Yokoyama Taikan is a Japanese painter circa (1868-1958). Above is his painting Mountain after a shower. Yokoyama helped in creating the Japanese painting technique of Nihonga. This style departed from more traditional line drawing by eliminating the strong lines in a painting and concentrating on soft, blurred polychromes. Later in his career, he brought a modern eye to the more ancient Chinese art form of ink wash painting. This form of painting is extremely difficult though it looks simplistic.
The philosophy behind ink wash painting is for the painter to capture the essence or spirit of the object. The technique itself takes years of practice of varying the ink load and pressure within a single brush stroke creating tonality from deep black to gray. This technique and philosophy of painting heavily influenced the Western Impressionistic Art Movement.
P.S. Remember 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.
Aries
Page of Cups – Last week, The Empress asked you to focus on nurturing, growing and or tending. This week the Page of Cups still follows this theme of nurturing but advises you to first focus on tenderness to yourself and then it will flow naturally to others.
Taurus
Queen of Pentacles – Last week, Justice had you questioning what your truth is and having you make decision from that. This week, the Queen of Pentacles continues this concept of truth but now wants you to put these truths into actions. This week practice your skills in walking the talk.
Gemini
Knight of Wands – This week is an easier week then the last two. The Knight of Wands has you working on bringing the energy and passion back into your flow. The interesting thing with this card is that you have all that you need already around you for inspiration. Though a small trip out to nature is always advised when this card shows up.
Cancer
King of Pentacles – The King of Pentacles is the card of construction. This card tells you to build on what you already have. Your foundations are good. It is now time to build the “next story onto your house.” The challenge is timing. If it doesn’t work or isn’t coming up fast enough, don’t’ give up there is another avenue, the solution will show itself at the right time.
Leo
Two of Cups – Relationships are the priority this week. These are relationships of your creation so that is either with your love partner or collaborating with someone in your soul group. As Grace Jones sang, “Love is the Drug”
Virgo
*Moon – The Moon card comes when you need to shine light into the darkness of your subconscious. The challenge is shining the soft ambient light of the moon and not the harsh light of a summer sun. Your subconscious either has some healing, growing or disposing that needs to happen this week. So, watch areas you are triggered. These are places where fear has been embedded. The more you try to pull it out the more it digs in its heels; however, if you coax it with food or love, you will not only tame the fear but also befriend it. This week do activities that soothe your psyche.
Libra
Four of Cups – This week it is time to deal with your disenchantment of a situation or person in your life. There are two ways this card advises you to deal with this. One, your expectations were not appropriate – recalibrate. Two, there is a solution, but you are not looking outward for it – look up and out for resolutions.
Scorpio
Nine of Pentacles – The last couple of weeks have been full of change and movement. This week the Nine of Pentacles lets you sit back and absorb what has been and still needs to happen in your life. Take this week making your workload more manageable. Whether that is slowing your pace or holing yourself up for a couple of days to get things done, the goal is work smarter not harder.
Sagittarius
Seven of Pentacles – The Seven of Pentacles is very straightforward energy. It signifies this is a great week to work. The only challenge with this card is the work you do this week will not show up for harvesting until at least a month from now.
Capricorn
*Chariot – The Chariot is one of the three cards of change. This change is defined by movement that is solely created by you. This card has you practicing not only your balance but also your fortitude. Therefore, this card’s challenge is know thyself. You have all the control of the energy that is whipping up in you and around you. You need to figure out what is the best way, time, space to harness it and figure out at what pace to set so your stamina increases. Also, on a very practical side of this card – check your mode of transportation for possible issues ex: your tire pressure, that the shoes you are wearing are appropriate, your bus card is valid etc.…
Aquarius
T
en of Cups – The last two weeks, the Strength card came having you reinforce a resolve, be more resilient, and/or support your self-worth. And then the Lovers brought relationships in challenging you to bring out the best in others which in turn brings out the best in you. This week the Ten of Cups continues the theme of relationship building. However, it now focuses on enjoying the love you have created not only for yourself but for others. Drink it in.
Pisces
Page of Swords– Last week the Strength card advised you to see how resilient, confident and worthy you are. The Page of Sword continues this theme of seeing the truth of your strength and resilience. This card is the card of information gathering and pondering the facts. Spend time this week seeing the facts and reasons you are so strong. If you need help seeing your self as such, ask others. On a practical note information gathering is pertinent this week in all things.
