Le Cheval Blanc

Paul Gauguin

Gauguin roamed through Tahiti, exploring the wild countryside and mountainous regions of the country. He was enchanted by an abundant natural beauty that seemed missing form his life in France and studied the flora and fauna obsessively. Yet this painting is a synthetic vision, an idealised and manufactured version of the landscape borne out of his imagination. He presents the landscape as a paradise; a white horse, tinged green by the plant life its sheen reflects, drinks from the river while two nude figures ride off in the distance. In Tahiti, Gauguin saw a sort of Eden and the two nude figures in the background, a part of nature rather than separate from it, can be understood as Adam and Eve. Now considered one of his masterpieces, the Tahitian pharmacist who commissioned the work rejected it on the basis that the horse was two green.

Thursday 23rd July

Today, Mercury changes from retrograde to direct motion. From our perspective on Earth, the planet appears to stop moving backwards through the zodiac and begin moving forwards again. Symbolically, this can bring a gradual return of clarity, helping confused situations to settle and allowing plans, conversations and decisions to move forward. The morning is favourable for tending to flowers, as the Moon moves through Libra. Although Mercury brings a greater sense of order, the Moon’s opposition to Uranus may introduce unexpected changes or disruptions during the day. It may therefore be helpful to remain flexible, avoid rushing and allow new possibilities to emerge when plans do not unfold as expected.