongue.

EXTRA

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Taurus this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Scorpio 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.

**** I am experimenting.   I have switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire.  Also, I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards.  So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).

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

Nina

 

Aries
nature photography
Tracey Lund – Gannets

Nine of Air – To finish off your birth month the muses would like you to work with your worries for the coming year.  They suggest you write all of them out. Then vehemently cross off the ones you have no control over.  And with the rest, prioritize the list, and when Mercury goes direct on April 25th you can start working through them one by one.  With all these planets in your sign you need to focus slowing your mind down.

 

Taurus
nature photography
Miki Spitzer – Iceland glacier

*Death – The Muse of Organic Change would like you to spend the next two weeks doing some composting of ideas and/or projects that no longer work for you.  The challenge is seeing that what “use to work” still contributes to what you are trying to change.  In essence your past feeds your future.  So, if you deny or toss it away you can not use it as fuel for your potential growth.

 

Gemini
nature photography
Jouni Erola – Swan

Heart of Air – The Twin Muses of Inhaling and Exhaling are asking for the next two weeks to breath.  Now the challenge from these two is about the silence between the breaths.  By tunning into these breaks internally, you can tune into the subtle silences around you.   Listen to “the feel” of the story instead of the plot.  Read between the lines in a conversation.  Be curious, ask questions and deep listen to the answers.

 

Cancer
Bill Klipp Sally Light Foot Crabs

Three of Earth – The last two week the Muse of Building had you looking at adaptability in what you are developing.  These next two weeks the Muse of Collaboration would like you to focus on what you need or are lacking in skill and knowledge to further this project or idea. Then ask for help to fill in the gaps.  As they say 2 heads are better than 1, but 3 heads and 6 hands are even better, so expand your resources for intel and support.

 

Leo
nature photography
John Seager – Marine Iguana and Lava Lizard

Six of Earth – The Muse of Giving would like you to take part in an exchange of knowledge, love, or resources for the next two weeks.  By helping someone else, you begin to see that you are worthy of being helped yourself.  Giving goes both ways or it becomes self-centered. And remember the exchange does not have to be tit for tat or linear.  Be open to receiving from a stranger and that giving or getting does not have to be solely a physical exchange.

 

Virgo
nature photography
Richard Lee Cheetah

*Magician – The Muse of Manifestation is hanging with you for the next two weeks.  She usually shows up to help you in the process of creating.  Because either the universe doesn’t know what you want because you don’t, or there is an aspect(s) that needs to be tweaked. So, she suggests writing down what you are wanting to manifest or if you are in the process of creation what isn’t flowing.  The latter can look like you have missed a vital step in creation or a step in the process isn’t viable and needs an alternative.  This period is about experimentation.

 

Libra
nature photography
Chatree Lertsintanakorn – Thismia thaithongiana

Nine of Fire – The Muse of Resilience would like you to assess where you are at and what you need for the coming weeks.  She usually shows up when things are about to become busy.  So, she prompts to do things like fill up your freezer with readymade dinners and your pantry with on-the-go snacks.  Or do you have all the components for the coming projects?  Now is the time to chop wood and carry water to prep for the press of the coming months.

 

Scorpio
nature photography
Ivan Pedretti – Iceland

Six of Fire – The Muse of Celebration would like you to take these next two weeks and bask in all that you have accomplished since 2022.  She especially shows up for some of you that feel as if you have not accomplished anything.  Looking at the steps big or small that you have taken to get to the here and is pretty amazing.  Take a moment to reconnect and enjoy what you have created, for you need the rest and jubilation to ready you for the coming challenges before your next birthday.

 

Sagittarius
nature photography
Nicholas Remy Angler Fish

*Strength – The Muse of Poise has arrived on your doorstep to have you show off your best side.  Poise is defined as “a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company. Synonyms: refinement, grace, polish, self-confidence, steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.” So Centaurians these next two weeks the muses advise to be less like the freewheeling half-horse and more like Chiron the great educator. Show your demurer side so people can see your true strength.

 

Capricorn
Rafal Dymarkowski -Frog

Ten of Water – The Muse of Happiness is visiting you these next two weeks, to remind you that all work and no play makes Jill/Jack a dull person.  This is not an ease card for you goats.  For most of you after “kid” hood forget how to frolic and kick up your hooves.  You have replaced it with the perpetual mountain climbing that you innately do.  So, your challenge for the next two weeks is to find some time to enjoy life too.

 

Aquarius
Giovanni Crisafulli – Jellyfish

Four of Air – Holy Moly it has happened again, the Muse of Rest is back. This is now 8 weeks of the muses begging you to relax.  Yes, you all took some time off because the big momma of rest the Muse of Healing backed-off.  But you still need to pay attention to your output in comparison to your input.  Health and rest are still your focus for another two weeks.  Some examples can be as simple as getting massage, taking a three-day weekend, having a designated daily unplug time, or scheduling more activities that lighten you up without tiring you out.   (And just the statistic it is a 3 out of a 10 million chance that I would pull the same card 4 times in a row.  So, if you can’t listen to the Woo listen to the math.)  Get some rest.

