Tag Archives: sculpture

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of July 19, 2020

Jason deCaries Taylor This week’s artist is Jason deCaries Taylor.  Jason’s has created throughout the world Land Art installations.  These pieces highlight social and environmental issues of the area.   This week I am only highlighting his underwater installations.  With each project he works with scientists and local people to create these underwater art shows.  Even the statues themselves are model from the people of the area. Many of his ocean installations provide foundations for the begins of reefs.

Above is a newer sculpture the Ocean Siren part of the Museum of Underwater Art in the Great Barrier Reef.  The statue itself is modeled after 12-year-old girl Takoda Johnson.  She is a member of the local Wulgurukaba people one of the two traditional owners of the local land.  The sculpture is solar powered and changes color according to the water temperature in the reef.  Consistent dark red colors warn of potential coral bleaching.  Coral bleaching is an effect of climate change and is endangering one of the most diverse reefs in the world, The Great Barrier Reef.  The other part of this project Coral Greenhouse was finished in December of 2019 (see Aries).  It is not only a piece of art but also functioning laboratory, measuring salinity, pH, and coral growth.  Its opening was postponed due to Covid but will have guided underwater tours hopefully starting in 2021.

Land Art is a form of art which uses either the materials from a location or highlights a location.  The emphasis on the art is usually around the concepts of social issues, poverty, ecology, conservation, etc… where the art becomes a form of activism.  This movement started in the late 60’s but many believe locations like Stonehenge, Nazca Lines in Peru, the Chalk drawings in England could be older styles of this art form.

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

Jason deCaries TaylorFour of Wands – Family and home life are the key for ease and your focus for this week.  Honor these moments of seclusion to create deeper bonds with those you hold close and the home that sustains and protects you.   Give a gift to your abode and the life-forms that live with you.  These acts of gratitude will ground you and help deepen your sense of security.

Taurus
Vicissitudes_Grenada_portrait_coral-feathers_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture

Six of Swords – Your second 6, so let us dive into numerology for a second.  Sixes are the cause and effect cards.  Last week’s energy was around karma and your actions on the material plane.  This week’s cause and effects energy is around your thoughts.  When they are clear – you feel directed and focused; however, when they are muddy – you stagnate.  The key this week is simplifying your thoughts by traveling their branches to the main source, and then work with just that.

Gemini
Reclamation_Mexico_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture

*Magician – The energy this week is about the creative act of bring an idea down and materialize it.  This energy asks what is your intention?  How will you manifest this desire?  The key with this energy is knowing you have the skills and tools already to create into the material plane.  Big or small manifestations, your challenge is materializing them with the highest intention and aligned with your inner integrity.

Cancer

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Five of Swords – Winning or losing is not the goal.  Now is the time to stick to your integrity and humanity.  Do not let society’s ambitioned rat race lure you in.  If you are aligned with what truly matters, you will traverse this week’s chaotic waters with less strain on your mental state.

Leo

Jason deCaires Taylor
Jason-deCaires-Taylor

*Sun– Wow both of your sign’s cards back to back.  One ending your birth year with the power and nemesis of Strength and the other starting the new year with your other power and nemesis the Sun.  Let us review last week’s energy.  It wanted you to allow these three paradoxes into your personal constructs.  1) Your strength comes from dealing with your weakness.  2) Your self-doubt comes from trying to control things that cannot be tamed.  3) Your insecurity is also the root of your compassion.  The Sun’s energy is that it sustains life as does your power when projected out into the world.  The Sun’s and your nemesis are that too much of this power can cause harm or kill.  It is all in its application.  This coming year is about you working on how to harness your power and then applying its powerful force outward to the correct degree that you sustain growth and not burn it all down.

Virgo

Jason-deCaires-Taylor
Jason-deCaires-Taylor

*Tower – Ok during 2020 every sign seems to be getting this paradigm shifting energy and now it is you.  The Tower energy comes to shake up one’s life,  by taking the control away from you, so you can see the cracks in your foundations and then change the blueprints.  First take a holistic look at how these times have affected you outwardly.  What needs to shift?  This would be like the pace you live at, the place you live in, or your support group.   Secondly look at what needs to shift internally to make a major outer-life change happen?  What old patterns are not working for you anymore?  This could look like you are a day person but work night shifts, perfectionism, addiction, etc…  The best way to work with Tower energy is pick one thing to change and go through the whole healing and restructuring process.  This is a modernization of self, but you must do it a brick at a time.

