Tag Archives: Photography

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of April 17, 2022

twilight zone coral reefs

Happy Birthday month Taurus!

So, I think we all need a bit of good news.  Since the beginning of 2022 there has been a lot of discoveries in ocean region called the twilight zone.  This is area is between the shallow reefs and the deep sea, 100-500 feet beneath the ocean surface.  Researchers have found off the coast of the Philippines, Maldives, Tahiti and Hawaii large coral reef systems that are thriving.

The picture above is from Tahiti a reef just found that they believe to be the 7th largest reef.  So far climate change has not affected this habitat thought they have found human garbage in Maldives and Hawaii. However, scientists believe that these might be a viable nursery for species from shallower reefs and are discovering new species of fish like Rose veiled Fairy Wrasse (see Aquarius) and the Super Mind-Blowing Rainbow Fish . (see Gemini. Yeah, that’s what scientist named it until they can figure out how to classify it lol).

Many of the fish in this zone are highly colored which seems counter intuitive.  But as one goes deeper in the ocean red, pink and orange colors become invisible and thus camouflages these fish. And the coral, unlike their shallower relatives that make food from sunlight, these coral grab plankton to eat.  They also use florescent pigment to reflect light acting like little mirrors scattering the light in the otherwise dark reef.

Your pondering for the week:  How can you add color into your life to lighten your darker days.

Support California Academy of Science’s Hope for Reefs project.  Pictures by L. Rocha and K. Whitney

Solar System Highlights

The Moon starts this week in Sag – exploration and adventure.  Then it moves into Capricorn on the 20th – great time to power through the work week.  Then on Saturday it moves into Aquarius get into society or a philosophical conversation.  Mercury is in Taurus a good time to get to the root of conversation and ground relationships through dialogue.   Mars (action) is in Pisces with Venus.  So, these two will be working with each other again.  Mars by having you work with your intuition to create movement, and Venus wanting us to create more beauty and harmony in our environment and relationships.  Jupiter is in Pisces until May 10th; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

Aries

twilight zone coral reefsTwo of Coins – To finish out your themes for this birthday year, the Muse of Equilibrium joins the ranks.  Your energies so far are around simplifying, letting go of thought patterns that no longer work for you, syncing with your natural flow/pace, and you seeing a profit in all that you do.  So now this Muse comes in reminding you that though this is a work positive year, you still need to balance it out with playtime.  All work and no play make Jack or Jill bored.

Taurus

twilight zone coral reefsEight of Coins – Your first Muse to work with for the coming year is the Muse of Skill.   This year is about honing the skillset you already have.  She reminds you that scheduled time to practice is key to up your game.  So, take this month to examine your skills and then plan a way to take them from a 9 to a 10 or 11.

Gemini

twilight zone coral reefsPage of Wands – The Muse of Inspiration is downloading ideas to you this week.  However, this is not a time to start on these projects.   Take notes as they come and then let them marinate in your creative juices.  On a side note this muse does suggest you play with your wardrobe so that it shows more of your quirkier side.

Cancerian

twilight zone coral reefsEight of Cups – The Muse of Simplification advises to slow down and streamline your life.  It is a great time to clean out your closet, drawers, and heart with things and aspirations that no longer fit you or the lifestyle that you want.  These actions create space to move into the next stage of your life.

Leo

twilight zone coral reefsKing of Wands – The Muse of Superpowers is reminding you that you are a creative, intuitive, superhero.  So, her exercise for you is to list your top four superpowers and then do something with them this week.  Time to save and/or brighten the world, one metaphorical (or literally if you so desire) kitten at a time.

Virgo

Nine of Coins – The Muse of Self Reliance has come to remind you that you are kicking booty, and by the weekend a little celebration is needed.  She advises working solo this week or only asking people that are reliable to come into your sphere.  Everyone else is just a distraction.

 

Libra

Queen of Coins – The Muse of Luxury is coaxing you to spend some of your hard-earned cash on you.  She asks why you are working so hard if you are not enjoying some of the benefits?  This week’s motto:  quality over quantity in all that you do and all that you spend your time and money on.

 

Scorpio

Seven of Cups – The Muse of Illusions and Dreams is visiting you this week.   Her purpose is twofold.  One she asks you to daydream this week for the Universe is needing a clear picture of what you want to come into your life.  But this energy also forewarns you will have a variety of choices being presented, and some of them are not realistic.  Stay grounded and choose wisely.

Sagittarius

Page of Coins – The Muse of Study comes when you will need to be in a learner mind-frame.  She asks what skill do you need to add to your repertoire to up your game?   How can you expand your knowledge and use your brain in a new way?  Find a mentor, take a class, read a book outside of your regular genre, or play a game that works your brain.

Capricorn

*Magician – The Muse of Experimentation is here with her whole chemistry kit.  This energy shows up to create, to play, to research, but also to tap into the celestial and pull something into reality.  Whether that is an idea, a painting, a piece of writing or a project, the key is to materialize it and then experiment with it until you touch the divine.

 

Aquarius

High Priestess – Insight is key to navigating this week.  Luckily the Muse of Intuition is here to set out Easter eggs, white rabbits, and synchronicities for you to follow. This energy often comes when the future seems hidden or obscured.  Keep your mind and eyes open this week for the breadcrumbs and you will find your answers.

