Explore your sign’s 2024 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.
2024 is an insightful year. When it comes to what the year 2024 has in store for your zodiac sign, the year is putting things into perspective and changing the scope of things in the process. This is the year to dedicate yourself to something that holds true value for you and to spend a little more time dreaming and honoring your inspirations in life.
The Year 2024 and Numerology
2024 is an 8 universal year in Numerology, meaning this is also a powerful year for financial abundance. Real change is likely regarding financial matters, and this is the year to tap into your personal abundance, manifest, go for the income you deserve, and claim your successes.
8 in Numerology brings the energy of spiritual and material wealth, finding your power through the different cycles of life, and being creative, and this is what 2024 is all about.
Your 2024 General Predictions and Year Ahead Astrology
Profound transformations are occurring this year, and they begin once Pluto moves back into Aquarius on Jan. 20, shaking things up again for the collective, and bringing the power back to the people. But it’s not just about transforming and breaking down what’s outdated; it’s about putting things into perspective on what new can become of it and where there needs to be a rebuild. Saturn moves through its last full year in Pisces this year, and there is a spiritual awakening that is still playing out in the world now. Saturn in Pisces wants to create structure out of chaos, but it in its best light, does so in a way that is compassionate for all those involved.
Jupiter remains in Taurus until May 25, when it enters Gemini, and this shift is creating a change in where blessings are being directed. Mutable signs will be experiencing an expansion and recognition this year, after feeling a little on the back burner last year. Fixed signs are taking in their blessings and wins from the past year, and are looking to ground and stabilize this energy in their life now. Cardinal signs are still moving through the Eclipse energy that they have been through since last year, and this year is a middle ground to this where they will be able to build rather than see another downfall.
Overall, perspectives are shifting, and what’s different is what makes you shine. Don’t limit yourself before you get started; harness your power of insight and honor every part of you. This is the year to call in your power and manifest your dreams by living in your truth.
2024 Horoscopes: What The Year Has In Store For Your Zodiac Sign
Aries 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Slay Astrology GIF by Grande DameGiphy2024 is about being your most authentic self, Aries. This year is a time of reclaiming your power, and about doing so with ease. Your power of attraction is strong, and you have the Midas touch right now. You are following your bliss and focusing on the wonder and magic in life, and are sitting in gratitude for all that you have grown. With a New Moon Solar Eclipse in your sign this year in April, you can expect a life-changing, breakthrough year for you. The change that you are experiencing now, comes from truly finding your happiness and what you align with.
There is little room for confusion when you are completely and wholly happy being yourself and doing your thing, and that’s what this year is about for you, Aries.
Taurus 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Astrology Zodiac GIF by Grande DameGiphyThis is a year of healing, finding your peace, and protecting that which you have created in your life, Taurus. You are in your own world, growing from the inside out and focused on where life is flourishing, and what seeds you still want to plant. This year is about finding your center, honoring your spirituality, and taking the path of least resistance. With Uranus in your sign for the past few years and still in your sign in 2024, there have been many ups and downs in life, and this year is about getting off that roller coaster.
By defining your boundaries and what you will or will not allow into your life, you create a safe space around you for you to feel more at peace, stable, and aligned with your heart.
Gemini 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Pop Art Astrology GIF by Grande DameGiphyYour energy is valuable, and so is who you are, Gemini. This year is a journey, and you are moving through different stages of clarity and self-acceptance now. Your vibe for the year is all about living in your truth, protecting your energy, and letting love grow. It’s about not concerning yourself with the trials of the past, and about looking at where you can bloom and strengthen your energy today. Jupiter enters your sign this year for the next year, and you enter the luckiest time in your life in over a decade. Whatever sign Jupiter is in is where the blessings are flowing, and your world is expanding to greater heights this year.
Don’t let anyone take your power away from you, and know you deserve the personal successes and happiness that 2024 is bringing.