 

Pisces
Philip Hamilton – Humpback Whale

Four of Fire – The Muse of Happy Home would like you to focus on making your environments cozy.  You can concentrate on your home, neighborhood, workspace, and the ultimate goal of the world at large.  She asks what support you need to feel safe, secure, and stable in your environment(s).   So, examples are finding like-minded people to hang with, decorating a corner nook in your house that helps you relax or getting to know your way around a new part of the city.

Tarotcast

Tarot and Art-Cast for week of Dec 10, 2023

Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

The artists this week is Marcin Nagraba @marcin_nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa @agnieszkaosipa.  Nagraba is a photographer and visual artist.  He often uses his mother as a model, outfitting her in Osipa’s otherworldly costume designs that are steeped in the darkness of Eastern European forests, fairytales, myths, and legends.  These mystical and exquisite photographs remind us of mythos like Baba Yaga (Slavic), and Cailleach (Scottish and Irish an aphorismic representation of Winter).  Both these deities represent wisdom, nature, pathways to the past and wishes made towards the future.

Lately it seems there is some age positive rediscovery that is happening in parts of the world that were lost in the culture of youth.  We are seeing more mature models in couture like @daphneselfe and sites like @advancedstyle rebuilding the respect of maturation.   This kind of art and Instagram sites like these are helping us re-establish and hopefully recreate our connection to aging as a natural part of life, that also doesn’t have to be bound by social dogma of what age should be or look like.   But proves that aging has its own beauty and wisdom to give.

Your pondering for this week:  And as we head into this season, notice and honor your own maturation and evolution from this year’s experiences.

Solar System highlights

The moon begins the week in Sagittarius wanting us to explore possibilities.   On Wednesday it moves into Capricorn to put that exploration into good use.  On Friday it moves into Aquarius, great for being social and thinking about the world at large.

Mercury (communication and knowledge) is in Capricorn (discipline) until Dec 23rd, so we move from experimentation of our communication to implementation on what we learned. Don’t worry, you get to re-tweak and experiment when Mercury rolls back into Sagittarius 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) has moved into Scorpio (passion and release) until the end of the year so this is a perfect time to enjoy the height of the winter/summer season.  And a time to release what causes disruption in your life.

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
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Seven of Earth – The Muse of Rewards would like you to give you some benefits, but she does require you to work for it.  This week put your best effort in what you do, and you will see compensations in the coming weeks.

 

Taurus
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Ten of Water – The Muse of Appreciation requests that you list at least ten things you appreciate in your life right now.  She reminds you that the act of appreciation is recognizing the full worth of something.  For example, I appreciate indoor plumbing because I don’t have to go outside to pee, but this also includes the system that supplies the water and takes away the refuse, the invention of the toilet and copper pipes etc….. This exercise helps you see and acknowledge the complexity of ease and happiness.

Gemini
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Eight of Fire – The Muse of Messages comes when there is an abundance of information coming at you.  The challenge is some of this information is yours and important, but others are to be passed on or even ignored.  So, this muse advise to start this week off asking the questions you most want answers for and then collate the correct information just for those foci.

Cancerian
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Knight of Earth – The Muse Pace advises that this week you should slow down and steadily walk forward with a narrow focus.  She recommends you plan out your route/tasks for the week, properly prepare and then gradually go after them.

Leo

*Fool – The Muse of Possibilities would like you to start something.  Really you pick it can be anything:  a puzzle, a project, exploring your surroundings….  You pick.  The challenges are that it needs to lead to or through something new and then for you to have faith that even though it is unknown it’s gong to be okay.

Virgo
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Five of Earth – The Muse of Refuge comes when life is a bit rough.  She reminds you that you are not alone, but you will need to ask for help to get you through this time of need.  You are human so ask for that hug, comfort, helping hand this week.

 

Libra
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

*Hierophant – The Muse of Structures is asking you to look at yours this week, for something is not supporting your needs.  Maybe your schedule is not giving you enough sleep or quiet time, your finances are stretched, or you aren’t eating well.  Find what isn’t supporting you and make the changes needed so they do.

Scorpio
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Ace of Earth – This week is a perfect time to start something new on the material plan.  It could be a new work project, a business endeavor, investing, building something, a new savings account.  This week plant the physical seeds that lead to prosperity and/or more ease on the material plan.

 

Sagittarius
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Two of Earth – The Muse of Juggling advises not to muti-task this week.  She recommends this tactic for a two reasons.  You are having trouble focusing thus getting anything done, or something needs your full attention. Either way no more than two tasks at a time.

 

Capricorn
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

*Death – As you head into the final weeks of this birth year.  The Muse of Weeding would like you to clear some space to make room for the new.  This Muse would like you to discard and simplify activities or physical items to create open slots/plots in your time and space.  So, she recommends prioritizing needs first and adding just a few wants.  Pursue minimalism.   By doing so you are freeing up energy in which, at the beginning of your coming birth year, you can utilize in the next growing phase.

 

Aquarius
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Six of Water – The Muse of Memories comes when information needs to be gathered from the past.  Spend some time in nostalgia.  You will need this information in the coming weeks, to not make any prior mistakes.

 

Pisces
Marcin Nagraba and Agnieszka Osipa

Seven of Air – The Muse of Small Success advises to break down everything you do in the coming week into small bite size pieces.  By doing so you not only create an air of efficiency but also complete more than you would tackling the big stuff.