Pisces

 *Devil – This week brings you trials and tribulations, like gnats buzzing around you.  This energy often comes to test your moral resolve, or do you walk your talk.  Hence, the Muse of Shadows is here to help you navigate the dark side.  She reminds you that you have gone through way worse and now is the time to show the world your best and more learned side.  Your reminder in Yoda’s voice:  “Anger, fear, aggression, the Dark Side of The Force are they.  Easily they flow.  Quick to join you in a fight.  If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of March 20, 2022

Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Audrey Hepburn

Happy Birthday Aries!  And Happy Spring and Nowruz!

Nowruz (new day) is a Spring festival that dates to ancient Persia 3,000 years ago.  Nowruz is celebrated in a variety of countries that marks not only spring but also the beginning of the Iranian solar calendar.  Celebrations begin two to three weeks leading up and including the Vernal Equinox.  People preform ritual dances, fill vessels in the home with water to banish bad luck and set up tables covered with the seven symbolic items: seed sprouts – rebirth, senjed (Persian olive)- love, garlic – protection, apple – fertility, sumac – love, vinegar – patience, and samanu a pudding made from sprouted wheat = wealth.   And celebrators on the Wednesday night before the Equinox jump over fire to scare away a bad luck.

Therefore, to continue the use of light and in honor of Nowruz tradition of jumping over fire we focus on photographer Philippe Halsman and his Jumps series.  A Halsman portrait is easy to identify.  It has strong lightening, often a sense of the absurd and his unique stamp in the darkroom. As in his words: For me, lighting is what a brush is to a painter.  I want my light to give an awareness of the 3rd dimension, that it shows volume and depth.  Above all I consider light as a means of characterization.” In the 1930’s he also designed his own camera with a quicker click speed and that had the photographer look through the lens, instead of standing beside the camera.  By doing this it made his sitter look into the camera and gave Halsman more control over what he could capture in the moment.

In the early 1950’s Halsman started asking famous people to jump and capture it using his distinctive lightening, sense of humor and his talent for bring out unique and often hidden aspects of his subjects.  “I was motivated by a genuine curiosity.  After all, life has taught us to control and disguise our facial expressions, but it has not taught us to control our jumps.  I wanted to see famous people reveal in a jump, their ambition or their lack of it, their self-importance or their insecurity, and many other traits.”  Your pondering for this week:  What characteristics come to play when you are asked to jump?

Solar System highlights:  The Moon starts in Scorpio – spring has sprung.  Then on Tuesday it moves into Sagittarius – get outside to take breaks from the grind. On Thursday it goes into Capricorn to help us finish up projects and our work week.  Then for the weekend the Moon is in Aquarius a perfect time to investigate the arts, read a book expand your mind. Mercury is in Pisces until March 27th – talk through dreams with friends but not so great if you are trying to pin down action plans or solutions.

Mars (action) is in Aquarius (innovation, perspective, and long-term thinking). Time to experiment with innovations.  But if you are trying to get something done quickly, be aware that for the next couple of weeks there might be more talking then doing.  Venus (beauty, relationships) is also in Aquarius this can be a great time to do long term planning with your significant others or dabble in creative endeavors with them.  But still remember not to push for solutions or set goals in stone – brainstorming is key.   Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

P.S. Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Aries this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Libra 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
Philippe Halsman Duke and Duchess of Windsor

Eight of Cups – Time to clean up and organize this week.  The Muse of Simplifying and Letting Go is knocking at your door. This Muse comes when your emotional or physical space is cluttered.  She asks what your priorities are and do you have the space and time for them?  If not time to clean house and make space for the new.

 

Taurus
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Marilyn Monroe

Ten of Coins – This week is a great opportunity to finish up projects and dangling participials.  This is not a week to start something new.  Whatever unfinished business you have focus on those only.  And then by the weekend celebrate their completion with friends and family.

 

Gemini
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Dali

Eight of Wands – Last week the Muse of Inner Strength wanted you to strengthen your resolve physically or morally.  If you did,  then this week you will be able to receive and deal with the massive download of information in the moment.  If not, then take good notes and prioritize the information on the weekend.

 

Cancerian
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Eartha Kit

Knight of Cups– The Muse of Vulnerability has come to help you open your heart and deal with the emotional puddles within.  You can share with others as long as you watch comparisons and what ifs.

 

Leo
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman
Robert Oppenheimer

* Death – Last week the Muse of Shadows and Mist reminded you that what you saw on the outside was merely reflections on your inner work.  Hopefully you did this internal investigation for this week change is here.  However, to initiate this momentum you must release old baggage that no longer serves you.  There are things you are not letting go of.  This Muse pushes for change but it is up to you to let go of the past and self-doubt.

 

Virgo
Philippe Halsman Muhammad Ali

Four of Pentacles – The Muse of Resources is giving you a piggy bank.  It is important this week to save your money, space, time, and energy.   Your resources are finite do not spend them on items, projects or people that do not serve or help you get things done.

 

Libra
Philippe Halsman Edward Steichen

Two of Wands – The Muse of Adventure has come to push you to broaden your horizons.  She suggests find new ways to get home, eat at new places, engage in conversations with strangers, get lost and meander through new avenues.  By expanding your outlook, you are activating new potentials.