Cancer 2024 Yearly Horoscope
The Moon Peace GIF by Grande DameGiphyIn 2024, you are shedding the old, and seeking renewal this year, Cancer. There is a deep letting go and transformation you are moving through in 2024, and you are experiencing a rebirth of positive energy in your life. This is the year to not be afraid to take risks and do things differently than you have in the past. You aren’t who you were before, and there is new life to nourish and be courageous with now. With Jupiter moving into your 12th house of closure, endings, dreams, and intuition, this year, there is a dreamy and healing vibe with you. Your guidance for the year is to create the world you are most inspired to live in and let go of what doesn’t heal your soul.
Embrace the new this year and let things be what they shall become to be, Cancer. You are evolving.
Leo 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Peace Leo GIF by Grande DameGiphyBe prepared for a wild ride this year, Leo. 2024 is an adventure, and it’s one that you initiated and planned for in 2023. You are taking off on a new calling, and are feeling the connection and prosperity of your dreams. Perspectives shift and new doors open for you in the process. Your connection to all that is is strong this year, and you are seeing your strengths and gifts right now. There is a sense of urgency you may be feeling this year as well, as Mars goes retrograde in your sign at the end of 2024, and this is a significant transit as Mars only retrogrades every two years or so.
Get everything you want to get done this year, and at the end of the year, use this time to find your ground in it all.
Virgo 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Diva Slay GIF by Grande DameGiphy2024 is a year of patience, self-discovery, and growth for you, Virgo. You are moving through an awakening in your life that is putting things into perspective, but also shattering what you thought once was. This is a time of going through certain experiences to see what you have been missing in your life. There are endings and new beginnings that you are walking through now, and you can trust that you will heal through what you have been through. With Mercury going retrograde in your sign again this year, you are finding your voice through any misconceived notions or miscommunications.
This year is about owning your power even in the unknown, giving yourself the patience that comes with growth, and shining no matter what is going on around you, Virgo.
Libra 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Diva Feels GIF by Grande DameGiphyThis year is a time of self-expression, communication, and living in your integrity, Libra. You are honoring your energy and your wisdom and communicating what you know. You are discovering some new truths this year that change the way you see things, including yourself, and are finding a new empowerment and love when looking in the mirror. Know that your truth is enough, and do what feels right for you and the path you are leading. There are two Eclipses in your sign this year, one in March and one in October, and this signifies the many different lives you are living this year.
On one note, you are living freely in your new truths and beginnings; on the other hand, you are still processing your emotions from what has been.
Scorpio 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Astrology Zodiac GIF by Grande DameGiphy2024 is an inspiring and fulfilling year for you, Scorpio. You are honoring your creative genius and will be creating and manifesting some projects, ideas, and perspectives. You are seeing the magic in your world, and the love is in the details for you this year as things come full circle for you. Your mind is your strength right now, and this is the time to use your gifts here and to create different expressions of yourself in the world through the work you do, the people you meet, and the beauty you create. With Jupiter, the planet of blessings, in your 7th house of romance for the first half of the year, emotions are high, and love is meeting you there.
Know that the good energy you put out into the world this year is coming back to you tenfold, Scorpio.
Sagittarius 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Zodiac Astrology GIF by Grande DameGiphyThis is a powerful, emotional, and intuitive year for you, Sagittarius. What’s been hidden is coming to light, and a lot of that is the true gifts and power within you that’s felt diminished. You are ready to choose yourself, to honor the duality in your life, and to see yourself as the unique and divine being that you are. You are moving through a time of seeing what makes you different and loving that part of you rather than hiding it away. With Pallas entering your sign this year, your curiosity and natural wonder for life are being received well, and you are inspiring those you come into contact with.
All of you deserve to be loved and heard, and you are learning about that type of unconditional love for yourself this year.
Capricorn 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Astrology Zodiac GIF by Grande DameGiphyThis year is about being fearless, Capricorn. You are overcoming previous challenges you have been through, and are correcting past mistakes that have been weighing heavy on you. This year is about finding ways to let go more and to trust that what’s awakening for you now is more than what meets the eye. The more you can appreciate and find gratitude in the present moment, the more beauty that can open up to you this year. With two Full Moons in your sign in 2024, you are truly going through a culmination in your life now, and you are laying to rest the ghosts of the past. The clarity you are gaining this year is profound, and there is so much to discover this year, Capricorn.