Libra

Silent-Evolution_Mexico_Jason-deCaires-Taylor

Ten of Swords – The past two week’s have been about expanding your empire and finding your flow with your environment.  This week energy has the possibility to stop you in your tracks.  Be aware that outside sources are not working in your favor.  To traverse this negative energy, either pull back and take a break, or if you must move forward follow your intuition in all things.  Either way do not allow any of this negative vibe set into your muscle memory.  This is a closing of a door.  Let it close and walk on.

Scorpio

Jason-deCaires-Taylor
Museo-Atlantico_Lanzarote_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture

Nine of Swords – This week you will need to quiet your mind.  Over-thinking can intrude into your family time or bedtime.  Worry and overthinking will not create ease or help you figure anything out.  A great exercise to do is create a ritual that ends your working day.  Some examples: If you do go out for work, stop at a tree or bush outside your house and figuratively hang up your day before entering in.  If working from home, set an alarm that rings to remind you your day has ended.  Or two hours before bed, pour all the junk of the day into a journal.

Sagittarius

Alluvia_Canterbury_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture

*Hanged Man – The energy to ponder and enact this week is the usefulness of inertia.  This vibe comes around when you need to flip your perspective to find new pathways of thinking and doing.  Use or create these moments of pause for reflection.  Let go of old patterns, making way for the new ideas that only arises from silence.  The challenge is that this may trigger boredom or antsyness.  Sit through it, for you will find enlightenment and peace on the other side.

Capricorn

Jason-deCaires-Taylor
Vicissitudes_Grenada__Jason-deCaires-Taylor

King of Cups – Ok this might be a challenging week for you, for your emotions are on the surface.  However, this energy is wanting you to work with and through them.  Your emotions are your guides, even the moody ones.  If you are moody that is just your feelings expressing you need some alone time.  If you are giddy, then find ways to feed and share that good vibe.

Aquarius

Jason-deCaires-Taylor
Museo-Atlantico_Lanzarote_Tubular-Cactus_growth_00795_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture

*Hermit – This week your goal is to set aside time to process what this past month or six has been about.  Processing your experiences helps you gather your experiential knowledge.  This will assist in learning how to deal with experiences going forward.  And challenge you by pointing out what skills you still need to learn or tweak.  We all need a stopping point to pull back and see our lives from a loftier place.  Try to turn off you phone and technology for a couple hours at the very least and reminisce upon all that has happened.  This will help lead you to the next steps, that are more authentic to who you want to be and where and how you want to walk on this journey.

Pisces

Man-on-Fire_Mexico_clean_Jason-deCaires-Taylor_Sculpture
Mexico Jason-deCaires-Taylor

King of Pentacles – Last week’s energy was a paradox wrapped up in enigma and challenged you to ride the wave of life without trying to control its currents.  This week’s energy allows you to put in your rudder and steer a course.  This is a great week for all things that build upon your material plane.  Aspects to focus on are how you make your money and/or working with your hands.  Or you might be called upon or see the need to take control.  The challenge is to use your power to guide or nudge rather than fully pressing people or things to your will.

Tarot and Art Forecast for Week of May 31, 2020

Selma Burke
Selma Burke Booker T. Washington

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

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

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

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

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

Nina

 

Aries

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

 

Taurus

PhotoCredit: John Wilson White

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

 

Gemini

PhotoCredit: John Wilson White

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

 

Cancer

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

 

Leo

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

 

Virgo

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

 

Libra

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

 

Scorpio

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

 

Sagittarius

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

 

Capricorn

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

 

Aquarius

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

 

Pisces

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

 

 

 

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of Sept.1, 2019

Biodiversity Reclamation Suits Lauren Hope RothTo all of you in the Bahamas and on the East Coast, may you find refuge and be safe.

The above piece is a clay pigeon hidden behind the crocheted plumage of the extinct bird, Cararcus of Guadalupe. Laurel Roth Hope is a former park ranger now turned artist.  She creates a variety of sculpture and fiber art that highlight our fellow earthlings that she calls Biodiversity Reclamation Suits.  With this series of scupltures, she started with the concept of how we ascribe value to things that are rare and denigrate things that are common and that effects how we see wildlife.  So, she chose the common pigeon, an icon of the successful adaptation though also known as the “flying rat” and disguised it in the rare and therefore perceived exotic plumage of extinct birds.   Try this week to see the exotic in the common and see how this changes your perspective.

 

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

Aries
Biodiversity Reclamation Suits Laurel Roth Hope
Bachman’s warbler Laurel Roth Hope

Eight of Wands – The Eight of Wands forecasts that what you aim with a true heart hits the mark.  This is a week to ask for what you want, send out messages, PR yourself…  Your question:  Are your goals truly fulfilling your hearts desires?