 

Scorpio
Philippe Halsman Peter Ustinov

Nine of Wands – The Muse of Preparation comes when there is a lot of energy around you and to tackle it you need to be ready.  She advises to make sure you have sustenance each day, gas in your tank, the right shoes for the job, etc.. Spend the beginning of your week prioritizing your jobs and then stick to your game plan.

 

Sagittarius
Philippe Halsman Richard Nixon

*Justice – The Muse of Truth and Fairness is the prominent player this week.  Her advice is: though aspects of life vary in shades of grey, to create forward motion this week it is vital that you choose a side.   This is a week to trust your logic over feelings. And if you need to advocate for a side be clear, concise and stick to the facts.

 

Capricorn
Philippe Halsman
Philippe Halsman Grace Kelly

*Temperance – The Muse of Moderation and the Middle Path comes to help calm the waters both externally and internally.  She reminds you that we often do not have control of the external nor our inner emotions, but we can moderate or influence them.  Gentleness and grace are key this week.

 

Aquarius
Philippe Halsman Shirley MacLaine

Queen of Cups – This week the Muse of Fun has come to get you to reconnect with life’s beauty and abundance.  This is a week to walk on the beach, hang with friends, watch sunsets and spending time doing what you love to do.  You have a bevy of joy to encounter, now is the time to do so.   Stop and smell the roses, for they do not bloom all year long

 

Pisces
Philippe Halsman John Steinbeck

Four of Cups – Last week was all extroverted energy work with the Muse of Realization and building your empire.   This week the energy shifts to the internal.  During the week it is good to pull the shades and put your phone on silence so you can think things through and get things done.  However, by the weekend reenter into society, so you don’t get stuck in belly button gazing.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb. 13, 2022

 

Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher winding towers

Continuing with the theme of collaborators for February this week artists are Hilla and Bernd Becher.  They started collaborating when they meet in 1959.  She was a commercial trained photographer and he studied painting and typography.  After two years of collaboration, they married and continued working in partnership for the next 50 years.   They are known for photography of industrial structures throughout Europe and North America.  The Bechers exhibited their work in sets or typologies.  They called their subjects “anonymous sculptures.”

Technically their work is photography, but it is viewed as sculptural.  Their unique combination of form, black and white photography, similar perspective, and grouping in sets, illustrates the sculpture properties of architecture.  Also, by choosing how they present their subjects, mimicking cataloguing flora and fauna in the sciences, these typologies emanate to the viewer the beauty of functional architecture, the relationship between form and function, and the effect of architecture on the economy and the environment. The amazing thing about their work is both have said they do not know which picture was taken by whom. Their collaboration is without the seams of the ego. Your pondering for the week is how ego or ownership affects us when working together?

 

Solar System highlights:  The Moon is in Leo will be full on 16th – time to shine.  Then it moves later that day into Virgo – good for organizing and cleaning.  Onto Libra for the weekend – perfect time for friends and family.  Mercury moves into Aquarius for some of us it is a time to pull back for perspective, for others working with communication styles that are more outside the box.  We have two planets left in Capricorn until beginning of March.  Venus – where beauty and harmony are achieved through practicality.  And Mars – where it provides momentum in our workplaces.  Jupiter is in Pisces until May; this aspect is dreamy and holds opportunity and luck.  And lastly, Saturn remains in Aquarius for all of 2022 – so innovating and upping your game is the focus again for another year.

 

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries
Coal Bunkers 1974 Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007

Four of Swords – Where last week was all about gaining momentum, this week is about rest and restoration.  Take this week slow.  Make sure you feed your body well and rest your mind.  Try to turn off all technology for at least an hour a day.  Bask in natural light and ambient noise.

 

Taurus
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Water Towers 2009 Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007

King of Wands – Last week the Muse of Inertia wanted you to take moments to slow down, providing you time to think and readjust before moving forward. If you were able to gain this new perspective, you will be able to navigate this week well.  However, if not, this week opportunities will give you second chances to learn how to harness energy and use it for good, but it will feel like you are flying by the seat of your pants.

 

Gemini
Hilla and Bernd Becher Gas Holders

Ten of Wands – The Muse of Burdens has come to help you navigate your obligations this week.  First, she points out you have taken other people’s task/responsibilities and you need to let go of your responsibility to those.  Then she tells you to prioritize the rest of your list and see what you can realistically do in this week.  So, ten tasks now look more like a doable four.

 

Cancerian
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Two of Wands – The Muse of Future Planning has come to help you navigate your next steps.  Pick a long term goal and map out the timeline and tasks you need to do to get there.

 

Leo
Hilla and Bernd Becher Cooling Towers

*Tower – Change is in the air again.  Where the last two weeks the change was about working with perspective and letting go, this week the change comes from outside sources.  Yes, this Muse has Kali like energy.  If you can not make the changes for growth necessary for your wellbeing, then this energy will step in to force you to do it.  So, you can work with this energy to navigate where you would like the change to occur.  Or you can let her tectonic tremors show you the cracks in your foundations and tear down what isn’t working.

 

Virgo
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher Gas holders

*Sun – The Muse of Vitality is here to warm you up and make you thrive.  This Muse rises to feed you the positive energy you need to personally bloom.  She wants you to realize and utilize your brilliance.  You are a creator so put your energy towards what you want to flourish.