Take time to reflect, process, and heal, and know that what is breaking is being transformed for the better.
Aquarius 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Astrology Zodiac GIF by Grande DameGiphyThis year is about discovering the magic within you, Aquarius. You are forging your path, and living in your independence and freedom. You are moving through a time of not underestimating yourself, your power, or your purpose anymore, and new beginnings are opening up to you because of it. You are no longer defining your worth by the recognition of others, and are instead seeing yourself as the victor that you are. With Saturn in your 2nd house of finances, income matters may feel more pressing for you now as well, and this isn’t an area of your life in which you want to take too many risks this year.
Know that your development and journey are yours to move through, and there is no need to rush this. You are living in your magic in 2024, Aquarius.
Pisces 2024 Yearly Horoscope
Astrology Zodiac GIF by Grande DameGiphy2024 is an impactful, defining year for you, Pisces. You are surrounded by all the things that make you happy and bring you closer to yourself, and you have worked hard to be in the place that you are this year. You are calling back your energy and your power, and are focused on using your time wisely so that you don’t feel depleted in what you do. Nourishing your world is what this year is all about for you, and with Saturn in your sign again this year, you need all the support you can get right now. Saturn officially leaves your sign in 2025, so this is the year to grow from the lessons you have been through so you don’t have to repeat them or fall back on them again.
Your self-love is the priority, and what is blooming for you is highlighting all areas of your life with magic in the process.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Delmaine Donson/Getty Images
RELATED
Mercury enters Aries from April 16 until May 10, and what you were trying to see through or understand better while Mercury was retrograde here last month, you are experiencing a breakthrough now. Mercury in Aries is insightful and courageous, and people are more likely to speak their minds and initiate conversation with this energy. Mars then enters Leo from April 18 until June 17, reminding us that sometimes it’s okay to be a little more selfish and to focus on what you need right now. Mars in Leo brings forth confidence, creativity, and passion, and brings an exciting energy to charge of your life and advocate for yourself.
Taurus Season officially begins on April 19, bringing some earth sign energy into the mix, grounding and nurturing what you are creating in your life right now. On April 27, we have a New Moon in Taurus, and this is an abundant and fruitful New Moon. This is one of the best New Moons of the year for you to set your intentions for your financial world and a time for seeing new opportunities for abundance. On the last day of the month, Venus moves into Aries until June 6th, and love requires a little more passion, independence, and excitement during this time.
Overall, April is a month of feeling things through, taking more intuitive risks, investing in yourself, and balancing your needs with the needs of your relationships.
Read for your sun and rising sign below to see what April has in store for you.
AriesKyra Jay for xoNecoleARIES
April is your month to shine, Aries. With the chaos of March now over, you are starting to see the progress of where life is and how everything has turned out even better than you were expecting. The month begins with the Sun in your 1st house of self, and you are feeling more confident, courageous, and in tune with yourself. With a Full Moon in your sister sign on April 12, relationships are also coming full circle for you now, and you are claiming your peace this month.
Mercury finally goes direct on April 7 and then enters your sign from April 16 to May 10, and this is going to clear up any miscommunications that you have been through. With Mercury now in your sign, your conversations are lively, your mind is inspiring, and you are thinking one step ahead. Before the month ends, Venus enters your sign from April 30 to June 6, and love is also moving forward for you now. Overall, this is a month where you are experiencing some happy outcomes and loyal support.
TaurusKyra Jay for xoNecoleTAURUS
April is a month of passion and purpose, Taurus. You are living in your abundance, and are focused on valuing yourself and the things you are bringing to fruition right now. Venus, your ruling planet, goes direct on March 12 after being retrograde in your financial house since March 1, and you are moving into the month experiencing more opportunities and also feeling more respected in what you are accumulating for yourself and standing your ground on.
Taurus Season officially begins on April 19, and it’s all about you right now. This Taurus Season is smoothing things out for you in love, with new relationship developments unfolding and life flourishing for you. The New Moon this month is in your sign on April 27, it’s time for a new beginning. You are truly embracing your strength in April, making things happen for yourself, and no longer doubting your future and what is possible for you.
