My Black Is Resilient: 5 Texans Reflect On The Power & Purpose Of Juneteenth

“Reclaiming my time” isn’t just a catchphrase coined by our beloved ‘Auntie’ Maxine Waters. It is an assertion that Black Americans have been striving to obtain for centuries. Pillaged and plucked from our Motherland, stripped of our culture, and robbed of our freedom, Black Americans have fought vigorously to not only reclaim our time but to reclaim our identity for centuries.
While the foundation was laid by those who came before us, the world saw an undeniable shift in the early 2020s.
George Floyd, like so many others, paid the ultimate price. As a result of his untimely death, the world reached a tipping point. Black squares standing in solidarity filled our timelines, companies plastered their promises on their websites, and DEI, all of a sudden, became a buzzword. The world was now “woke” from its all-too-complacent slumber.
The Story of Juneteenth Is the Story of Freedom
More than ever before, the nation wanted to hear our stories and right its wrongs. Let’s be clear, not everyone shared these sentiments. Go to any corporate Instagram page and read the comments under any Black-centric, supporting post. The vileness of some keyboard warriors never ceases to amaze me. Nonetheless, historic shifts were made. People like Dr. Opal Lee, the 95-year-old activist who set out to walk from Texas to Washington, D.C. in hopes of gaining support from Congress to officially name Juneteenth a national holiday, finally saw her dreams and hard work manifest into reality.
For the first time since its inception over 150 years ago, Juneteenth became a recognized Federal holiday in June 2021.
Now, more than ever, people are privy to the date etched in history in which all enslaved Black people were set “free” as deemed by the Emancipation Proclamation. This day, when General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas with his Union soldiers to inform over 250,000 enslaved Black people they were now free, came two and a half years after the actual Emancipation Proclamation, on June 19, 1865.
Despite Black history, Black stories, and Black celebrations like Juneteenth being brought to the forefront, there are still seemingly gaps that need to be bridged between our present and our past. There are stories from our ancestral archives that need to be told and retold, so that our history, all too often diminished by high-rise condos, quaint cafés, and overpriced artisanal shops, may never be forgotten.
This was evident when I first visited Houston and learned about the history and legacy of Freedmen’s Town, a neighborhood built by newly freed Black Americans in the 1800s. This was a community built by hand, brick by brick, where Black businesses boomed and Black families flourished. It was a place where Blacks had freedom of choice and could reclaim their identities that had been stripped through years of slavery and oppression. There were dozens of Freedmen’s Town settlements across the United States, but most notably in Texas. Houston’s Freedmen’s Town is the only remaining freed slave community of its kind in the United States.
Not surprisingly, Texas was the location of the first Juneteenth celebrations. In 1872, Jack Yates and members of his church raised $1,000 to purchase ten acres of land in Houston, known as Emancipation Park. This community cornerstone served as a formal gathering space for Juneteenth celebrations.
While the national spotlight on Juneteenth has grown in recent years for many Black communities, Juneteenth roots run deep in Texas.
To get a better idea of how Texans honor and celebrate Juneteenth in this day and time, their perceived importance of the holiday, and how they define their Blackness, I tapped some locals to get their perspective.
How Black Texans Continue To Celebrate and Preserve Juneteenth
Zion Escobar
Executive Director of the Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy (HFTC)

Courtesy of Zion Escobar
I, myself, have older family members who have never heard of Juneteenth, despiteJuneteenth having been around for over 150 years now. Why do you think there are still so many people who don’t know about this celebration?
When I’m kind of pondering that question, I really actually have to reflect on the surface level -- why I think people don’t know about this, and then the deeper level -- why I think they don’t know, right?
And, if I start with the idea that context is everything, I truly believe that once the country is introduced to the story of freedom -- which, a.k.a., the story of Freedmen’s Town, the story of the Houston/Galveston region’s Juneteenth story, and the context that has, to the social justice movement happening throughout the country, to modern-day issues of policing and how all of these things really track back culturally to norms and Jim Crow laws, and post-Reconstruction Era, decisions that were made, in regards to redlining in Black communities and culture erasure -- when people have that context, they’ll realize that a lot of the things that they are out in the streets fighting for, that this is so not new.
That this problem is 150+ years old. I think that more people will start to understand. The example that I would use as a kind of that beacon of hope is that the 1619 Project has set the context for America, for a conversation that’s been around since 1619.
So, I think the answer is that context is everything. People have a tendency to say, “Oh, Juneteenth is about slavery and nobody wants to talk about slavery” and people actually don’t understand that it’s actually the story of freedom. And, it’s the story of what we did, what Black excellence looks like before all these systems of oppression really took hold and were established as a system.
As the Director of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town Conservancy have you seen an evolution in the way that Juneteenth has been celebrated in Houston? How so?