 

Libra
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Knight of Cups – Time to get your flirt on.  The Muse of Amour is here to create some excitement and romance in your relationships.  Take time this week to connect to the ones you love and have some fun.  Make food together, play games, or go somewhere awe inspiring.  And for those with pets don’t forget their companionship could also do with some recognition.  Did someone say candlelight and tuna/steak?

 

Scorpio
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Nine of Swords – The Muse of Worry has come to lighten your mental load.  She reminds you that to take each worry and ask these questions.  Could it happen?  If so, can I do something about it?  And if so, what steps do I need to take to do it?  And the ones left over are beyond your control so time to let them go.

 

Sagittarius
Pitheads 1974 by Bernd Becher and Hilla Becher 1931-2007, 1934-2015

Three of Swords – The Muse of Old Wounds comes around when you need to do some mending.  There are either negative thought forms, emotions, or relationships that you still need to do some personal healing around.  Watch for places you feel irritated or triggered this week.   These are the areas to investigate and mend.

 

Capricorn
Hilla and Bernd Becher Silos

Queen of Coins – The Muse of Luxury has come to ask, after your hard work how do you reward yourself?  Her go to is often retail or self-care oriented also she knows how to combine luxury with practicality.  So, she prompts you to follow in her footsteps this week by not only working but also revealing in its rewards.

 

Aquarius
Hilla and Bernd Becher

*Lovers – This is your last energy to work with this year.  Let’s review.  First the Muse of Fortune said this year will have its ups and downs and not feel totally in your control.  But whether karma or luck, it is not the occurrence but what you do with it that is key.  Then the Muse of Friendships and the Muse of Pleasure are prompting you that friends, love, and laughter need to be woven back into your life.  And lastly, the Muse of Relationships re-emphasis that this year is all about you connecting with the ones you love.  Your work is to spend quality time with your “peeps” while fine tuning your people skills in general.  She reminds you this quality time promotes intimacy.  Connection and Joy are your key words word to work with this year.

 

Pisces
Hilla and Bernd Becher
Hilla and Bernd Becher

Queen of Swords – The Muse of Details has come with magnifying glass and tweezers. Here motto is the devil is in the details.  This means that there are hidden aspects or that something may seem simple but in fact is more complicated and can cause problems.  So things like, re-reading your emails before sending, cleaning your keyboard, being conscious of your accessories and deep looking into contracts (written or verbal).  Watch what you promise, and be aware of your personal nuances if they are appropriate with what you are trying to convey.

 

 

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of August 1, 2021

Calvin Seibert

As we enter the last month of summer, the artist this week is Calvin Seibert @calvinseibert.  Seibert’s is an architecture and shape enthusiast.  He photographs odd things and parts of buildings as the foundation of his work.  He either applies color, lines and dots to these images, or he combines these visual elements to create sand-defying sandcastles.

His photography and framing highlights what we walk by every day and bends it to eccentricity or kitsch.  Kitsch is defined as art, objects, or design considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way. As one views Seibert’s art one finds themselves smiling.  His “view finder”, artistic brain plus eye, makes the viewer look at the world around ourselves and appreciate the quirk by the accentuating the angle of the picture or by creating and applying new constructs on to old ones.

Solar System highlights:  Moon starts in Gemini – so watch your emotional communication.  Then moves to Cancer on the 4th – create spaces and time for the “comfy’.  It then ends in Leo on 7th – no time for shade, be kind, and share the wealth.  Mercury is in Leo great time for PR and making yourself shine.  Venus is in Virgo this can be a hard configuration around your relationships, so watch frustrations and critical talk – patience is key.  On the positive side a great time to weed and fertilize anything you want to grow or create space for.  Mars is in Virgo – time to clean and tidy up anything.  And Jupiter is back in Aquarius so back to the drawing board innovating and upping your game for the rest of this year.

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

 

 

Aries

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

*Emperor – The Muse of Empire Creation has come with blueprints.  This energy is great for building on anything you have already started.  This muse inspires you to get things done and off your lists.  The challenge with this energy is being aware of your surroundings and the consequences of your actions.  The more people that benefit from your constructions the better.

 

Taurus

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

Six of Cups – The Muse of the Past has come for beverages, reminiscing, and asking you to pull out your pictures to share.  This is a great week to hang with family and friends and exchange histories.  The past has some information that is useful for you this week.

 

Gemini

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

King of Coins – Last week the Muse of New Beginnings came to divinely guide you to your next endeavor.  Now the Muse of Doing has come to help you move along any project you hopefully started last week. This energy brings with it experienced wisdom.  That means you have the skills even though this is a new frontier.  Rely on what you know.

 

Cancerian

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

King of Cups – The Muse of Deep Emotional Understanding has brought you cookies and emotional support.  This energy is about sitting down with all your emotions and making friends.  Every emotion has its good and bad side.  Each is helpful.  So, whatever emotions you are dealing with this week learn from them and be grateful for their gifts.

