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[aliceglass]

Astrological Reports for

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[youremyheaven]

Krittika: A Brief Introduction

This nakshatra research has been commissioned by the loveliest @rscelestia-blog , who has been sooo patient with me. It was originally supposed to be published sometime in mid-May but 🤡I could only post it now 😮‍💨I am really excited for all of you to read this because Krittika is not a nakshatra I have ever discussed before and I loved studying its themes. Keep in mind, this is only Part 1 <33 

Anyways, that’s it for the intro,, let’s jump right in: 

Krittika is the 3rd nakshatra of the 27 naks, following Ashwini & Bharani and it is the first Solar nakshatra. If you’ve noticed, Solar nakshatras always come after a Venusian nakshatra and I think understanding the themes of the previous naks can help us in discerning the themes of the nak we’re analysing since the nakshatras represent a cosmic journey. Every Venusian nak is preceded by a Ketu nak,, so this journey looks like this:

Ketu—-> Venus—-> Sun

In Ketu, there is ‘lack’, ‘absence’ and ‘emptiness’ and in Venus, there is excess, so it is in the Sun ruled naks that the ‘excess’ of Venus is filtered or ‘purified’ away, so that only that which is ‘enough’ remains. The hedonistic, indulgent Venusian energies are ‘tamed’ in Sun naks which are not pleasure driven but concerned with what is practical and functional. If you’ve read my previous posts about Venus naks, you already know that Venusians can go a little too far in their pursuit of beauty, love and pleasure and as we witness in works like The Picture of Dorian Gray (written by Purvaphalguni Rising, Oscar Wilde) this obsession with and hunger for leisure, comfort and beauty can lead one to one’s damnation and utter moral degradation (Black Swan, a movie about a ballerina obsessed with being perfect- a common Venusian theme- stars Natalie Portman, Purvaphalguni Moon), so whilst Ketuvians struggle with detachment (as in they are too detached and unbothered about the material realm),, Venusians are often neck deep in the material realm, just like Rahuvians, its their nature and purpose to indulge. 

The Sun’s illuminating rays then come in to ‘purify’ and get rid of this kind of self serving epicureanism. Sun is rooted in the material world but its not by nature, blindly indulgent, its rooted in the material world because it understands how to manoeuvre through it to survive and achieve their goals. Venusians are indulgent in pleasure for the sake of pleasure, this can often make them pursue immoral and taboo things; they don’t care about ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ so long as it feels good to them but Sun is different in the sense that Solar people are goal driven and want to achieve things because they want to possess ‘status’ or be at the top of the ladder, they don’t really care about ‘enjoying’ the process. They don’t pursue goals because it’s enjoyable to do so?? They pursue them for its meaningfulness. This does not mean Solars are ruthless corporate lawyers milking the miseries of many to make their millions. They might as well be human rights lawyers (just using law as a common example) but its not exactly a fun, glamorous job, yk?? The daily grind of it is tiring, exhausting and probably emotionally loaded as well but they care about the prestige, status and image they have as human rights lawyers and usually they are the type of people who want to have an impact on the world one way or another. Leaving a mark and making a difference really matters to them. This is why Solar individuals are known for being exceptionally ambitious and go-getters. 

Sheryl Sandberg, former CEO of Facebook and author of the vv popular book Lean In (Mercury & Ketu in Uttaraphalguni) said in her book: 

“I hope you find true meaning, contentment, and passion in your life. I hope you navigate the difficult times and come out with greater strength and resolve. I hope you find whatever balance you seek with your eyes wide open. And I hope that you - yes, you - have the ambition to lean into your career and run the world. Because the world needs you to change it.”

This is a good example of the kind of girlbossiness we associate with Solar women. They excel academically and thrive professionally. They are good at doing hard things and getting results. They’re turbo charged with ambition and extremely self-sufficient. Their independence can be unnerving for others. They do not need you, or need anything from you, which means the only reason why they keep you around is because they genuinely enjoy your company and not for any other purpose. Their fatal error also lies in this same fact; they think others are also like this when they’re more often than not, not like this at all. Most people rely on others for something or the other and there is something to be ‘gained’ from every connection or association even if we’re not consciously using others. I dont mean to make all relationships sound clinical and transactional but we all need each other one way or another, ykwim?? That’s just human nature. Solar individuals are just less needy than the average person. This means that they keep around ill intentioned people simply because they struggle with understanding their nature, the Sun’s light can blind its own natives, so they dont see others for who they actually are * sigh *