As the director of the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, I have seen a substantial shift in how Juneteenth is being celebrated in Houston. Case in point, we’ve been free for over 150 years now, and for the first time ever, the grassroots, the foundational non-profit organizations’ leadership in Houston have come together to collaborate on a city-wide Juneteenth experience; meaning, we are not just having a parade that the city gets to come to.
As Black organizations, we are working with each other to uplift, co-program, co-fund, co-market and communicate what this is about, and to show unity in a way that I think people need to see around the world -- that we are all on board with this story and we understand that this needs to come into the American consciousness in a very real and solid way and we are showing up to do the work and we understand the assignment.
[In] previous years, I can’t say that there was such a cohesive consciousness of understanding, and the social justice movement has awakened that vigor, that thing, within everyone to say, ”We need to get it together and make sure that the story is clear and that the context is clear”; because people are celebrating Juneteenth in far reaches of the globe and they don’t have the context. Which is how you get Juneteenthice cream and Juneteenth Vaseline.
"It’s too important to the fabric of Houston’s history, to America’s history, to the history of the slaves that came and laid the foundation for what we know as Houston today that all of America is celebrating -- the wonderful Black culture and music and expressions that have come from Houston. People need to understand the context."
So, we are ready to do that work, because we are not going to see the Cinco de Mayo of Juneteenth, where people say it’s tacos and beer and no one actually knows the true history. It’s too important to the fabric of Houston’s history, to America’s history, to the history of the slaves that came and laid the foundation for what we know as Houston today that all of America is celebrating -- the wonderful Black culture and music and expressions that have come from Houston. People need to understand the context. So, it’s evolved because it is time and we’re ready and I think the consciousness of the collective community is ready. And so, I’m excited to see what we do and I’m excited to continue this inaugural effort in collaboration with everyone.
Finish this sentence: My Black is ________.
Resilient.
Lauren Greer
Principal

Courtesy of Lauren Greer
Black history is American history. As an educator, how are you seeing Juneteenth being taught in school systems, if at all?
So, that’s interesting just because as an educator, just in light of all the things that have happened recently, there’s some conversations about critical race theory and things of that nature, and because I am in an urban school district, there have been lots of initiatives just around all things cultural diversity and things of that nature. I will say though, as far as just teaching Juneteenth in and of itself, I still haven’t seen that in the classrooms. However, I’m also in an elementary school setting as well. So, it looks a little bit different than what it looks like say in middle school or high school or something like that.
This is the first year, though, where they have the actual holiday on the school calendar. So, my kiddos are off on June 20, that Monday. This will be the first time ever that that’s happened. There are lots of schools in our district. We have different calendars that are already on summer break, but my babies are not on summer break yet. So, we will actually experience the national holiday for Juneteenth while we are still in school. So, while there are initiatives for cultural diversity, Juneteenth still is not a primary focus, as of yet.
As a Texan, has Juneteenth always been something that was celebrated by you and your family? Please explain.
Yes. A lot of the things that I learned, like all things Black history and Black culture, things like that I actually learned at church. Because, the neighborhood I grew up in was a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood, but my church was always Black American. So, from Black history plays, to Juneteenth, to picnics in the park, to the parades that come with it, all of that has always been a part of my upbringing. So, it was not uncommon to literally go to the neighborhood park for all of these things -- for picnics, and just, you know, games, and things of that nature.
Learning all the history that comes with all that was just an embedded part of what I learned in church all the time. And, then just my mom, she just wanted to make sure that we knew our history and so literally I grew up hearing about this all the time in my household, on Sundays or Wednesdays, Vacation Bible Schools, all of those things is the space that I really learned all of the things Black history and Black culture.
How do you celebrate and honor Juneteenth now?
All things Blackity Black Black Black to be completely honest. Usually, getting with friends, picnics, hanging out in the backyard, just reminiscing on history. But, we kind of live it every single day. So, now that there’s a national holiday for it, so to speak, that doesn’t change how we’ve always felt about it, it doesn’t change how we always felt about our culture. It’s given us a space to embrace it a little bit more. Just because of all the things that have happened in our nation in the last few years it’s kind of really drawn light to some things. So, it causes us to be more aware of our culture and also more proud of our culture and who we are as well.
And, so, we take those opportunities on a daily basis to kind of reminisce, but on that day we like to get together and kind of hang out and chill together as well. So, that will probably likely happen again this year. We will all probably get together at somebody’s house just to be around each other.
Finish this sentence: My Black is __________.
When I thought about that question, the cliche answer is 'beautiful.' But, then, as I was thinking about it again this morning -- my Black is needed. I really believe that all of us have been given an assignment on the earth. And I really believe that there’s something that I bring to the table that someone else doesn’t bring, and there’s something that someone else brings to the table that I don’t bring. So, I feel like it is so needed. There has been a target out for our culture for so long, and I feel like we cannot allow society to keep subtracting from our culture.
"There are people that need us to stand in the gap. There are lessons that need to be learned from each and every last one of us. And there is wisdom that needs to be poured into the land. And, each one of us has a responsibility to do that."