GeminiKyra Jay for xoNecoleGEMINI
This month is all about the options becoming available to you now, Gemini. With your ruling planet Mercury going direct at the beginning of the month on April 7, you no longer feel as held back or out of place as you may have in the past weeks. With Mercury now direct, your thinking is clearer, and you are seeing the opportunities in your career and professional world that you may have missed before.
The more you can embrace your authenticity, the less time you will spend doubting how others perceive you, remember that this month.
On April 12, there is a Full Moon in Libra, highlighting the romance in your life and bringing forth understanding and compassion within your close relationships. You are letting go of old attachments or self-doubts that haven’t been serving your love life, and are growing closer to your own heart in the process. Before April comes to an end, Mars enters your 3rd house of communication, and you are overall leaving the month focused on your progress, your vision, and taking up space because you deserve to.
CancerKyra Jay for xoNecoleCANCER
This month is all about balancing your time and energy wisely, Cancer. You are being reminded not to overwork or overwhelm yourself in April, and to focus on doing the things that are within your control right now. The Sun is in your 10th house of career for most of the month so you are feeling really passionate about the things you are developing in your life right now, but it’s all about finding the right balance between your personal goals and your needs in your relationships as well.
The Full Moon in Libra on April 12 will be a time to devote your energy to self-care, close loved ones, and overall getting some time to decompress. You are ready to let go of the things that don’t make you feel safe or nurtured and are receiving an emotional renewal right now. The New Moon in Taurus at the end of the month is a time to focus on your intentions on your community, friendships, and aspirations in life, and to pay attention to where you can create more abundance here.
LeoKyra Jay for xoNecoleLEO
Things are turning around for you for the better, Leo. April is a dynamic month, and you are owning your inner alchemist. With a Full Moon in your 3rd house of communication on April 12, you are getting the messages you have been looking for and the mental clarity you have found is bringing closure to some of your close relationships. This month is about being flexible and trusting the changes that are happening for you right now.
On April 18, Mars enters your sign until June 17, and this is huge for you. You began the year with Mars retrograde in your sign, so you are getting the opportunity now, to rewrite some of the things that weren’t working for you at the beginning of the year. You are overcoming previous obstacles, and experiencing a breakthrough in your life this month. Before April ends, there is a New Moon in Taurus, highlighting your career, reputation, and professional life. This is a good New Moon to set your intentions for what goals you want to come to fruition for you now.
VirgoKyra Jay for xoNecoleVIRGO
This month is all about building new foundations in your life, Virgo. You are feeling more supported and in tune with your own inner needs and interests, and it’s bringing you closer to people and systems that resonate. Your ruling planet Mercury goes direct this month on April 7 after being retrograde for the past few weeks; bringing more clarity, understanding, and compassion to your partnerships in life. You are focused on love this month and are working together with others to make your dreams come true.
Mid-month, Mars moves into your 12th house of closure and endings, and there is a journey of healing that you experience until June 17. You are motivated to understand yourself better and are looking at the past more right now in order to do so. This is a month of recovering and healing from what has been, for new foundations to be built upon. The New Moon on April 27 is a beautiful way to end the month, as you are getting glimpses of a new, abundant, adventure that is ahead of you.
LibraKyra Jay for xoNecoleLIBRA
This is a big month of closure for you, Libra. The Sun is in your 7th house of love for most of April, and your heart is in the right place. With Venus, your ruling planet, going direct on April 12 after being retrograde since March 1, you are finally able to take a breath. You are not experiencing as many obstacles when it comes to communication matters and you are feeling like you have the tools you need to move forward right now.
The Full Moon of the month is in your sign on April 12, and you are ready to let go of what isn’t working for you. You have been through a lot recently and have gained the clarity you need to let go of old attachments. Venus moves into your house of love before the month ends, and you are leaving the month feeling more in tune with where things are moving forward for you, rather than what you are leaving behind. Your heart moves through a journey in April, and your emotions are showing you a lot.