 

Leo

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

*Strength – The Muse of Resilience and Inner Strength has come to play with you this coming birth year.  This is one of your Karmic cards that you work and go deeper with for your entire life.  The quest for subconscious released and claimed by the direction of cognizant realization. So simple that means how do you let your inner self comfortably show in the outer world?  Do you do it through art, writing, music, running?  Where can you safely let your wild and creative side out? Your work this year is to create or work on healthy outlets so your inner “beast” can roar.

 

 

Virgo

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

Ace of Swords – The last couple of weeks the Muse of Higher Purpose came to remind and/or deepen your commitment to the many reasons you are here on this plane at this time using synchronicities and cycles to help guide you.  Then her partner joined emphasizing that you need rituals and structures set up, so you doing your purpose comes with more ease.  Well lucky for you, you get another week to ponder, clarify and set up this new structural formats that support your desires and destiny.

 

Libra

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

Eight of Coins – The Muse of Mastery advises that this week’s focus is solo on your material plane work; however, she also reminds you that you have all the skills necessary to work on it. Your challenge is that it may take a few tweaks to get everything to line up correctly.

 

Scorpio

Calvin Seibert
Calvin Seibert

Three of Swords – The Muse of Heart Ache has come to help you navigate your heart around possible triggers this week.  She reminds you these are old wounds that need to be healed.  However, you do not have to re-live the trauma.  These triggers are just reminders on what you need to still work on.

 

Sagittarius

Calvin Seibert

Four of Coins – The Muse of Frugality has come to advise you to spend your resources wisely this week.  She usually arrives when your structures are not supporting you and you are leaking energy because of it.  Not getting enough rest, not eating well, or overspending resources when it is not necessary.  This is also a great week to start or add to a savings account or invest for the long-term.

 

Capricorn

Calvin Seibert

King of Swords – Time to tweak your what you are working on.  The Muse of Long-term Planning is here to calibrate your present plans to your future goals.  Something has gotten out of kilter, and you need foresight to realign it back to the right path.

 

Aquarius

Calvin Seibert

*Fool – The Wandering Muse is pushing you to start on a new adventure.   This Muse reminds you that Aquarius is the sign of innovation and day dreamers.  Your joy comes from discovering the new. This is a great week to plan a vacation, or start a new project, or wander without any set goals.

 

Pisces

Calvin Seibert

Eight of Swords – Last week, the Muse of Duality pointed out the paradoxes and conundrums in your life.  This energy wanted you to start dealing with double truths, or conflicting wants like stability/freedom, love/frustration, happy/sad etc.…You get another week on this work because you also discovered some major blockades to this way of thinking.  Take this week to pull back and identify what is blocking you, and then release what is no longer working.

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of May 9, 2021

Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Happy Nurturing Energy Day or Mother’s Day. Today is a celebration of not only Mother’s but the nurturing and caring energy that is associated with Motherhood.  The artist I picked this week is based on that caring energy, for this is a love story of a daughter to her Mum and an artist’s love for her subjects.

This week’s artist is Tish Murtha. Her daughter, Ella, has lovingly collected and showcases her mother’s work. Murtha’s style is social documentary photography.  She used the camera as a tool for social change by highlighting the societal disadvantages in her local community.  Part of this collection, highlighted here, is around young people in the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s in North East England.

There is a quality to Murtha’s work, unlike the voyeuristic style of Lisette Model or raw images of Diane Arbus, this is a love story.  The unconditional love that a mother gives to a child, or any true nurturer gives to another.  Murtha offers not the typical perspective of outsider looking in but an insider lovingly opening her world and inviting us in.  She frames the pictures and captures the actions of her subjects, though in a raw environment, showing the joy and imagination of childhood to the beginnings of self-awareness and  status in society as teens.  And as adult viewers she leads us to ponder our own childhood and a create a more empathetic eye around social justice issues.  Reminding us to come at both as gently, protectively and supporting as an empathic nurturer would.

Today is Mother’s Day in the States. For those of you who are lucky enough to have a mother that unconditional loves you, be grateful.  But, for those who do not have lost their mother, never knew her, lost children, have mother/child relationships that are strained, have not chosen to be mothers and those that are still yearning to be.  Mother’s Day is about nurturing, unconditionally supporting and protecting those around you.  This world needs nurturing especially right now, so hug the people that cherish you and be that loving nurturer for others.

Planets:  Mercury is in Gemini until July 11th.  This is a place where it loves to hang so lots of evolutionary conversations can happen.  And Venus also is in Gemini helps with the good vibes.  The New Moon is in Taurus emphasizing you to bring more beauty and slow living into your life.  Think luxuriating.  And then Jupiter (expansion) takes a quick jaunt into Pisces from the May 13th to July 28th giving you a heads up what your 2022 will be like and what area your growth will take place.

P.S. 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.

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

Nina

 

Aries
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

*Hermit – The Muse of Perspective through seclusion has come to lead you to a quiet place where you can hear yourself think.  This energy comes when being in the flow of things is distracting you from ease or finding an easier solution.  You know that saying work smarter not harder.  Well to find that you need to turn off your phone and put out the do not disturb sign.  You will find perspective and solutions in the solitude of your own thoughts.

