The words “Forever I Love Atlanta,” or FILA if you’re in the know, hit a little differently for me now. I may be from Virginia, but growing up, Atlanta’s influence stretched far beyond Georgia’s borders, it was everywhere. ATL’s music? Unmatched. The style? Iconic. The confidence? Contagious. Some of my favorite artists from childhood — Kelly Rowland, Ludacris, Usher — either came from or were heavily influenced by Atlanta’s creative energy. The city has long been the undisputed epicenter of Black culture in America. From the food to the fashion to the slang, Atlanta’s impact is generational. We’ve all borrowed a little ATL swag — knowingly or not. And to be honest, we should all probably have to pay the city royalties. When I found myself back in Atlanta with Adidas Originals to celebrate 404 Day, a hyper-local holiday named after Atlanta’s OG area code, this April, I was reminded why the city has held such a special place in my heart.

It wasn’t until I was around 16 that I took my first trip down south to Atlanta and finally saw what the hype was about. I remember stepping off the plane and instantly clocking two things: how green it was (like, the trees were showing off), and how unapologetically Black it was. Both felt like a deep exhale. This big, bold, vibrant city with such a rich past made me feel instantly at home. Atlanta doesn’t just welcome you, it embraces you. And 404 Day is proof of that spirit. Born from the city’s deep sense of pride and community, 404 Day has become an annual love letter to all things ATL. It’s a day to honor Atlanta’s legacy in music, fashion, sports, and more. Think of it as a homecoming—but for the culture.

This year, Adidas partnered with the 404 Collective and The Athlete’s Foot, two names that are deeply woven into the fabric of the city. The 404 Collective is the brainchild of four powerhouse Black-owned entities: Atlanta Influences Everything, Butter ATL, Finish First, and the Trap Music Museum—who decided to move from working in silos to building something bigger, together.

I sat down with Jahi “Jah” Rawlings, CEO of the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL), Finish First Marketing Agency and 1/4 of The 404 Collective to talk about what makes the city and the celebration so unique. “We were all creating moments for 404 Day, but we realized the city needed a unified front to really make an impact,” said Jah. “We didn’t just want a party. We wanted to open doors, give back, and make sure people who might be overlooked got their shot.” That mentality led to events like the inaugural 404 Day parade where thousands of people showed up to march and the upcoming launch of the 404 Festival, a multi-day cultural event set to rival Dreamville and One Music Fest. “The next five years, Atlanta’s going to be the focal point of the country,” Jah told me. “So we’re building something that reflects that.”

That “something” extends to streetwear and sneaker culture too. “Atlanta doesn’t always get the recognition, but our youth are trendsetters,” he said. “They’re not just following anymore, they’re creating the culture, and the brands are starting to listen.”

I also had the opportunity to talk to Darrius Billings, Director of Marketing at The Athlete’s Foot (and fellow Howard alum—HU, you know!). The Athlete’s Foot, which has been rooted in Atlanta since 1985, teamed up with the 404 Collective and Adidas to design a sneaker that pays tribute to the city’s soul.“Atlanta is Hollywood and it’s hood,” he told me. “So when we designed the Adidas x 404 sneaker collab, we wanted it to reflect both sides.” The final design is a masterclass in symbolism; from luxe red bottoms nodding to fashion culture, to a peach gold grill detail on the tongue, to a sock liner featuring Atlanta’s iconic zone map.

And it’s not just the shoes that speak volumes. “The Athlete’s Foot has been in Atlanta since 1985,” Darrius shared. “Our stores are built to be more than places to buy sneakers—we host tutoring, community talks, even open mic events. We want people to feel like they belong.” That local-first model is what sets them apart; franchisees aren’t just store owners, they’re community members. So when Adidas wanted to create a shoe rooted in Atlanta’s soul, it made perfect sense to tap Darrius and the 404 Collective to lead it.

Darrius also emphasized the importance of visibility and access in the sneaker industry. As the Atlanta lead for Black Footwear Forum, he’s helping pave the way for more Black creatives to enter every part of the footwear business, not just design. “If you don’t know, you just don’t know,” he said. “So we break it down. Marketing, legal, operations, there’s space for all of us.”

Between Jah and Darrius, it’s clear 404 Day isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a movement. A reclamation. A call to action for the culture, by the culture. And being a part of it reminded me why Atlanta has always been more than a city. It’s a vibe. A blueprint. A heartbeat. And while I may technically be a Virginia girl, every time I visit ATL, I feel like I’m coming home.

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Cosmic Beings, May is not a month we’ll forget. It opens with the skies singing a soft rebellion. On May 1st at 11:00 p.m. EST, Uranus, the planet of revolution, currently in Taurus, forms a sextile with the North Node in Pisces (which symbolizes our collective higher destiny). The message is clear: the world is weird, and you are too. But that’s the gift. This is a time to embrace your quirks, your contradictions, your inner indie film protagonist who paints under moonlight and dances like nobody’s watching — because chances are, someone is, and they’ve been waiting for someone just like you. Taurus energy teaches us to embody our values, while Pisces vibes urge us to dream without borders. When they harmonize, we start choosing the offbeat path because it feels like home. We begin trusting that doing what lights us up is the way to find our people, our peace, and our purpose.

This theme of polarity only intensifies as the month unfolds. On May 4th, a dramatic First Quarter Moon in Leo at 9:51 a.m. EST asks, “Who are you when no one’s clapping?” And just a couple hours later, Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius at 11:27 a.m. EST, challenging us to confront what power really looks like in the collective age. Leo wants to shine. Aquarius wants to rebel. Together, these two transits tug on our egos and say, “Show up — but make it real.” You may feel torn between taking center stage and disappearing completely. But this is what May is about: extremes, contradictions, fixed sign tension. The kind that births art, movements, romance, and wild revelations.

That tension continues to build as Mercury enters Taurus on May 10th at 8:15 a.m. EST, grounding our thoughts in earthy logic… just in time for an emotional tsunami. Then the full moon in Scorpio arrives on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, and it’s not here to play.

Think snake-shedding-its-skin energy (during the year of the snake at that!). Think tears in the bath followed by the best orgasm of your life. Think secrets rising to the surface, shadow work breakthroughs, and letting go of personas that no longer serve your truth. In a nine year, the year of karmic endings and completions, and with Scorpio ruling death and rebirth — this full moon is a portal. Let it undo you. You’re ready.

Mid-month, things get both healing and hazy. On May 18th at 9:44 a.m. EST, Jupiter in Gemini forms a harmonious aspect to Chiron in Aries, and for a moment, it feels like our wounds have a purpose. Like the mess is actually the medicine. But just a few hours later, Jupiter squares the North Node in Pisces at 2:46 p.m. EST, reminding us not to rush our way out of discomfort. Be wary of trying to “heal” everything in one go. Expansion is sacred, but not if it skips the integration. Be with the process. Let yourself be beautifully, unapologetically in between.

But wait, there’s more! On May 20th at 2:54 p.m. EST, the sun winks at us as it enters Gemini, and suddenly… there’s more air in the room. Laughter. Movement. Curiosity.

We trade some of that fixed sign intensity for a little Peter Pan chaos magic. Gemini says, “Try something new. Make a mess. Ask a hot stranger their favorite book.” It doesn’t have to make sense right now. Gemini Season gives us permission to be flexible, playful, even contradictory. And we need it, because honey — what comes next is legendary.

May 24th at 11:36 p.m. EST is a cosmic game-changer. Saturn enters Aries for the first time in 29 years. Let that sink in. The planet of discipline, structure, and reality-checks leaves foggy Pisces (where we all kind of felt like we were swimming through soup) and enters the sign of fire, action, and raw instinct. Saturn in Pisces was a dream we kept trying to wake up from, but now? Now we’re awake, and we’re on fire. Saturn in Aries says, “Okay, visionary, roll up your sleeves.” Paired with Mars in Leo, this shift is a cosmic Red Bull. Just don’t forget: Saturn’s here to keep you sober. You’re driving a race car. Stay alert. Don’t confuse speed for direction.

And just when we think we can’t take any more upgrades, Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th at 8:59 p.m. EST and says, “Let’s remix reality a little.” The planet of communication loves being here — it’s at home, buzzing with ideas, jokes, and spontaneous travel plans. And on May 26th at 11:02 p.m. EST, the new moon in Gemini joins the party. Picture Mercury turning to the moon and saying, “You ready to shake things up?” and the Moon replying, “I’ve been waiting for this cue.” Together, they offer us a portal of playful curiosity, the perfect closing note to a month full of rebirth, polarity, and purposeful chaos. This is a sneak peek of Uranus in Gemini coming later this summer — a reminder that the universe is wildly more creative than we are. Our job is to stay curious and open, even when it doesn’t all make sense yet.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

Aries Sun & Rising:

Buckle up, Aries — Pluto retrograde in Aquarius hits your sector of friendships and technology on May 4 at 11:27 a.m. EST, and it’s about to start peeling back the curtain on your group chats, DMs, and digital habits. If you’ve been tolerating performative alliances, ghosting the people who actually care, or playing nice with folks who don’t align with your deeper vision… Pluto’s about to drag you (lovingly). This retrograde is a six-month journey of asking: who are you when no one’s watching your Stories? Who do you really want to build a future with?

Then the Scorpio full moon drops on May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EST in your sector of intimacy and transformation, and yeah, it’s giving “emotional enema.” Whatever you’ve buried — old heartbreaks, revenge fantasies, unspoken grief — it’s rising. This full moon doesn’t want to ruin you, but it does want to rebuild you. Let the catharsis in. Don’t run. You’ll feel better once you stop pretending you’re over it. It’s okay to scream-cry into a pillow and then journal about your financial goals five minutes later. You’re complex. Let it be known.

Thankfully, Gemini Season kicks off on May 20 at 2:54 p.m. EST, activating your communication sector and giving you back your spark. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, followed by the new moon on May 26th, and suddenly you’re that friend sending voice notes from the rooftop with 10 tabs open and three new business ideas. Let it fly.

And now for the headline of this month: Saturn enters your sign on May 24th at 11:36 p.m. EST for the first time in 29 years. This is a major rebirth. You’re at the start of a 30-year cycle. Saturn is here to help you level up — but only if you’re willing to earn your glow. Show up for yourself like it’s your job. Because, in a way, it is.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Taurus, what if reinvention could feel like coming home to yourself, not running away from who you’ve been? May begins with a sobering shift as Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius on May 4 at 11:27 a.m. EST, activating your sector of career and public image. The truth is, you’re changing — visibly. And while you may look grounded and composed on the surface (Taurus aesthetic stays undefeated), Pluto’s retrograde is asking: what part of your public persona is actually performative? Are you chasing success on your terms or someone else’s? The pressure to be perceived as “together” may hit different this month, especially if you’ve been quietly craving a new direction.

