The Opera 'Messalina' at Bordeaux

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Toulouse-Lautrec captured the decadence of his age. The publicity, the cabaret, the drama, the cafes, the restaurants and the spectacle of the turn of the century exudes from his oeuvre, capturing the subtleties and lack thereof that he lived within. The Opera was a recurring theme for him, sexually charged, high society drama replete with costumes and theatre – the subject and the painter were natural bedfellows. Born into aristocracy, a childhood accident rendered him very short as an adult due to his undersized legs and in Paris he found more comfort and kindness in the brothels and bars than the upper-class world of his birth. Yet he participated in both, an outsider who was allowed in and could keenly observe the idiosyncrasies and beauty of these mirroring existences.

Saturday 30th May

The Moon rises in Libra before quickly crossing the threshold of these fixed stars and entering Scorpio, bringing a transformative quality to the day. In nature, we can look to the honey bees and admire their remarkable powers of transformation. These creatures are able to take nectar from flowers, a substance that might otherwise evaporate within hours, carry it back to the hive, mix it with their enzymes, and evaporate the excess water. In doing so, they transform delicate nectar into honey, one of the few foods that can remain preserved for thousands of years. From honey found in ancient tombs, scientists have even been able to understand something of the plants that once grew in ancient Egypt. Honey bee colonies are mesmerising, and human beings, as well as human societies, can learn a great deal from them.