
The artist this week is Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Her work is about occupying two worlds both her native Nigeria and America. Njideka does this though a weaving of her photographs, family photos and pages from popular Nigerian magazines creating a fabric like pattern throughout her work. Her process is a layering of collage, photo transfer, fabric, acrylic paint, charcoal, and colored pencil. This give her pieces a duality of “busy” with the patterns and serene with her choice of compositions of models and motifs.
This complexity and layering of culture are mimicked in her native land of Nigeria and the place she now lives, America. Both are multicultural nations trying to find a cohesion to create a country. Nigeria is a multinational state that is inhabited by 250 ethnic groups with over 500 distinct languages all identifying with a wide variety of cultures. The composition of American population is also is represented by almost every country in the world. So, in her work she takes the viewer into layered landscape exploring her personal journey in inhabiting and defining what is it to be a Nigerian who lives in America.
Are we a melting pot or a tossed salad? This has been a debate since the 1960’s. The melting pot metaphor used by Emerson was the concept of the fusing process of the European immigrant to melt down their heritage and reforming into a new American. The con to this outlook is the lose of the immigrant’s individuality. Then in the 1960’s the idea of multiculturism took hold. This is the concept that we are a tossed salad holding on to our individual cultures with the law and the market being the dressing that binds us. The con for this approach is that America as a whole loses its culture of what defines us as an American citizen and what we as a country represent. This debate rings even truer today. Maybe we need to re-examine our metaphor like Crosby does with her art. Maybe we are a collage of cultures layered to form a single motif. So as with Crosby’s work, when we step into look at America closely, we can see each detail and as we step back, we see us a cohesive and magnificent work of art.
P.S. 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. 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

Four of Wands – Home is where the flow is this week. Time to give your house some loving, and you will get it back four-fold. Things like deep clean that bathroom, lawn maintenance, adding plants, feng shui your house, decluttering your drawers or any activity to your home that creates more comfort and ease. This homey attention will make the rest of your life flow better.
Taurus

Ten of Swords – This week is about hurt from outside sources and learning how to deal with them. First lesson is you learning to stop listening to your ego over your intuition and internal integrity. A possible reason for outside sources sharp vibes is that you have played either martyr or savior instead of seeing yourself as one of them. Second lesson, these outside people are having problems of their own. And yes, their ugliness may squirt on you, but the challenge is not let muscle memory set in with this illusion of rejection or hurt. Take this time to close the laceration(s) and either prepare to start anew with these outside people or forces, or if need be walk away as long as you do not do it from the place of the wounded.
Gemini

Nine of Cups – Last week the forces where calling you to make choices. You get more time do so with this energy’s help. This muse reminds you that you do not need to be totally “there” to know that you are worthy of this change. So, it asks you are you dreaming big enough? Would the theme of these choices illuminate you if the journey got dark? Do these choices create a sense of ease in your life? And the first choice should be that you accept contentment over ecstasy because your gifts are on their way.
Cancer

*Emperor – The vibe this week is about building your material plane, protecting and feeding your goals. This is a great week to implement ideas into your workflow, to bring your business or work to the next level. The challenge is to not only promote and uplift yourself but also to uplift others in the process. Look to benefiting the whole not just the individual. Be a steward of good.
Leo

Four of Swords – The energy this week mid-birthday month is exploring your realms of relaxation. The duality of Leo is you have lots of energy, but also like a lion enjoy laying around soaking in the “act” of inertia. Your challenge is exploring all the ways you relax, either active or sloth like, and then how are you going to consistently incorporate this in your life. Your goal is to find time to unwind at the very least four times a month at the best four times a week in the coming year.
Virgo

*Strength – Ok, time for some beast training this week. What are your monsters? This energy advises to tame these demons you must work with them. There is a mediation that embodies this practice : Feeding your Demons. Another way is to personify your monster into someone or thing you would not normally listen to but can be entertaining at times. (I see my anxiety as Harlequin from Batman.) The challenge is not fighting with your monster or killing it but accepting it and seeing when it is trying to be an ally.
Libra

Ten of Cups – The energy this week is about finding activities that bring you bliss. Connection and love are the keys to finding ways to open your heart. So, this can be simple extended hugs, deep conversations with friends, or having a socially distance beverage with your close ones. However, these are hard times to connect with others. If you are solo, this energy can be tapped into by hugging yourself, holding your own hand or dancing with your favorite YouTube/TikTok video. It sounds strange but since we do not often do it, it tricks the mind that we are connecting with another and turns on our endorphins. So, let the loving commence.
Scorpio

Two of Swords – This is your second two so quick check in with the numerology. Two means balance. Last week was about finding balance from the reality of your present with the plans of where you want to be in the future. This week the challenge is making balanced choices with your head and your heart.
Sagittarius