As the month continues, the emotional temperature rises with the Scorpio full moon on May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EST, illuminating your sector of partnership. This lunation might crack open your walls, whether you’re coupled or single. If you’ve been the one pretending you’re “fine” while holding resentment or longing inside? That’s a wrap.

Scorpio energy wants raw truth, not curated peace. Let yourself be vulnerable. It’s better to face the discomfort than fake harmony. Love —whether romantic, platonic, or self — demands depth now. And yes, that might mean crying mid-text or finally saying the thing you’ve been swallowing for six months. Let it out. The healing is in the release.

But just when you thought May was all shadow and intensity, the winds shift. Gemini Season begins on May 20th, lighting up your sector of income, confidence, and personal values. Suddenly, there’s movement. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, and the new moon follows on May 26th, reminding you that you can make money in unexpected, even weird, ways— especially with Uranus still vibing in your sign.

Then — boom — Saturn enters Aries on May 24th at 11:36 p.m. EST, activating your sector of spirituality. This is massive. Saturn hasn’t been here in over two decades. You’re entering a phase of deeper soul accountability. Expect an urge to clean up your energetic hygiene, face your inner saboteur, and explore spiritual practices that are both ancestral and futuristic. The last week of the month sets the stage for a powerful inner reboot. You’re not lost, Taurus. You’re evolving on purpose.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

You’ve been in hermit mode, Gemini —plotting, reflecting, shedding. But now in May? You’re the butterfly stepping out of the cocoon… and you’re glowing. The month begins with Pluto retrograde in Aquarius on May 4 at 11:27 a.m. EST, shaking up your sector of expansion, education, and belief systems. It’s no longer enough to say what you “used to believe.” Your values are evolving in real time, and you’re not afraid to admit that you’ve outgrown some past versions of yourself. This retrograde invites you to question the narratives you’ve inherited — about success, truth, love, and power. You don’t have to subscribe to someone else’s map when your internal GPS is pointing to liberation.

Mid-month, the energy intensifies with the Scorpio full moon on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, activating your sector of wellness, work, and routine. If you’ve been ignoring your body or spiritually bypassing your stress, the full moon might be your final warning to check yourself. Cry in the bath. Say no to overbooking yourself. Take the day off. You’ve been giving so much mental energy to the future, but your nervous system needs you now. Shed the toxic productivity mindset. Rest is not a weakness. It’s a reset.

Then — drumroll — Gemini Season begins on May 20th at 2:54 p.m. EST, and suddenly you’re back in your element. Mercury (your ruling planet) enters Gemini on May 25th, and the new moon in your sign lands on May 26th, offering a total identity refresh. This is your rebirth. You’re reinventing the way you express, flirt, create, and connect. And with Saturn entering Aries on May 24th, activating your sector of community and long-term dreams, the universe is officially taking your visions seriously. Structure meets spontaneity. Play meets purpose. Show us how multifaceted you are. We’re ready for it.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

What if hiding isn’t the safest choice anymore, Cancer? What if being seen is where your power lives now? Pluto retrograde in Aquarius hits your sector of transformation and shared energy on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, and it’s asking you to sit with the uncomfortable. Whether it’s financial vulnerability, intimacy wounds, or deep emotional patterns that you’ve buried beneath your “I’m fine,” this retrograde’s about to unearth it. The invitation? Reclaim your power by honoring your fears, not suppressing them. The things you avoid may be the exact places where your strength is waiting.

By May 12th, the Scorpio full moon rises in your sector of joy, romance, and creativity at 12:56 p.m. EST, reminding you of what it feels like to truly feel. The passion, the longing, the ache, the beauty. Whether you’ve been romanticizing your past or numbing out from the present, this lunation is like a flash of lightning that reconnects you to your artistic and emotional depth. Yes, it may sting. But it’s also going to heal something wild in you. You’re allowed to want more. You’re allowed to want magic.

The last third of the month brings much-needed levity. Gemini Season begins on May 20th, activating your sector of spirituality and solitude. This is your cocoon phase — quiet, sacred, introspective. Mercury joins on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th urges you to unplug and re-align. It’s not about disappearing; it’s about coming home to your intuition. Meanwhile, Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, launching a brand-new two-year cycle in your sector of career and public presence. Yep — your time is coming. Let this spiritual hibernation ground you for the moves you’re about to make. The world is waiting.

Leo Sun & Rising:

What happens when your spotlight turns inward, Leo? What happens when the applause fades, and you’re alone with your reflection? The month starts with Pluto retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, shaking your sector of partnerships and long-term commitments. You might realize that something (or someone) isn’t aligned anymore — and that’s okay. Pluto retrograde is about reclaiming your power, especially if you’ve been compromising too much in the name of “keeping the peace.” This is your cosmic permission slip to stop settling. Be honest about the kind of love — and the kind of life — you’re willing to fight for.

Then comes the Scorpio full moon on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, lighting up your sector of home, ancestry, and emotional roots. Leo, this lunation might crack your chest open in the best and worst ways. It’s okay to grieve the versions of yourself that no longer feel safe. You may feel called to release generational patterns or finally admit that you’re tired of holding it all together for everyone else. Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s your portal to true power.

Thankfully, a wave of relief arrives as Gemini Season begins on May 20th, lighting up your sector of friendship and community. Suddenly, you want to be seen again — really seen, by people who get you. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th is your social reset button. Let yourself laugh again. Flirt again.

Reconnect with the joy of just being around your people. And when Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, your sector of expansion is lit. It’s time to take your beliefs seriously. You’re entering a cycle of spiritual maturity, wild travel, and big truth-telling. The universe is asking: are you ready to grow beyond your comfort zone? (Hint: yes, you are.)

Virgo Sun & Rising:

What if the plan isn’t falling apart, Virgo… what if you’re being called to change your relationship to control itself? Pluto begins its retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, hitting your sector of routine, health, and service. Your systems, schedules, and perfectionism are being interrogated — and dragged. Are your habits truly supporting your evolution, or just keeping you “safe”? This retrograde wants to help you reclaim your time and energy, even if it means letting go of the rituals or jobs you’ve outgrown. You’re not a machine. Stop treating yourself like one.

On May 12th, the Scorpio full moon lands in your communication sector at 12:56 p.m. EST, and it’s coming for your inner monologue. The words you’ve left unsaid? The journal entries you ripped out and threw away? They’re rising now. This is your invitation to say the thing — out loud. With your chest. With love, but also with clarity. Whether it’s a tough conversation or a breakthrough idea, your voice has power this month. Don’t silence yourself for the comfort of others. Scorpio’s here to help you speak from your truth, not your fear.

Then, the energy lightens and expands. Gemini Season begins May 20th, activating your sector of career and legacy. You’re getting noticed — and your ideas are speaking for you. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, followed by a Gemini new moon on May 26th, offering a fresh start in how you present your work to the world. And with Saturn entering Aries on May 24th, your sector of intimacy and shared resources begins a two-year storyline of deeper emotional accountability. You’re learning to merge without losing yourself. It’s intense — but you’ve trained your whole life for this.

Libra Sun & Rising:

What if love is meant to be messy, sacred, and honest — not just cute and aesthetically pleasing, Libra? The month kicks off with Pluto stationing retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, hitting your sector of romance, creativity, and personal joy.

Translation: your inner artist, lover, and muse are being summoned to take the mic. Have you been playing small in your joy, or dimming your weirdness for fear of judgment? That’s not going to fly anymore. Pluto retrograde says: reclaim your magic. Even if it’s chaotic. Especially if it’s chaotic.

Then on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, the Scorpio full moon activates your sector of money and self-worth, and it’s time for some real talk. If you’ve been undercharging, overgiving, or relying on validation to feel worthy, this lunation is your wake-up call. You don’t need to prove anything. Let go of scarcity narratives, release your attachment to outdated versions of “success,” and redefine your value from the inside out. Shed the shame. Invest in yourself.

As Gemini season begins May 20th, you get a refreshing dose of air in your chart. Your sector of truth, travel, and higher learning is activated, and suddenly the world feels open again. Mercury joins Gemini on May 25th, followed by the new moon on May 26th, bringing new insights, new philosophies, and maybe even a literal ticket out of town. Expand. Try something uncharacteristically bold. And with Saturn entering Aries on May 24th, your relationship sector becomes the site of serious growth. You’re learning what long-term love really requires — from you and for you. No more situationships that lead nowhere. No more over-romanticizing red flags. You’re ready for real.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Scorpio… I know you’re always in a rebirth arc. But this month? This one hits different. Pluto, one of your planetary rulers, stations retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, shaking your sector of home, roots, and inner emotional safety. If your foundations have been feeling fragile, this retrograde will show you where the cracks are — and how to rebuild better. You may feel a pull toward ancestral healing, reconnecting with family, or redefining what “home” actually means for you. Let yourself go deep. You’re not losing control. You’re finding a more authentic version of it.

Then comes your annual full moon. On May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, the Scorpio full moon lands in your sector of self, and you’re shedding layers like it’s your job. Old insecurities, projections, facades from the past six months — gone. This is you looking in the mirror and saying, “Wow. I’ve always been powerful. I just had to stop pretending I wasn’t.” This is a Phoenix moment, no exaggeration. You don’t need anyone’s permission to rise. Just your own presence. Spend time celebrating your growth with this potent lunation. You did that!

After all that intensity, Gemini Season arrives on May 20th, activating your sector of transformation, intimacy, and financial merging for the next four weeks. This is your research lab, your tantric study zone, your emotional depth territory. Mercury enters Gemini May 25th, and the Gemini new moon follows May 26th, inviting new beginnings in your energetic exchanges with others. Meanwhile, Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, kicking off a new cycle in your sector of daily rituals, health, and personal responsibility. Your healing is no longer optional — it’s foundational. You’re learning to structure your brilliance. And your glow up? It’s going to be long-lasting.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

How long can you outrun your own shadow, Sagittarius? What if stillness holds the answers your passport can’t? May begins with Pluto retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, stirring your sector of communication and mindset. Your thoughts, words, and online voice are under review. You may find yourself questioning what’s behind your need to always “move on,” always say the right thing, always keep it light. Pluto’s asking: what’s the truth you’ve been scared to speak — especially to yourself?

