

It's The Year Of The Empress - Here's What That Means For You
In Numerology, 2019 is considered a universal 3 year, bringing the collective focus to creative expression, collaboration, and expansion. The joyful energy associated with the number 3 invites us to experience more pleasure in our career, relationships, and life as a whole.
As women, we can be apprehensive when it comes to embracing our passions, whether they be in the professional world, dating realm, or even in the bedroom. Over the past several centuries, male-dominated power structures have interwoven a distorted perception of pleasure within the collective consciousness, twisting the concepts of passion and desire into something that is often viewed as impure and even immoral within certain social settings.
As we know, words and language itself can be extremely nuanced—carrying the remnants of meanings that have been lost in translation over a period of time. The word "desire" has its origins in the Latin word "desiderare," meaning "to long for, wish for; to await what the stars will bring."
Unfortunately, this interpretation of the word has been manipulated into a concept describing an insatiable sexual appetite; and although sexuality and desire can go hand-in-hand, they aren't necessarily synonymous. With that being said, 2019 encourages us to understand how we've subconsciously blocked ourselves from experiencing more fulfillment in our lives.
Say Hello To The Empress
This is the year in which you can switch up the narrative you've been bound to—the one that says you'll never be in a loving relationship or successfully run your own business, or even meet that perfect level of work/life balance. In many ways, this pursuit of gratification is sensual in its own right, enticing you to completely surrender to the ecstasy of living a wish-fulfilled life that places you in the position of authority—not your concerned parents, know-it-all friends, or micromanaging ass boss.
This is where The Empress comes in. Consider her the H.B.I.C. of the Tarot.
She rules alongside her counterpart, The Emperor, over the various kingdoms of their empire. The number 3 graces this feminine powerhouse's Tarot card, emphasizing the brilliant, almost supernatural, creative abilities that she possesses. This number reminds us that we are a combination of our humanity and our spiritual self. The Empress is the epitome of the popular saying, "As above, so below." It is through her alignment with her soul's essence that she manifests some of her greatest works, whether that be a lucrative business, a beautiful masterpiece, or a growing family. In our modern times, she is seen as the Supermom who successfully navigates the professional world while still holding down her household.
In the well-known Rider-Waite Tarot deck, The Empress sits upon her luxe throne surrounded by a bountiful forest with a waterfall flowing in the background, both elements of nature representing fertility and abundance. I always refer to this Tarot card as the "sitting pretty" energy because The Empress has everything she wants and then some. Leaning against her throne rests a heart-shaped stone scribed with the symbol that represents Venus, the planet of love and money.
TaurusLaci Jordan for xoNecole
Big Taurean Energy
One of the most important lessons that The Empress teaches us is the power of self-love and the role it plays in our relationship with abundance, sensuality, and creativity. This year, we are being initiated into the next level of this self-love journey that requires us to embrace our hidden gifts and talents that have lied dormant for far too long. Uranus, the planet of innovation, recently moved into Taurus (the zodiac sign associated with The Empress) where it will stay for the next seven years.
We are in the beginning stages of a radical transformation that will impact the way we create financial stability for ourselves.
The energy of Taurus always brings into question what we value, and over the next several years you may find yourself changing course, possibly multiple times, due to things falling out of alignment with what your heart really wants to experience. With that being said, don't be afraid to explore your options, especially if you've got big dreams of becoming a millionaire. It doesn't hurt to have a few different streams of income flowing your way and this Uranus in Taurus transit can definitely help you rake in some cash in new ways. The Saturn in Capricorn transit takes this objective a step further by challenging us to be diligent in the pursuit of our long-term goals. For many of us, the work that we're exploring now will play a significant role in our legacy years down the line.