May light be on you, around you, and within you,
Nina
*Empress – The Empress is the gardener card. When she arrives, she asks you to focus on what do you want to grow and or tend to. Nurturing is the skill most needed this week. But don’t forget as they say on airplanes you must put the mask on yourself first before you tend to others. The gardener tends the garden but who tends the gardener?
*Justice – Justice is the card of truths. This card has you questioning what is your truth? How do you show it in your daily life? Are you living your truth? Those are the big questions, but then Justice also plays out in practical matters. This is a card of decision making with cool intellect, only the facts, pro and cons list etc… Justice wants you to use your head this week and then act.
Ten of Swords – Last week you all got the Tower for your first power card for this birth year. The first lesson with this card is you need to do some major renovating in your life this year. If you don’t know what to start on or how to make the change happen, the Tower card comes to shake things up and makes it obvious what needs to be deconstructed and reconstructed. The theme this year is take control of the change yourself or the Universe will change it for you. Well this week will hold some clear clues on what needs changing with the Ten of Swords. This card is about people and situations that just are not good for you. This ten will help you see these items clearly and then it is up to you to rid yourself of them.
Five of Coins – The Five of Coins is about suffering and loss. This week holds clues as to what is not working in your life. The interesting thing with this card is that this suffering is easily remedy by you just by asking for help. You do not need to suffer alone this week. On a practical note this can just mean you might lose something like your keys or glasses – so ask for help to find them.
Six of Wands – The Six of Wands is the card of victory. This week is a good stopping point to take break, enjoy what you have accomplished and rest up. However, this card also says the work is not done. So keep in mind, there is more to do but this isn’t the week to do it. 
King of Cups – Last week the Star had you restoring your health both mental and physical. You get to continue that theme with the King of Cups this week. He would like you to focus on the restoration of your heart and emotions. This week is about lifting your spirits, and any form of water is helpful in this endeavor. However, the practical warning of this card is do not overindulge with liquid spirits.
*Death and Six of Cups – Okay another change card. Last week the Chariot challenged you to take the reins and create momentum in your life. Now change takes another form, Death. Death is the card of change that is partly in your control and partly in the spin of the Universe. So, the weight of responsibility of making change happen has been lifted somewhat. However, because of the Six of Cups joins in, you will need to make amends with the past to allow the Universe to lift some of that responsibility off your shoulders. This can look as simple as forgiving a past aggression or as complex as letting go of the incidences from the past that can no longer be resolved.
Knight of Cups – This week emotion is the key to movement. The best way to make this happen with ease is to be forthright with your emotions. This does not mean you have to wear your heart on your sleeve for all to see, but you must at least be honest with how you are feeling with those that are close to you. The challenge is remembering that what you are feeling is just that, a feeling – it does not always represent the absolute or whole truth.
Eight of Cups – Last week, the Emperor gave you his energy to materialize and do. But he also had you checking in with does your work fulfill you? If it doesn’t, then being honest with what this work is bringing you (like money or time), and if it is fulfilling then keep doing it with more gusto. This week, the Eight of Cups still has you working on the question what is fulfilling. Though this card’s exercise is to get rid of some excess emotions, ideas or items that no longer serve you. This can literally look like cleaning out your closets and drawers. Time to release.
*Lovers – last week, the Strength card came having you strengthen a resolve, be more resilient, and/or support your self-worth. And now that you are stronger in your self you can now pair up with others. This week will bring relationships in focus. Pay attention to how you interact with them. This card’s work is how to bring out the best in others which also as a bonus brings out the best in you.
*Strength– Strength is the card of resilience, confidence and self-worth. This week you need to boost these qualities in yourself. You are not seeing how far you have come or how you could have taken routes that would have sent you into shadier outcomes. So here is an exercise to see how strong you have become. Think of a decision you made recently and now think of at least 3 ways you could have chosen that would have create a more negative outcome. This could be as simple as you didn’t give someone the finger on the highway – it could have been worse if 1) you ran them off the road. 2) you shot them the bird and they ran you off the road 3) you held on to your anger until you yelled at your significant other, your boss or a cashier. See, you are making decision every day and most of them are smart and damn good for yourself and the rest of the world. Take this week confirming how you are a decent human being.