That truth gets even louder on May 12th, when the Scorpio full moon lands in your sector of spirituality and subconscious at 12:56 p.m. EST. If you’ve been spiritually bypassing with distractions, this full moon isn’t having it. You’ve been running, scrolling, flirting, and booking flights left and right (or dreaming of it) — but some emotions need to be felt, not avoided. This lunation is a chance to break down in order to break through. You’re not weak for crying in solitude. You’re wise for finally listening to your inner voice.

Then as the month evolves, the light returns. Gemini Season begins on May 20th, lighting up your sector of partnership. You’re re-learning how to relate, how to be soft and strong, how to communicate what you actually want. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th offers fresh starts in love, collabs, and contracts. Meanwhile, Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, launching a whole new cycle in your sector of creativity and pleasure. Your joy is no longer a side quest — it’s the mission. But Saturn wants you to build a foundation for that joy. Make time for what makes you feel alive, and do it consistently.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, what if your definition of “success” has been too narrow all along? May kicks off with a wake-up call. Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, challenging your relationship with money, worth, and independence. You’ve been building empires… but at what cost? This retrograde isn’t here to take your power. It’s here to help you wield it better. You may realize it’s time to change how you relate to ownership, income, or even your digital footprint. There’s more power in your authenticity than your performance.

The Scorpio full moon arrives May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, lighting up your sector of community and vision. If you’ve been blending in with crowds that no longer reflect your dreams, this lunation will shake that loose. You’re not meant to be palatable. You’re meant to be purposeful. Let go of the social masks. Start speaking from your soul. Whether you’re going viral or going ghost, it’s time to let your future self lead.

As Gemini Season begins on May 20th, your sector of wellness and structure lights up. You’re refining your schedule and rituals — not from guilt, but from alignment. Mercury joins Gemini on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th is your moment to set intentions around sustainable productivity. Then — boom — Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, activating your sector of home, ancestry, and emotional foundation for the first time since 1999. The next two years are asking: what kind of legacy do you want to root into? It’s not just about building a life. It’s about healing the ground it’s built on.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Are you ready to face yourself, Aquarius — not the version you curated, but the one that’s always been waiting underneath? The month begins with a massive internal shift. Pluto stations retrograde in your sign on May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, and you’re entering a deep period of identity excavation. This isn’t a surface-level rebrand. This is soul work. You’re releasing the projections, perfectionism, and personas that were meant to protect you — but now just keep you confined. Let the transformation happen. You’re not breaking down. You’re breaking open.

The Scorpio full moon on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST lands in your sector of career and public image, pushing you into the spotlight… or out of it, if that spotlight isn’t aligned. You may experience a reckoning with your role, your reputation, or the pressure to always be “ahead of the curve.” Let go of the need to perform. Ask yourself: am I building something true, or just doing it for the validation? It’s okay to shift directions, even dramatically.

Then in the final third of the month comes a major mood shift. Gemini Season starts on May 20th, bringing life to your sector of creativity, romance, and fun. Yes, you’re allowed to flirt with the universe again. Mercury also enters Gemini on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th reminds you that joy can be sacred, too. And just when you’re finding your rhythm, Saturn enters Aries on May 24th, marking a huge new cycle in your communication and learning sector. It’s time to take your voice seriously. You don’t need a megaphone — you need conviction. Start writing the story of who you’re becoming.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

What if your softness is your superpower this month, Pisces, but boundaries are the armor that let it thrive? Pluto retrograde begins May 4th at 11:27 a.m. EST, activating your sector of spirituality and the subconscious. This is the underworld tour of your soul… and yes, it might get uncomfortable. Old wounds, past-life patterns, ancestral grief — Pluto’s digging it all up. But instead of drowning in it, you’re being shown how to release it. This is shadow work. This is transformation. Trust your dreams. Journal everything. Light a candle. Ask your spirit guides for clarity.

The Scorpio full moon arrives on May 12th at 12:56 p.m. EST, lighting up your sector of wisdom and higher learning, and suddenly, something clicks. Maybe you finally forgive someone. Maybe you forgive yourself. This is a spiritual graduation after six months of intense overwhelm. If you’ve been doubting your gifts, hiding your truth, or second- guessing your path — this lunation ends that. You know who you are. It’s time to act like it. Let yourself expand, even if it scares you.

Then comes the cosmic plot twist. Gemini Season begins May 20th, and your sector of home and emotional foundation is activated for the next four weeks. You may want to redecorate, reconnect with family, or just cocoon for a bit. Mercury enters Gemini on May 25th, and the Gemini new moon on May 26th offers a clean slate emotionally, helping you take life less seriously.

And then for the final hoorah: Saturn, the planet of challenge, leaves your sign for the first time in over two years and enters Aries on May 24th, activating your sector of finances, self-worth, and value. This is the start of your wealth-building arc. But it starts with you knowing — not hoping — that you deserve more. Let this be the month where your intention and your discipline finally align.

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If there’s anyone who deserves to be celebrated come May 11, it’s your mom. After all, she did give you life… and someone to vent to during your angsty teenage years (and beyond). While moms are famous for saying things like, “Don’t spend your money on me,” and “Being with you is more than enough,” we know better than to show up to brunch this Mother’s Day empty-handed. This year, we’re going a step further with a luxury gift that will cement our status as her favorite.

To ensure that your mom (or the mom in your life) gets the kind of gift she deserves this Mother’s Day, we rounded up 26 extra-special gifts she’s sure to love, with many that only look and feel expensive.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Unless you’ve been living under a particularly beauty-starved rock, The Ordinary is a brand you know well. It’s probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! But insiders know that The Ordinary’s parent company, Deciem, is a treasure trove of creative brands that are somewhat of a best-kept secret, despite The Ordinary’s fame.

Last year, Deciem unveiled LOoPHA, a modern fragrance brand to scent your life. Think sensorial hand and body washes, plus forthcoming body serums and scented hand and body mists with elevated fragrances like Oud + Amber (a smoky blend of sweet oud, warm amber, citrusy bergamot, and gourmand tonka bean), Broadleaf Forest (like the name suggests, a crisp combination of cedar, dry patchouli, and zingy vetiver), and Chalk, a nostalgic, specific scent concept brought to life via mint, fresh saffron, sugared anise, and powdered musk.

For our beauty director Jacqueline Kilikita, the body washes have quickly stolen the spotlight: “Not just because they’re stylish and affordable,” she says — everything is under $20, BTW — “but because the scents rival those of niche fragrance brands, in my opinion.” Oud + Amber is her fragrance of choice: “It smells like a sweet, smoky eau de parfum that lingers on the skin. One pump on a loofah is enough to cleanse my whole body, it’s that good, and it also doubles as a hand wash.”

Oud + Amber Hand + Body Wash, $18

Broadleaf Forest Hand + Body Wash, $18

What makes LOoPHA’s body washes really special is that they’re gentle enough for Kilikita’s dermatitis-prone skin, without exacerbating any dryness or irritation — and it’s all thanks to the ingredients.

Like The Ordinary, LOoPHA is all about innovative, effective ingredients (an emphasis on transparency is a well-known Deciem calling card) and clean — pun intended — minimal packaging. While the scents take center stage, the formula remains gentle and non-irritating, thanks to moisturizing jojoba esters (derived from the oil of the same name that is naturally bioavailable) and glycerin (a powerful humectant to help your skin retain moisture). Most notably, it uses apple- and babassu-derived surfactants for a rich, plant-based, sulfate-free lather.

As Refinery29’s senior writer (and lifelong lover of all things beauty), Broadleaf Forest is my go-to; I’ve gone through two bottles already — one by my bathroom sink, and another in the shower — and I’m nowhere near tired of it.

I work out a lot (hot yoga being my workout of choice), and so I demand a lot from my body wash: It has to whisk away buckets of sweat but not strip my skin. Other sulfate-free body cleansers don’t always create the rich lather that makes me feel clean, but this one delivers. In fact, I don’t think I’d have ever guessed it was sulfate-free in a ‘blind’ test — that’s how well it works. Plus, it creates a spa-like ambiance in my bathroom every time I use it.

Where Oud + Amber is warm and sensual, Broadleaf Forest is crisp and clean, but not too herbal that it takes a turn for the medicinal. While $18 is more than typical drugstore prices, the formulas are on par with what you’d expect from a luxury brand. Kilikita agrees: “I finished my last bottle a month ago, and honestly? I’m still thinking about it.”

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An old adage says that it takes some 10,000 hours to become a bona fide expert at something. While I can barely string a sentence together in French, have zero sporting ability, and never learned how to drive, at least there’s one pursuit where I have gone pro: sourcing fashion items my teenage self never got over.

In the mid-late aughts, the Windows desktop computer that sat in the kitchen of my family home became a portal to a world far glossier than my day-to-day reality in a seaside town in Ireland. When I made my way home from school, before the rest of my siblings would pile in and I’d be forced to study or do chores, there was a sacred sliver of time where all was still.

Free to go down any Google rabbit hole, I’d pop some Deadmau5 or MGMT on my iPod Mini and revel in an hour of designer discovery and fashion bliss. I’d indulge in a quick read of Perez Hilton to see what the It Girls of Soho and West Hollywood were up to — yearning for their Alexander McQueen skull scarves, Chloé Paddington bags, and Yves Saint Laurent Arty rings. I’d continue my whistlestop tour of the web with a scroll through Blogger, Tumblr, and Lookbook.NU, and, if time obliged, I’d pray the latest episode of Gossip Girl or Ugly Betty was available (on LimeWire, naturally) to momentarily beam me into Manhattan.

Probably due to this ongoing secret hour of style sleuthing, I even began dreaming about moving to New York City to work at a fashion magazine. Motivated, I made it my business to immerse myself in Style.com reviews, diligently saving runway images I was inspired by on various Pinterest boards.

Even though it’s been the better part of two decades, many of the outfits and items that initially caused my heart to sing during those days remain etched into my memory.

