This week is Solstice; where darkness is at its height in the northern hemisphere, and light reigns in the southern. The Photographs above and below are from Roadside Lights by the artist Eiji Ohashi. Japan has 5 million vending machines and leads the world in machine versus land density. They sell a wide variety of items, from the more common soda and snacks and cigarettes to the unique fresh fruit, eggs, alcohol, books, pets’ clothes, diapers, to name a few. And roadside vending machines populate many of the rural areas taking the place of the corner store. Ohashi was drawn to these lone sources of light and sustenance on the rural roadsides of snow-covered Hokkaido and other places in Japan.
This season is about celebrating the light of growth, persistence and love. It is the lesson we should remember during the Holiday season. Where an elf can bring presents to millions of children in a night, where a Grinch can grow a heart then save a Who holiday, and where oil can burn for days, wonder and the concept of miracles are vital to our perception of the world. That in our darkest hours and coldest places, hope and goodness persist. Our challenge is honoring and hopefully being that person or thing that can bring light and sustenance to places where it is least expected – to become a wonder in the world. It is not that hard- just turn on your light and shine.
P.S. Next week look for the popular Looking Back– solstice tarotcast. And you need last minute presents you can give an Astrological Reading or a great stocking stuffer is my Quick Draw for $5
P.S.S. Remember signs with an * it’s a big week for you. And please shar
*Aries – Sun
The Sun represents growth and positivity, so this week should feel amazing. Though there are a few challenges: you might feel some growing pains, it might be hard to feel positive in all the rush or while you are growing you could overshadow someone’s else growth. This can look as simple as finding all your x-mas presents just make sure you don’t butt in line to grab the deal. Or this can look as complex as growing your confidence but doing it in a way that others don’t feel left out. The big lesson is Shine without Shadowing.
*Taurus – Empress and the Moon
This is an interesting combination. The Empress is the card of creation and the Moon is the card of things hidden. This week is like tending your night-blooming flowers. There is more creation happening in the dark of your subconscious and/or solitude, than with the light and society. This can look as simple/complex as doing some stream of consciousness writing, collage, black-out poetry, cleaning out your fridge/freezer and making some new culinary dish, or writing down your dreams. The challenge letting out new creations that are waiting to spring up from your subconscious.
Gemini – Knight of Cups
The Knight of Cups swoops in to advise you to get in touch with your emotions. This is a great week to take a deep dive in to what is driving your emotions. If you don’t like what you see, kick it out and if you do, feed it. If you are having a hard time tapping into your emotions watch Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street or The Grinch.
Cancer – Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles are new beginning on the material plane. This is a great week to start a new project, change jobs, move, try new recipes, start a new exercise regime. Look at what you want to grow or change on the material plane
Leo – Eight of Pentacles
Hmm your second 8 in a row so let’s take a gander at 8s for a minute. Eights in numerology mean manifestation through mastery. Last week the Eight of swords want you to master your negative thoughts. This week the Eight of Pentacles wants you to master something on the material plane. This look like a project, money, or deal coming together. Focus more on doing then, how it gets done. Trust yourself you are skilled.
*Virgo – Judgement
This week has all the potential for being fantastic, if you can just get out of your own way and shine. Leave your ego and your mind on the curb and let life take you to some new places. You will find more grace and enlightenment if you follow you spirit and your heart. This can look as simple/complex as taking a walk/ride to see Holiday lights, going to a holiday party with someone you like, buying candy canes and giving them to every homeless person you pass, or staying at home getting cozy with nog and a book. The challenge with doing any of these things is thinking yourself out of it like: holiday lights are a stupid competition, yuck parties, the homeless need homes not candy, or I’m lazy. This week is about using your judgment to enjoy joy.
Libra – Queen of Swords
The Queen of Swords is about strategy in all you do. Need to get holiday gifts – make a list of what you need and then map out the best path. Need to get a project done – hire a babysitter so you can pull a long day, so you don’t have to do work during the holidays. If you are traveling pack early and preorder your taxi. This week can get hectic but a good battle plan will get you through it.
Scorpio – Four of Cups
Holidays can be hard for all the water signs because there are a lot of emotions swimming around good or bad – yours or others. It can be draining. This week might push on your emotions, so you pull inward. And you can do that if you don’t do it all week. The challenge is to see that contemplation is fine if you look up and out to reorient to the positive. If you find yourself going to far inward call a friend to take you out for a hot tottie or tea. Love and laughter are the keys this week.
Sagittarius – Ten of Pentacles
You are finishing out your birth month with the Ten of Pentacles or the prosperous kingdom card. The coming year has the Magician calling for creation and the Hanged Man calling for new and unique perspectives. All tens are summation cards so 2019 is a place where not only are you creating new and unique projects, traveling to new roads, but it is about enjoying your all that you have done to get to this place. This week is your first step in seeing how prosperous your kingdom is. Enjoy the bounty.
Capricorn – Two of Pentacles
It’s a balancing act this week. Balancing intake with outtake, rest and activities, food and water, society and solitude. If you feel off kilter it is a sign to stop and ground yourself. This is a good card to practice going into your birth month.
Aquarius – Two of Cups
Two of Cups is the card of relationships. Take time this week to have one on ones with people you love. You need to reconnect with the people you hold dear. The challenge is to truly be there with them. This can be hard with the hectic holiday season, but it will fill your cup more than drain it. Think small intimate moments than grand gestures.
