Corrine Kenner's Blog, page 10

Fun with predictions: Who will win this Year’s American Idol?

I’m easing into the challenge of predicting this year’s American Idol winner by pulling a single rune.

Runes are small pieces of wood, clay, or stone, marked with the letters of an ancient Scandinavian alphabet. Each letter has both a literal and a symbolic meaning.

I pulled the”Berkana” rune — a symbol of fertility, creativity, and flowing water. The word “Berkana” takes its name from the birch tree, which can bend without breaking.

Berkana almost always describes women — so I’ll go out on a birch limb, and predict that this year’s American Idol will be a young woman.

Because “Berkana” symbolizes fertility, I would also guess that this year’s winner will be a mother. She’s probably given birth to at least one child — but possibly more than one, because she’s just so fertile.

As I write this, I wonder: could this year be the year that a pregnant contestant competes for the win?

Alternately, the rune could suggest creative fertility. This year’s winner will probably a singer/songwriter who gets high marks for composing her own music.

I tend to pick up on a lot of puns — both verbal and visual — when I do readings. When I pulled the rune, I was struck by the fact that the “B” symbol on my runestone looked like a pair of breasts. That reinforced my first impression that the winner will be a girl — because she’ll have a nice rack.

I wondered where the winner would come from, and as I did, I absent-mindedly turned the runestone on its side. From that angle, the “B” looked like a mountain range. To me, it looks as though the winner will come from a hilly or mountainous area. The winner might also have auditioned in Colorado.

Historically, the Berkana rune symbolized an array of goddesses, including the Norse goddesses Freya, Frigg, Hel, Nerthus, Holda and Berchta. You don’t find many American girls with those names, but I’m willing to bet that this year’s winner will be named after a goddess or a female saint. Keep your eyes open for a Mary, Maria, Bridget, Catherine, or some other name with a strong religious or spiritual overtone.

Oddly enough, I also see this year’s winner hurting her leg or twisting her ankle at some point during the competition — not enough to be serious, but just enough to cause a bit of a stir. (Maybe that’s another direct reference to the birch: she’ll have limbs that can bend without breaking!)

And one last thing to note: this year’s winner will also have experienced a tragic fire or a burn in her past.

But here’s something to remember: I did this prediction just for fun, and just as a mental exercise, without knowing anything about this year’s lineup. I reserve the right to change my mind if I fall in love with any of the contestants along the way.

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Note: This was originally posted on the Idol Psychics website at http://idolpsychics.com/2012/01/27/my-prediction-this-years-winner/.

Fun with predictions: Who will win this Year's American Idol?

I'm easing into the challenge of predicting this year's American Idol winner by pulling a single rune.

Runes are small pieces of wood, clay, or stone, marked with the letters of an ancient Scandinavian alphabet. Each letter has both a literal and a symbolic meaning.

I pulled the"Berkana" rune — a symbol of fertility, creativity, and flowing water. The word "Berkana" takes its name from the birch tree, which can bend without breaking.

Berkana almost always describes women — so I'll go out on a birch limb, and predict that this year's American Idol will be a young woman.

Because "Berkana" symbolizes fertility, I would also guess that this year's winner will be a mother. She's probably given birth to at least one child — but possibly more than one, because she's just so fertile.

As I write this, I wonder: could this year be the year that a pregnant contestant competes for the win?

Alternately, the rune could suggest creative fertility. This year's winner will probably a singer/songwriter who gets high marks for composing her own music.

I tend to pick up on a lot of puns — both verbal and visual — when I do readings. When I pulled the rune, I was struck by the fact that the "B" symbol on my runestone looked like a pair of breasts. That reinforced my first impression that the winner will be a girl — because she'll have a nice rack.

I wondered where the winner would come from, and as I did, I absent-mindedly turned the runestone on its side. From that angle, the "B" looked like a mountain range. To me, it looks as though the winner will come from a hilly or mountainous area. The winner might also have auditioned in Colorado.

Historically, the Berkana rune symbolized an array of goddesses, including the Norse goddesses Freya, Frigg, Hel, Nerthus, Holda and Berchta. You don't find many American girls with those names, but I'm willing to bet that this year's winner will be named after a goddess or a female saint. Keep your eyes open for a Mary, Maria, Bridget, Catherine, or some other name with a strong religious or spiritual overtone.