ScorpioKyra Jay for xoNecoleSCORPIO
April is a month of success, progress, and dreams coming to fruition, Scorpio. You are focused on your health, your priorities, and creating space for the new beginnings that you are creating in your life right now. The Full Moon mid-month is a big closure moment for you, and you are owning the fact that you have healed and you are no longer the same person you were in the past. This is a month of stepping into your power and feeling supported in doing so.
Mid-month, Mars enters your 10th house of career and public life and you are shining within your purpose. Over the next month and a half, you are going to be gaining some new opportunities that will be serving your professional life and goals. This is the month to show up and to let your skills, talents, and authenticity shine. On April 17, there is a New Moon in your opposite sign, Taurus, and you are leaving the month with some pleasant surprises in store for you in love as well.
SagittariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleSAGITTARIUS
April is a new beginning for you, Sagittarius. You are focused on putting the action and effort behind your goals, and you are being proactive within the opportunities that you are looking for right now. With a Full Moon in your 11th house of aspirations mid-month, you are letting go of the way you thought things would play out for you and are owning a more abundant version of things.
On April 27, there is a New Moon in Taurus, which will be highlighting your health and what your body needs more of right now. This is a New Moon to set your intentions for your everyday life and to create a new, beneficial routine that will make things easier for you at the end of the day. Before the month ends, Venus enters your 9th house of adventure, and you are leaving the month with your sights set high. Travel plans are likely, and this is a good time to create some new plans for yourself.
CapricornKyra Jay for xoNecoleCAPRICORN
April is about putting one step in front of the other with patience and dedication and trusting the decisions you are making for yourself right now, Capricorn. The Sun is in your 4th house for most of the month, and you are yearning for your safe spaces, comfort foods, and loyal people. Giving yourself more time to decompress, take care of yourself, and ground your energy is essential this month.
Mars enters your 8th house of transformation mid-month and will be fueling your need for some change, excitement, and emotional rejuvenation over the next month and a half. You are entering an impactful moment of the year for you, and you are motivated toward change right now. The New Moon at the end of the month is in a fellow earth sign, highlighting the romantic new beginnings you are entering now. Overall, this month is a process, and you are opening new doors while finding gratitude in what is here for you now.
AquariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleAQUARIUS
April is about giving yourself time to process, accept, and gain a new perspective, Aquarius. You are being guided towards friendship, connection, and community, and are understanding what may be creating the discord in your life that has been distancing you from that. The Full Moon this month is happening in Libra on April 12, and you are ready to let go of feeling like you have to do it all at once or all alone. This month is a reminder to take your time with all the experiences you want to have, trusting that they will come to fruition for you.
Mars enters your house of love and partnership on April 18, and you enter a passionate and steamy time. Romance is in the air for you as you move through the month, and you are spending more of your time with those who you want to move forward with. Venus also moves into a relationship area of your chart before April ends, and you are surrounded by love and community. Overall, this month is showing you that you are not alone and you don’t have to go through the heavy stuff alone either.
PiscesKyra Jay for xoNecolePISCES
This is a month where your heart is shining, and you are feeling in tune with the progress you have made in your life and within your relationships, Pisces. You are owning your value, your worth, and the beauty of who you are, and are ready to leave the past behind. With Mercury and Venus both going direct in Pisces this month after being retrograde in your sign for the past few weeks, you are in a better space than you have been, and there are fewer obstacles and miscommunications in your life.
You have been through a journey of understanding yourself better through your goals, perspectives, and interests, and have been committing yourself to your authenticity. On April 27, there is a New Moon in Taurus happening, and this New Moon is a good time for communication matters, getting your message across, and for your creative pursuits. With the clarity you feel within your mind and heart right now, you are making a lot of progress in April and feeling pleased with where life is headed.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole
For instance, people who have only had sex with their spouse reportedly have a 45 percent greater chance of having a really stable marriage. Another study says that 71 percent of men who have only had one partner are very happy in their marriage as opposed to 65 percent of men who’ve had two or more partners. And still, another report has stated that women with 10 or more partners are most likely to divorce while women with only one partner are the least likely to.
