Happy Birthday Taurus! Taurus is generally represented as the most stable and the most stubborn of the astrological signs. However, I am friends with them because they enjoy being silly. A prime example of a silly Taurus is Edward Lear, born May 12, 1812. Edward, was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author, and poet. He is best remembered for his nonsense poem Owl and The Pussycat. He also popularized limericks, was the first major bird artist to draw from living birds instead of just their preserved skins, and he was a prolific landscape artist. Also, he was known to introduce himself as “Mr Abebika kratoponoko Prizzikalo Kattefello Ablegorabalus Ableborinto phashyph” or “Chakonoton the Cozovex Dossi Fossi Sini Tomentilla Coronilla Polentilla Battledore & Shuttlecock Derry down Derry Dumps” which he based on a game from Aldiborontiphoskyphorniostikos.

The nonsense world has no comprehensive system of logic, although it implies that there is a mysterious one just beyond our grasp. Even though the nonsense world has strange creatures and fantasy destinations, it does not follow the fantasy moral norms of good versus evil or happily ever after. And even though it makes us think the way riddles do, it has no answers, or like jokes it can make us laugh but there is no punch line. This genre is most easily recognizable by using various techniques like misuse of grammar or faulty cause and effect to balance meaning and lack of meaning. So, I have begun reading the news and tweets coming out of the White House as nonsense literature. It has improved my mood, though not my sense of reality.

P.S. Remember, signs with * it’s a big week for you.

Aries – Nine of Swords – More mind “fullness” this week with the Nine of Swords. This card is about worries. With all the thinking you have been doing during the past three weeks, it’s no wonder your brain is over-worked! Your challenge from the Nine of Swords is to get Zen with your thoughts. Your brain needs the rest. Find solutions for the things you can and let the rest go.

*Taurus – Six of Pentacles and The Lovers – Finally, the big card for your birthday month and the coming year – The Lovers, and with it the Six of Pentacles. The Lovers’ lessons are around collaboration and the give and take of relationships. And to reiterate that you got the Six of Pentacles, whose lesson is that what you give out, you receive back in threefold. The advice for this coming year is to really look at the relationships you want in your life and enhance the positive you are giving to them, because you will get it back threefold. The only challenge is that negative energy works that way too. So, be aware that negative in is three times negative out.

*Gemini – Hermit – Another big card this week, the Hermit. Last week, the challenge was to turn off your mind and calm your heart, so you can soothe your soul. This week is a bit more of the same with the Hermit. The interesting thing is this is your third big card in a row. All of them are asking you to take time out to work on your emotions, heal, and now to step back and gain perspective. This is all leading up to your birthday month. I am really going to emphasize the importance for you all find time to get in to a meditative state, so you can gain perspective on what you need to get what you want. This is all about honing in on your desires so you can create your intentions to meet your goals.

Cancer – Page of Wands – You need to get some enthusiasm back into your life. The Page of Wands’ challenge is to do things that will recharge your creative battery. Is it coloring, dancing, walking in nature, staring at clouds, reading something new, collage? Whatever it is make sure it is fun, creative, and does not have a set goal in mind. This is creative play to get your imagination a much needed jump start.

Leo – Three of Cups – The Three of Cups’ challenge is to do things that bring you pleasure. This can be friends, a good book, a small trip, or a bath. This week your goal is to bring some laughter and smiles to your face. It is your responsibility to know what to fill your cup with and how to raise it.

Virgo – Page of Cups – The Page of Cups’ lessons are around how to reconnect with your innocence. The challenge from this little imp is to get you to drop some of the guards around your heart. Your sarcasm and cynicism should be checked this week. This week, rose colored is the tint you want for your glasses.

Libra – Seven of Cups – This is your second seven so let’s take a closer look at sevens in general. Sevens represent where we expand and contract in our life. Last week, this happened around work. This week the focus shifts to desires and emotions. Your challenge is to spend some time daydreaming about what you would like to conjure into your life. I would even recommend writing it down and seeing what comes to you within the next seven months.

*Scorpio – High Priestess – The High Priestess’ lessons encompass all the areas of where and how we gain knowledge. The best way to utilize her energy is to pull back and gather information this week. She advises you to learn more about a situation by going behind the scenes or back to the books for your intel. Once you have more facts, you can use your intuition to make decisions. Your only challenge with this card is to be careful that you don’t denigrate people with the information. The High Priestess can be more like vinegar than honey when imparting what she knows.

Sagittarius – Ten of Pentacles – Last week, you were given the choice to take action or sit back and enjoy. No matter which path you chose it brought you to the Ten of Pentacles – prosperity. You now see that life is pretty good. This week, enjoy the fruits of your labor and your luck. This card doesn’t show up very often, so take advantage of this week’s good fortune.

Capricorn – Nine of Pentacles – The Nine of Pentacles lesson’s are around contentment with work. This card challenges you to see and tend to the areas of your work in which you do well. Look at what makes your work flow easier, and strengthen that practice. This is not a week to fix things that don’t work but a week to tend to things that do.

Aquarius – Five of Wands – This week is going to be a bit chaotic. This card encourages you to see this as a process that strengthens your resilience and mental agility. The more you dodge and weave through the chaos the better your instincts get with problem solving in general. Reminder: keep your eyes open and stay aware.

Pisces – Ace of Wands – Last week, the Fool challenged you to look at both yourself and society with a bit of compassion and a sense of humor. The Ace of Wands continues that theme this week. The only add–on with this card to that focus is to remind you that this life is a journey. Growth in yourself and in others takes time, so try to find comfort and enjoyment in the pace and process.

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

Nina