Whether it be through entertainment, whether it be through politics, whether it be through education we can’t allow that because we are needed. There are people that need us to stand in the gap. There are lessons that need to be learned from each and every last one of us. And there is wisdom that needs to be poured into the land. And, each one of us has a responsibility to do that. Lauren has a responsibility to do that too, in all of Blackness and all of her educated-ness. The world needs that, and so my Black is needed.
Ebony Parker
Residential Loan Officer

Courtesy of Ebony Parker
What does Juneteenth mean to you?
Juneteenth to me is a representation of perseverance and displays our ability to make lemonade out of lemons at any time. It is us, as a people, continuing to get the leftovers but making them appear as a five-course meal. Juneteenth is the beginning of laying the foundation for our future as the freedom finally granted was the work of our ancestors, but the starting point for us to be able to accomplish the many things we have accomplished. Without the notification of freedom, we would still be sitting on the sidelines, unfortunately. Instead, we are now the trendsetters that everyone is continuously trying to duplicate, unsuccessfully.
As a born and raised Texan, has Juneteenth always been something that was celebrated by you and your family? Please explain.
Unfortunately, Juneteenth wasn’t always celebrated for me. The school system, especially in Texas, has always taught a watered-down and quite often inaccurate version of history, typically leaving out any representation of Black people outside the role of slaves (which unfortunately the textbooks now also consider us as “workers” instead as that narrative makes them appear innocent versus revealing the genocide and cruel things done to my ancestors and even more unfortunate are the things that are still occurring daily). My mother, too, was uneducated on the significance of the day and unable to pass down the knowledge.
"Juneteenth is the beginning of laying the foundation for our future as the freedom finally granted was the work of our ancestors, but the starting point for us to be able to accomplish the many things we have accomplished."
Therefore, I began educating myself on Black culture in college and embraced Juneteenth while finding less of a desire to celebrate July 4 as it along with other “federal holidays” wasn’t an inclusive holiday for those of us that didn’t meet the “standard."
How do you celebrate and honor Juneteenth now?
I like to do all things Black at an exponential level. I ensure that I don’t allow myself to drift towards code-switching. I spend time with my loved ones being unapologetically me. I ensure to be intentional in educating my children and peers. But, more importantly, I celebrate the day by setting a new goal to crush that will further my family, community, and culture.
Finish this sentence: My Black is __________.
My Black is simply Ebony! It is beautiful, intelligent, excellence, confident, sassy, trendsetting, nurturing, loving, and perseverance!
MyKayla Searles-Houston
UTHealth Graduate Student

Courtesy of MyKayla Searles-Houston
Why do you think it's important for younger generations to learn about Juneteenth?
I think it is important for the younger generation to learn about Juneteenth because this is our history. This is a part of our culture, especially being Black and from Texas. And, I think it's important to hear from our community and families because oftentimes we are taught history from a narrative or perspective that is not centered in Blackness. So, learning about Juneteenth should be something families talk about with all age groups because one day it'll be the younger people's responsibility to pass down this information.
"I think it is important for the younger generation to learn about Juneteenth because this is our history. This is a part of our culture, especially being Black and from Texas."
How do you celebrate and honor Juneteenth?
I usually celebrate Juneteenth by hanging out with my friends or family! Somebody may barbecue, or we will go to local community festivities which are always nice. There is usually some great food around which is one of the best parts! Honestly, I just love being surrounded by Black people who show love to each other, and being together on Juneteenth is another way for us to express ourselves and have some fun!
Finish this sentence: My Black is __________.
My Black is loving, intentional, and full of care and compassion.
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 courtesy of Ebony Parker
Originally published on June 14, 2022
Sergio Hudson On Designing With Intention And Who Gets Left Out Of The Industry
Sergio Hudson dreamt big as a young South Carolina boy staring out of the window of his mom’s Volvo driving down the Ridgeway, South Carolina streets. Those dreams led him to design opulent tailoring that’s been worn by Beyoncé, Queen Latifah, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Forever First Lady Michelle Obama, just to name a few.
Those dreams have come full circle in a new way as he recently collaborated with Volvo for a mini capsule collection suitable for chic and stylish moments this fall. The 40-year-old designer follows a long legacy of fashion aficionados who’ve used their innovation to push the automotive industry forward, including Virgil Abloh, Eddie Bauer, Paul Smith and Jeremy Scott.
Using the same material from the interior of the Volvo EX90, Hudson crafted a wool-blend car coat and waistbelt that combine the vehicle’s Scandinavian design with his signature tailoring and intention. The exclusive collection launched on October 20, and each piece is made-to-order by Sergio Hudson Collections.

Courtesy
In October, I traveled to Charleston with a group of journalists to get a firsthand look at Hudson and Volvo’s location. During a fitting, Hudson said his goal is to make “great work that can stand the test of time.”
“People can look back on and say, ‘I remember when Sergio did that collaboration with Volvo,’” he continued. “Thinking about aligning yourself with classic brands that speak to where you want to go. And I think that's what this collaboration kind of means to me and my business.”