It's another article for another time about why this all may be the case. For now, I just thought it was important to remind cyberspace that virgins are not obsolete (check out Newsweek’s “Number of Virgins in America Hits Record High” that came out just this past January) and there are some former virgins in this world who not only waited until their wedding night — but, for their own special reasons, are oh so very glad that they did.
Giphy1. Lynn. 28. Married for Three Years.
“I come from a generation of virgins and I’m proud of that. My mom was a virgin when she got married. So was my grandmother. I was raised that my body is a wedding present and so I’ve always seen myself that way. I’m officially out of my newlywed years and while it took about a year for me to really get the hang of things, I like that my husband is the only man that I’ve known. I don’t have anyone to compare him to. I’m not wondering if I’m missing out. He was a virgin too, so we’re not worried about mystery babies or incubated diseases. Sex is peaceful in my home. I’m glad that I waited.”
2. Adina. 35. Married for Eight Years.
“I’ll be real — I was a virgin on a technicality. I think a lot of virgins are because I didn’t have intercourse until marriage — but there was some oral action going on up in here for years. That’s just the truth! It’s not that I don’t think that oral sex is sex — I just liked that I could have the pleasure without worrying about pregnancy…and yes, not wanting to get pregnant is the main reason why I waited until marriage. I will say that giving my husband something that no other man had before did make the wedding night special — awkward, kind of uncomfortable and funny as hell at times but really special. I don’t regret it.”
Giphy3. Marie. 29. Married for Two Years.
“I didn’t plan on being a virgin until marriage. My goal was just to not give it up unless I loved someone — and that didn’t happen until my husband. When he found out that I was a virgin, he didn’t want to risk us dating, having sex, and breaking up. He said that it would have been on his conscience for the rest of his life. So…we waited. I didn’t expect that to make me love and trust him more but it did. If he could guard my heart while dating me, I’m sure he can protect me well now that we’re married. Waiting made me feel safer in my relationship. That is probably the best thing about it.”
4. Eliana. 30. Married for Six Years.
“People like to act like sex isn’t a big deal and that’s a damn lie. Anything that can give you a child or a disease that could end your life isn’t something that you should not care about. It’s not that I wasn’t curious or tempted or that there weren’t times when I didn’t come close, but so many of my friends had regrets about…not really the sex but who they chose to have sex with that I didn’t think it was worth the stress. I do think that if you are going to wait until your wedding night that you should find some wives to talk to because, baby, I was not prepared. I think that is a part of what marriage is about, though — having some things that you learn about, only with your spouse, knowing that it’s not a performance but an experience and since you’re married, you have all of the time in the world. There was a learning curve but we’ve got it down now, ma’am. Thank you very much.”
Giphy5. Krystal. 27. Married for Four Years.
“I’ve always thought it was weird that people think that virginity is only tied to religion. I’m agnostic and I was a virgin until I was 23 because I watched how the college years went for most of my friends and I decided to pass on STIs, unwanted pregnancies, and being caught up in guys who I didn’t see a future with. Life was easier for me not having sex and now I can enjoy my husband without the drama that my friends went through. You don’t need religion to use discernment.”
6. Michelle. 24. Married for One Year.
“I don’t know why people think that being a virgin means that you don’t think a lot about sex or have valid things to say about sex. For me, staying a virgin was hard but the reason was simple: I have a vivid imagination and I didn’t feel like having to think about what I should try or hold back from when it came time to do it. I know women who are like, ‘I’ll have sex with you but won’t suck your d-ck’ or ‘I’ll have sex with you but not in these positions.’ Girl, that man is in your body. What are all of these rules about? If your first time is something that you will never forget, I wanted mine to be no rules, no boundaries — we in this bitch! And that’s just how my wedding night was. I love him. He loves me. We’re gonna do whatever, whenever, however, for the rest of our lives. To me, that’s how sex should be.”
Giphy7. Francine. 33. Married for Four Years.