 

Taurus
Biodiversity Reclamation Suits Laurel Roth Hope
Carolina parakeet Laurel Roth Hope

*Judgement – this is your third big card in a row.  So, time to take the bull by the horns Taurus.  The past 2 weeks Chariot, card of change that is totally in your control, pulled up to give you another chance to make transformations happen.  Then the High Priestess advised to do some deep reference work on the how and why of those alterations.  Helping you with signs from the heavens, dreams, synchronicities or in deep contemplation.  Now Judgment the card of evolution arrives.  This card heralds that you are prime for an ascension.  This week find ways to up your game.  This should be easier now that you have mapped out where to go with the Chariot and how and why you are doing it with the High Priestess.  This task is not a simple change with these three cards.  But it can look like, asking for promotion, expanding your business, quitting your job to work for yourself, retiring, etc..  By the end of the year you should be well on your way with a new ride into new lands.

 

Gemini
Seychelles parakeet Laurel Roth Hope

Queen of Swords – The last two weeks the Devil card came to test you on who you are and what you stand for.  Then the Hanged Man kept you in a purgatory like state to let you contemplate how you were triggered.  Now, the Queen of Swords continues the focus on contemplation, but emphasizes focusing on the details to create movement.

 

Cancer
Paradise parrot Laurel Roth Hope

Nine of Swords – The Nine of Swords is the card of worry. This week your worries will be highlighted.  The best way to deal with them is to first clearly seeing if you can do solve them.  If you can do something, then prioritize it with the other things in your life.  And for the things you can’t do anything about – write them down and literally throw them in the trash.

 

Leo
Heath hens Laurel Roth Hope

Ten of Swords – Last week, your thoughts got in the way of your success.  This week others are trying to pull you down into the morass.  This week is full of people cutting you off the literally and metaphorical road.  If you did last week’s work and casted away your demons, then others unintentional malice or thoughtless actions will not faze you.  If you didn’t do the work, then be well armored going outside.

 

Virgo
Great Auk Laurel Roth Hope

Eight of Swords – The Eight of Swords has you examining how your thought process are stopping you this week.  The challenge is being compassionate with yourself for these thoughts.  They were put there by others.  Once you can see the chains clearly, you can let go and walk away.

 

Libra
Guadalupe caracara Laurel Roth Hope

Nine of Wands – The Nine of Wands forecast this is perfect time to stop and do some preparation before doing.  This looks like making sure you have a menu for the week, then creating a list and only getting what is on the list.  The more prep you do, the cheaper, healthier and faster the results.

 

Scorpio
Mauritius Blue pigeon Laurel Roth Hope

*Empress – This is a great week to plant seeds, start new projects and nurture what is already in the works.  The Empress energizes growing anything you want to this week.  The only challenge with this card is anything you start will take at least 9-10 months to full mature.  Oh, and another thing prioritize yourself care.  Be as kind to yourself as you would your own child.  Remember as they say on airplanes Oxygen masks on yourself before your children.

 

Sagittarius
Ivory Billed woodpecker Laurel Roth Hope

Seven of Coins – Last week was a great time to create with the Magician card. The only challenge was that your creation must have meaning behind.  This week the Seven of Coins gives you another week to work on your project with gusto.  There is a stable and constant energy with this card’s energy.  You can tap into easily, so use it well.

 

Capricorn
Dodo Laurel Roth Hope

*Wheel of Fortune – The Wheel of Fortune is the card of chance and changing of fortunes. So, this is a great week to take a chance on something.  This can look like sending your resume to your dream job, asking out that special someone, and/or playing lotto.  The challenge is not in the success of wining but believing in yourself and giving your dreams a chance to manifest.

 

Aquarius
Biodiversity Reclamation Suits Laurel Roth Hope
Passenger Pigeon Laurel Roth Hope

Six of Cups – The Six of Cups foretells that something in your past will help you this week.  This can be an old friend, looking at old journals, or recalling an previous conversation.  This card is the card of deja vu.  They tell you that you are in the right place at the right time.

 

Pisces
Biodiversity Reclamation Suits Laurel Roth Hope
Cuban Red Macaw Laurel Roth Hope

The Three of Wands – This is a great week to expand your horizons.  This can mean going to a place you have never been before but always wanted to, or just daydreaming about where you want to go next.  It is important that you refuel your passion and drive by seeing or imagining the path to where you are heading.