Sometime in 2018, several years into my career as, yes, a fashion writer living in the U.S., I was absentmindedly scrolling through The RealReal when I clapped eyes on the one — the one that, aged 15, I promised myself I would wear for my wedding. Modeled by Lily Donaldson in the Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2008 show, this champagne silk baby doll maxi dress with watercolor-style flowers cascading down its side had imprinted itself onto my cerebral cortex one day as I sat in my school uniform in Dublin, and its appeal never faded for a second. A decade later, I clicked “purchase” on the unworn, still-tagged dress with the same sense of urgency that I felt as a teen with limited, fleeting moments to be transported somewhere else through fashion.

Over the last seven years, that hallowed runway find has not only moved across the country with me and dangled from rails in closets in five different apartments (not to mention, seen some questionable romantic relationships that, thankfully, didn’t end in a trip down the aisle), it served as a reminder that the pieces I once fawned over are all just a fateful keyword search away. As my friends get into things like pickleball or pottery, this has become my choice of adult hobby.

In March, when I blew out 33 candles on the cake, I did so in a black-and-gold embellished halterneck mini, this time from the Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2007 collection. I’d copped it on The RealReal a few years ago after having flashbacks of Victoria Beckham wearing it at the height of her WAG heyday. On the night, without even meaning to lean into the Y2K of it all, I styled it with a vintage zebra print clutch from Jimmy Choo and vintage beaded gladiator stilettos by Giuseppe Zanotti. As I surveyed the final look in the mirror, I smiled to myself, thinking that 2007 me would lose her mind to know that these pieces came from her own closet. Oh, and my birthday gift to myself this year? A hard-to-find Yves Saint Laurent chunky Arty cuff from Stefano Pilati’s time at the helm circa 2009 that showed up on eBay. It took almost a month to arrive from a seller in Eastern Europe, but some things are worth the wait, as evidenced by the fact that it was on one of those Pinterest wishlist boards I had made 12 years earlier.

Last year, my birthday frock made its way to me in Manhattan from the South of France: an ombré waterfall dress with a Grecian-style breastplate from Peter Dundas’ bohemian dream of a Spring/Summer 2015 collection for Pucci. (I’m still thankful I was doing an insomnia-fueled deep dive one night, as pieces from his tenure are rare to come across on resale.) Other pat-on-the-back moments include finding an emerald green-and-silver Chanel mini dress that Sienna Miller wore to host a dinner for the label at the Chateau Marmont in 2004; a runway look from Frida Giannini’s Fall/Winter 2009 offering for Gucci; a version of a stunning Matthew Williamson halter-neck gown worn by Blair Waldorf on an episode of Gossip Girl in 2010; and a mint-condition camisole that was the opening look from Phoebe Philo’s Spring/Summer 2005 outing for Chloé.

Of course, knowing that you’re contributing to a circular economy is a nice virtuous addition to this enterprise. But I am more driven by the desire to prioritize quality pieces that will remain in my closet forever. Bonus: It feels like I’m cheating the system financially. That aforementioned Matthew Williamson dress cost an estimated $4,000 in 2010. My Vestiaire Collective bill came to $123.10, including shipping from England. The Chloé cami? $144.78, versus the $2k+ price tags hanging on the current season tops. God bless Poshmark for that one.

Beyond cost, in my pursuit of the clothes and accessories I once cared about so much, I feel like I’ve developed a layer of individuality to my personal style as an adult. By the looks of things, there’s a growing number of fashion-loving millennials shopping in the same nostalgia-fueled way. According to data provided by eBay, global searches for “2010s” are up by more than 30% year-over-year. What are they hunting for? Strap in for some whiplash-inducing time-traveling. A spokesperson for eBay says that Isabel Marant wedge sneakers have seen a staggering 430% increase in interest this year. Also re-emerging in a big way are Marc Jacobs-designed Louis Vuitton items (searches are up nearly 100%), Cavalli (up by 120%), Stella McCartney’s Falabella bag (up 135%), Hervé Léger bandage dresses (up 80%), Riccardo Tisci-era Givenchy (up 70%), Stuart Weitzman Highland boots (up 45%), Philo-era Céline Luggage tote (up 40%), and, gulp, American Apparel disco pants, which have seen a 30% rise in searches.

Ready to find the one that — you thought — got away? Don’t be afraid to set up multiple saved search terms on the pre-loved and consignment platforms you use. Get specific, but also use broad keywords, as some sellers may not know what they are offloading is niche or from a certain designer’s tenure. For those who like to cast a wide net, Gem, a marketplace that pools results from a wide array of sites in one convenient feed, should be on your radar. It often pays off to wait it out, too. On sites like Poshmark and eBay, if you “heart” an item, the vendor will typically send you a discount or incentive to purchase, such as free shipping or a percentage off. Meanwhile, on The RealReal, product starts to get marked down within a couple of weeks, if you’re willing to play the long game.

If you know when new drops take place, it’s smart to set up an alert or be vigilant with the “new in” section. On TheRealReal, product drops every day, at 10 A.M. EST and 7 P.M. EST. I check out their app more than Instagram or TikTok most mornings and evenings.

“There are thousands of pieces uploaded twice a day,” confirms Noelle Sciacca, The RealReal’s associate director of fashion and strategic partnerships. “The rate at which things sell depends on how covetable it is right now. We’ve been seeing all of these creative director changes, so anytime something like that happens, pieces become collector’s items.”

According to Sciacca, the platform also has a curated section personalized to shoppers. “It creates an edit based on learned behavior: what you’re ‘obsessing’ [editor note: favoriting] and what kind of brands and pieces you’re shopping for,” she says. The resale site also boasts a “Rare Finds” tab: “That could be everything from a special runway piece from a moment in time that is iconic or nostalgic, or something that a celebrity once wore. I was recently looking, and there’s a Moschino bag that Fran Drescher wore on The Nanny.”

For those on the pursuit of happiness in the form of a status symbol of yore, Sciacca says that beyond setting up your saved searches, always be sure to go on the waitlist for similar pieces that have sold in case they are reconsigned by the algorithm or purchaser. Take her unwavering commitment to finding Miu Miu’s glitter boots from 2011 or old Céline two-tone Madame boots, for example. “They have such a hold on me,” she admits.

Forget healing your inner child. These days, it seems as if we’re all getting our retail therapy in the form of dressing our inner teenager.

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If you count a clandestine religious ceremony done on a whim in the middle of lockdown, then I’ve been married for five years. Such was our story (which featured a Romeo and Juliet-adjacent plot of angry families, forbidden love, and different religions) that we never had time for traditions. We didn’t give each other rings, and there was certainly no proposal. But I’m just a girl, and I want one, which means my kind-of-husband, Jack, is under strict instructions to propose properly one day, which we will then follow with a more public legal ceremony. I also want him to get me the perfect ring (a salt and pepper diamond, set in gold and preferably made by We Are Arrow on London’s eclectic Columbia Road), and he needs to make sure I’ve had a manicure beforehand. I don’t care how he does it, but I won’t be happy if he proposes to me and my nails aren’t freshly done. I wouldn’t say no — I do love him, after all — but I’ll be damned if a crusty cuticle dares feature in my engagement announcement photos.

Why do we care so much about engagement nails?

I see both the ring and the nails as a duo. When it comes to the actual engagement day, in my opinion, you can’t have one without the other. I know it sounds a little shallow, but as it happens, I’m not alone in my thoughts. In today’s social media-driven world, engagement nails are just as significant as the ring — and for some, even the proposal itself. Search “engagement nails” on TikTok and you’ll find over 60 posts — ranging from inspo videos to clips of people attempting to trick their soon-to-be-engaged friends into getting a manicure — with millions of combined views. Here, engagement nails are immortalized, paraded online for all to see. With this in mind, they need to be perfect: fresh, understated, timeless — and immune to fleeting trend cycles.

I’ve slowly been drip-feeding the idea of a surprise, pre-engagement manicure to Jack for years. “But it’ll ruin the moment!” he insists. “You’ll know what’s happening!” He’s not wrong — I might. But I’m so sure of my plan and plight that I’m willing to run the risk. I’ve drawn up an entire scheme for him to follow, which involves contacting my favorite nail artist and paying her in advance, then asking her to invite me to a “complimentary appointment”. This magical appointment will then only feature specific, engagement-worthy shades. I suppose prescribing a process does somewhat take the romance out of the situation. But what can I say? It’s important to me, and I’m not leaving anything up to chance.

For some, this chance is exactly what made their own engagement manicure stories so special. It wasn’t about the nails, per se, but the thought that went into them: “Chris did a very good job of tricking me into getting a manicure,” says Ellen Scott, a journalist and digital editor at Stylist. “He was very sneaky and wise. He contacted Shoreditch Nails and asked them to pretend to invite me for a press appointment. I didn’t question it at all.” They even painted a heart on Ellen’s ring finger, she tells me, which still didn’t tip her off. “I was completely taken aback when he proposed and was genuinely so touched that he had thought to make sure my nails looked good.” If it wasn’t for Chris’s caring ingenuity, Ellen tells me she “probably wouldn’t have posted a pic” of the engagement ring right away.

Similarly, an informal Instagram poll among my friends and followers revealed that many wouldn’t post an in-the-moment picture of their engagement ring unless their nails were freshly done. For Hollie Kelly, head of PR at Kit Studios, receiving a proposal without a manicure would make her “hold off on telling anyone” about the engagement. Or, she says, she’d hide her nails in pictures. Hannah*, a marketing manager, says she would “have to have them done in a long, almond shape to lengthen the overall appearance of the fingers and nail bed.” Without this, she admits, she’d redo her nails before posting. “In an extreme situation, I’d [use] Photoshop,” she says.

I don’t Photoshop pictures often, but when I do, it’s almost always because I feel like I need to conform to a certain beauty standard. Having perfect nails is yet another ideal — or rather, expectation — imposed on women in recent years. It’s also worth considering the effects of “nail privilege” when it comes to posting your hands online. An extension of “pretty privilege”, which affords those who are conventionally pretty better social and economic advantages, nail privilege sees people judged and treated differently according to their nail choices.

Because of this, Ri* says she “always thinks about” her future engagement nails: “I feel like I should start getting my nails done regularly now, ready for when Josh pops the question. It’s genuinely been a thought in my mind.” Meanwhile, Savannah* says she feels “very self-conscious” about her hands and future engagement posts on social media. “My ADHD makes me always pick at my nails, so I’ve never had them done. Yet, even though I’m not a nail person, I still worry my hands won’t be up to the beauty standard, which is mad to think about.”