Hudson pinpoints his mom as the biggest influence for his designs. This collaboration was no different.
“This particular coat reminded me of the swing coats that my mom used to wear in the early 90s. You know, diva girls in the early 90s had Sandra suits,” he said, referring to Jackée Harry’s character in 227. “My mom wore those and she would have these matching swing coats to go over them. And that's where the initial idea came. This would be around the same time that we had our Volvo. So she would put on her suit, her swing coat, get in that red Volvo, and go to church.”

Courtesy
With this capsule and beyond, Hudson wants to see more staples rotating in and out of closets this fall. He advises fashionistas to build her closet out with essentials to mix and match that aren’t just stylish but also sustainable.
“It's just those special pieces,” he said. “You can wear the same shirt and pants every day and nobody will notice. But if you have a special boot, a special coat, a special bill, a special bag, that kind of speaks to everything that your style stands about, that is something you should focus on.”
These are the same kind of staple pieces that return to our Pinterest boards and TikTok feeds season after season. Fast fashion has never been Hudson’s aim. “I'm trying to create a special pieces that can stand the test of time,” he said in his warm, Southern accent. “I'm only creating those kind of pieces from here on out.”

Courtesy
For Hudson, this collaboration is revolutionary. It’s his first time working with a car company and experimenting outside of his wheelhouse in this way.
“This is a Scandinavian brand, and, you know, it's 70 years old. I'm an African-American boy from South Carolina that has had a brand for 10 years. So I think bridging those two worlds and seeing the similarities was the beauty of this project,” he explained.
Though Hudson and his partner and CEO of Sergio Hudson Collections Inga Beckham have made massive strides in just 10 years, Hudson said the industry is far from where he wants to see it when it comes to Black representation. He pointed to how few Black designers were at this year’s Met Gala despite the theme being Black dandyism.
“The fact that I dressed 18 people speaks to how many of us weren't there,” he said. He implored more of industries, fashion and beyond, to collaborate with Black designers often.
“Allow mentorship. Allow funding. Allow great design to shine through,” he implored. “When it comes to being a designer of African descent, when you can't get the funding that your counterparts have, you can't compete. When you get opportunities like doing a collaboration with Volvo, or you get opportunities to be at the Met Gala, that's putting us on the equal playing field, but really the funding behind it is what we need to take it to that desk level.”
Featured image courtesy
Y’all know what folks tend to do in the hours leading up to a new year — they make New Year’s Resolutions. And while I’m personally not the biggest fan of those (check out “Forget New Year's Resolutions, Try This Instead.”), what I do like to recommend is taking personal inventory to see what you need to hold on to and what you can stand to actually…let go of.
So, let’s get right into it.
As you’re thinking about all of what transpired over the past 12 months, here are some signs that certain things (or people) who are currently in your sphere may need to be significantly realigned or even, shoot…let go of. Ultimately, for your greater good.
1. Your Mind, Body and Spirit Aren’t in Agreement (About It)
GiphyI believe I’ve shared before that, back when I was writing my first book, although I adored my editing team overall, it was still a Christian-based one, and so there were a few things that we would clash on. Take the term “human trinity,” for example. They kept wanting me to say something else for fear that it would appear “blasphemous” to certain readers.
Meanwhile, I kept giving pushback because "trinity" is not an actual biblical word. It literally means a group of three or a triad and while that can apply to the Godhead (I John 5:8), nothing is wrong with applying it to other situations and dynamics too...and, to me, the mind, body and spirit of a person equates to what I call their “human trinity” — and something that I oftentimes tell my clients is, “If your mind, body and spirit” are not all in agreement about something (or someone), take heed to that; at the very least, it’s an orange flag, if not a flat-out red one.
So with that said, think about what you have going on in your life right now — if you’re not in a state of complete and total peace concerning everything, is it your mind that feels that way? Is it your body that seems a bit stressed? Is it your spirit that has you unsettled?
Always remember that your being — your mind, body, as well as your spirit — was created to work in harmony, and so, if that isn’t happening about a particular person, place, thing, or idea…you really should pause, ponder, and reflect before making any major moves. Oh, and if two parts of your trinity are struggling, 8/10, that is a sign that you definitely pump the brakes. At least until you figure out why.
2. It’s Spiritually Compromising You
GiphyI’m pretty sure that a lot of you have heard the quote, “You don't have a soul, you are a soul; you have a body,” before. If you thought that the writer C.S. Lewis authored it, many people do. Actually, it comes from a man whom he admired by the name of George MacDonald, and yes, it is quite profound when you stop to think about your spirit is the divine part of your being; yes, many consider it to also be your soul (check out “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul”).
Since the essence of who you are pretty much comes from the spiritual side of you (check out “What's The Difference Between Being 'Religious' And Being 'Spiritual', Anyway?”), it’s important that you are super intentional about nurturing and nourishing it; this includes keeping safeguards up in order to prevent anyone or anything from compromising you from giving your spirit exactly what it needs to thrive and flourish.
