Within the northern hemisphere, the summer time solstice — June 20 — feels prefer it’s already right here, with record-breaking warmth world wide. The previous yr alone has seen 75% of the world battling excessive warmth. And within the southern hemisphere, information has emerged that Antarctica has skilled record-breaking chilly final (southern) winter, with maybe extra to come back with the brand new solstice.
As a desert lover, I really feel that excessive warmth has a manner of purifying, of forcing us to simplify and take into account what we really want in life. And because the warmth rolls in, I discover myself desirous to let go of something pointless in my inventive work so I can give attention to the necessities.
For this inaugural tarotscope of Hyperallergic — or Hyperscope, if you’ll — the theme is downright celestial, beginning with a have a look at the celebrities. However what’s a tarotscope, you may ask? It’s a mix of tarot and astrology, a studying for the collective viewers mixed with playing cards for the most important astrological indicators, grouped by their elemental associations.
As producer for 5 and 9, a podcast about magic, work, and financial justice, I’ve been publishing tarotscopes in partnership with Ignota Books. I owe each collectives nice thanks for serving to me domesticate this work. And I’m excited to convey this vitality to Hyperallergic’s readership, with a particular give attention to the humanities and artistic apply, for every solstice and equinox, to mark the turning of the seasons.
This tarotscope is learn utilizing the Blended Alerts Tarot, designed by artist M Eilo. These readings had been drawn on a scorching scorching California afternoon, on this sixth month of the Energy 12 months (within the tarot system) and fifth month of the Dragon 12 months (within the East Asian lunar system).
And it began with an inquiry: What do artists must know as we enter this pink scorching 2024 solstice?
Tarot Studying
Gate: The Star
Lock: Temperance
These two playing cards mark the collective context. Each of those playing cards are Main Arcana, or archetypal forces shaping our realities.
The Gate on this unfold means an invite, and the invitation is to gaze upward, actually — the magic of a summer time evening sky is incomparable — but additionally figuratively. The Star emerges out of a time of turmoil, and encourages us to embrace the unknown, the mysterious, the stuff that artwork helps us navigate so skillfully.
The Lock on this unfold is a blocker, one thing to work by. The Temperance card asks us to work by the feelings of 2024, a yr extra tumultuous than 2023, which was extra tumultuous than 2022, and so forth. Temperance is a take a look at not merely of emotional composure however of deep perspective. How can we within the arts maintain the world’s ache and uncertainty and categorical it in a manner that helps our audiences perceive the larger image, the longer trajectory?
The Gate and the Lock are only a starting. The Key completes this three-card unfold. For perception on how you can use your Key, or how you can transfer ahead by your blocker, comply with your elemental signal under. For every factor, a further card is drawn to elaborate on the answer. Learn for the weather calling to you now, whether or not related along with your Solar, rising, or Moon signal, or just one which speaks to you presently in your life.
Fireplace (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
Key: Two of Stones (Two of Pentacles)
The Two of Stones is an invite to juggle your fiery energies with vitality that befits a deep understanding of the cyclical nature of time. On this illustration of the Two of Stones (often known as the Two of Pentacles), the solar each rises and units over a panorama. And that, maybe, is vital to understanding the place your hearth signal can drive you — for as one solar units, one other is quickly to rise. Assist put together the world for what’s coming, at the same time as we watch a lot crumbling throughout us.
Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
Key: Six of Swords
Your abilities as an earth signal are in creating order, logic, and which means, and these are wanted greater than ever proper now. Within the tarot, the go well with of swords playing cards typically symbolize the logical thoughts, however they will additionally symbolize traumas, hurts, pains. Whereas this isn’t a go well with for the lighthearted, your grounding vitality might help us work by the collective trauma internationally. Lay out your inventive implements — on this deck, they’re represented as coloured pencils — and use them to information us alongside the way in which.
Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
Key: The Empress
The Empress on this deck swirls by the evening sky, arms mixing and mingling with the air, the celebrities, possibly even the Milky Means. With a Gate represented by the Star, your Secret’s asking you to wield your highly effective psychological vitality towards grappling with the uncertainties this solstice brings. The Empress represents a playful confidence, an influence comfy within the pure components and prepared to work flexibly. Take into account how inflexible buildings may be holding you again from absolutely expressing your artwork — and as an alternative embrace somewhat chaos.
Water (Most cancers, Scorpio, Pisces)
Key: Two of Cups
I at all times consider the Two of Cups because the Minor Arcana model of The Lovers card — a mild, tender type of like to match your individual tender coronary heart. The Two of Cups right here serves as a name to think about the way you categorical your love proper now, and the way that may match into your artwork. Extra importantly, we’re invited to toast these round you, to welcome in an individual or individuals who you will have been blocking out. The Two of Cups is illustrated as a union of cups, and from that, maybe, a perspective all of us want in a world that seeks to isolate and fragment us.