During my research, I heard from lots of other women who’d be “annoyed,” “fuming,” or “not pleased” if they encountered a proposal sans manicure, but one woman, Harriet*, confesses she’d find it “traumatic”. For her, it isn’t about the images on social media or even adhering to a standard. It’s about looking put-together as a whole. Harriet admits to always having freshly painted nails, but even so, she’s told her partner “not to propose” if her nails look unkempt. According to her, “it’s better to have no nail polish at all,” than to have chipped nails.

Are engagement nails more important than the ring?

It might sound extreme to ask someone not to propose without a pre-proposal manicure, but it’s not unheard of. Rebecca Crawforth, nail expert and founder of Navy Professional Tools, confirms that “engagement nails have become just as essential as the ring itself.” For me, it’s less binary than that; my nails are a part of my identity. I haven’t sported bare nails in years, and people have told me that they think of fun nails whenever my name is brought up in conversation. Personally, if Jack made sure I had nice nails in advance of proposing, it would show me that he really knows me. Still, I wonder whether placing that kind of expectation on a partner borders on unnecessary pressure, even if it comes from a place of wanting to feel understood. I certainly wouldn’t say no to a heartfelt proposal due to the state of my fingertips.

On the contrary, for Ella*, an influencer with over 22K followers on Instagram, it would be an instant “no” to any proposal if her nails weren’t done beforehand — no matter the ring or the person. “If he proposes to me without my nails being done, then he isn’t the one for me. Sorry, not sorry! Like, I’m a nail girl — know your audience, boo! Buh-bye!” It’s not even about the pictures, she says, but about feeling her best in the moment: “My nails are such a big part of my identity,” she adds. “I’ve had acrylics for over 10 years!”

Does planning your engagement nails ruin the moment?

It turns out not everyone buys into the idea of engagement nails. Adele*, an NHS worker in her 20s, says we are “an ungrateful generation” and “engagement nails are stupid as a concept”. She was the only one who shared a different perspective — everyone else agreed that perfect engagement nails were a must. “I do understand people wanting to look nice and not posting chewed nails, but half the [people] on TikTok know they’re getting engaged because of them,” she says.

But just as Scott remained oblivious in her story above, this doesn’t mean your engagement nails have to spoil the surprise of the actual engagement.

What are the biggest engagement nail trends?

Scroll through TikTok or Instagram, and it’s hard to miss how similar all the engagement nails look: unbearably clean and perfect. There are no cuticles, little to no colour, and only the smallest spatterings of nail art, like “delicate lines or micro pearls,” according to Crawforth. “We’re seeing a real return to understated elegance, and the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic is still going strong,” she explains. “Think sheer pinks, milky whites and classic nude tones that enhance the natural nail.”

As a diehard nail art fan who can only bear a plain set for approximately two days before getting bored, this feels like another subtle beauty expectation. It gives off a bit of a “trad wife” vibe — as if we’re meant to look effortlessly polished, but not like we’ve put in any effort.

Traditionally, writes Refinery29’s beauty director Jacqueline Kilikita, in the late 19th century, painted nails were a feminist and risqué style statement, with later cultural icons like Frida Kahlo and Josephine Baker adopting bold nails. Returning to understated, barely-there designs can feel like a step away from that spirit, though I do understand coveting a design that won’t go out of style. Rachael Gibson, known online as The Hair Historian, previously told me that people are caught up in the idea that “natural beauty is best” because it suggests a “pure” and “superior” idea of femininity — it’s untouched and as nature made you, as if you haven’t fallen prey to vanity.

Saying this, there’s no denying the allure of a clean, perfect-looking set of nails, as long as you’re choosing them because you love them, and not because you feel like you have to. While they remain the status quo among engagement posts online, some are remaining resolute in their nail preferences. Scott opted for nail art on her engagement nails, with mismatched pink drawings on each finger. Perhaps the tides are turning. I’ve spotted a tentative wave of more experimental engagement nails recently. Think bold chrome finishes, darker shades, or nail art that reflects the wearer’s personality. Just as the engagement ring market is evolving to include less traditional-looking designs, mixed metals, lab-grown diamonds, and the like, I think we’re about to see a shift in engagement nail designs, too.

As much as I sit here and criticize the clean nail aesthetic, when it comes to my future engagement nails, I’ll probably opt for a similar look via The Gel Bottle’s new, fairy-like, sheer BIAB gels. Will it be because I truly love them, or because I’m just human and influenced by beauty trends? This is TBD. But one thing’s for sure: a good engagement manicure, whatever the shade or shape, is the ultimate flex.

*Name has been changed.

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.

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Déjà vu, anyone? For the second time in 2025, Venus will be roaming through the sign Aries from April 30th to June 6th. Venus’s retrograde from March 1st to April 12th in the signs Aries and Pisces had us backtracking on our romantic ideals. As the planet of love moves forward, we’re processing our desires and feelings, while relinquishing all that doesn’t seem relevant to our lives. We are reviving and revisiting relationships one last time to determine if we want to continue with them. Now is the last time to assess matters from the past months — particularly when Venus first entered Aries on February 4th. Are you ready? Let’s go!

What can we expect from Venus in Aries Part Deux: Firstly, the post-retrograde or retroshade cycle ends on May 16th (it lasts from April 12th to May 16th). This means we are going over the events from the retrograde that rocked our world. We have until May 16th to suss out matters and gain clarity. Also, we might revisit the past one last time and get closure with exes. Being able to form friendships with former partners could be challenging, so don’t put that pressure on yourself. Take it step by step, and be mindful of what you want. Self-reflection is key now, so we might take ownership of our actions and be accountable for the hurts we’ve caused others.

The only major drawback is that our confidence might start to waver back and forth until May 16th. Then we’ll be assertive and self-aware as we move onward through the Venus in Aries journey. And we won’t mince words. Oftentimes, Venus in Aries is straightforward and honest. Confrontation comes with this astrological transit, pushing us to speak up if a situation or relationship isn’t making us happy. The reason is that we are not willing or wanting to compromise. We dictate the rules and formulate the best way to proceed. We are in charge of our lives.

Venus in Aries doesn’t settle for second best. It knows what it desires on a carnal level and will pursue just that. Beyond that, it is known to chase relationships and do the work to get connections going. Venus in Aries sees tunnel vision in obtaining its visions of love, so we’ll only have the patience and gusto to dive headfirst regarding its passions. This astrological placement only focuses on the here and now, making it spontaneous without worries about the future. Being present-minded is essential for Venus in Aries because it cannot think beyond what is in front of it.

Now we get to make choices that are meaningful. Do not take this moment for granted. Use it to better your relationships and cultivate better understanding of ourselves and others. We may even have the chance to enhance our love lives, using the knowledge we now have, knowing versus finding ourselves in the dark before the retrograde.

This time around, Venus in Aries will be more docile and less rambunctious. It wants to believe in the dream of love and will not give to anything less than theidealized form. With Neptune in Aries forming a conjunction with Venus on May 2nd, we will see people fight for what they need and long for in relationships. The last time Neptune in Aries linked up with Venus in the same sign was in the mid to late 1800s, making this an unprecedented time to make personal history. In true Venus in Aries form, the effects of this transit are ours to define.

Important dates for Venus in Aries:

April 30th: Venus re-enters Aries, adding passion and desire to the way we pursue others until June 6th.

May 2nd: Venus forms a conjunction with Neptune in Aries, allowing us to get lost in the dream of our romantic ideals.

May 6th: Venus in Aries harmonizes with Pluto in Aquarius, creating power dynamics and jealousy in partnerships.

May 22nd: Venus in Aries connects with Mars in Leo, pushing us to take steps in building affiliations.

June 1st: Venus aligns with the centaur Chiron in Aries, offering us a chance to heal our hearts and spirits.

June 4th: Venus in Aries sextiles Jupiter in Gemini, expanding our personal worlds and universal philosophies.

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Today: an unemployed Airbnb host who makes $27,000 per year and who spends some of her money this week on her favorite vitamin C serum.

If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.

Occupation: Unemployed/Airbnb host
Industry: Tech
Age: 52
Location: San Francisco
Salary: $27,000 (I’m dipping into my savings at the moment).
Assets: House: $1,400,000; 401(k)/IRA: $481,000; savings: $36,000.
Debt: Mortgage: $1,064,989.20
Paycheck Amount (monthly): $2,250 (pre tax).
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: $4,582 for my current mortgage — but it will become $4,867 in April due to home insurance.
Property taxes: $1,338
Utilities: ~$400 (trash, water, electricity, gas).
Cell phone: $56
Cleaners for Airbnb: ~$700
Streaming services: ~$30
Internet: $72
GitHub: $4

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
My parents did not have any expectation that I would go to college — in fact, they let me know that they couldn’t afford to pay for it. Nevertheless, I managed to figure out a way to get financial aid and I worked to pay for my room and board. My parents only gave me $300 towards my degree.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
We didn’t have much money growing up; we were even on welfare at one point. My parents had this thing where if we did yard work they would pay us, as I recall, a quarter. We were constantly scrounging around looking for money in the house and elsewhere. And so, I started working pretty young.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was as a papergirl when I was about 12. I made good money delivering papers on my bicycle until men in cars took my job away.

Did you worry about money growing up?
We did have a house and some food (although not much), but there was not much else by way of support. My friends helped me a lot: I ate over at their houses. As soon as I started working, I had more money and that helped, but I was always struggling. I was fortunate that many people helped me.

Do you worry about money now?
I am worried about money at present because I have had to take on caregiving for my mother, and I lost my job. After extensive effort, I managed to get a full crew of caregivers for my mom, although they require super close management. I am looking for a new job but the market is very tough right now.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I have been on my own since I was about 15 years old. Unfortunately, I never had a safety net but that has made me very independent.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
I received an inheritance about two years ago of about $38,000, it’s gone now (due to living expenses — I’ve been unemployed for two years).

Day One: Wednesday

8 a.m. — I wake up a bit groggy; I’ve been having some trouble sleeping. I make a big pot of coffee and start checking the news. I read CNN, Reuters, Market Watch, Politico, the SF Chronicle, New York Times, Washington Post, and Guardian every morning. Plus I have to check my LinkedIn, the weather, and a few other sites for good measure! Finally, I settle down to work on my resume.

10:30 a.m. — I get in the shower and try to get semi presentable. With all the steps to my skincare routine, I know I might not be totally there before 11 a.m. I always try to go down and check the unit in between when my guests leave and my cleaners arrive. If I don’t do this and there are stains or other damages, I won’t know whether the guest did it or my cleaners. I found this out the hard way when I noticed that several tiles in the shower were cracked. I asked my cleaners if they knew when this happened and they were very circuitous in their reply. That’s when I realized it could have been the cleaners or one of the guests. This was a difficult repair and I wasn’t able to bill any one for the damages.