For some of you, you know this means letting go of your partner. For some of you, a toxic friend. For others, it’s really time to find a new career path, shift churches (LISTEN), to move to another location (even if that’s another state or country) or to totally reroute your daily routine — and you know this to be true because your spirit is currently feeling drained and/or bitter and/or resentful and/or confused and/or like you are losing a part of who you are just to keep “it” around.
Sis, it’s not worth it. Compromising yourself at the expense of it costing yourself never EVER is. If what I just said hit really close to home, you’ve still got a few hours to leave it all behind in time for a brand and spanking new year. It might not be easy yet do it anyway. Your spirit deserves it.
3. You’ve “Hit a/the Ceiling”
GiphyI ain’t got no lies to tell you — between the orange one in the White House and his uber-maniac ways and AI sinking its teeth deeper and deeper into so many different industries, I definitely think that 2026 is going to be a roller coaster ride for many people as far as the job market is concerned. So, while I am ABSOLUTELY NOT recommending that you flippantly, emotionally, or impulsively quit your job any time soon, I do think that you should ask yourself if you’ve “hit the ceiling” where you are, so that you can possibly plan to look for employment elsewhere or even pivot into something else entirely.
And what are some signs that you have indeed knocked your head up against said ceiling?
- You are bored as hell (or worse, miserable AF) at work
- There is no room for promotion
- Your boss couldn’t care less about your goals or ambitions
- You feel undervalued
- Your skills are underutilized
- There seems to be little to no improvement or progress within the company
- You haven’t received a raise in years
- You procrastinate because you don’t feel motivated or inspired
The fact that most of us spend the majority of our waking hours working, it makes not one bit of sense to be collecting a check at a place that is stressing you out, messing with your psyche and/or is causing you to feel like there’s not much more that life has to offer than, as they say, “paying bills and dying.” If that is what life is like for you right now, although you might not be able to quit this month, it is definitely time to put an exit strategy into place. You know, some say that a whopping 85 percent of people hate their job.
If you are one of them, let’s strive to have that no longer be the case in 2026.
4. There Is Little-to-No Reciprocity
GiphyI’m not a fan of transactional dating (check out “Guess What? Dating Was Never Supposed To Be Transactional.” and “Should You Start Off As Friends? Science Says Absolutely.”); anyone who knows me will tell you that. And when guys talk to me about how drained they feel by a woman who seems to only take and not give (for instance, someone just talked to me about how his girlfriend of three years gave him a $20 gift card; meanwhile, he purchased her seven different presents…and she actually makes more money than he does — SMDH), I will oftentimes say, “If there’s no reciprocity, she is a liability.” And I mean it with everything in me.
This goes beyond romantic situations too. Take a friend of mine who, when I tell you that, when it comes to painful situations, she absolutely sucks at being a good support system. I know this because, for the past few weeks, I’ve been telling her that she has a pattern of not showing up in hurtful times and that my patience is wearing thin because I am just the opposite.
She shared with me that she realizes that she doesn’t show up for herself in her own painful moments, and so when something really uncomfortable, trying, or taxing happens to someone else, she tends to retreat instead of reaching out.
In other ways, she’s solid, and so we are working through the matter — but I’ll tell you this: At this point in my life, when I share where I need reciprocit,y and folks don’t want to give it, I have no problem shifting how I prioritize them in my world. Because it makes no sense to call someone “friend” (or partner) and you’re doing most of the work to make that word…relevant.
Bottom line with this one is, if you’re not getting what you need from your relationships — ANY KIND OF RELATIONSHIP — it just might be time to leave certain people behind…now (check out “Why I Don't 'Cut People Off' Anymore, I Release Them Instead”)…so that you have room for who will be willing to show you what reciprocity in relationships looks and feels like.
5. You Feel “Stuck” in “It”
GiphyWhen it comes to the word “stuck,” the definition that I’m coming from here is “to become fastened, hindered, checked, or stationary by some obstruction” — and for the sake of time and space, what I want to amplify is the word “hinder.” One definition of hinder is “to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede,” while another is “to prevent from doing, acting, or happening; stop.”
Believe it or not, as a marriage life coach, there are actually clients who I have fired — and the reason was that they were wasting my time. Listen, when you get to the point in your life where you get that there is less time in front of you than behind you, you can’t really put a price tag on your precious moments, so when clients don’t do their homework and/or choose to remain in ridiculous situations (for years at a time) and/or really just want to be coddled instead of getting the tips and tools that they need to make wise decisions on their own — they cause me to feel “stuck” because they aren’t challenging me to be a better coach.
Progress in a client is what makes me better…and so, what I will typically do is put these types of people on probation for about 4-6 months and then release them if they remain in their hamster wheel of cyclic activity (after over a year of working with them).