I thought a little context would help before we delve further into Krittika

Ashwini, the first nakshatra, is a Ketu ruled one but Ashwini is unlike the other Ketu naks imo (I’ll discuss more about this some other time). Ashwini is related to prana or life force and represents the initiatory stage. Ashwini can be said to represent ‘consciousness’ in some ways. Creation has not yet taken place in Ashwini though but all that prana/life force has been stored up and is seeking release, which is met in the next nakshatra of Bharani which represents creation. Krittika follows both of these and is concerned with survival. 

Let’s look at the mythology of Krittika:

The demon Taraka was blessed by Brahma, the creator. Brahma’s blessing said that only a seven day old son of Shiva could kill him. Meanwhile, Shiva was in his ascetic form, meditating in the Himalayas with no intention of having a son. Since Shiva had no intention of procreating, gods plotted to get his semen by sending Kamadeva, the god of love and desire. When the gods finally got his semen, Agni (god of Fire) carried it to the earth. His seed was then incubated by six Krittikas (divorced wives of sages) and they gave birth to six sons.

These six babies were then embraced by Parvathi, Shiva’s wife. Her embrace resulted in these six babies becoming one, with six heads and twelve arms. He then came to be known as Kartikeya. Kartikeya, the warrior god, destroyed the demon Taraka when he was just seven days old.

Krit means ‘to cut or divide’, and tika means ‘to challenge’. So the word Krittika means ‘to challenge, cut, divide, split apart, etc’. Because of this, Krittika is symbolised by sharp objects like knives, blades, or razors. For this reason, Krittika is also associated with being critical.

‘Separation’ is a big theme with this nakshatra, be it with how the 6 Krittikas were divorced or to how the word Krittika itself means to “to cut”. Lord Kartikeya’s purpose was to destroy the demon Taraka as well. So, overall, separation, divorce/challenging another person and destruction are all themes of this nak. This, however, also represents the triumph of good over evil. 

Fire is a big recurring motif with this nak. Fire represents illumination through destruction. If we think about it, fire helps to transform something from one form to a more ‘useful’ form. Without cooking fire, we just have vegetables, meat and other ingredients. Fire is necessary for these ingredients to transform into a state where they’re more easily consumable. Same way with welding work or even with just a bonfire. A couple of sticks wont give you warmth but setting them on fire will. So, Krittika’s themes are often of sacrifice in some ways, things have to be cut down, divided, challenged, destroyed etc in order for it to be ‘useful’. This also applies to how these natives process information, in my personal observations, Krittikas are brilliant academically and the same fiery tendency to ‘break things down’ and ‘digest information’ comes naturally to them. 

Moon is exalted in Krittika which is weird because Krittika is a Sun ruled nakshatra which falls between Mars ruled Aries and Venus ruled Taurus rashi. The taurus rashi spanning nakshatras Krittika, Rohini and Mrigashira (10 degrees) is a very interesting one. Rohini is the only nak that lies completely in Taurus rashi. These 3 naks, ruled by Sun, Moon and Mars are all different expressions of Taurus’ Venusian qualities. The harshness is most visible in Krittika, the indulgence in Rohini and in Mrigashira, Venus is expected to transcend her own nature and shun it entirely. 

Krittika is ruled by the Sun. Sun signifies strength, leadership, authority, vitality, and ambition. Sun's energies can be very punishing albeit being vital. It keeps you warm but if you get too close, it can also scorch you.

The Greek myth of Icarus who flew too close to the Sun comes to mind.

Icarus is a good symbolic tale for Solar individuals. Icarus was warned to not fly too close to the Sun and he did not listen and this led to his demise. excessive ambition, egotism, pride, overconfidence, excessive self-reliance, independence, self-sabotage etc are all the fatal flaws of this nakshatra and Solar individuals broadly. They, like Icarus, naively bite off more than they can chew.

Krittika is a rakshasa gana nak and the only Solar nak that belongs to this gana but its also a Brahmin caste nak sitting at the very top of the hierarchy. Krittika natives are generally accepted by society and enjoy a good social status even if they're not the most morally upright people.