11 a.m. — My Airbnb guests check out. I run down to inspect: not too bad, no damages. I leave cash for my cleaners. With the way things have been going, I have been thinking of doing the cleaning myself, especially as the cleaners really don’t seem to do that much. There is never a time that I do not have to redo the pillows, straighten the duvet, check for stray hairs, make sure the toilet seat is down, and various other issues after they leave. But what takes them 20 minutes, takes me four hours. So… So far, I continue paying them. $50

2 p.m. — I eat scrambled eggs with quinoa, tarragon, and cheddar. (This was my first time adding fresh tarragon to scrambled eggs and it was delicious.) Then I have broccoli tossed with garlic and olive oil, dusted with Aleppo peppers, sprinkled with cheddar cheese, and roasted for 15 minutes at 425°F. I also finish off some carrot juice I have in the fridge. I add the garlic skins and some tarragon that was wilted to my bag of vegetable scraps in the freezer, which I’m collecting for a future vegetable stock.

3 p.m. — Though I don’t have anyone booked for tonight, I’ve learned to always be ready because sometimes people book at the last minute, although sometimes these are drunk people. If it’s a regular person who’s not problematic just booking last minute, I want to be ready and get the extra income. So I treat a vacancy list any other night, not a vacation, running up and down the stairs as usual, attending to the laundry, which my cleaners only start one load of and it’s always two. The dryer is “smart” and energy efficient, as much as a dryer can be I suppose, so it can take one hour plus to dry a load, and even then, I might have to add more time on to the end. Then there is the folding. I have three sets of sheets and towels because for one night stays, it’s just too difficult to make sure everything is ready for the next guests.

9 p.m. — I have a mozzarella stick snack, then chard gratin. I add the stems to the freezer bag. Sadly, no one has booked for the night and I go ahead and block the night off so I don’t have any surprise requests. Even though I enjoy it when I have the place to myself, I am conscious of the lack of income. After dinner, I settle down to watch a new episode of Prime Target. I was getting a lot of ads for this show and then I read good things about it in The Guardian and I haven’t been disappointed. Even though it does seem a bit of a stretch at times, it is amusing and entertaining nonetheless. I love all the Cambridge stuff especially.

10 p.m. — I do my nightly skincare routine which at this time involves: cleansing with a salicylic acid gel cleanser and my Foreo device, then spritzing The Ordinary rosewater which is infused with powdered niacinamide powder. I wait for this to absorb, then I apply AQ Solutions serums: one for the face, another for the eyes. I also paint on a serum for my lashes that makes them grow. After this sinks in, I finish with a thick moisturizer and prescription tretinoin.

Daily Total: $50

Day Two: Thursday

8:15 a.m. — I wake up and have two cups of coffee with cream and sugar and a bowl of granola with extra flax seeds and vitamin D milk. After reading through all my news sites, I spend some time checking for new job listings, which is onerous because of all the different job titles and the fact that no one accepts boolean queries anymore — it’s super frustrating.

11 a.m. — I see that my favorite Timeless vitamin C serum is on sale for 40% off, so I buy a vial. I have been using this serum for some time — it’s a Skinceuticals knockoff. Very satisfied, although they’ve had packaging problems recently: they switched to plastic bottles, which are a disaster for the environment and also after some weeks, start leaking. But for the price, I live with it. $26.96

1:30 p.m. — I have a cup of Genmaicha tea then leave for the pool to lap swim for an hour and a half. I had been doing free home workouts from Instagram all through the pandemic, but the trainers aren’t putting up many new videos anymore — at least not free ones — and I’m getting a little bored of it. During a major heat wave last summer, I finally broke down and went to my neighborhood pool. It turned out to be free because of the heat wave! Now I’m hooked. I still do the home workouts, but not as much.  $7

6 p.m. — Riding my endorphin high, I decide to celebrate the second 70+ degree day in February and a new episode of Severance by buying a case of Pacifica beer from Bevmo and making a big bowl of guacamole and nachos. I have leftover beer and guacamole for another day. $19.11

Daily Total: $53.07

Day Three: Friday

8 a.m. — I start the day with two cups of coffee with cream and sugar. I mix pumpkin seed oil with rosemary oil and rub this into my roots, then brush it out to the ends with my rapidly degrading Maison Pearson brush. Swimming in chlorinated pools is so drying for my hair, plus at my age, it is starting to thin, so this oil mixture is supposed to be good for hair growth. I don’t know if it’s working for that, but it does work as a deep conditioner. I usually do this every other day and let it sit for two hours.

10 a.m. — I’m prepping another résumé to submit — my goal is one a day — then I head to the bathroom. First, I suds up my oily hair with a prescription ketoconazole shampoo (again for hair growth) and let this sit for five minutes. Then I take a shower. In the morning, I use a vitamin C serum on my face, neck, arms, hands, and knees. After this has absorbed, I follow up with a retinol serum on the same areas. Face sunscreen, then body lotion on top. My body lotion is a DIY concoction, using a thick lotion I get in bulk mixed with lactic acid, vitamin c powder, niacinamide powder, and lavender essential oil.

11:30 a.m. — I make two small breakfast burritos with quinoa, guacamole, and salsa macha. I’ve realized that you can’t root tarragon in water, so I shift over to trying to propagate my leftover tarragon in cactus soil.

12 p.m. — I finish my résumé and cover letter and send it in. These days, it’s very difficult because of AI systems. Intelligence is definitely a misnomer, as all they really seem to do is keyword matching. So for every application, you have to spend a lot of time matching the keywords and getting to the highest match rating possible. Otherwise, the robots reject you out of hand. It took me months to figure this out.

2PM — Dealt with a bunch of Airbnb messages. I have pretty much identified about 80% of the most common queries and I have responses ready to just paste in. I really wish they would open up their API to hosts so that these things could be automated. I do have an idea to develop automation for the door codes but so far I haven’t had time to actually do it. So it’s a highly manual process. I try to deal with them in bulk as much as possible.

8 p.m. — My dinner consists of roasted Brussels sprouts glazed with a balsamic and honey mixture and baked French fries dusted with cayenne pepper and smoked paprika, dipped in sriracha mayonnaise (made with non-fat yoghurt). I spot an ad on Craigslist Free for silverware and write to express interest. I have been thinking that I could use more for myself, and also for the Airbnb. This looks like a nice set — and it includes steak knives!

9 p.m. — Today, I’ve spent nothing! This is my goal every day but it was also important to me to participate in the economic blackout protest.

Daily Total: $0

Day Four: Saturday

8 a.m. — I wake up and have two cups of coffee with cream and sugar.

9:30 a.m. — I receive an automatic notification that one of my mom’s caregivers has submitted her timecard. She also texts me to say the same. I get super annoyed when she does this but I know it’s because she needs the money. There is another caregiver who also did this a few times and when I told her I couldn’t instantaneously approve her timesheets she told me that she literally didn’t have any food and I felt really bad.

10 a.m. — I heat up five leftover French fries for a quick breakfast (these are the large homemade fries from last night — they’re honestly quite tasty).

10:30 a.m. — I order three more tubes of my favorite lip plumper from Amazon, as I was running low. I can’t help but observe that in one year’s time, the price went up $2 a tube. Reward points helped a little! $41.28

11 a.m. — My Airbnb guest checks out, stashing her luggage in the closet. Simultaneously, my next guests arrive, putting their luggage in the same closet. There is also a chance that my cleaners will arrive now too, so I have to discreetly leave their cash payment somewhere neither guest would see or steal it: in the room, just after the guests had departed. All in all, a bit of a whirlwind through my tiny foyer (in which three people can barely stand at once). I have decided that the next time I have a turnover, I’m going to do the cleaning myself and see how long it really takes me. I just can’t help harboring the suspicion that my cleaners are laughing all the way to the bank having made $50 for 20 minutes of effort. I’m also keenly aware of how rapidly my savings are dwindling. $50

12 p.m. — I have a cup of sencha tea in an effort to become more energized. After reading that the organizer of the economic blackout was a convicted sex offender, I have some dark chocolate.

2 p.m. — I head out to pick up the silverware. Someone else had replied first, but then flaked! Stop at a mailbox to send off my mortgage check.

8 p.m. — Nachos again! Finish off the guacamole. Meanwhile, I caramelize shallots and garlic for many hours in preparation for the next day… To be continued. My mother’s caregiver texts me again about her timecard. It’s so frustrating, it’s like she expects me to approve it the moment she submits it. And she’s not the only one. But I can’t afford to lose her so I swallow my annoyance and I go through the Google camera events to verify her timecard. I also do another one as well while I’m at it.

Daily Total: $91.28

Day Five: Sunday

8:30 a.m. — As I’m making a pot of coffee, I get a message from my guests. They’ve checked out early, so I run down to check conditions. No issues. Leave cash for the cleaners. $50

9:30 a.m. — I return back upstairs to nurse my coffee and look at the job listings from last week. I have each one printed out and consider them one by one, sorting them to put the best ones on top so I can attack them in priority order.

12 p.m. — The cleaners finish, so I run down to see how it looks. As ever, they have the pillows backwards — I really need to try to talk to them about this. I basically readjust everything, then run a vacuum over the carpet (it doesn’t look like they bothered). Finally satisfied, I head back upstairs and return to working on my resume.

1 p.m. — For lunch, I have two fried eggs and one piece of toast with homemade bread and jelly. I also take vegetable stock out of my freezer to start defrosting for soup tonight.

2 p.m. — I take photos of various items I’ve toted from apartment to apartment as I moved around the city: towel racks, toilet paper holders, that kind of thing. These are all good quality but I don’t have any use for them in my new place. With everything that’s been happening, I have been thinking maybe I can convert these into cash by putting ads up on Craigslist. I get the ads up and sit back to wait. I have had limited success with this in the past. If no one buys anything, at least mentally I can console myself with thinking that I tried when I finally cart them off to Salvation Army.

7 p.m. — I make vegetarian caldo verde soup with the caramelized onions and garlic for dinner. The unit is vacant again tonight and for the next two nights so far. With everything that’s been going on with Trump and the tariffs and the mass layoffs, people have been cancelling right and left, the majority with no comment. People who had planned their trips way in advance, who were doing big events like the AIDS Lifecycle ride or concerts at the Chase Center, just canceled without a word. It’s gotten so I’m scared to message them until I’m within the five day cancelation window, for fear it will remind them of their reservation and prompt them to cancel.