This is an example of what “stuck” looks and feels like in my life; however, you need to figure out if and how that word may apply to your own. What I can tell you is anything that you know is interrupting or preventing you from doing what you know needs to happen in your world, whether it’s a person, place, thing or idea, you really need to ask yourself if it’s worth holding on to — and if you believe that it is, you definitely should realign your boundaries concerning it or then. Because again, life is too short (and precious) to be “stuck” in something that really isn’t serving you (or serving you any longer).
6. Your Present and Future Seem Super Foggy with It Around
GiphyWhat does this mean? Well, fogginess speaks to things being unclear, right? When it comes to your present, a lack of clarity can speak to feeling/being confused and confusion means that something is going on that either doesn’t make sense to us or is sending us all kinds of mixed messages and signals — and when you continue to dwell in that kind of space, there’s a pretty good chance that your future will be just as…foggy. Just as unclear. Just as confusing.
I’ll explain. Have you ever tried to drive in the fog? You typically can’t see very far ahead, which means that you kind of have to drag along in your car and, even with headlights, sometimes something can run out in front of you, catch you off guard and that can either make your nerves bad or cause you to wreck. Along these same lines, a “foggy situation” can do the same thing — you’ll be out here barely getting anything done because you’re so busy trying to figure out what the hell is going on with it or them…and that usually will cause a domino effect in other areas of your life too.
Sis, it’s not worth it. If you don’t get what’s going on in some area of your world, you’re missing information, you are being gaslit, and/or you are in denial about what is transpiring right before your very eyes. For all of this, purpose to get the answers (clarity) that you seek or leave it behind you.
As an author by the name of Shannon L. Alder once said, “The most confused you will ever get is when you try to convince your heart and spirit of something your mind knows is a lie.” Somebody REALLY needed to hear that today. I hope that you did.
Just in time for another year, and the things that you can feel really good and CRYSTAL CLEAR about.
Welcome to 2026, my dear.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Here's What 2026 Has In Store For You, Based On Your Zodiac Sign
2026 is a year of love, growth, and reflection. As a universal 1-year, 2026 is signifying a time of new beginnings. New doors open, and this is the perfect space to build new foundations, relationships, and successes in your world. This year is about what you do with what you are receiving and understanding the power of intention and innovation.
It’s about having balance between your individual needs and the needs of your relationships, and knowing that you can have it all. 2026 reminds us of the importance of community, and new bridges will be built.
Overall, this year has some pleasant and unexpected surprises in store, and this is the year to follow your heart.
Key Astrological Transits of 2026
June 30: Jupiter Enters Leo
Jupiter enters Leo this year until 2027, and this is especially good news for fire signs: Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius, and for fixed signs: Aquarius and Scorpio. Jupiter in Leo is grand, regal, and over-the-top, and you can expect a lot of this energy in 2026. This is the time to own your creativity, your self-empowerment, and what makes you shine in life. You can align with the blessings of Jupiter by aligning with your heart and what makes you truly happy in life. This year is about being confident in your inner knowing and showing up.
July 27: North Node in Aquarius/South Node in Leo
The North Node moves into Aquarius, and the South Node enters Leo mid-year until 2028, and this is instrumental for the collective. With the North Node in Aquarius, authenticity is the direction to be heading. More people will be showing up exactly as they are, and feeling confident in their unique signature in life. We are letting go of the need to always be put together or be seen as “perfect” and embracing more community, genuineness, and eccentricity. New technological advances that shift the world are also more likely with the North Node in Aquarius.
October 3: Venus Retrograde in Scorpio/Libra
Venus goes retrograde every other year, and 2026 is a Venus Retrograde year. Venus will be retrograde in Scorpio from October 3 until October 25, and it’s important to be patient in matters of love and not to rush into things here. Take the time to get to know your past, present, and future in love better at this time, and don’t overcommit to things you don’t have the energy to see through. Venus will then be retrograde in Libra from October 25 until November 13, and this retrograde period brings you closer to the partnerships that serve you in life and helps you reflect on what these relationships may need to feel more stable and secure.
Overall, we are gaining clarity in love this year.
Read for your sun and rising sign below to see what 2026 has in store for you.
ARIES
This year is about putting yourself and your dreams first, Aries. You are on the path towards abundance, and your to-do list is piling up. This is the year to be confident in the things you are developing, consider all perspectives, and open up to new opportunities. Saturn, the planet of strength, hard work, and dedication, is in your sign for the entire year, and you are overcoming. Saturn tends to challenge you more than anything, and this year, it's challenging you to evolve.
This is the year to create a new plan and take the steps needed to fulfill it.
With Neptune also in Aries for the entire year, you have wisdom, creativity, and imagination on your side, and 2026 overall is the year to believe in the impossible. Connecting more deeply with your spirituality is also serving you this year, as you define your belief systems, interests, and inspiration, and let life guide you. It’s all about having balance this year, Aries. Move when you feel inspired to move, and allow when you feel ready to let go and receive.