 

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

Nina

 

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of August 4, 2019

The idiom stop and smell the roses advises us to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life.   This week’s artist, Tiffanie Turner requests us to stop and see the complexity of what we perceive as beauty through her flower creations.  Her paper sculptures are not always of the perfect flower, which is hard to come by and when found is short lived.  She pulls from the rhythms and patterns found in nature, as well as the wonderful gestures formed by missteps and irregularities in nature like decay, rot, wilt, dormancy, death, and genetic and viral mutations like phyllody, petalody…

She expands the scale and scope of the beauty in nature to bring us face to blossom, floret and stamen with an Alice in Wonderland gauge.  Like the Lewis Carol tale, her playing with scale shifts our perceptions of reality. Turner’s pieces jar us out of our paradigms of beauty, symmetry and rightness. By taking a distressed or deformed head of a flower she weaves tales of the beauty and transience, of life.  And then by contrasting it with perfect, gigantic head of a flower to offer some hope, however flitting.  These sculptures help us to examine our beliefs of beauty, transitions, abnormality and hope that often we too narrowly perceive.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Leo this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

 

Aries

Ace of Swords – This is a great week for communication and decision making.  The Ace of Swords brings new beginnings in the land of communication and information.  If you can keep your mind open and sharp you can discover new pathways for thought and ideas.  Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in. Isaac Asimov

 

Taurus

Tiffanie Turner  flowers*The Chariot – The Chariot is the card of Change.  This is a great week to start a journey, travel, and/or move along projects.  In other words, it is a great week to make things happen to change things that you want to alter.  The only issue with this card is to make this transformation happen it is all up to you.  No outside force will swoop into help.  This train is run solo by the power of your engines, but don’t worry you will have the energy to power this modification.  PS on a practical note this card does have you literally check your means of transportation before setting off – check tire pressure, gas, make sure your shoes are appropriate, check your tickets etc…

 

Gemini

Seven of Swords – The Seven of Swords is the card of small victories.  This week you will have a surfeit of small successes.  The only challenge with this card is that though you come out victorious there is more to be won in the near future.  So, save some of your resources this week for the battles to come.

 

Cancer

Tiffanie Turner *Empress – The Empress represents the Goddess of Growth and Abundance.  This is a great week to plant seeds for growth you want to see happen in 10 months’ time.  The big questions this card has you answer this week are:  What do you want to grow?  How will you sustain that growth for the next 10 months? Does this growth have an aspect to help others?  And if this growth doesn’t happen what is your plan B.

 

Leo

Tiffanie Turner Nine of Swords – Okay Leos, what’s up this is your birthday month and this week you are letting worry play outdated sad songs for your party.  This is where that Hierophant that showed up two weeks ago can help.  First sort through your worries and only pick out which ones have a possible solution.  Second dump what is left over, for they are not worth your Leonian gaze.  Lastly, take those workable worries and set up structures and timelines (starting next week) to take them from worrying nightmares to doable to-do list items.

 

Virgo

Five of Wands and Four of Swords – Chaos is in the air this week with the Five of Wands showing up.  So, you as always have a choice jump into it or walk around it.  However, the Four of Swords advises that you walk around it or even better turn around and walk away from it.  If you do decide to jump in- take your vitamins and make sure you get lots of sleep because your immune system will be taxed.

 

Libra

Tiffanie Turner Ace of Wands – Ace of Wands is the card of passion and all things that light up our lives – bring us awe.  This is a great week for any kind of beginning – projects, relationships, roads, experiences.  The only caveat is that the things you focus on this week must bring or ignite some zing in your life.  Otherwise, why are you doing it?

 

Scorpio

Knight of Wands – All Knights foretell that travel is good for this week.  And the Knight of Wands loves it when you travel to events or places that bring awe into your life.  This card also comes when you are on the right path doing the right thing.  So, keep on keeping on and try taking to the road and letting your soul pick the place.

 

Sagittarius

Eight of Wands – The Eight of Wands foretells that whatever you focus on this week will hit the mark.  This is a great week to send out correspondence or PR – it will be well received.  It is also a great time to open conversation that normally are not easy to discuss – they will play out with ease and balance out power struggles.  Or a great time sending out wishes for they will come true.  The only thing to be cautious about is if your goal is not clear then your outcome may not be what you were aiming for.

 

Capricorn

Queen of Cups – The Queen of Cups is the card of fun and parties.  This is a great week to celebrate your halfway point of your birth year.  Take this time viewing all that has happened since your last birthday.  I sure you will find a few things to celebrate about.  Therefore, take this week off and raise your glass to yourself, what you have accomplished and to the prospects of the next 6 months.