Daily Total: $50

Day Six: Monday

8:30 a.m. — I make coffee and then look at the latest news and happenings, then I start back on my job search. Even though it seems to be going nowhere, I have to try and stay positive. Memories of the other recessions I’ve been through are coming back and I start remembering the techniques that I used back then. It has been a while, but what’s old is new again, like the need to respond to an ad quickly, because the good positions are filled within weeks. I’ve almost forgotten how you used to even set up alerts to help with this. There is also the heightened need to compete, to say yes to everything, to claim skills you don’t have but imagine you could gain over the course of a weekend.

11:30 a.m. — I snack on a mozzarella stick and roasted seaweed, then spend a few hours getting in an Instacart order for my mom. It takes a lot of messaging: first with her caregiver as to what she’s got and what she needs, then figuring out the best store for the order, making the actual order on Instacart, and finally messaging with the shopper to tell them to check the dates and advise on substitutions.

1:30 p.m. — I eat some dark chocolate-covered espresso beans for energy, then head to the pool for lap swim. The swimming really helps me reset mentally. I think it’s a combination of being in the water, totally unable to check my phone, and endorphins. Each time I go, I try to get my money’s worth by swimming for at least an hour and a half, so in between the transit and the showering, I don’t get back home until early evening. $7

7 p.m. — I set some cannellini beans to soak overnight and remove a jar of homemade vegetarian stock from the freezer. I realise I’m running low on cream, which is the only thing making my cheap coffee drinkable, so I ended up making a Whole Foods run. (Maybe this was a good call as tariffs went into effect the very next day.) At Whole Foods, I notice that they have only one half pack of eggs left and it’s almost $8, whereas my usual grocery store has had no problem stocking eggs and they haven’t even seemed to go up in price. It’s another reason I don’t go to Whole Foods a lot, but I do like their sushi and cheaper produce like blueberries. In this city, it pays to shop around and buy some things here and other things there. I get Sauvignon Blanc, red wine, spaghetti squash, potato chips, cream, sour cream, sushi, spicy shrimp, blueberries, and some other fruit and veg. $87.49

Daily Total: $94.49

Day Seven: Tuesday

8:30 a.m. — Over coffee, I check the latest news and start back again with the job search. I have resolved to try to apply to one job a day, although I can’t help realizing that just finding jobs to apply to also takes time.

9:30 a.m. — After reading about the tariffs, I tried to think about what I should buy today that would cost more tomorrow. As I had already been planning to do, I order plastic feet from Amazon for an outdoor chair I recently repainted due to rust. After applying rewards points, it was only $1.19. $1.19

10 a.m. — I receive an email from GitHub informing me my monthly autopayment has been taken out (this is to host my work portfolio).

11 a.m. — I submit another résumé and cover letter and then hop into the shower.

12 p.m. — I have a late breakfast of granola and Vitamin D milk with blueberries and extra flax seeds. Also had an apple. Afterwards, I sautée a bit of onion and garlic with garlic powder, then add a little white wine. Once very soft and translucent, I scrape it into my slow cooker along with the vegetable stock, some water, presoaked beans, cauliflower, and a russet potato. Set it to low for eight hours.

3:30 p.m. — I run out to fill up my tank before the price starts to go up because of tariffs. It cost $4.39 a gallon, paid in cash. $18.03

6 p.m. — I do a home workout from one of my favorite trainers. Even though they don’t put out new ones very often anymore, I have a bunch from Instagram bookmarked and am cycling through. So far, there are still enough to where it doesn’t feel redundant.

9 p.m. — For dinner I have cauliflower, potato, and white bean soup with sour cream, chives, and crumbled potato chip garnish. This was an NYT highly rated recipe. Would I make it again? No. I delete all the bookmarks in my browsers referencing it. Waste of effort! (I think NYT is hit or miss —WaPo is better on the recipes, imo. I am suspicious of recipes that are super specific with various amounts). I end up with a ton of leftover soup though, so I freeze it.

Daily Total: $19.22

The Breakdown

Weekly Total $$ Spent: $358.06
Food & Drink: $106.60
Entertainment: $0.00
Home & Health: $165.19
Clothes & Beauty $68.24
Transportation $18.03
Other $0

Conclusion

“Taking stock of the week in expenditures, the mortgage payment really stands out, of course. It’s not every week I have to pay that, it’s every fourth week, but it is the biggest item. Normally, my goal is to spend nothing every day. I see that I hit that on only one of the seven days, so that raises the question, are my goals realistic? But I have a tendency to set high goals and it does create a constant sense of disappointment in myself. This exercise of actually documenting my expenditures and looking at things in black and white helps me see what’s really going on.”

Money Diaries are meant to reflect an individual’s experience and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more Money Diaries, click here.

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A Week In Louisiana On A $75,000 Salary

A Week In Toronto On A $305,653 Salary

A Week In New York On A $850,000 Household Income

We’re stepping into a new dimension of Taurus Season now, and it feels like looking at the world through a freshly cleaned windowpane. The April 27th Taurus new moon strikes at 3:31 p.m. EST and marks a turning point, a quiet invitation to slow down and truly notice what matters. Not in the theoretical sense… it literally wants us to stop and smell the roses. Listen to your favorite album all the way through. Take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the grass. Cook your food slowly. Make love without watching the clock. Life wants to move through us more sensually, more intentionally. This is a week where every zodiac sign benefits from pacing themselves. What would it look like to choose pleasure as a path to presence?

But don’t be fooled — there’s also a cosmic contradiction to navigate. Venus, the ruler of Taurus, enters fiery Aries on April 30th, just three days after this very Venusian new moon. It’s like lighting a match in a velvet room: thrilling, energizing, maybe even a little chaotic. With Mars, the planet of action, now settled in Leo and Neptune currently also in Aries, part of you may feel ready to launch yourself into the spotlight, or initiate a new passion project at lightning speed. But another part — the one still basking in the new moon’s grounded energy — is whispering “not so fast.” This week is about holding space for both: the soft and the bold, the seed and the spark.

Then, as May begins, we get a powerful transit: Uranus in Taurus forms a sextile to the North Node in Pisces (exact at 11:00 p.m. EST on May 1st). This cosmic collaboration between innovation (Uranus) and destiny (North Node) urges us to imagine a better world, and take steps to co-create it. Expect to feel a collective wave of compassion rise — like even the most detached among us suddenly want to do something about what’s happening globally. Whether that’s speaking up, donating, joining a protest, or making more ethical choices in your daily life, this is the kind of week that turns apathy into action. From the micro to the macro, the shift is real.

And finally, we’re approaching Pluto’s retrograde in Aquarius (officially beginning next week), and its shadow is already creeping in. We’re sensing that deeper personal and collective transformations are underway —especially in areas ruled by technology, society, and our own inner psychology. You may feel subtle tension brewing around your long-term goals or friendships, or get sudden downloads about how you want to show up for your community. Don’t resist these stirrings. This is a sacred pause —a week for grounding and activating, in rhythm with your truth.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

Aries Sun & Rising:

This week’s new moon in Taurus activates your sector of stability and self-worth, Aries, and this time it’s less about “securing the bag” and more about slowly, deliberately building your nest egg. Think: long-term investments, sustainable habits, and reconnecting with your value system. You’re seeing money as a reflection of your energetic output — not just a number in the bank. You might be organizing your finances, cooking at home more, or even planting literal seeds in a garden. This week is about cultivating roots, not rushing results. And with this lunation arriving just days before a new month, your intentions carry weight. What do you want the next six months of abundance to feel like?

As Venus, the planet of love and money, enters your sign on April 30th, you’ll feel a subtle but powerful boost in confidence and magnetism. You’re coming out of your spiritual cocoon with more clarity and less shame. Venus direct in Aries inspires you to express your desires unapologetically— and to chase them with style.

When Uranus and the North Node align on May 1st, you may feel called to support a humanitarian cause or finally donate to a movement that speaks to your soul. That’s Uranus (in your sector of income) harmonizing with the Pisces North Node in your sector of compassion, meaning your wallet and your heart are in sync. As Pluto prepares to retrograde in Aquarius, your friendships and online presence may begin shifting. Have the convos now that future-you will thank you for.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Welcome to your annual Taurus new moon week! Your new moon strikes on the 27th, and it’s like a soft yet stunning mirror is being held up to your spirit. Suddenly, you’re hyper-aware of your patterns — especially the ones you’ve been pretending are fine. But there’s no harsh judgment here. In fact, you’re meeting yourself with so much compassion it might surprise you. You’re starting to own your complexity. You’re less interested in being perfect and more focused on being real. This is the energy that births transformation. You might feel drawn to journaling about your past, sharing your truth more openly, or taking small, steady actions toward becoming the version of you that feels most free. Your life will transform for the better over the course of the next six months, so spend time this week visualizing and writing down your most potent intentions.

With Venus, your planetary ruler, sliding into Aries on April 30th in your sector of healing and dreams, you’re still in shadow integration mode despite the sun’s presence in your sign these next three weeks. This isn’t about suppressing your messiness; it’s about softening into it. Expect waves of inspiration (and maybe nostalgia) to hit you in unpredictable ways. On May 1st, when Uranus in your sign harmonizes with the North Node in Pisces, something or someone could unexpectedly show up and shift your trajectory. An email, a DM, a spontaneous invite — say yes if it aligns. As Pluto prepares to retrograde in Aquarius in your sector of career and legacy, you’re already sensing that something’s changing. Let your inner compass be louder than the noise.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Gemini, the Taurus new moon on April 27th activates your sector of closure, dreams, and the unseen. You’re entering a subtle but powerful cycle of spiritual recalibration, and this week you’ll feel more attuned to your inner world than the outer one. Your dreams may be vivid. Your energy levels might fluctuate. And your desire to unplug from the constant stimulation of your feeds? It’s not a glitch — it’s divine timing. This is the part of the story where you step back, not to disappear, but to reconnect with your magic. So sleep in, meditate, take long walks with no destination. You’re clearing mental space for a rebirth next month.