TAURUS
2026 is your year of connection, collaboration, and increasing your earnings, Taurus. You are walking into the year full of empowerment and vision, and you know what you want to accomplish and who you want to accomplish it with. Opportunities to work with others and create something beautiful in your world are more prevalent this year, and you have the Midas Touch in 2026. This year is all about dedicating yourself to your dreams and being proud of yourself and your efforts.
The New Moon in Taurus on May 16 is a groundbreaking moment for you in 2026, and a time when you feel like you are embarking on a new chapter in your life. Embrace the opportunities that come your way mid-year, and know that you have what it takes to succeed. On June 19, Chiron, the wounded healer, enters your sign, and you enter a new journey of getting to know yourself, your past, and your inner world better.
Chiron will be in Taurus until September 17, will briefly enter Aries until April 2027, and then will transit back into your sign until July 2033, so there is time, but overall, you are opening the door to healing this year.
GEMINI
2026 is a transformative year for you, Gemini. You are awakening to new ideas, insight, and experiences, and it can feel like there is a lot to take in right now. This is your year of embarking on a new journey and defining what you want for yourself. Things change, perspectives shift, and it’s about what you do with what you know now. Uranus, the planet of upheaval, change, and rebellion, is in your sign from April 25 until May 2033, and this year is about expecting the unexpected.
Know that everything happens for a reason, and what transforms for you now is creating the space for new life to grow.
Jupiter, the planet of blessings and expansion, also changes signs this year, and for you, this means a new outlook on life altogether. Jupiter will be in your 3rd house of communication from June 30 until July 26, 2027, and the vision is there for you. This is a great year for publication, writing, short travels, social media, and networking, and you are learning how to take up space right now. Overall, 2026 is about getting the answers you have been looking for, feeling empowered to express yourself, and allowing transformations to move you into a new beginning.
CANCER
This year is about knowing you are supported and finding your strength, Cancer. You have been working hard on building the things that matter to you and finding your stability in life, and this year is that last push towards your dreams. You have been protecting your energy and your peace; however, this year reminds you that remaining overly vigilant can hinder you from being open to new opportunities that can actually serve you in life.
Remember to listen to your intuition more than your fears this year, and trust that you are being guided in the right direction.
We begin the year with a Supermoon in Cancer on January 3, and end the year with a Supermoon in Cancer on December 23 as well. This is major news, and points to some life-changing closures, culminations, and inner awakenings happening for you in 2026. With Jupiter also in your sign until June 30, luck is still on your side right now. Your life is expanding, and it’s time to catch up to the new chapters that want to take place for you by letting go of what hasn’t been working.
This year isn’t about sticking to what is comfortable; it’s about opening your mind and your heart to new possibilities.
LEO
2026 is your year of freedom, success, and stability, Leo. You have a lot of things working out for you this year, and it’s because you have done the work and trusted yourself and your unique journey in the process. The mountains you have climbed are behind you now, and you are ready to experience the fruition of the intentions you have set for yourself. Jupiter, the planet of luck, moves into your sign this year from June 30 until July 26, 2027, and you enter a fortunate time in your life.
With Jupiter in Leo, all eyes are on you, new opportunities come into your life, and you are feeling sure of yourself.
This year not only empowers you, but it also helps you let go of what has been disrupting your healing journey. The South Node enters Leo from July 2026 until March 2028, and you are moving through the process of getting to know yourself and your past better. You are going over the things you have identified yourself with, the experiences that have shaped you into the person you are today, and what this all means for the way you experience life overall today. This year is about evolving, letting go, and claiming new blessings.
VIRGO
2026 gives you perspective, Virgo. This year is a new beginning for you altogether, and you are taking things one step at a time. The vision is clear, the intentions are set, and you know what needs to be done to live a life of fulfillment. With the South Node in Virgo until July 26, you are still in the process of healing from the past, discovering new truths about yourself, and rewriting your story. This is a defining year for you, and the confidence you have in your vision for the future is creating new success, connections, and opportunities for yourself.
This year is about speaking up, gaining clarity, and being the star of your world.
With a Lunar Eclipse in Virgo on March 3, you are moving into the year with the need for closure and redemption. You have been through the process of letting go and creating anew, and this back-and-forth energy finally comes to a close for you at this time. You have taken care of yourself and your dreams, and now it’s time to allow yourself to be taken care of more and to embrace the new success that wants to come into your life. Know that sometimes things just work out without reason, and that when little miracles happen for you this year, accept them.
LIBRA
2026 is all about having patience, setting new intentions, and sticking to the plan, Libra. You are walking into the year with a lot of responsibilities on your plate, but it’s nothing you can’t handle or delegate. Look for new resources and opportunities this year, and don’t allow yourself to get caught up in the timing of it all. Things happen when you least expect them to, and it’s about trusting that things are working out behind the scenes for you right now.
With Jupiter moving into your 11th house of friendships this year, your support systems are instrumental to your growth in 2026 and will be a guiding force of love and community for you.