Ace of Swords – The energy this week is all about learning something new to help you expand your understanding or perspective. The best way to use this energy is in deep conversation, your head in a book, or ears tuned into a new podcast. Your mind needs to be fed new ideas expanding its data and bringing enlightenment for the coming weeks.
Capricorn

*Tower – Every sign is having its turn with the Tower, change that occurs outside of your control. Now is your time to make sure you are contemplating how you are going to rebuild your structure after 2020. Take this week to look at the “cracks” that 2020 has brought on in your life. The important aspect with this inspection is that you do not rebuild with the same fault lines in your foundation. So even though the structures you imagine and are creating look different, make sure you are not building on the same defective footing. This can look as simple as you have become vegetarian but not getting enough protein or you are creating a slower lifestyle but then fill in your schedule.
Aquarius

Ace of Wands – Inspiration continues this week, but this energy has potential for new beginnings to sprout. This is a great week to start any project or go exploring. Your soul is craving passion and newness. Feed the fire.
Pisces

*Wheel – The energy this week is about taking chances to move forward. This year has had its ups and downs, but you must continue to spin the wheel to create fortitudinous change. For the kernels of synchronicity wait undeveloped until they are sought after. Now is the time to move ahead for each step this week leads you to a new era of luck and destiny.

Ace of Wands – This week inspires passionate new beginnings, electrical ideas, and vibrant musings. This is a great week to explore your creativity and imagination. Experiment and playing with ideas is best.
Six of Pentacles – The key this week is about the energy exchange in giving and receiving. And the two are not so different except in your perception and feelings in either position. The challenge is trying to find more joy in receiving and gratitude with giving.
*Lovers – This energy is one of your life lessons. The Lovers card embodies the aspect of duality and choice. Now is the time to commit to a choice or two. The key to choosing is to let go of old panics and unhealthy decision of the past. They are lesson learned and you will not make those mistakes again. But to make these choices you must open your heart and trust in yourself that if needed you will see the red flags and pay heed to their warnings. This is a time to trust your gut and make some choices.
King of Cups – Last week was about letting go of the old and sloughing off the things that no longer work for you. This releasing is generating the fodder for new beginnings, and this week you have more time to process this primordial ooze lapping at your shores. Accepting all your emotions are key to this process of evolution. As Rumi suggests in
Queen of Cups and Seven of Cups – So this week can go into the land of disillusionment or into self-acceptance and choice. You have one energy inviting you to self-discovery, compassion, and passion. Where your empathy gains strength without taking on other people’s baggage, and your actions align with your heart’s choice. The other vibe has the mind tricking the heart that there are more choices to think about. Now is the time to make a compassionate heart choice and see it through to action.
King of Wands – Visionary thinking will be needed to navigate this week’s energy. Though it has positive tones this energy can burn your edges or possible crisp you to your core. BUT you are supposed to emulate the phoenix and rise again inspired and enlightened. The key to this is you cannot do this alone. You need your people to guard your back and bring you sustenance during your rebirth. Your task is only to fall madly in love with your new goals and aspirations.
Six of Swords – The energy this week lends a helping hand with difficult transitions. The challenge is seeing and following the breadcrumbs of serendipity through the mist of uncertainty. You will find help from unexpected sources. Eyes, ears and mind open.
Two of Wands – This is a great week to make plans for the distant future. Where do you want to be a year from now? What new experiences do you want to manifest? By casting your line farther out in the future you will catch bigger and better fish.
Knight of Coins – The energy this week is slow and steady wins the race. This is a great week to create action and movement on any project you pick. Relax into the tasks you have there is no rush. The only challenge is being consistent and doing a bit every day. While balancing it with equal time and energy just kicking back and living life.
Seven of Wands – You deserve this success. This week do not let anyone dim your accomplishments. Defend this spark and push away any darkness inflicted by others or your doubting self. Fill your heart with joy of accomplishment.
Page of Wands – This week is full of inspirations, solutions, and potentials. The challenge is rooting them into your core truths then taking action to bring them into reality. The key is not getting over-whelmed so pick one or two to start with.
Five of Coins – Last week your task was to ground and deepen your connection to how strong you really are. Hopefully, you took the time to do that because this week’s energy wants you to tackle your relationship with money. That can look like putting money into savings, asking for help, seeing that you have been through worse or raising your prices. You can take positive actions this week to accept your worthiness and heal the rift between your wealth, self-worth and feeling financially secure.












This week’s artist is
Four 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.


















Ten of Cups – Last week’s energy asked you is your life-path aligning with your integrity and your goals for the year 2021. That challenge is still on, but this week’s vibe wants you to add an extra ingredient: bliss. Somehow you have disconnected or become dysfunctional with pleasure. Pleasure is defined as a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. Your challenge is to adjust your plans, so they integrally aligned with you. The test is you find yourself enjoying the process, satiated by the outcome, and finding your bliss in the mix.





























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