On April 30th Venus enters Aries and revives your sector of friendships and long-term vision. After a few weeks of feeling more emotionally porous, you’re now ready to re- engage socially — but on your terms. Think intimate hangs over big events, and meaningful voice notes over group chats. When Uranus in Taurus sextiles the North Node in Pisces in your career sector on May 1st, you could receive an unexpected opportunity that affirms your path, even if it’s still forming. Keep your antennae up for divine synchronicities. And as Pluto’s retrograde shadow in Aquarius creeps in, you’re starting to reexamine what you believe in, what truth means to you, and what kind of mark you want to leave on the world.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

As the week begins, the Taurus new moon is refreshing your sector of community and collective vision, and you’re starting to feel what it’s like to belong without shrinking yourself. This week reminds you that you’re not here to do it all alone, Cancer. Whether you’re being drawn to reconnect with a long-lost friend or start a group chat with folks who just get it, this lunation is amplifying your desire for emotionally fulfilling connection. You might even surprise yourself by being more visible online or deciding to share something close to your heart. It’s not about likes — it’s about alignment.

As Venus moves into Aries on April 30th, your sector of career and recognition lights up, and you may feel like the universe is subtly placing a spotlight on you. But with Neptune also in Aries, you’re learning to tell the difference between ego-driven ambition and soulful success. Meanwhile, the Uranus–North Node sextile is activating your community and philosophy sectors. You might be pulled to speak out about something political or social that hits close to home, or to support a movement that reflects your values. And with Pluto preparing to retrograde in your intimacy sector, you’re starting to realize how much emotional energy you pour into others — and how it’s time to redirect some of that magic back to yourself.

Leo Sun & Rising:

The Taurus new moon is illuminating your sector of career and public image, Leo, and suddenly you’re craving more meaning in the way you show up in the world. You’re not trying to just clock in and clock out anymore. You want to make moves that align with your purpose and nourish your spirit. This week is ideal for resetting your goals and reconnecting with the why behind your ambitions. Maybe it’s launching something you’ve been sitting on, or admitting that you’re ready to change directions. Either way, your values are calling the shots now, not your resume.

With Venus entering your fellow fire sign of Aries on April 30th, your sense of adventure returns in a bold, flirtatious way. Your sector of expansion and risk is lit, and you may feel pulled toward new teachings, road trips, or spontaneous opportunities to speak your truth. Uranus and the North Node align in your sector of career and shared wisdom, which could open unexpected doors — like a conversation that leads to a mentorship, or a project that reaches global audiences. As Pluto retrograde approaches in your relationship sector, you’re sensing that some partnerships are evolving. Trust what’s shifting. Let your boundaries grow with you.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

How does it feel to leap out of your comfort zone, Virgo? The week begins with the Taurus new moon on April 27th, landing in your sector of expansion, belief systems, and learning. This is your invitation to stop clinging to the map and start following the pull of your intuition. You might feel called to study something new, travel somewhere unexpected, or say “yes” to a perspective shift that used to terrify you. The path ahead may not be fully laid out — and that’s the point. You’re planting seeds now for a six-month journey of mental, spiritual, and creative expansion. Dream beyond your current reality.

Then comes April 30th, when Venus enters Aries and activates your sector of transformation and intimacy. Suddenly, your desires are louder, your curiosity sharper, and your passion deeper. This is a good time to be honest about what turns you on — and what you’re done entertaining. As May 1st arrives, Uranus in Taurusforms a sextile to the North Node in Pisces, harmonizing your spiritual growth with your relationship sector. This could lead to unexpected conversations that shift how you relate to others and yourself. And as we approach Pluto retrograde on May 4th, you’re starting to realize that your routines and work habits are evolving. Something in you is asking for more soul, less autopilot. Listen.

Libra Sun & Rising:

What if surrendering is the most powerful move you could make, Libra? The Taurus new moon on April 27th lands in your sector of intimacy, shared resources, and emotional transformation. It’s giving “release and rebirth” energy, but in a soft, grounded way. You might find yourself reevaluating who and what you pour your energy into. Are the exchanges in your life reciprocal? This new moon is your chance to set boundaries from a place of self-love, not self-protection. You’re also learning that real closeness doesn’t require you to abandon yourself — it asks you to root deeper in your truth.

Then on April 30th, Venus, your ruling planet, enters fiery Aries and ignites your relationship sector. Let’s just say: things could get flirty fast. But this transit also brings a bold honesty to your connections. You’re more inclined to say what you really feel — and expect others to do the same. On May 1st, Uranus sextiles the North Node, activating your emotional healing and day-to-day reality. Something as small as changing your schedule or saying “no” to a pattern can have a ripple effect. And as Pluto retrograde in Aquarius approaches on May 4th, your inner artist, romantic, or inner child might be stirring. Get curious about what wants to be reborn through play.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Can you let yourself be seen without the armor, Scorpio? The Taurus new moon on April 27th activates your sector of relationships and one-on-one dynamics, and you’re feeling ready — for more connection, more honesty, more realness. This lunation offers you a chance to set new intentions around how you show up in love, business, and friendship. If you’ve been afraid to let someone in (or let someone go), this is the week to face that fear gently and intentionally. You’re not who you were six months ago. And neither are your standards.

By April 30th, Venus enters Aries and activates your sector of service and routine, making your daily life feel more charged with creative energy and motivation. You’re more likely to move with purpose and clarity, especially if you’re aligning your actions with your heart. You’ll feel bolder and more energized during this transit, but also make sure you’re reacting from a heart-centered place rather than leading with your pride.

The May 1st sextile between Uranus in Taurus and the Pisces North Node helps clear out any stagnant energy in your relationships, potentially bringing an unexpected conversation or reconnection that reminds you what healthy collaboration feels like. As Pluto prepares to retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th, you may feel subtle pressure to redefine your relationship with “home” — not just your physical space, but your emotional foundation. Let what’s outdated fall away.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

What if slowing down actually moves you further, Sagittarius? The Taurus new moon on April 27th activates your sector of routine, healing, and wellness, and it’s asking you to recalibrate. You’ve been operating on high-speed lately — maybe even autopilot — and this lunation invites you to reimagine how your day-to-day supports your long-term peace. This week is ideal for revamping your habits, recommitting to rituals, or making your to-do list more soul-aligned. Slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind… it means honoring your body and time as sacred.

Venus enters Aries on April 30th, igniting your sector of pleasure and creativity. This is sexy, spontaneousenergy, and it’s giving you permission to follow your joy. Whether it’s dating, dancing, or diving into apassion project, let yourself have fun. Then on May 1st, the Uranus–North Node sextile opens the portal between your wellness sector and your expression sector — aka, taking care of yourself helps you show up more boldly in the world. This could also be the week you start advocating for something that matters to you publicly. As Pluto retrograde in Aquarius approaches on May 4th, your mindset begins to shift. Pay attention to how you speak to yourself— your thoughts shape your reality.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

What would it feel like to live with more softness, Capricorn? The Taurus new moon on April 27th lights up your sector of romance, creativity, and pleasure. This is your permission to pour more of your energy into the things that make life feel beautiful. Whether it’s getting back into a hobby, spending more time with kids or loved ones, or just letting yourself be adored, this week is about choosing joy. Your inner child is ready to come out and play — but only if you allow it. This is your invitation to open up to life’s unexpected pleasures and bask in daily synchronicities.

By April 30th, Venus in Aries awakens your sector of home and family, and you might feel a shift in your emotional landscape. You’re more protective of your space, more intentional about who you allow into your sanctuary. On May 1st, Uranus in Taurus sextiles the North Node in Pisces, activating your creativity and communication. Maybe you write something that resonates deeply, or have a heart-to-heart that unlocks a new possibility. As Pluto retrograde approaches on May 4th, you’re reevaluating how you relate to material security and self-worth. Let yourself question old programming. Just because something’s been your truth doesn’t mean it still serves you.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

What are you building that will truly last, Aquarius? The Taurus new moon on April 27th roots into your sector of home, family, and emotional foundations. You might feel an urge to clean, nest, or reimagine the space you live in. But this isn’t just spring cleaning — it’s soul-level clearing. You’re releasing emotional baggage and making space for a softer, slower version of you to emerge. This is a beautiful week to set intentions around what stability and belonging actually mean to you, and how you want to embody those energies going forward.

On April 30th, Venus shifts into Aries and lights up your communication sector, bringing more fire and flair to your words. Your voice becomes a magnet — so be intentional with what you say and how you say it. The May 1st sextile between Uranus and the North Node bridges your home life and your income or values sector. Maybe a family connection or living shift unlocks a money breakthrough. Maybe you decide to use your voice for something political or community-based that aligns with your values. As Pluto prepares to retrograde in your sign on May 4th, you’ll begin feeling a deep inner evolution. Your identity is changing. Let yourself be transformed.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Are you ready to say what’s really on your heart, Pisces? The Taurus new moon on April 27th energizes your sector of communication, self-expression, and curiosity. This is the week to write the thing, say the thing, or share the idea you’ve been holding back. You’re starting to find more confidence in your voice — and more clarity around what messages you want to put out into the world. You might even find healing in small talk or beauty in the details of everyday conversations. This lunation brings a gentle but powerful shift in how you connect.

Then on April 30th, Venus leaves your sign after an extended stay (due to that infamous retrograde, whew) and enters Aries, activating your sector of income and self-worth. You’re learning to see your value more clearly and to ask for what you deserve without guilt. Whether it’s raising your rates, applying for a grant, or simply affirming your abundance, you’re moving with less doubt.

On May 1st, Uranus in Taurus harmonizes with the North Node in your sign, creating a potent moment of intuitive downloads and magnetic breakthroughs. Say yes to unexpected insights or collaborations — they’re fated. And as Pluto retrograde in Aquarius approaches on May 4th, your inner world is ready to go through a deep spiritual upgrade. Let the quiet guide you this weekend. Something sacred is taking shape, and you’re hearing and seeing yourself more clearly than ever.

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There was a time when slip dresses were strictly reserved for the bedroom — worn with curlers, fuzzy slippers, and a robe. But fast forward to the ‘90s and even now to 2020s, and this lingerie-inspired style has shed its pajama past to become a full-blown wardrobe staple.

The slip dress has evolved with endless silhouettes, from minis to midis and maxis — in every size, shape, color, and print. It’s a year-round must, just as appropriate for weddings as happy hours and, when styled correctly, the office. You can wear it solo in summer, layered with a tee or cardigan in cooler weather, or top it off with a faux fur jacket in the dead of winter. For 35 slip dresses that take you from day to night in style, keep scrolling.

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