As you walk into the year, write a list of the defining experiences you want to have this year. Don’t have any expectations on the timing of it all or how exactly things will play out for you; leave that up to the universe. However, create the plan and get the vision going. With Venus going retrograde in your sign at the end of the year, from October 25 through November 13, you will be leaving this year with more clarity of the heart.
Relationship dynamics shift, and you are recognizing more of what your heart needs in order to feel seen, supported, and abundant.
SCORPIO
This is a powerful year for you, Scorpio. 2026 is all about living out your dreams and experiencing the successes you have been working towards. You have set the intentions and done the work, and the manifestations you once dreamed of come into your reality. This year is about getting your ducks in a row, preparing yourself for the opportunities you have wanted, and knowing that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
You are entering a year of empowerment and abundance, and are owning your independence and positive energy in the process.
Jupiter, the planet of fortune and good luck, moves into your house of career and achievements mid-year, and you are accomplishing some major feats. Your career and professional life are taking off, and you are a hot commodity in 2026. This is your year of believing in yourself wholeheartedly, and not self-sabotaging the good that is in front of you. At the end of the year, Venus goes retrograde in your sign from October 3 until October 25, and your heart is doing some healing, reconnecting, and self-reflecting. Overall, this is a major year of growth for you, and you are moving through life head-on.
SAGITTARIUS
2026 moves quickly for you, Sagittarius. You are experiencing some renewed enlightenment, and this is an important year for communication matters. It’s about trusting your process, not rushing into anything, and allowing your mind to catch up to your body. Be careful with being too impulsive this year, but overall, trust that you will know what you need to know when you are ready to. Life is expanding for you overall in 2026, and your mind is expanding in the process. Pay attention to the conversations you are having this year, as this is when a lot of things are shifting for you.
With Saturn in your 5th house of romance for the entire year, you are on a journey of redefining what happiness means to you.
Have you been putting your positive experiences, happiness, and romantic life on the back burner too often? This is where massive changes are taking place for you this year, and when you get a better look at what you need to feel truly fulfilled and your heart a little lighter. On June 30, Jupiter, your ruling planet, moves into your 9th house of travel and adventure, and this is when things really start picking up for you this year. You are crossing off your bucket list as you move through 2026, and learning something new about yourself and the world around you in the process.
CAPRICORN
2026 is all about taking on new opportunities and owning the momentum you feel in your life right now, Capricorn. This is a fast-moving year for you, and things happen in the blink of an eye. You are feeling motivated towards your new beginnings and are experiencing a lot of support and fortunate opportunities that you have been looking forward to in the process. It’s about taking more time to listen to your intuition and instincts and trusting that you are making the best decisions for yourself.
With Saturn, your ruling planet, in your 4th house of home this year, you are rebuilding your safe spaces right now.
Dynamics shift, and this is helping you get a clearer view of what is working and what isn’t working for you regarding family life, home, financial security, your inner world, and how you process things here. With the North Node also moving into your house of communication mid-year, you are learning more about the power of your thoughts and the words you put out there. This year is about speaking into existence what you want to happen and understanding the power you hold as the creator of your life.
AQUARIUS
2026 is the year of owning the balance you have found in your life, Aquarius. You are giving and receiving freely, and feeling more abundant than you have in a while. Things just flow and work out for you in 2026, and it’s time to own that you deserve this energy. You have been putting into place and preparing for the things that are finally happening for you this year, and it’s time to feel good about it all. This year reminds you that you are worthy of freedom, abundance, and success, and that the more you embrace this knowing, the more it becomes your reality.
We enter the year with a Solar Eclipse in Aquarius on February 17, signifying a year of new beginnings, change, and personal growth for you.
Who you are when you enter the year is a different person from who you are when you leave it, and you are feeling more like yourself overall. The North Node of Destiny also enters your sign this year on July 26 until March 2028, and you embark on a journey of blessings. Life changes dramatically for you over the next few years, and this year is that first step towards change. You are owning your independence while also understanding the importance of the relationships that are growing for you this year.
PISCES
This year is about allowing life to come full circle and trusting that you are supported along the way, Pisces. There is a lot to think about and process this year, and it’s important to be a little kinder to yourself. Give yourself grace and know that you will move through this time and overcome what is needed. With the North Node in your sign until July 26, rewriting your destiny, you have the power to make some massive shifts in your life this year and to truly align yourself with the vision you have for your future that supports your abundance, power, and intentions.
It can feel like a lot is happening at once this year, and it’s important to focus more on your perspective of it all.
If you are focusing more on the things that aren’t working out for you or comparing your journey to others, you might feel disheartened and stagnant. The Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on August 28 is the perfect opportunity for growth for you, and when you can really let go of the self-sabotage or fears that have made you overthink your blessings. Overall, this year is a reminder that you are worthy, loved, and intelligent, and you can make the best decisions for yourself.
Featured image by Shutterstock