I have noticed that Krittika men tend to be more clique-y whereas Krittika and Solar women in general tend to be more lone wolves.

I think this show, starring IU, Krittika Sun conjunct Mercury is a really good example of this nak's themes coming through

There is no romance in it, which itself feels very Solar imo, its about a young woman who has to work extremely hard to provide for her deaf, differently abled grandmother who is her only family. She often does things that aren't very "principled" because she's broke and desperate but at the same time she has values and morals that she sticks to. Krittika's motive is Kama, so it's not a very morally inclined nakshatra but being Solar kind of necessitates a certain intrinsic system of values that these natives cannot stoop below?

Suffering is a big theme of this drama and something that I have noticed manyyyy Krittika natives talk about is how to find peace in life despite everything. Talking about mental health, the meaning of life, going against the status quo etc comes up repetitively in conversations with Krittika individuals.

IU, herself has lived a very difficult life, she grew up in poverty and started working in her early teens to support her family. She has struggled with her mental health & eating disorders and is known for being a very frank, zero bullshit, no-nonsense person.

Han Sohee- Krittika Moon, like IU, also grew up poor and was raised by her grandmom (both IU and Han Sohee also have Jupiter ruled naks in their big 3) and she is also known for being quite frank and honest. She has been through a lot in life yet maintains an optimistic outlook.

During a live, a fan said that they want to be as thin as Sohee, to which she replied:

"It's not what should you do to be thin like me. You should not be thin like me. You need to be healthy. The work that I do requires that I show people both my inside and outside, and there are certain requirements to the outside part, which is why I diet. If it weren't for my job, I would maintain the weight of a normal person too." 

Elizabeth Wurtzel, Krittika Moon

Liz was another Krittika native known for her honesty. She wrote the iconic memoir Prozac Nation & Bitch, and spoke candidly about her struggles with her mental health in the 90s when it was still taboo to do so.

One reviewer had this to say:

“Ms. Wurtzel herself is hyperaware of the narcissistic nature of her problems, and her willingness to expose herself—narcissism and all—ultimately wins the reader over. By the end of Prozac Nation, one is less apt to remember Ms. Wurtzel’s self-important whining than her forthrightness, her humor, and her ability to write sparkling, luminescent prose.”

River Phoenix- Krittika Moon & Saturn

the film, My Own Private Idaho is very Krittika coded. River's character is looking for his mother (caring for or wishing to care for one's family is a major theme with these individuals if you haven't noticed) and he's also a street hustler (Krittika being unconcerned with conventional morality) but he has his own values he abides by. I dont want to spoil the movie for anybody but I feel like its a beautiful depiction of what life can feel like for a Solar native who has transcended their ambition?

Ambition is to Solar individuals, what principles are to Jupitereans or pleasure is to Venusians. Its a core part of who they are. Often times Solar individuals struggle when they've achieved something because they feel like they dont know what to do in the absence of that goal?? And suddenly their life feels empty or meaningless.

A completely random observation I made:

Sunny from Girl's Generation- Krittika Sun, Uttaraphalguni Moon

Solar from Mamamoo- Krittika Moon

Taeyang from Big Bang- Krittika Sun

All 3 of these individuals have Krittika big 3 and are Solar dominant AND their names are all Sun related?? (Taeyang means 'Sun' in Korean and manyyy of his songs/albums use this as a recurring theme)

They've all struggled a lot in life to get to where they are today, which brings me to another theme. Remember how I mentioned that in the mythology, Lord Kartikeya was born to destroy the demon? I have noticed manyyy Krittikas rising up from the ashes to destroy their enemies, Krittika is a rakshasa gana nak for a reason and their stubborn focus and perseverance can border on delusion and in fact, the women seeking revenge genre is pretty much dominated by Solar women.

Sun & Saturn's energies are also intertwined. 2/3 of these naks are Yoni consorts. Saturn's themes are of being restricted & limited but Sun natives experience the same themes by feeling trapped within material success/conventions, its not in their nature to "fit in" even if others perceive them as doing so, they don't feel like they belong with the status quo AT ALL. The transgressive behaviour Solar individuals put up are crazy. I had mentioned that Saturnian men can be really messy, disorderly and unkempt if imbalanced and I promise you, Solar men are just like that (if undeveloped). They're the most yang of the planets so for them it doesn't make sense to be concerned with anything relating to "putting on an appearance". The most masculine leaning of energies tend to be visually the most hideous and unpleasant because they dont have the ability to think in abstract and curate aesthetic. The "girlfriend effect" is sooo evident with Solar & Saturnian men.