Oddly enough, I also see this year's winner hurting her leg or twisting her ankle at some point during the competition — not enough to be serious, but just enough to cause a bit of a stir. (Maybe that's another direct reference to the birch: she'll have limbs that can bend without breaking!)

And one last thing to note: this year's winner will also have experienced a tragic fire or a burn in her past.

But here's something to remember: I did this prediction just for fun, and just as a mental exercise, without knowing anything about this year's lineup. I reserve the right to change my mind if I fall in love with any of the contestants along the way.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Note: This was originally posted on the Idol Psychics website at http://idolpsychics.com/2012/01/27/my-prediction-this-years-winner/.

Ryan Seacrest: The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business

An Astrological Profile
Sun in Capricorn

Ryan Seacrest is the consummate Capricorn — ambitious, career-minded, and determined. He's got three planets in the earthy sign — the Sun, Mercury, and Venus — and like Capricorn's signature animal, the mountain goat, he won't let anything stop him from reaching his goals. His rising sign is Capricorn, too, which means the face he shows the world is true to his Capricorn Sun.

Seacrest has been the host of American Idol since the show premiered in 2002. For most of the show's first nine years, he routinely exchanged barbs with judge Simon Cowell — but secretly, Cowell admired Seacrest's drive.

"I'm going to hate reading this," Cowell once said, "but Ryan has a tremendous work ethic. He wants all the glory, but he's prepared to work for it, and I've never heard him complain."

Seacrest started climbing toward success almost as soon as he could talk.

"Instead of playing with G.I. Joes or Cowboys and Indians," his mother told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "he  would always have a little microphone and do shows in the house."

At one point, people started calling the family's home just to listen to Ryan's voice on the answering machine — proving the fact that Capricorn children often seem older than their years. "They thought I had a professional doing it," his mother said. "That's when I thought, This might be bigger than I think it is."

Seacrest was only 16 when he won an internship at WSTR, one of Atlanta's top radio stations. Before long, he was hosting the 7-to-midnight slot. He worked there during his high school years, and then majored in journalism at the University of Georgia. During his freshman year, ESPN hired him to host a game show called Radical Outdoor Challenge.

In 1994, he left college and moved to Los Angeles, where he joined KYSR-FM as the $15-an-hour host of the station's afternoon drive-time show, Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home. The show went into national syndication. In short order, Seacrest also started hosting a long line of television shows, including Click, Gladiators 2000 and Wild Animal Games.

Merv Griffin, who produced Click, told The New York Times that Seacrest's energy "just baffled me. I couldn't keep up with him. … He had this spiky haircut, and we knew all the little girls in the audience would love him, and they did."

Seacrest hosted a short-lived Idol spinoff, American Juniors, in 2003, followed by another brief series, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, in 2004. That year, he also took over as host of Casey Kasem's weekly radio show American Top 40, and he replaced 22-year host Rick Dees on the daily morning-drive show for KIIS-FM.

In 2005, he became the  executive producer and co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve . When Dick Clark suffered a stroke, Ryan hosted most of the show.

"I have never seen anyone work so hard at so many different things," Clark told Time in 2005. "You've got to have brains to make it look easy."

Seacrest won a Daytime Emmy for co-hosting the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. That year, he also started as a substitute host for Larry King Live.

By 2006, Seacrest had signed a three-year, $21 million deal to host and produce programs for E! news, including E! News and its red-carpet award shows. His production credits now include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Denise Richards: It's Complicated, and Momma's Boys, He's reportedly working with E! to develop and produce a dance show featuring Lady Gaga's choreographer.

The rest of Seacrest's birth chart is just as interesting as his Sun sign. Here are some highlights.

Moon in Taurus

The Moon was in Taurus when Seacrest was born. The Moon rules emotions, and its placement is a perfect complement to Seacrest's professional ambitions. A Taurus Moon symbolizes common sense, good judgment, and an aversion to risk.

In fact, Seacrest confessed that joblessness is one of his greatest fears. "I'm frightened by the thought of being out of work," he told The New York Times. "Growing up, there were people on shows like Diff'rent Strokes, Facts of Life and Love Boat that you thought would be huge stars for the rest of their lives, and they've just vanished. You never want to be that person."

A Taurus Moon can also be indicative of someone who wants to provide for the less fortunate — and Seacrest has established his own charitable foundation. In 2007, he also signed a partnership deal with Crest and Scope, who agreed to match his personal donations to Operation Smile.