 

Aquarius

Four of Swords – After last week’s Moon card, where you felt a little lost and moody, the Four of Swords advises you to take this week to rest and build up your immune system.  When this card shows up you are fooling yourself that you are fine or bad-ass enough that this week’s stresses won’t get to you.  This card highly suggests that bed-rest and vitamins are vital.  You are running on fumes and you need this week to recharge.

 

Pisces

Page of Swords and Ace of Pentacles – The Page of Swords is the card of information gathering and the Ace of Pentacles is the card of new material beginnings.  Together they mean that this is a great week to start new projects that are on the material plane.  Any projects you start will bring money in the future. However, the Page of Swords also says to start this project you need more information that maybe behind the scenes.  The best way to work with this Page is, before you start this project, ask questions and listen to the answers with open ears and mind for something is not exactly as logical as it would seem.

 

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

Nina

 

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of July 21, 2019

Calvin Ma -dolls

In 1964 the term action figure was coined by Hasbro because American boys refused to play with toys called “dolls.”  However, dolls, toys made to mimic human form, have been played with for at least 5000 years by all genders.  Though, most dolls from early history are found with the dead and it is theorized that they may not be toys at all but guides or helpers in the afterlife.  They can also be used to guide and help us now.

Dolls are powerful tools helping children navigate and work on their social and emotional skills, and they have shaped all of us in some fashion.  And we need to be aware that dolls push social ethics, morality and norms just by their appearance.  That is why Calvin Ma’s art (above and below) is inspiring.  He uses his action figures to “explore personal issues and struggles with social anxiety.”  His figures covered in feathers, houses and black and white imagery represent our flight, fight or freeze instinct. Though it is designed to protect us from threat or danger, it can get hijacked into anxiety.  His pieces give us a more positive and empowering version of our built-in defense system.  They help guide us to use our fears to become our own personal superhero or at least a badass action figure.

Ma’s art work is at Sherrie Gallerie in Columbus, Ohio from July 28 to September 3, 2019, and at Antler Gallery in Portland, Oregon opening on November 28. Alongside these shows, Ma will also be sharing pieces in at SOFA Expo in Chicago and at Haven Gallery in Long Island, in late October and mid-December, respectively.

P.S. Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Cancer this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

Aries

Calvin Ma action figuresKing of Pentacles – This week the King of Pentacles gives energy to all projects that have to do with the material plane and reputation.  This is a great week to put your business hat on, build capital, create physical items or hands on projects, or your pump up your social status.  It is time to become your self-made master of your fortune and destiny.  Motto- Just do it.

Taurus

Calvin Ma action figuresTwo of Wands – The Two of Wands declares this week’s energy is best used in planning for the future.  This card is about the near future but where do you want to be or what do you want to accomplish in 2025.  The challenge with this card is keeping your feet on the ground while your head is in the clouds.

Gemini

Calvin MaNine of Cups – The last two weeks the Hierophant challenged you to hone your teaching skills. And then the Lovers card continued focusing on working with people, but had you switch from teacher to co-creator.  This week the Nine of Cups’ energy is about sitting back and integrating those last two weeks’ lessons. The stipulation is that you only assimilate what or who makes you comfortable.

Cancer

Calvin Ma action figures*Sun – Okay the Universe snuck in another Big card for your coming year the Sun.  The first card was the High Priestess (which is associated with your ruling planet, the Moon). The High Priestess has you focusing on intuition, serenity, cycles, introspection and the big picture for the coming year.  Then the Sun closes out your birth month with its energy of growth and increasing your person shine.  So, starting this week Cancer it is balancing both your inner needs with your outer goals.  This coming year is pushing you to shine a bit stronger than your typical moonlight.

Leo

Calvin Ma*Hierophant – Here is your first card of your birth year.  The Hierophant’s theme for 2019-2020, is organization and structure.  This is the year to put into place boundaries, set up schedules, start diets or exercise regimes, rituals anything that helps you structure and direct your energies and days.  This is a year where saying No or Let me think about it is advised. The challenge with this coming year is that these ethics/morals/structures must come from you not society.  It is easy to place societies’ expectations on ourselves – it releases our responsibility of choice.   So, start this week with something simple – organize your closet or your junk drawer. Just make sure you do it in a way that satisfies you, not the wills or ideas of others.

Virgo

Calvin MaFive of Pentacles – The Five of Pentacles is the card of physical loss.  This can be your keys or cash.  So be careful this week on what you spend your money and time on and where you physically lay down your possessions.  The challenge is asking for help when you find yourself at a loss.