 

Taurus
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Seven of Cups – Last week the Muse of Creation came to rife with you this birth year. This is the Mother/Nurture card energy at its best when it is used to generate anything that nurtures, consoles, and promotes growth.  The challenge is growing pains but there will also be compassion and comfort waiting in the wings to support you.   This week continues that energy and asks you to ponder what do you want to create with the Muse of Dreams?  She challenges you to dream bigger, put aside your practical self for just this week and send out big, beautiful birthday wishes to the Universe.  The universe works in mysterious ways if you allow it.  Your Motto: Grow to Dream; Dream to Grow.

 

Gemini
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

*Devil – This being your final weeks of the past birth year it is appropriate that you would get the Muse of Tests.  Take this week to look back at the time since your last birthday.  Where were you tested/challenged?  What did you learn from it?  If the situation/problem came up again, how would you handle it now?  Think of this week as your final exams before you go to the new level in your coming birth year.

 

Cancer
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

*Moon – Okay another round with the Moon.  This is your third week in the shadow realm.   These muses help you work with cycles, the bigger picture, and snipping karmic threads.  Only by lovingly bringing out your old karmic patterns with ritual, meditation, art in all its forms, or repetitive work can you connect to your higher flow, inner knowledge, and outer guides.  There is wisdom in awe, silence, synchronicities, and patterns, so keep all your six senses open for another week.

 

Leo
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Page of Coins – Last week the Muse of Distraction challenged your flow.  She only shows up when you are near completion of a goal or learned lesson.  You have passed the test.  Now the Muse of Learning is knocking.  This energy is about needing to learn something that will help your flow and ease.  However, the challenge is pushing down your ego, so you can hear the advice/wisdom.  For our challenges can be our best teachers.

 

Virgo
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Seven of Wands – This Muse of Competition has come to sharpen your stance.  Whether that is standing up for yourself or what you believe in, you will be called on this week to voice your truth and possible protect another’s.

 

Libra
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Ten of Cups – The last couple of weeks you had the ability to wield some powerful energies of Momentum and Strength.   These energies help combat apathy, misdirection, or self-doubt.  And remind you can accomplish anything you set your heart (not your mind) to.   You get this last week to wrap up any loose ends with these energies.  So, plan out the coming months and strengthen the reason you have chosen this path.  But also find some time this week to rejoice in how far you have come.

 

Scorpio
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

King of Wands – The Muse of Art is here to inspire you.  Spend time this week either participating in art or watching it.  When this Muse shows up she tries to shake things up so innovation can take place.  But to get into this headspace you must immerse your self in art forms, music, dance, fine arts, etc.… The juxtaposition of art and inspiration re-ignites your passion and expands your mind to find alternative and better ways to work.

 

Sagittarius
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Four of Swords – The Muse of Balance and Moderation came last week to help you dive into what is not working and needs to be healed in both your inner and outer worlds.  Well, you get another week to rebalance, rework, and re-new.  The Muse of Rest and Restoration is here asking you to slow down.  Find time to rest your mind this week, so you can hone into the flow with more ease in the coming months.

 

Capricorn
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Knight of Cups – The Muse of Flirtation has come to release you from your hardcore work ethos you have been using to make it through the past months to year. This Muse promotes smart-ass joy.  It takes the form of puns, goofiness, superman gestures, and eyelash flutters accompanied by “Who me?” …  So, practice adult humoring this week.  This wit practice keeps joy in your life while sharpening your mind.

 

Aquarius
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Queen of Swords – The Muse of Details is sitting next to you reminding you that small thoughts and actions are more important this week, than sweeping gestures.    By honing down your work load to just the essentials then breaking down those into small doable steps, will get you farther and with less distractions than if you peer at just the horizon.

 

Pisces
Tish Murtha © Ella Murtha, all rights reserved

Eight of Cups – The last two weeks have given you big energies to work with, release, growth, and structuring.  This week is much simpler but still the same themes.  The Muse of Simplification has come to help you sweep up and get rid of the past month’s debris.  Take this week to literally or metaphorically clean house and simplify the clutter in your life.

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb 14, 2021

Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Happy Love day!  Single or Partnered this day is meant to celebrate Love.  Love is desperately need in this world right now.  Self – Love as well as Love for Gaia and all her inhabitants.  When you step back, it’s pretty magical and amazing.

Onto the planets – Almost all of 2021 (except for mid-August to September) Saturn and Uranus are challenging each other.  However, on February 17th, the first of three, Saturn is exactly square with Uranus.  This is boundary loving Saturn challenging freedom loving Uranus.  But the intriguing thing is Saturn is in progressive Aquarius and Uranus is in conservative Taurus.

What this means is all of 2021 society as a whole and personally if it effects your natal chart will be dealing with testing our need to be free and innovative versus our habits, structures, and stability.  Ideally the best way to work with this energy is striking a balance between the old structures and the new innovations.  Setbacks are usually temporary and lead to new creative paths if you do not fall prey to frustration.   This year is not about revolution but reinvention.  Also, Mercury is still in retrograde until February 18th, so continued to Review, Reflect and Revise until then.

Now to this week’s artist, Brooke Didonato (@brookedidonato).  Didonato portraits feel incredible relevant as we deal with being homebound as a collective, and the push and pull of freedom and stability.  Her art is whimsical vignettes of self-exploration in the spaces we live and in our intimate relationships.  She has her viewers pondering about the trappings of societal self in our personal spaces as well as the entangling though life giving elements of our intimate relationships.