Pam Grier, Krittika Moon

She starred in the movie Jackie Brown as Jackie Brown

The plot goes like this:

A flight attendant caught smuggling gun money has to choose between teaming up with the cops to bust her arms dealer boss or concealing the information and going to jail.

This is very Krittika coded in terms of its struggles with morality as well as a Solar woman- highly independent, girlboss, who is kicking ass. Having it all and losing it all is another Krittika theme in the sense that in some ways Krittikas and all Solars are also testing their limits to see how far they can go and due to their ambitious streak, this can result in burnout that sends them to no man's land.

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

I am soooo sorry about how all over the place this post is,, this is part 1 of several exploring Krittika nak, since I have a large volume of research to share, it will be spread across posts and I'll try my best to make the next coming posts more coherent and focused on a handful of theme but I wanted to make an intro and I felt like I needed a post that solely gave context to everything I'd say after 😭😭😭

@rscelestia-blog u are an actual saint for being sooo patient ,, thank you so much for commissioning research on this nakshatra and its manifestations!! I can't wait to talk about it more in my coming posts<33

[loloastrology]

AC/1st House Observations

And finally... today we're talking about the 1st House, or Ascendant! The 1st House is representative of our physical self, first impressions, our "vibe" that we give off to others, and the circumstances of our birth/early childhood. It is traditionally ruled by Aries and the planet Mars. I wanted to save 1st house observations for last because it's often the most personal, unless you have a stellium in a specific house(s).

1H Mars/Saturn/Pluto and our ability to scare others without even trying/wanting to. Probably had a lot of responsibility in their early years, and now they don't have time for other people's mess. Not like I'm speaking from experience...

1H Pluto/conjunct the ASC, and no one wants to play/hang out with you as a little kid because you scare them and their parents.

1H Jupiter can be in their own little world a lot. They can be a little ignorant of other people and their struggles.

1H Venus can be well-known for their beauty, which can be a double-edged sword. They can draw obsession out of others really easily, similar to 1H Pluto.

1H Sun are very shameless. They are very confident in who they are, despite whatever circumstances they may face.

Signs in the AC/1st House:

Aries 1H: Are seen as extroverted, brave, and selfish on first impression. They can be very self-involved, in good ways and bad ways. They like responsibility and authority over others, but it's only because they feel the need to fight for everything they have and their own reputation. With Mars as their ruling planet, they can go through many situations in life where they have to be "tough" or fight for something. I often see this placement in members of the military or the police force. They have a lot of adrenaline.

Taurus 1H: Are seen as respectful, comforting, and lazy on first impression. These people are often very resigned to their comfort zones and can get very pissed if someone violates their space or schedule. They tend to have wide-set eyes, round faces, and plump features. Even if they're naturally thin, they always look healthy. These are the types of people who wear almost the same thing every day; they have a "uniform." With Venus ruling their chart, they can be very focused on their own comfort.

Gemini 1H: Are seen as intelligent, unserious, and chatty on first impression. They often look a lot younger than they are. Words are these people's biggest weapon. They can speak without thinking sometimes, and they can be very accusatory people. They are also some of the most naturally intelligent people in the zodiac, not considering other placements. With Mercury as their ruling planet, they are often very intelligent and very good at perceiving others and their true intentions. They're really good at pattern recognition.

Cancer 1H: Are seen as sweet, caring, and emotional on first impression. They have very round faces and often big eyes. They are attached to their mothers, even in adulthood. Even the men with this placement tend to have more feminine features and physiques. With the Moon as their ruling planet, they tend to be very driven by their personal emotions. They are also very sensitive to the emotions of those around them and their environment in general. They're very good at understanding human emotion, and that is their biggest superpower in life.

Leo 1H: Are seen as exuberant, joyful, and self-centered on first impression. They have beautiful hair and extroverted personalities. They always strive to be the life of the party, and they can be very affected when people don't like them. With the Sun as their ruling planet, they can be very prideful people. They tend to base their accomplishments on others' opinions, and not their own personal satisfaction. They tend to be closer to their fathers, as opposed to Cancer Risings.