Libra

Calvin Ma*Death – The Death card rules the energy of organic change.  This week is a great time to start the ball rolling to create change in places that have bottom out, dead-ended or ran out of oomph.  The goal is to weed out the dead growth so new things can grow in its stead.   The challenge comes when you try to rush or control the growth.  This card’s lesson is kin to tending to a garden you can’t control the weather but you can pick the seeds that will grow well in it.

Scorpio

Calvin MaAce of Cups – Love is in the air.  All Aces are new beginnings, and this card focuses on new stages or diving to new depths of the heart.  This week is advantageous to new relationships and deepening old ones.  Your goal is to find out something new about the people that surround you, new and old. The challenge is sharing something new about yourself too.  It takes two to tango.

Sagittarius

Calvin MaQueen of Wands – The Queen of Wands advises you to go play with Mother Nature this week.  You soul is craving some me-time, and for your half-horse personality- nature or the open road does that best.  So, get out of the house this week – road trip, hike, swim in a river, bike.  This week is about movement and experiencing what Gaia has to offer.

Capricorn

Calvin MaThree and Four of Wands – Last week, the World card had you aligning your energy with the lunar eclipse to create amazing transformative and healing mojo.  Now, the Three and Four of Wands has you focusing on short term goals and create a comfy home environment, while you are waiting for your longer-term goals to mature and their timing to line up.  This week is about comfort and patience.

Aquarius

Calvin MaTen of Cups – Your second Ten, so let’s dive a bit into what Ten means.  Tens are perfect for completing cycles and that you enjoy and bask in that completion before moving on.  Last week the Ten of Pentacles advised you to finish up a physical project and then relax your body. This Week the Ten of Cups adds the emotional relaxation to the physical.  This week your challenge is to indulge in things that make you happy.   Your song for this week : My Favorite Things or Happy

Pisces

Calvin MaTwo of Cups – Two of Cups is the card of relationships.  This is a great week to deepen the relationships that you have chosen and want to grow in your life.  The only challenge with this card is that the give and take of these relationships need to feel balanced to you.  If they are not, then you need to reevaluate how much energy you put into them.

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

Nina

Tarot and Art Horoscope for Week of June 30, 2019

Louise Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois was a sculptor, painter and printmaker.  She was born to tapestry restorers in 1911. She had a traumatic childhood. Her mother was ill her whole life and died when she was in her early 20’s. Her father had a series of mistress during that time which greatly effect her.  This emotionality was enhanced by living in Paris during WW1.  These events left her with deep-set feelings of abandonment and loss. She started off studying math for peace of mind through the study of rules nobody could change, but after her mother’s death turned to art.

Louise used her art form as a therapeutic process. Using the lens of what she calls pre-gender feelings, she contemplated the themes of the body, sexuality, gender, loneliness, jealousy, anger and fear.  She worked through and with her depression and anxiety by using symbolic items or images that expressed her personal inward journey. For example, Bourgeois uses the spider as symbol of her mother as a predator, protector, and weaver.  Louise is a perfect example of an artist that creates art that can be as cathartic for the maker as the viewer.  As she said: Art is a guarantee of sanity.

 

P.S.  Sorry, I’m a little late today with tarotcast, the universe is throwing me some curve balls.  NOTE:  this might also be affecting any of you with major planets in Cancer and Capricorn.  The next two and half weeks beginning with the partial solar eclipse on July 2nd in Cancer then the Lunar eclipse on July 16th, are big energy movers and shakers for those two signs.

Thank you for sticking with me.

Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.  Cancer this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.

 

Aries

Knight of Cups – The last two weeks you have been dipping in and out of the spotlight.  First the Sun card brought a sense of accomplishment and energy for getting things done, growing healthier, and succeeding in new ways.  Then the Hermit advised you the opposite by pulling away from society the next week you could be more productive. This week the Knight of Cups has you back in society’s fray.  This card is all about being the social butterfly and sharing your love.  Enjoy the company of people this week.  Not only will they bring you energy but also connect you to your emotions and heart.

 

Taurus

Louise BourgeoisFour of Pentacles – The Four of Pentacles has you focusing on your resources and how you spend them. This week your time, attention and money will be limited so use them wisely.

 

Gemini

Nine of Cups – The Nine of Cups is the card of contentment.  Take this week to focus and feed the activities and people that bring a smile to your face.  Do things that are satisfying and pleasurable.  This week smile – life is good.