Mercury in Capricorn

Mercury is the planet of communication — and in Seacrest's case, the messenger planet is a definite asset. In Capricorn, Mercury is careful and considered. Seacrest knows what to say — and when to say it — to make the best impression. Interestingly enough, Seacrest isn't one for "idle" chatter.

Venus in Capricorn

Venus, the planet of love and attraction, suggests that Seacrest truly loves his work. Venus also tends to inspire an affinity for classical values and conservative ideals —  and Seacrest, who always wears a finely tailored suit when he hosts American Idol, is one of the best-dressed men on television.

Mars in Sagittarius

Mars is the planet of action and assertion — and here, in outgoing, adventurous Sagittarius, we see that Seacrest has been blessed with a sense of daring and adventure. His Sagittarius Mars also describes his public persona: he's honest, open, and optimistic, but he's armed with a quick wit.

Jupiter in Pisces

Jupiter — the planet that rules Sagittarius — was passing through sensitive, watery Pisces when Seacrest was born. That placement enhances his sense of empathy and intuition. He's remarkably compassionate — especially when it's time to eliminate an Idol contestant.

Planets in Aspect

Seacrest's chart also features a number of interesting aspects, or planetary connections. His Sun and Mercury, for example, are almost in the same degree of Capricorn, a conjunction that symbolizes clear thinking and communication.

His Sun and Moon are about 120 degrees apart — a link that suggests a certain amount of good luck working in his favor, as well as a good deal of support and encouragement from his parents during his formative years.
The Moon and Mercury are also trine, which means he's readily equipped to describe what he — along with the rest of the country — is feeling during every broadcast. He's able to see problems objectively, and make quick decisions on the job.
Mars is conjunct Neptune, an aspect that adds idealism, magnetism, and some impulsivity to Seacrest's personality. Mars is also conjunct the North Node, which suggests that his drive, success, and public visibility are his destiny.
Venus is 60 degrees from Jupiter — an aspect called a sextile. Both planets are known as "benefics," because they act like benefactors, bestowing gifts wherever they go. Both planets give Seacrest a generous measure of confidence and charm, and add to Seacrest's popular appeal.
Saturn is the planet of limitations and restrictions, but in Seacrest's case, it's linked to Jupiter through another 120-degree trine. That's an aspect that benefits him in the long run, because it demonstrates that he can learn from his mistakes. A strong Saturn in a birth chart can also suggest friendships and productive relationships with older people, powerful people — like Casey Kasem, Dick Clark, Merv Griffin, and Larry King, the men who mentored Seacrest and welcomed him into their fold.

Sources

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Seacrest

www.people.com/people/ryan_seacrest/biography

www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ryan-seacrest/bio/195321

www.americanidol.com/bio/ryan_seacrest/

www.eonline.com/celebs/Ryan_Seacrest/115953

A Snapshot of Tarot History

Here's a snapshot of tarot times gone by – a style and beauty cover from a 1940 copy of McCall's magazine, by photographer Nickolas Muray.

As a photographer, he was acclaimed for his portraits of celebrities, as well as the images he created for high-end advertisements and magazine spreads. Muray was also an Olympic fencer, bringing home a bronze medal in 1932. He was romantically involved with Mexican artist Frida Kahlo for many years.

The cards on the table are from a Marseille Tarot, which is still readily available. The plaid design on the back of each card is called a tarotee design. The Wands, or Batons, look almost like the Swords — except for the fact that the Swords have curved blades.

In the Tarot de Marseille, as is standard among Italian suited playing cards, the pip cards in the suit of swords are drawn as abstract symbols in curved lines, forming a shape reminiscent of a mandorla. On the even numbered cards, the abstract curved lines are all that is present. On the odd numbered cards, a single fully rendered sword is rendered inside the abstract designs. The suit of wands is drawn as straight objects that cross to form a lattice in the higher numbers; on odd numbered wands cards, a single vertical wand runs through the middle of the lattice. On the tens of both swords and batons, two fully rendered objects appear imposed on the abstract designs. The straight lined wands and the curved swords continue the tradition of Mamluk playing cards, in which the swords represented scimitars and the wands polo mallets.

Image source: The George Eastman House Collection on Flickr.

Tarot and Astrology: Major Arcana Correspondences

Have you ever wondered what tarot card corresponds to your Sun Sign? Here's a printable PDF chart that lists the cards by signs and planets.