Virgo 1H: Are seen as intelligent, careful, and high-strung on first impression. They're very precocious people, the types to ask the teacher for the homework if they forgot. They tend to have small facial features. They can have unusual body proportions, and some of them have stomach issues. With Mercury as their ruling planet, they are naturally very logical people, and can be ritualistic when it comes to their health and their responsibilities. Like Gemini Rising, they love to talk with others and see that as their main form of connection. They are less careless with what they say, though.

Libra 1H: Are seen as beautiful and indecisive on first impression. They really strive to make a good first impression on others, and they often do. Their face card is usually a 10/10. If you need to guess someone's rising, and they struggle in decision-making, 9/10 times, they're a Libra Rising. With Venus as their ruling planet, they tend to be focused on romance and cultivating relationships with others. They have a strong ability to know exactly what other people want in relationships/situations.

Scorpio 1H: Are seen as reserved and intense on first impression. They're very observant people and can often pick up things about others that others miss, both positive and negative. With Pluto as their ruling planet, they often go through tremendous hardships in their early years. They can influence big transformations in the people around them, which can provoke strong reactions from others.

Sagittarius 1H: Are seen as jovial, curious, and reckless on first impression. They have big, wide, shiny smiles and great legs. With Jupiter as their ruling planet, they are often lucky in life. They can get themselves into tough situations without thinking and somehow come out unscathed. They are also very unpretentious, and they like to strike up conversations with people from all walks of life. They can often pretend that they are dumber than they actually are.

Capricorn 1H: They are seen as very serious and responsible when you meet these individuals. They are very authoritative and make great leaders. They have great bone structures and strong jawlines. They hate to be embarrassed. With Saturn as their ruling planet, they have an added layer of responsibility and hard work compared to their peers. They can be surprisingly unsentimental people, unless they have a lot of Cancer or Pisces placements.

Aquarius 1H: Are seen as intelligent, unique, and pretentious on first impression. A lot of their life lessons revolve around their disdain for authority, or their positions in different social groups/situations. They tend to have at least one unique facial feature. With Uranus as their ruling planet, they tend to thrive in their uniqueness. They like getting tattoos, piercings, and dyeing their hair to change their appearance.

Pisces 1H: Are seen as very beautiful and detached on a first impression. These people are often in their own world, and it's hard to get them out of it. They have very smooth skin and big saucer eyes; they literally look like fairies. Like Aquarius 1H, they can have issues with authority figures/rules in their younger years. With Neptune as their ruling planet, they can give into escapism very easily, which can get them into trouble in life, and they can struggle to follow through on their responsibilities.

[aliceglass]

March 1

April 2

May 3

June 4

July 5

August 6

September 7

October 8

November 9

December 10

January 11

February 12

Great now we all know our ABC’s

January 1

February 2

March 3

April 4

May 5

June 6

July 7

August 8

SEPTEMBER 9

October is 10

November 11

December is 12

[astrolocherry]

Venus in the 12th House: "Her deep sentiment, moral vision, and frustrated idealism may cause a complete withdrawal from the world and rejection of people in general. Self love and appreciation can be difficult to generate, the individual can feel unlovable and empty and therefore reject the genuine advances and affection of others."

[miamaimania]

Bonfire (1910s) ▲ Ana Mendieta, “Silueta en Fuego” (1970s)

[winasheepfree]

[shisasan]

Arthur Hacker, Cry in Egypt [1897]

[shisasan]

“La Glorification de la Musique” by Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant, 1899

[feystrology]

DRACONIC ASTROLOGY

What is Draconic Astrology?

Your draconic chart represents a lot of things. It’s karmic, spiritual and unconscious, pertaining to the soul and the soul’s desire, linked to destiny, fate and soulmates. Some think of the Draconic chart as the true purpose behind the soul’s intentions. 

Draconic astrology is derived from the True Nodes of the moon. Instead of starting at 0 Aries at the Vernal Equinox, 0 Aries begins at the Moon’s North Node. If you were born with the North Node at 0 Aries, your Draconic and Natal charts would be identical. The Houses, and Planets in Houses remain the same, but the signs, degrees and degrees in the houses can change drastically. 