Pisces – Ten of Wands
The Ten of Wands is about putting too much on your plate because of a sense of obligation. This week is more about doing a few things well, than doing a bunch of things half-ass. The challenge is giving yourself a break. Lay down at least two of your to-dos on your list. You can pick them back up next week if they don’t fade away before that.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
Last week the Death card asked you some hard questions like: What cycles are you starting up again? What ideas or projects do you want to store and work on next year? What do you want to let die or finish before spring? The Star card continues the theme of introspection by adding the questions: What do you need to heal, so you can move in to 2019 with a lighter load? And if you could hope for an outcome what would it be?
Last week the Strength card had you assess the hows and whys of your internal struggle to get things done. This week the Three of Wands wants you to continue pondering those questions, but also would like you planning your focuses for the winter season. What three things would you like to get done that will carry you into the spring of 2019?
The Ten of Pentacles brings another week of focusing on building your net worth. What you have going right now is a pretty good gig. Keep at it and adding to it.
The Three of Pentacles foretells you will need help from others if you want to accomplish what you need to do. This week cooperation and collaboration are key.
Last week, the World wanted you to finish up old projects to create room for new projects. And now here comes the Lovers card wanting you to start creating, though this creation period is about working with others to create something new. In its simplest form this can look like making dinner with your love ones. In its more complex form this can be you sharing the creation process on a new project. Either way this week you will need to cooperate and collaborate if you really want to create something out of the ordinary.
The Five of Wands is calling you to arms. You will need to be valiant and noble, so you can bring a sense of light and passion not only into your work place but also into your life. This week fight for something you believe in.
The World is the card of completion and opportunities. In its simplest form it can look like finishing up old projects or finally crossing off your oldest to-do list items. In its more complex form, this can be closing old doors, and throwing away old ideas or ideologies opening you to new opportunities and ways of “doing.”
Workers are fixing a pothole outside my house and they had to stop multiple times because it began to rain. A paradox of mine is I hate the smell of an asphalt roads being laid, but I am also fond of the smell of rain hitting asphalt. During my urban sojourns, it was a sign of a respite from the summer heat. Both these experiences are unique to the modern world and drew me to the photography of Franco Fontana’s asfalti. He is famously known for his 
The Three of Swords continues the theme from the Moon card last week. This week this card advises to continue working with only three of the hidden thoughts you have discovered. This card also advises that these beliefs be not only removed but destroyed. They are based in negative triggers placed in your thought patterns by others.
Messages are the theme for this week. Keep your eyes and mind open. There is a lot of important information coming at you that you will need in the near future. Be the sponge.
Last week you had the theme ‘beauty adorns virtue” This week continues that theme with the Knight of Swords This card suggest that you slow down and take time to smell the roses. Be in each moment.
The artist last week asked you to pay attention to the details. The Four of Wands wants you to focus on the details in your home. Focus on the how to create more harmony in your home. Whether that is adding a calming color or adding some pop, remember harmony does not equate to uniformity.
The painting last week was about standing up for you rights, even if it is seems hopeless. And that beauty arises outside the realm of judgment. The Three of Swords extends this theme by having you deal with three self-defeating thoughts. Your challenge is look at the reason of why you carry around these thoughts through a lens of self-compassion.
The artist’s theme last week was about being aware that you do not have control over reality, but you can nudge it towards your favor. And so the Emperor extends this thought for another week by having you add to and build upon the reality you are in. This can look as simple you have to go to work but can you manipulate the time or space that you do it in.
Last week’s art theme was to see parody(humor) in your life. The Eight of Wands continues that theme of bring in and accepting the positive even joyful energy in your life. Arms and minds open.
Dulle Griet’s hinted about being a bit devilish or against the social norm last week. The Hermit would like you to continue the exploration of the outer edges of societies’ norms, but in theory with meditation and reflection. This is a favorite card of Virgo, for this is a lifelong challenge of balancing your social and solo sides. The challenge with this card is not to seek solitude out of a reaction of being over social but to be proactive about scheduling your need of space and time to decompress. And the bigger challenge is do it without guilt.
Last week your challenge was to met people outside of your normal wanderings. This week the Four of Pentacles takes an about-face from the emotional realm to the physical one. Your goal is to save time, money and space anywhere you can. Your challenge is not to feel selfish about it.
Last week your challenge was two-fold, taking on a challenge and proving the “haters” wrong. This week, the Six of Pentacles’ lesson is around the “give and take” in your life. The goal is lowering your input to people or work that you are not getting something positive in return. The challenge is to do it without them noticing.
Last week your painting was about finding and bonding with your inner horse. The Judgment card challenges you to create a ritual or rite of passage that moves you on to the next act of your life. This can be as simple as lighting a candle and blowing it out to release the old, or as complex as burning all your old journals.
The art last week challenged you to see the boundaries you may be holding on to around your passions or your way of life. The Tower comes this week to break down those walls if you haven’t already. The Tower comes to shake things up because something you have not been dealing with and that doesn’t work, needs to change. The best way to deal with this card is to stand back and enjoy the destruction.
The painting last week advised you to see that your history or past experiences are useful in the present whether you see it or not. The Five of Swords this week continues this theme by challenging you that you can learn more from your mistakes and failures then you can from your successes.
Last week’s painting suggested to come at your life with softer edges. This theme continues with the Four of Cups this week. This card is the card of self-compassion and empathy. To see the world, its people and yourself without sharp edges.
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