Tarot and Art-Cast for week of March 24, 2024

Marie Bracquemond
Marie Bracquemond

Happy Spring.  Even though there is snow on the ground, the beginning shoots of bulbs are popping out.  There is more sunlight and colors are beginning to return to the landscape.  This season always makes me think about the Impressionists and their pursuit of an art of form that conveyed spontaneity, sunlight, and color.  The use of short, thick strokes of paint to capture the essence of the subject, rather than its details. “In paintings made en plein air (outdoors), shadows are boldly painted with the blue of the sky as it is reflected onto surfaces, giving a sense of freshness previously not represented in painting. (Blue shadows on snow inspired the technique.)”

The artist this week is Marie Bracquemond.  Bracquemond was a French impressionist and one of only four women that were recognized during the Impressionist movement.  She once said, “Impressionism has produced … not only a new, but a very useful way of looking at things. It is as though all at once a window opens and the sun and air enter your house in torrents.”

 

Your pondering for this week:  What could you do to bring a freshness into your life?  Open your literal and metaphorical windows and let in the sun and the air.

 

Solar System highlights

The moon begins in Libra – harmony and balance are key. On Wednesday the moon moves into Scorpio – follow your passion.  Then on Saturday it moves into Sagittarius – find ways to explore during the weekend.    On Monday April 1st the moon moves into Capricorn – time to get to work, though it is April’s Fools so find some time to be silly.  On Wednesday April 3rd it moves into Aquarius helping us think outside the box.  And we finish the two weeks with the moon in Pisces starting on Friday – wanting us to go with the flow.

There is a lunar eclipse on March 25th and a solar eclipse on April 4th that can be seen across the US.  For all you Aries and Libra with sun signs and natal nodes watch/listen for downloads of information around these days.

Mercury is in Aries for its 8 weeklong crash course in learning to say what we need in a non-reactive way and work on if our action matches our words.  It’s a mini course in Non-Violet Communication.

Mars moved into Pisces to join Saturn and Venus.   And they are done asking “how to” and are prompting us to act on being adaptable and bring more beauty and harmony into our sphere. This theme of adaptable action, beauty, and harmony lasts until the end of April.

NEWS

*** Signs with an * it is a big week for you.  Aries this is a perfect time to get an Astrological Tarot Reading for your coming year.  And Libra it is your halfway mark for your birth year, so if you need a Planetary Reading for a check in now is the time. And I have a tip jar if you want to leave a gratuity for the weekly forecasts.

****And I am experimenting again.   I had switched from using the older suits name (pentacles, cups, swords, and wands) to a more elemental way of reading them which is earth, water, air, and fire.  Now I would like to leave the binary and feudal system of the RWS’s court cards.  So, the RWS old version is Page, Knight, Queen, and King is changing to Heart (pure embodiment of element), Body (moving the element), Spirit (living the element) and Mind (taking care of the element).

 

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

Nina

 

Aries
Marie Bracquemond, Self Portrait

*Chariot – The Muse of Momentum has pulled up to your door ready to get things rolling for the coming two weeks.  This Muse will supply the gas, but you must supply the vehicle and set the course. It is imperative that you have goals from the start, and it is up to you to stay focused. This doesn’t mean you can’t alter course when necessary while you roll through the next two weeks.    But again, she reminds you she is only supplying energy.  So, if you don’t have a destination you will end up doing donuts in the parking lot.

 

Taurus
Marie Bracquemond, Landscape in Wintertime

Five of Earth – For the next two weeks your labor is around trying to work within chaos without driving head long into fear of not enough. The Muse of Poverty Mindset reminds you that there is enough for all of us if we share.  This includes sharing your sorrow, your workload, and your abundance.  She challenges you to think about what you have plenty of and share that.  Also, she reminds you that poverty mindset is not just about worrying solely about finances.  It is any place you feel you have not or are not enough. To combat scarcity, she advises you to focus on what you do have.  And with what you don’t, ask for help.

 

Gemini
Marie Bracquemond, Portrait of Mademoiselle Charlotte Du Val d Ognes

Ten of Air – The Muse of Culmination comes when you need to finish a project, a relationship, or your own personal drama.  This thing is something that has been nagging at you for some time, but you have not the energy to finish it.  She prompts you to just get it done, so it will stop draining your energy.  She also reminds you that it might even be possible for you just to cross it off your list because it might just be your ego holding on to it.