Pamela Colman Smith and William Butler Yeats

You might have known that Pamela Colman Smith and William Butler Yeats were friends. Pamela, of course, was the artist behind the Rider Waite tarot — the world's most popular deck, released more than a century ago. Yeats was a poet and a playwright who influenced many of Smith's drawings.

While Yeats was — and is — world famous, Smith's star didn't shine as brightly. Even so, she managed to cast some of her rays as far as Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I live now.

In fact, one of Smith's drawings of William Butler Yeats ran in the February 6, 1904 edition of The Minneapolis Journal.

Click here to view a PDF copy of the newspaper page.

For more on Pamela Colman Smith's art and work, check out the biography I wrote for her book, Susan and the Mermaid. And if you've never seen the National Library of Ireland online exhibition of Yeats' life and times, click here.

Click here to order Susan and the Mermaid.

Have You Seen this Card? UPDATED with the Answer

Do you recognize this image?

It might look rare, antique, and obscure, but it's a detail of an actual tarot card, from a commonly available deck that you can still buy for a reasonable price. In fact, it's from a deck you should probably have in your collection, if you're a die-hard enthusiast or a serious student of the cards.

Which card is it? Can you name the deck? Take a guess, and leave your answer in the comments. Tomorrow I'll reveal the source.

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Did you see the responses in the comments section? Richard Todd and Guido were correct! The card is the first trump in the French Ducale Tarot deck. According to Thomas L. McDonald's State of Play blog, the card depicts an Italian Pagliacci and a French jester holding his ninny stick.

http://www.stateofplayblog.com/2011/02/closer-look-french-tarot-trumps-1-2.html

You can find all of McDonald's posts on the French Tarot deck here: http://www.stateofplayblog.com/search/label/Tarot.

Have You Seen this Card?

Do you recognize this image?

It might look rare, antique, and obscure, but it's a detail of an actual tarot card, from a commonly available deck that you can still buy for a reasonable price. In fact, it's from a deck you should probably have in your collection, if you're a die-hard enthusiast or a serious student of the cards.

Which card is it? Can you name the deck? Take a guess, and leave your answer in the comments. Tomorrow I'll reveal the source.

The Deck of a Lifetime

Last night, I dreamed about running into an old friend — a woman I knew 25 years ago. In the dream, she told me she was dying, but she needed my help to finish and release a tarot deck.

Her deck was, for the most part, complete. She had chosen images to represent the 78 things she loved most in her life — people, places, and things. It was my job to interview her about each image, to expand on their significance, and then, in an odd twist, to bury the "leftovers" — the objects that wouldn't make the final cut. At the end of the dream, I was carrying a shovel in one hand and a spade in the other, so I could get ready.

I woke up thinking about the idea. If you had to narrow your all-time favorite things to a list of 78, which would you choose? And how would you fit them into the larger structure of a tarot deck?

The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
The Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged Man
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Judgement
The World


Wands
Cups
Swords
Pentacles

Image source.

The Brujo Mayor's Predictions

This just in from the BBC:

Mexico's grand warlock predicts Obama will lose
Mexico's self-appointed grand warlock has predicted that US President Barack Obama will lose the 2012 election.

Antonio Vazquez, who calls himself the "Brujo Mayor", or grand warlock, leads a Mexican tradition of "brujeria " (sorcery), centered in the south-eastern city of Catemac.

He has been making new year predictions for 25 years, with mixed results.

He also forecast that two more Latin American leaders would be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Paraguay's Fernando Lugo have all been diagnosed with cancer in recent years.

Tarot cards

The grand warlock predicted that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who claims to have beaten an unspecified cancer, would have what he termed a "terrible relapse".

Speaking at a news conference in Mexico City, Mr Vazquez – who gets his insights from tarot card readings and astrology – put the cancer cases down to "witchcraft" against Latin American leaders.

Of Mr Obama, he said: "I feel Obama will lose. They will attack him a lot. The Republicans have all the money in the United States and so they are putting a lot of pressure on him to make mistakes".

He also said that Syria would be invaded, although he did not specify by whom.

"I see more problems with Syria than Iraq and Korea. Syria is against the Islamic world and against Europe and the United States. There could be an invasion there or more deaths and deaths and deaths."

Though he claims an accuracy rate of up to 80%, Mr Vazquez has a mixed success rate.

Last year, he foresaw that the euro would weaken and recession would return to developed economies but he also predicted, incorrectly, that a Latin American leader would be assassinated.

In 2008, he erroneously foretold the death of US singer Britney Spears.

Image source.