Eight of Swords – Last week the Chariot told you to take the reins. That the path that you are on is correct and you have the power to complete all that you need to do. This week the Eight of Swords can put a halt to your momentum. But just like the Chariot this stop is also in your hands. The challenge is not to be bound to the outcome of this week or the road to get to your destination. Flexibility is key.
Ace of Swords – Decisions and knowledge are on the forefront this week. The Ace of Swords advises a new way of thought is needed to overcome a problem or find a solution. Think outside the box this week.
*Tower – Ok Gemini, the Tower is your first birth year card. What a way to shake up the new year. The Tower is one of the three cards of change. This year the first lesson with this card is you need to do some major renovating in your life. If you don’t know what it is or how to make the change happen, the Tower card comes to shake things up and makes it obvious what needs to be deconstructed and reconstructed. Examples are moving out of a space, job or relationship that doesn’t work for you, or doing a major overhaul of your health regime. The theme this year is take control of the change yourself or the Universe will change it for you.
Page of Cups – The Page of Cups is the card of love and joy. This week find and do simple things that make you smile. Simple acts of kindness to yourself and others is just the cure for your heart and the world around you. Think like a puppy, kitten or 3-year old.
Ten of Pentacles – Last week it was all about beginnings. This week is all about wrapping things up on the material plane. The Ten of Pentacles advises that your prioritiey this week is to tie up loss ends at your work. And then when you get home luxuriate in that feeling of accomplishment. This has challenges around work/life balance. Your motto all work and no play makes Jill or Jack an unhappy person. 
*Star – Last week was hard with the Ten of Swords, but the Star has arrived advising you in a big way to rest and heal this week. The Star is the card of healing after the storm. It doesn’t come often so take advantage and do things that restore your health both mental and physical. Whether that is hermitizing with a book, fishing, taking a spa day, relaxing with friends over diner or anything that lets your nervous system rest. Take this week – relax and restore.
Queen of Wands – Intuition is the key this week. The Queen of Wands advises you to get in touch with your inner guide for you will need its guidance in the coming week. She advises that nature, the spirit or the arts will help you tap into your insight. Also be aware that with this card’s arrival solutions/avenues are found with non-linear thinking.
*Chariot – Change continues to be the theme this week with the Chariot. This card represents change that you have total control over. This is great for no outside source can ultimately stop you. However, it is also a challenge for you are the only one to make the momentum happen. This can look as simple as moving your office or living room around creating better flow, or as complex as moving yourself out of that job/space/relationship that you hate, or finally taking that step to be your own boss. Also, on the practical side of this card: Check your means of transport this week ie: check your tires, fluids, shoes, bus schedule… they can sometimes be wonky when this card shows up.
Nine of Swords – The Nine of Swords is the card of worry or overthinking. This week can bring on a variety of things to worry about. However, this card foretells that there will be only a few that you can fix. The first thing to do is discern which ones are fixable or completable and fix them. The rest write down and literally throw them away in the trash. Ultimately this is a lesson in – you don’t have control over everything nor are you responsible for it all either.
*Emperor – The Emperor is the card of doing. The biggest lesson with this card is that you have a good plan and good resources, and now is the time to manifest what you want to happen in your environment. He is the materializer. So, this week is all about the work. Your only challenge is that especially for you Capricorns does the work fulfill you? If not, then realize you are in it for the money and make the money. If it is then you are one happy camper waking up each morning doing what you have always want to do. This week MAKE.
*Strength – The Strength card comes when you need to strengthen a resolve, be more resilient, and/or support your self-worth. For some of you it can be as simple as sticking to your diet/exercise regime or for others it can be as complex as finally telling your side of the story. The paradox and complexity with this card are true strength comes form the combination of being rigorous but also with a soft application. As they say, you attract more flies with honey then vinegar, whether that is with yourself or declaring your boundaries.
Page of Wands – Last week, the Fool came advising either you will be given a choice and this choice will ripple through your future, or for others to take a leap of faith where there seems as if there is no choice. This theme of journeying and choice continues this week with the Page of Wands. This card ask you to focus on the question “what turns you on?” This journey that you are on must have components that ignite your passion. You need stimulus like a fish needs water. If you want to be productive you need to visit the waters of inspiration, and this is the week to do it.
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