We spent 2020 facing who we are in a more intimate world.  We cannot travel, party, or socialize to escape ourselves.  In fact, many of us brought our outer world to our intimate space.  These interactions hopefully made you more aware of what makes you tick or have ticks.  Whether you have mastered baking or woodcraft, or now cannot eat another loaf of bread and have a partial constructed table.  This year has been a lesson on learning what our inner boundaries, needs and wants.   Where either we have run up against or finally feel comfortable in our nests.

Light and Love

Nina

P.S. 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.

Aries
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Four of Swords – Your well is near empty and you are not realizing it.  This week you need rest and relaxation.  Your muse advises you to pour a bath or a beer and listen to some soothing music.  Take time this week to tune out, so you can tune in with more ease.

*Taurus
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Judgment – The Muse of Metamorphosis has come to help you with your itch for planting/harvesting off season.  She advises there is no time like the present to start this change.  However, this transformation takes time, for there is an internal transformation that needs to happen first.  Find moments where you can spend time with your “pupa.”  Ask it what new innovated form it wants to transform into.  How can you create a “you” or project that tells a new story, modernizes the world, lives a new life?  Patience is key this week.  Motto: Change happens from the inside out.

Gemini
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Ace of Wands – The Muse of Inspiration is here.  You can start any project this week especially creative ones.  Inspiration will gush if you can get yourself to sit down and let it flow.  Think, color and/or dance outside the box this week to connect with this muse.

Cancer
Brooke Didonato

Ten of Wands – How much responsibility are you carrying?  The Muse of Burdens is here to help you with that load.  She advises to put down at least three items on your list and leave them for next week.  Prioritize the rest, and lastly do one thing to completion.  Unless you hit a roadblock, then put that item last on your to-do list.  You will find that the tasks you let go might be picked up by someone else or lose their urgency.

Leo
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Three of Coins – Last week the Muse of Healing and Hope proved you some easter eggs of positivity.  They showed you the world is not totally lost, and you are not broken, a misfit or “an ugly duckling.”  This healing vibe continues this week with the Muse of Foundations.  Take this week to still re-coup but this energy also nudges you to feather your nest and set of some foundational work to maintain your health and heart.  Physically this means tend to your body like sorting out your diet/exercise, emotionally this could look like re-establish connections with friends and mentally creating space and time to rejuvenate.

Virgo
Brooke Didonato

King of Swords – The Muse of Long-term planning is here with calendar in hand.  Take this week to do a check in with your plan for a year, 3 years, and 5 years from now.  Is what you doing today setting you up for where and who you want to be in 2026?

 

Libra
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Queen of Coins – The Muse of Lavishness is here.  Lavish is defined as to bestow in great amounts.  This Muse reminds you that life is meant to be lived with zest.  This week make sure you indulge all your senses.  Your motto:  Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! So c’mon live! Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame

 

Scorpio
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Page of Wands – This week the muse of innovation is peeking over your shoulder egging you on to be more you.  To let your freak flag fly without censorship or guilty.    She reminds you that you are unique, and that uniqueness is need on Earth at present.  The World is creating new structures this year, this week it is vital you are part of that change.

Sagittarius
Brooke Didonato

Ten of Swords – This week can be filled with nastiness, roadblocks, and failings.   The key to navigate this energy is to listen to your intuition.  If it is hard to get out the door, wait 15 minutes before leaving.  You feel the back of your neck hair’s raise up, don’t’ go down that street.   Or people are being rude, walk away. Think of these incursions as a boot camp for intuitive thought.

Capricorn
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Five of Coins – This week’s energy could have you at a loss.  This can be a literal loss – like you cannot find your keys or you lose money, or it can be a metaphysical loss.   Either way the challenge is not to make it any loss an existential crisis.   Think of this more as a short lived pause and an exercise on asking for help.  Whether that help comes from outside or inside it will decrease the struggle if you ask for it.

*Aquarius
Brooke Didonato
Brooke Didonato

Emperor–  Your second higher Arcane card for your birth year. The first was the Muse of Temptation testing your integrity and how you define yourself.   This correlates with Jupiter- planet of expansion and Saturn planet of structures interacting with your sun pretty much all year.  Think of it like your final exams for old structures and constructs – things you have already experienced but now are being tested on what you have learned.  Once you finish you can innovate into your next reincarnation with the Muse of Building and Expanding.  This second energy supports construction in the coming year.  The key to this energy is to have a good blueprint and budget for what you want to build.  Innovation grounded in reality.

*Pisces
Brooke Didonato

Death – Last week the Muse of Awakenings  wanted to image your goals and self going forward.  The challenge was not focusing solely  on the material plane wants, but what you want to metamorphize into.  She advised getting in touch with your spirit guide/animal and having a conversation on transformation.  Or creating a vison board composed of only colors and feelings.  Luckily, you can continue that exercise to support your first energy for this birth year – the Muse of Organic Change.  This year your Muses want you to start creating elements for goals/life/persona that you are metaphorizing in.  The keys to working with this energy are letting go of what is not working, planting seeds to what you want to happen, and then having the patience and tenacity of gardener.  This year is about being in tune with and working with natural cycles and seasons to make

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of Feb 7, 2021

Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

The planets:  Mercury is retrograde until February 18th.    This is a great time to Review, Reflect and Revise. There is a new Moon in Aquarius on the 11th, a great time to daydream the future and innovatations.