 

Cancer

Queen of Wands – To embody this Queen you need to reconnect with your passion, awe and joy.  All Wands advise that nature be part of this process.  Mother Earth is calling for you to get out and hang with her this week.  She will help you reconnect to who you are, inspire your creativity and ignite your desires. Due to the Eclipses, see intro above, these next two and half weeks hold a lot of power.  Use wisely.

 

Leo

Three of Cups – The Three of Cups is the card of friendship.  The best way to gather this card’s energy is to hang with friends.  Whether that is watching a game, going out to listen to music or going to your local pub, this week reconnect with your friends and they will fill your cups – literally and figuratively.         

 

Virgo

Six of Swords – The Six of Swords advises the simplification of one’s thoughts by gaining perspective with distance.  The best way to work with the energies this week is to strip the problem/ project down to the bone, step back and then rebuild.

 

Libra

Eight of Cups – Last week the Chariot challenged you to take the reins and create change in your life   The Eight of Cups continues this theme but challenges you that to do it properly you will have to leave something behind.  A great exercise with this energy is to go through drawers or closets and get rid of things that you no longer use.

 

Scorpio

Two of Wands – The Two of Wands is the card of the future.  This is a great week to do some daydreaming and planning for what you would like to happen a month, a year and five years from now.  If you don’t have dreams, then you have nothing to aspire and grow towards.

 

Sagittarius

King of Pentacles – The King of Pentacles’ energy is do and build.  This is a great week to tackle a project and get things done off your to-do list.  The only challenge with this card is you will need to take charge if you are working with others without being bossy.

 

Capricorn

*Moon – Another big week for you all.  Last week, Judgement the card of evolution challenged you to awaken and make the big move to totally change your life.  This week the Moon the card of emotions and subconscious adds to that energy of progression. Therefore, this week might hold challenges around your triggers, but you can really focus the Moon’s energies to have major break throughs.  Especially since you can charge this evolution with the might of the solar eclipse on July 2nd in your sister sign of Cancer and then the Lunar eclipse in Capricorn that is happening on July 16th.  These next two and half weeks are big energy days for Cancers and Capricorns.

 

Aquarius

Louise BourgeoisPage of Pentacles – The last two weeks, the Judgment card had you picking something you want to evolve in your life, and then the Star card gave you some time and space to adjust to this growth.   This week with the Page of Pentacles’ energy things start to normalize if you let yourself be flexible and open minded.  Come at this week with curiosity and the love of learning.

 

Pisces

*Magician – The Magician is the card of materialization.  First this card says you have all the tools you will need this week to get things accomplished.  Secondly, it advises you to tap into your intuition or gut to navigate the best process to transform your creations onto the material plane.  And thirdly, this card says you have the willpower to manifest what you want in the world if it has a divine purpose.  You are the conduit of divine energy – use it wisely.

 

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

Nina

 

Tarotcast for Week of March 17, 2019

This week’s artist is Edith Meusnier.  Some have classified her as an environmental, textile or fiber artist.  These three categories have predominately woman in them.  Why?  First, let’s define the categories.   Environmental art is artistic works that are intended to enhance or become part of the environment or make a statement on environmental issues. Textile arts are arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects. Fiber art refers to fine art whose material consists of natural or synthetic fiber and other components. It focuses on the materials and on the manual labor on the part of the artist as part of the works’ significance and prioritizes aesthetic value over utility.

It is curious to categorize her in just the above, for she is ultimately a sculptor. Sculpture is the art of carving, modeling, welding, or otherwise producing figurative or abstract works of art in three dimensions, as in relief, intaglio, or in the round.  (Sculpture’s original definition has the materials being carved or molded but that has expanded as the materials we use have too).  Creating and using the first three categories is one way that bias can happen especially for women artist.

If you compare her work to Andy Goldsworthy (named as a sculptor, photographer and environmentalist) they are similar.  He uses outdoor space to create temporary installations that highlight the environment, so does Edith.   They only difference is that she uses gift ribbon, and he uses objects from the environment.

Or we can compare her to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, they are considered artists that make environmental art.  (Note:  Christo as a solo artist is named a sculptor. Christo also took sole recognition for all the art until 1994 then retroactively renamed it with Jean Claude’s name.  And now the team is considered environmental artists.)  They use a variety of fabrics to make their pieces.  So environmental art doesn’t have to use only pieces from the environment nor make an environmental statement.  Nor if you use fabric are you only a  textile or fabric artist.

Ultimately is the art community putting women, who use out of the ordinary (wood, metal or stone) materials to build 3- dimension pieces, outside the high art form of sculpture because of the material she uses,  are women  allowing themselves to be sub-labeled instead of taking on the broader term, or is it simply because women aren’t the right gender to be seen and named a sculptor?

