On the Future of Art from an Astrological Perspective With Deanna Musgrave February 2023

(February 2022) On the Future of Art from an Astrological Perspective

Deanna Musgrave

Astrology is as much about observation as it is forecasting. When an astrologer keeps a record of what happened during a transit, it could be used as a possibility for what could occur next time those planetary combinations occur. Since I began writing this column in October 2022, I have been talking about how Mars in Gemini (August 20, 2022 – March 25th, 2023) would be igniting polarities in the collective media. What I was surprised by was the impact of this transit for creativity and the arts.

In observing the collective’s response to this Mars Retrograde, I have decided that I will prioritize Art as one of the aspects connected with Gemini. This sign isn’t always associated with Art and if you do a google search about “what careers are best for Gemini” you won’t often see artist on the list. Gemini is associated with the throat, arms, and hands so it denotes singing, playing a musical instrument, talking, and writing but, this can also be drawing and painting or any creative activity done by hands. We all have Gemini somewhere in our chart and it can take on many manifestations. Mars is associated with passion and war-like measures and, with Gemini being associated with Art, it can literally be interpreted as intense passion about or attacks on art. In looking at the collective, the Mars in Gemini period brought forth environmental activists throwing soup at Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” in late October 2022. Afterwards, there were copycat protests of black oily liquid being poured on Gustav Klimt’s “Death and Life” or Maple Syrup on Emily Carr’s “Stumps and Sky” in November 2022. Mars in Gemini also brought forth a polarizing debate around Artificial Intelligence (AI) versus Human made art. As an example, in September 2022 the Colorado States Fair gave their award for best digital artwork to an AI-generated work using a program called, Midjourney, where an artist gives prompts to an AI system to create an image for them. This created a stir and debate in social media about whether this should be considered art. Many artists see this as a threat to artistry whereas others feel it is an advancement in artistic tools. During the Full Moon in Gemini conjunct the Mars Retrograde in December 7-8, 2022, we saw many changing their profile pictures with the Lensa App which many artists have pointed out steals from human artists through it’s “stable diffusion.” While the creators make the argument that it is akin to learning and being inspired by another’s style as a human might, artist have pointed out that the system copies so directly that it even replicates pieces of the artist’s signatures. Some of these same living artists have started posting side-by-sides of their art against the eerily similar ones that are AI-generated without their consent or compensation. Regardless of your position for or against AI generated art, I think we could all agree that AI is evolving at a fast rate that challenges boundaries and that it might be at least prudent to have this issue examined by the justice system for ethical considerations. Aside from the issues around copyright or creative ownership, there have been reports of the technology being used to alter images of children that have been posted online to show them as if they were naked or sexualized. While we could attribute these actions as being influenced by Mars in Gemini it is important to outline that we are still responsible for our choices and what we support. My initial feeling was that the AI Art energy was attached to the Mars Retrograde and that it would shift after January 12, 2023 when it went direct and then even more once it leaves Gemini in March 2023. While I anticipate some sort of shift, such as maybe the first lawsuit from an artist against this company and some boundaries being put in place, in looking at the longer-term astrology, I think there may be more to contend with when it comes to tensions between Human and AI Art. One of the transits coming up that I feel signals more restrictions or struggle for the Arts is Saturn moving into Pisces on March 7, 2023 to February 16, 2026. Pisces is associated with the arts, spirituality, the illusionary and sometimes escapism through drugs/alcohol so, we are about to experience many Saturnian lessons in these areas. I anticipate that between 2023-2026 Saturn is going to bring up a lot of restrictions, as well as hard and practical lessons for those involved in creativity, the arts and spirituality. Saturn is not to be feared but, understood that the blessings come after processing anything that needs to be learned. The other transit I am revisiting in context of Human Art versus AI Art is Pluto in Aquarius which is a longer transit of 20 years. We will get our first peek in March 23, 2023– June 11, 2023 but, it moves into Aquarius for 20 years in 2024. While my last column talked about the possibility of this transit heralding the fall of capitalist institutions and the rise of the people, now I am considering that