Now to this week’s artist, Kilian Schoenberger  (@kilianschoenberger).  Schoenberger’s hashtag is fogpants and for good reason.  His portrait of this atmospheric phenomena is otherworldly.  Each photograph seems staged for a fairytale or period piece horror flick.  His artistic ability of capturing sunlight, fog and snow has us entering another world, where time and space extends into the ether.

Fog forms when something warm and moist meets something cold.  The most common is radiation fog when the Earth radiates stored heat into the night’s cool air.  This fog sits and doesn’t move.  Advection fog is driven by warm moist air across cold surfaces like snow or water, and it flows.   Ultimately fog is a cloud on the ground.  In Schoenberger’s depiction of this phenomena, it becomes less of an embodiment of the unknown.  A place where we can lose our way or where scary monsters lurk.  Instead, he invites us to enter a dimension where we can walk on clouds.

Light and Love

Nina

P.S. 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.

 

Aries
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Three of Wands – Last week’s energy was about reviewing if yourself and/or others were being unjust or not aligned with their integrity.  This exercise of tuning into integrity will help with this week’s energy of alignment.  This Muse helps you see that your timing/action-taking is perfect even if it seems you are not moving forward.  The world is behind the scenes aligning things while you wait to enter the into the act.  Motto: have patience until it is the right moment to pounce.

 

Taurus
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Four of Coins – The Muse of Thriftiness is here. Resources (time, money and/or space) are tight this week. She reminds you of ways you can be more frugal.   Whether that is only going out to shop once this week or stretching your food budget by going deep into the freezer and eating what is there.  The key is time and money is precious.  So, what do you want to spend your precious resources on?

 

Gemini
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Three of Cups – The Muse of Friendship is knocking.  She prompts that connection is important to keep up your spirits.  Take some time this week to reconnect with your BFFs.  Your emotional reserve is emptier than you think, and your friends are a quick refreshment in joy.

 

 

Cancer
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Six of Swords – The muse of small transitions is here to help move things along.    She reminds you that small simple movements forward are needed to move ahead.  So, take your to do list and break down each item into smaller chunks, or prioritize the simpler projects to create momentum.

 

*Leo
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Star – The Muse of Healing and Hope is here for you this week.  You may feel a bit war-torn, or not feeling like you or anything fits, kinda like the little the ugly duckling.  However, this muse is here to nestle you under her wings and show you that the world has some bright spots just for you. She will lead you to easter eggs of hope if only you open your heart and mind to them.  Whether that is someone opening a door for you, a sincere thank you, or someone giving you an eye-crinkle masked grin.  These glimpses of positivity are here to show you the world is not totally lost, and you are not broken, a misfit or “an ugly duckling.”

 

Virgo
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Knight of Cups – This week’s energy migrates your heart from chest to sleeve.  This is not a totally bad thing.  It is great for flirting and for deep meaningful conversations with ones you love.  However, be aware you can be overly sensitive and take things too much to heart.  Remember Mercury is in retrograde and people can say things they do not mean or can hear incorrectly.  It is a bit of a telephone game, so act accordingly.

 

Libra
Kilian Schoenberger

Ten of Coins – The energy this week surrounds successes.  This is a great week to finish off projects and then indulge in the aura of your achievements.  Abundance is in the air, your work is to grab these brass rings and enjoy the gifts that come with your hard labor.

 

Scorpio
Kilian Schoenberger

Page of Swords – The Muse of Sleuthing is here to help you dig out the truth.  Things are not what they seem this week, so you will have to do some investigating.  Since the truths are not on the surface, you will have to ask questions in a variety of ways to find the facts.  So ears open and a nonjudgmental mind will help you discover the information you need.

 

Sagittarius
Kilian Schoenberger

Seven of Coins – Work is the focus this week.  This is a terrific time to get done whatever you set your mind and hands to.  The challenge is getting started.  However, once you begin there is no stopping you.

 

Capricorn
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Page of Coins – The Muse of Study is here to help you.  You have something to learn this week that will be extremely useful in the coming months.  So, time to don your student hat and open your mind to the new.  Motto:  Learning is fundamental to my growth.

 

*Aquarius
Kilian Schoenberger
Kilian Schoenberger

Devil – This is your first higher arcane card for your birth year.  So, this is a theme to revisit throughout the year.   This Muse’s energy is about testing your integrity and how you define yourself.   This correlates with Jupiter- planet of expansion and Saturn planet of structures interacting with your sun pretty much all year.  In a way this year is like your final exams.  Old structures and constructs – things you have already learned will come up again.  Your challenge is enacting what you have learned.  Once you finish you can innovate into your next reincarnation.

 

 

*Pisces
Kilian Schoenberger

Judgment – During your final month before your new birth year the Muse of Awakenings has arrived.  This Muse wants you to start imagining what you want you to be in this coming year.  The challenge is this is not about what you can obtain on the material plane, but what you want to metamorphize into.  This can look as simple as getting in touch with your spirit guide/animal and having a conversation on transformation. Or as complex as a vison board composed of only colors and feelings.