Like the North Node, a Draconic chart will tell you about where you’re headed, if you choose to reach out, and like the South Node, it will tell you about where you have been, what’s comforting, familiar and secure. It’s said that as a child you were more your Draconic chart than Natal, as you were closer to your soul and true personality. It also has connections to reincarnation, the thought that your soul will carry it’s Draconic chart with it to each person it visits throughout your multiple lives. It can also explain attraction you cannot see in normal synastry and comparison.

A Draconic chart will represent deep values, belief patterns, individual purpose, meaning and clarity. It’s less characteristics and personality traits, and more higher ethics and the soul. Draconic placements indicate soul qualities and suggest the ideal the soul wants to attain in the world, as well as areas of growth, and who we subconsciously dream of becoming. The Moon of the Draconic chart is also said to represent your ‘true sign’ and the barest form of who you really are deep inside, whether you understand/know it or not. 

Each sign still applies to it’s planetary meaning, but we view Draconic signs a little differently, turning their power inward and forwards. The Draconic chart is sensitive to transits and can be progressed, pertaining to life-changing events and encounters that we aren’t consciously aware of, such as someone accidentally being in touch with our Draconic inner qualities and guiding our lives. These events are thought of as ‘spiritual prompts’, guiding inner impulse to the surface. 

The Draconic chart is best understood in comparison to the natal chart, as it interacts as two parts of your being; active and unconscious (Though Draconic astrology acts on a much deeper level than the subconscious persona chart characteristics of each planet)

Conjunction and Opposition aspects and where they fall when the two charts are compared are important. Through Draconic charts we can discover that those closest to us can be acutely aware of our soul’s purpose. (Amplifying the weight of advice coming from those closest to us. They may be more aware of what our soul and true selves need much more than we are consciously aware of.)

Some identify heavily with their Draconic aspects, while others don’t, showing us who is more in touch with their spiritual side and who isn’t. In the many layers of the Horoscope and personality, Draconic may represent the inner most layer, the one that shines through when everything else is peeled away.

The Draconic sun can tell you who exactly you want to be, and what traits and paths in life you wish you could follow. For example, my Draconic sun is in Cancer, and represents a lot of the emotional vulnerability, trust and security I deeply desire and wish I could apply to my life, but can’t as I’m not completely in touch with this side of my personality – rejecting it in fact, as guided by my natal chart. 

The Draconic Moon is who you truly are. (as Draconic is based on the Moon’s True Nodes). You can call it your ‘soul sign.’ You may be a Sun Libra in your daily life, but your soul sign may be in Taurus, representing your soul’s true desire and true driving purpose. A more free spirited person who subconsciously strives for complete security. 

The Draconic ascendant differs from the Natal Ascendant in that it represents our ‘intuitive identity’ rather than our ‘outward identity’. The Decan your Draconic Ascendant is in is important, as it can be heavily influenced by the sign next to it. Think of your Draconic ascendant as your ‘soul’s mask’.

The Draconic midheaven speaks of super consciousness, and the soul’s true quest, rather than our career paths and online persona, as the Midheaven is usually spoken of. 

 When you were born, you were your Draconic self. Your spiritual self, before the world and your Natal Chart shaped you to be who you are today. What you go through as a person decides how in touch you are with your Draconic chart, or how far you drift from it. Life may have stripped you of it, and made you fully your Natal self, or it may have driven you back to your soul’s spiritual values, and carved you into a more rounded person, in touch with your true self. 

Both your Draconic and your Natal are truly you, as we are all a combination of things, layers upon layers and more than one person. A Draconic chart, especially in comparison with your Natal chart can help you find who you truly are. 

Where do I find my Draconic chart?

Astro.com is the easiest place for this! Just go to the extended chart selection, and in the drop down menu you’ll find “Draconic” and “Draconic - Natal comparison”

[evictedfromdreamland]

[javromero]

[aliceglass]

Indie musician John Maus: ‘It sucks to be called a Donald Trump supporter’

Songwriter was labelled a Trump fan after the January 6th riots in the US – a situation that might have sunk him

[389]

Ana Mendieta: Fuego De Tierra, 1987

[undergroundrockpress-deactivate]

“Cathy with Mandala” by David Nordahl (1968) (Offset lithograph on textured paper)

[aliceglass]

[aliceglass]