If there's a hobby that you've been wanting to experiment with, this is the year to test the waters. Mercury is still retrograde in Pisces, drawing our focus back to the past, and not just to our old relationships, but to the the old passions we've let fall to the wayside in the midst of adulting. Although it's not advised to start new endeavors during the retrograde, this energy is perfect for rebranding your business, launching that new product you've had on the backburner, or dusting off your guitar that's been stowed away in storage. As annoying as Mercury Retrograde can be, there are some good things to take away from this time that's giving us the opportunity to recalibrate our mindset and strategy to move forward in the year ahead. Creativity remains at a high while the planet of communication continues backtracking through Pisces. Take advantage of this introspective phase to excavate the hidden gems within your inner world. Once Mercury is out of its post-shadow phase in April, you'll be ready to resurface to share your beautiful treasure with the world.
The Empress reminds us that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Until we recognize the magic that we carry within us, life will remain lackluster and full of regrets.
One of the many lessons that she teaches is to know our value; and like the ideal mother, The Empress affirms it within her children—especially women, who are often conditioned by society to be more submissive, ultimately leading her towards a more passive approach to life that hinders the fullest expression of her potential before it's even given life to breathe. Even though the Empress carries herself with dignity, this phenomenal woman is rebellious in her own way, defying the expectations imposed upon her choosing to nurture the deepest desires that rest within her heart until they're ready to be birthed through her womb—the portal of her creative power.
As we know, healing starts from within, so adding more citrus fruits, melons, and water to your diet is essential. If you're into aromatherapy, make your own massage oil with Sandalwood or Ylang-Ylang. Balancing the Sacral chakra may also require some deeper self-reflection, particularly related to issues of shame, guilt, sexual abuse, and codependency. Take a proactive approach in honoring your spiritual and emotional wellness. This is the foundational work that is necessary for making the most out of your creative, sensual energy, which will give you the ability to manifest abundance in all areas of your life.
The magic of the Empress lies within you, waiting to be acknowledged and nurtured so that you can carry forth your plans with flawless execution in the year ahead.
Featured image by Getty Images
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Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Megan Thee Stallion Shares The 'Intense' Workout Routine That’s Got Her Snatched
One thing about Megan Thee Stallion is that she’s going to motivate you to stay active. From afar, she seems like the perfect gym bestie, and up close, it looks like her workouts would have us gasping for air. But hey, she doesn’t call her routines “bootcamp” for nothing.
After an extended break from social media and the public eye, the Houston Hottie is back sharing the high-energy workouts that are keeping her lean and she’s happy to report that “the results have been resulting."
The 28-year-old rapper dropped an Instagram Reel, detailing the workout routine that’s putting her endurance to the test. With the help of her personal trainer, Megan has one word in mind when it comes to her progress and that’s: “Consistency.”
The “Savage” artist has been traveling, making “hot girl moves," and after returning from a trip to New York, she expressed that her trainer is pushing her to keep the same energy back in the gym.
“I had just gotten back from New York and I told my trainer, ‘Look, friend, I was having a time. Can you please take it easy?’” Megan said. “He said, ‘Hmm, I’ve seen you doing all that hot girl s—, so what you need to do is get in that gym and have that same energy.’”
Her trainer then instructed her to do jumping squats with an exercise ball and resistance band around her legs for an extra burn. “I put my thing down, flipped it, and reversed it and that’s what happened. This sh– burned like a motherf—,” she teased in the video’s voiceover while executing both forward and backward jumping squats.
It’s clear that when it comes to Megan’s fitness, her trainer doesn’t play around about pushing her to her limits. In the next set of her cardio moves, we see the Grammy-winning artist jumping rope and moving on to a combination of mountain climbers and lateral jumps over a speed hurdle.
“Right here, that’s when I realized: I’ve been saying my trainer’s crazy but I know he’s really, really crazy because he must think that I’m trying out for the Houston Texans or something,” she joked.
To finish her workout, Meg hit two more barbell exercises, one being a set of cleans with 10-pound weight plates on the barbell. She then closed out by doing lunges with the barbell racked on her shoulders.
Of course, the best way to close out a workout is to nourish yourself with a balanced meal. Meg showed off her delicious post-workout plate with salmon, a sweet potato, and assorted veggies.
With so much of her public life being shared on the internet, it’s nice to see her letting us in on her progress in a fun and motivating way. “I just want to be transparent with y'all. Working out hurts, but it’s really a mental thang, so go do it!”
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Featured image by Taylor Hill/Getty Images