 

Cancer
Marie Bracquemond, Three Ladies with Parasols

*Star– The Muse of Hope has come to help you replenish your spirit.  Optimism is the key and the challenge in the coming weeks.  She advises expanding your vision to the greater arc of life and history.  Yes, the world has its atrocities, but the world is a better place now then it was 200 years ago.  Less people go hungry, there is less war, overall, there is better healthcare, etc…  And then take this longer more positive arc and turn it inward to your own life.  You are an amazing person who has done wonderful things and changed more lives for the better, for just existing.  She asks you to see your worth and keep on shining.

 

Leo
Marie Bracquemond
Marie Bracquemond, Lady in White

*Empress – The Muse of Nurturing would like you to spend these next two weeks cultivating this practice into your daily life.  She asks how do you nurture yourself?  What project would you like to develop in the future?  Who requires your nurturing?  And then this muse reminds you not to rush answering these questions or the nurturing itself.  The practice of nurturing is also a practice of patience and subtlety.

 

 

Virgo
Marie Bracquemond, Pots de Fleurs Vres

Two of Air – Decisions, decisions, decisions surround you these coming weeks. And this is no time to ruminate endlessly.  Luckily the Muse of Decisions is here to help.  So, if the old standby pros and cons list is not helping, this muse advises you to go with your gut.  She tells you to put yourself in each scenario and choose the one that feels right.

 

Libra
Marie Bracquemond, Melancholy

Five of Water – The Muse of Optimism would like you to work on improving your “cup half-full” mentality. The challenge is acknowledging that emotions can be tough but ultimately seeing their importance and lessons.  She asks, do you want grief to define your life or the positive teachings of that grief?  We grieve because we love, and we are disappointed because we hope. Let love and hope be the full cups you continue to bring on your journey.

 

Scorpio
Marie Bracquemond, The Backgammon Game

*Hierophant – The last two weeks the Muse of Perspective advises you to pull away from life and gain some distance.  Now that you have gained perspective of the situation, the Muse of Structures is here to help you build the support system and the system itself in a more refined and useful way.  This muse advises you to start simple and build to necessity not to opulence or overindulgence. And remember the planets are still pushing the concept of being more adaptable and flexible.  Your motto: More bamboo, less brick.

 

Sagittarius
Marie Bracquemond, Woman in the Garden

Five of Fire – To navigate the next two weeks the Muse of Chaos has decided to join you.  She advises you to be ultra-aware of what you say yes to.  First, she reminds you that you do not need to be part of every conversation or discussion.  This is a week to pick your battles.  Secondly, if you do decide to jump in, make sure you are willing to totally commit to what you have jumped into and keep your wits while you are in it. This period is not a time to be half-ass about anything. If unsure it would be better to wait on the sidelines until the whirlwind has calmed.

 

Capricorn
Marie Bracquemond, Under the Lamp

Spirit of Air – The Muse of Cleverness is daring you to be more perceptive.  To exercise your mind with tenacity.  Yes, these next two weeks you have the muses’ full approval to go down rabbit holes.  The reason for this mind hunt – they would like you to let your mind play with details and tangents.  To press the boundaries of your imagination while synthesizing and theorizing the interconnectedness and/or clashing against conundrums and paradoxes.  So, the challenge is this is play not purpose. Your thoughts are like a kite in the winds of intellect.

 

Aquarius
Marie Bracquemond, Afternoon Tea

Four of Air – Holy Moly you got the same card again.  So maybe you didn’t really relax the last two weeks. Or maybe you just need more rest.  So here you go…. The Muse of Restoration advises rest and restoration.  She suggests finding times in your schedule where you can tune out.  The challenge is this includes technology or mental output/input.  For the biggest part of your body that needs rest right now is your mind.   So, sleep is important but also staring out the window with no goals or puttering is too.

 

Pisces
Marie Bracquemond, Pierre Bracquemond as a Child

*Emperor – The Muse of Building would like your next two weeks to focus on building on something that already is in play in your life.  This energy is not only about formation but also durability.  She asks does this job, portfolio, or project have the components to last/work for the coming months or years?  Are you building for a brighter future or just building to keep busy?  Make sure it’s the former not the latter.