maybe it is also about power shifting to technology, which includes AI. While I was hoping that the AI Art issue would pass after the Mars in Gemini transit, upon further reflection, we will have a longer-term Saturn in Pisces struggle with the arts between 2023-2026 as well as, a Plutonian Death and Rebirth in Aquarius from 20242044. Pluto is also a planet that shouldn’t be feared but, understood as creating death and transformation experiences for the purpose of discovering power. It may be the case that the rise of AI through the Pluto in Aquarius transit will force humanity to come into full knowing of what being a human means and where its power is sourced. With this being 20 years, this Plutonic transformation will not happen overnight (so buckle up and get ready to do the work). Why should this matter to everyone?…because Art is where it all starts. In my experience, positive social movements often start at the level of the arts but, so too can negative ones. The power of technology can be used for the positive if it remains a tool to support artists, rather than replace them. The AI Art threatening to take the place of human artists is just the beginning of the infusion of AI into everything and, while some aspects of this could be positive, the evolution of technology could move too fast for us to consider the consequences and perhaps boundaries/limits should be considered. We must recognize that there is so much we don’t understand about what it means to be human and our biology/DNA. For those who resonate with the concept that there is an aspect of us that is immortal consciousness, how is that connected to our physical body, biology, and DNA? Could that connection be altered by merging with AI through transhumanism? When AI can do everything that requires a skill that a human can do, what is left that humans can do that is outside the realm of AI? When you answer that question then we may find out what the core of being human means and this could be where the future of Art is. Remember that there have been many copies made of artists such as Rembrandt but, we still travel miles to see the original and those with the resources will pay high value for what is the real thing. There is something unseen in the work of originals that seasoned art critics, curators, artists, and energy sensitive people can sense. I think about Malcom Gladwell’s book “Blink” where he begins by describing an artifact that a curator can sense is a fake within seconds. I experience something similar when I look at AI generated art or the new Lensa selfies. I feel a lack of warmth that I have come to associate with artwork that has power. I can logically tell myself that these images are beautiful and done with skill but, there is also something missing for me that I see as a unique human energy, power, and life. I wonder if it is possible to develop this sense to know from instinct, intuition and the body what is human made art full of consciousness and what is purely AI Art. To me the core of being human is Art and I have this sneaking suspicion that the future of Art will depend on developing this sense to know the difference. Many art critics, curators and artists already have this sense. How this awareness is developed will be different for everyone as, we each find our connection to consciousness in our own unique way. For me, it was nurtured through my work as an artist, energy worker and channel. I have witnessed such energy having real physical impacts on the world through the arts. I feel it is possible to have this unseen power within a digitally made artwork but, in my observation, it must be sourced from a human who is connected to their consciousness and power. It is my opinion that such work will be needed for this 20-year transit of Pluto into Aquarius so, that we get to Pluto in Pisces in 2044 without the human part becoming extinct. I see hope in the astrology as after 2044 Pluto will move into Pisces which signals a death and rebirth of, as well as power moving towards art and spirituality. The last time Pluto was in Pisces was during the Romantic Era of Art at the end of the 18th century into the beginning of the 19th century where spirituality and humanity’s connection to nature became the focus. I wonder if we will go down a journey with AI during the Pluto in Aquarius 20-year transit of 20242044 which will bring the collective to realize what the unseen in art is and that this is a power that is connected to being human that will be deeply explored with Pluto in Pisces from 2024 - 2068. For this reason, this unseen human energy is something we will need to foster, nurture, and protect in the coming two decades. Until then, I think we will need those creatives who are sensing the negative version of where this could go to embody that human power in your art and protect it so, it doesn’t become extinct. So, when I have young people asking me “Should I bother going to art school because AI can now do it all for us” I answer with a resounding “YES!” Deanna Musgrave is an artist, energy worker, channel, astrologer and hypnotist. You can contact her through her websites at:

www.deannamusgrave.com www.artisthehealer.com