P.S.  Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.

Aries

Edith Meusnier*Lovers – The Lovers show up to remind you about one of the most important pieces of being human – connection.  How you connect and who you connect with this week becomes very important to figuring out what direction to take in the coming months.  A simple example is choosing wisely about who you talk with and what you talk about at the water cooler, for the relationship there create your work environment.  A complex example is taking that idea home with who you choosing as your partner.  If it is not a supportive relationship, why are you in it?  And if it is supportive – reward it.

Taurus

Ace of Cups – Love is in the air.  The Ace of Cups wants you to open your arms, ears, and heart to people around you.  This is a great week to make new connections and deepen relationships you already have.  Take time this week to share your heart.

Gemini

Edith MeusnierKing of Coins – The King of Coins comes when you need to look at how you make you money.  Is it satisfying?   Do you feel supported?  Are you making enough to make ends meet?  Then in answering these questions you will either be celebrating and imbuing in your accomplishments or begin making to-do lists that will create “yes” answers.

Cancer

Edith MeusnierQueen of Cups – The Queen of Cups challenges your life – wanting it to flow freer.  This week celebrating the joys both big and small.  Have some fun, hang with friends, have a beverage for the joy of it – think root-beer floats or champagne. Being in water will help remind you of your joys if you are stuck.

Leo

Edith MeusnierKing of Cups – The King of Cups ask you to get in touch with your emotions this week, especially when they deal with your environment.  Your emotions ae clues how to handle situations.  For example, if you thrilled to talk to someone then do so, if you are not then don’t feel obligated.  The challenge is not to go inward with your emotions but interact outward.

Virgo

Edith MeusnierEight of Cups – Time for some house-cleaning this week.  Not only should you be doing in your environment but also in the internal dialogue and emotional swings you have.  Take “items” out of the closet/dark, dust them off, see if you still need them and if not toss it.   Your only challenge is this may not until the weekend, but don’t forget to do it.

Libra

Edith Meusnier*Hierophant – This is a great week to work with structures and systems.   The Hierophant challenges you to create structures for yourself to find ways to work smoothly within in your control and to learn from structures you have no control over (like education, government etc..).  This can look as simple as going over your schedule and to-do list to shift and reprioritize.  Or as complex as, you are having a sit down with a boss or co-worker and come up with a new plan that can work for the betterment of all.  Also, for lifelong learners this means going back for a course, class or book you know will help you obtain your goals.

Scorpio

Edith Meusnier*Fool – Last week, the Empress wanted you to reconnect with the person who was the most motherly to you and then cultivate those “motherly” qualities in yourself. Now the Fool shows up and has two challenges for you this week:  1) Don’t take that task too seriously.  Don’t forgot not only do good mothers nurture, but they also play.   2)  Take the “motherly” you on the road.   This can look as simple as visiting a friend for a drink and vent session or taking your child to a skate park and you both skate(board).

Sagittarius

Edith MeusnierNine of Pentacles – The Nine of Pentacles declares this is a great week for getting your work done and enjoying it. This card helps you hone your flow, but to get the most out of it you should hole yourself up.  It is not that you can’t work with others, you should just be very choosy when you do so.

Capricorn

Three of Pentacles – Second three in a row so let’s look at the number three for a second.  Threes have us ground ourselves in the present but with our sights towards the future.  Last week the Three of Swords ask you to be honest with your emotional thinking.  And this week the Three of Pentacles have you working within the material plane.  So, questions like, where am I will drive a stake into the present for grounding and questions like where I am going with my work need to be pondered and sketched out towards the future.  This card also reminds you for this week that working with others cuts your work load and increases output.

Aquarius

Queen of Coins – Last week, the Tower card came to remind you to that something needs to be fixed that you have been putting off.  The Queen of Coins continues this theme of mending and fixing.  So, if you didn’t do it last week get it done.  However, she also challenges you, once it is finished, finding time to sit back and enjoy some delights from the material plane.

Pisces

Edith MeusnierAce of Wands – This is your last card of your birth month and what a great one.  The Ace of Wands is the card of beginnings that light your passion. Remember your main birth year card is the Devil (click here for a refresher) And the King and Nine of Swords are going to challenge you to get out of your head to take these “exams.”  And now the Ace of Wands is the candle on your cake.  This card is foretelling that while you are passing your tests, you are simultaneously creating a new future that is more passionate and creative.  This week start planting the seeds in your mind of what you want to grow as you graduate into the new you.

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

Nina