“I was too busy for sex. Call it strange but I just had too much on my plate. I think some people go to college and lose it because they didn’t have a real plan. College is something you do and so you go — and then you get distracted. That wasn’t me. I knew what I wanted to do, so, as fine as some of the men were, I wasn’t going to waste my time or my scholarship. Then, once I got my master’s, I was focused on getting a job and buying a house, so I didn’t do a lot of dating then either. I guess the universe didn’t want me out in these streets for too long because once I was ready to have a dating life, after three flop dates, thanks to a set-up, I met my husband, we dated for six months, and got married. It’s weird because I didn’t put much thought into being a virgin until my wedding night while I was living my life but now that you ask, I’m glad that I waited because, since I am such a planner, it’s nice that I don’t see sex as something that wrecked, ruined or even delayed all of the other things that I wanted to do. I never want to see sex as problematic. I think that waiting kept that from happening.”
8. Nya. 31. Married for Six Years.
“I’ll never forget you telling me about that husband who said that the thing that he loved the most about his wife’s body is he believed that when God made her, he had her in mind. When you told me that she wasn’t a Coke bottle shape, that made me feel like I didn’t need to change who I was while waiting for the right man. In all honesty, a part of the reason why I was a virgin for so long is because I had body image issues that I was dealing with. In college, I learned that men talk just as much as women when it comes to stuff like that and I didn’t want different guys ‘sizing me up.’ When I met my husband, he always made me feel not just like I was attractive but that my body was stunning to him — and that made me want to share myself with him. Honestly, the only reason why we waited until our wedding was because we were in a long-distance relationship and didn’t date for long, but it did feel good to know that he didn’t want to ‘test anything out’ before to make sure that he would be happy in that way. He was satisfied with me without sex and that made the wedding night pretty incredible."
Giphy9. Berry. 38. Married for 20 Years.
“It might be weird to hear that, although I was a virgin on my wedding night, I was also ‘abstinent’ when I dated my husband. What I’m saying is that no man had penetrated me before him, but I did mess around quite a bit with guys and it always made things messy — one way or another. When my husband came along, he wasn’t a virgin by any stretch, but he had been abstinent too for a few months. When we saw that this was going somewhere, we made the decision to not do anything sexual until we got engaged and then to not have actual sex until our wedding night. It gave us time to learn intimacy in other ways. It also helped out our relationship because we both travel for work. People think that you don’t need self-control sometimes after marriage and that’s just not true. Anyway, something that I respect about waiting is it ‘programmed’ me to see sex as something that is only for marriage — not due to religion but because I don’t know what intercourse is like without having a husband. I kinda like it.”
10. Chadae. 43. Married for 18 Years.
“It might sound crazy but one of my favorite celebrities has always been Lisa Bonet. I thought she was so pretty on The Cosby Show and I remembered watching a rerun of when Cliff asked her husband if they had sex before marriage and he said that Denise was a virgin on their wedding day. Even though a lot of my friends were having sex, something about that stood out to me — that you can be a beautiful woman, go on dates, have a full life and there doesn’t have to be sex on the table. I also liked how proud Cliff was as a father because, when my husband asked for permission to marry me, my dad didn’t ask if I was still a virgin, but I told him and my mom that I was and he teared up. He said it was because he wanted a man to value me enough to vow himself to me before I gave him my body — and he trusted my husband because he did. It might sound old-fashioned but some things that are ‘old-school’ prevent you from learning things the hard way.”
____
Two of my favorite married couples have been together for over 20 years and the thing that they have in common is both the husbands and wives were virgins on their wedding day. Something that one of the wives has told me is she likes that all she knows is her husband and something that one of the husbands has said is he’s never wondered if he’s missing out on anything because he’s never had anyone to compare his wife to. How sweet is that?
If you are a virgin who is reading this, all of these resolves can definitely provide you with some food for thought before making any decisions about what to do about your own sex life. Because while the power of your sexuality is certainly your choice, should you want to wait — not only should you not feel bad, embarrassed, or even hesitant about that, there are benefits that can come with making such a sober-minded decision.
Virgins still exist. And, like most things in life, virginity has its own rewards. Salute.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Yuri Arcurs/Getty Images