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.
Love in 2024 is about finding the balance between your needs and the needs of your relationships. The blindfolds are being taken off, and clarity is gained in matters of the heart. With Jupiter in Taurus for half the year, a Venusian sign aligned with love, with two eclipses in Libra, another sign ruled by Venus, the planet of love, and with Mars going retrograde at the end of the year, there is a lot to take in and a lot to feel through when it comes to romance.
This year is an opportunity to decide from the heart and to bridge the gap between what you want in love and what you have through self-confidence and faith. There are a few key dates of the year when relationship matters will be more heightened. A few of them are on March 25, during the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra, and on November 2, the New Moon Solar Eclipse.
Your 2024 Love Horoscope Predictions For Each Zodiac Sign
During the Lunar Eclipse culminations come to fruition in love, and it’s a time of letting go of any energy you don’t want to bring with you in your relationships anymore. This is a time for healing in love and a time to regroup. On Nov. 2, there is a Solar Eclipse in Libra, and this is a time of major changes in love and in the direction it is headed. Remember that things need time to settle when it comes to eclipses, and the changes you are seeing now may not be a forever thing.
Give yourself and love grace, and see how you can learn and grow with another, rather than retreat.
Saturn is in Pisces for the entire year, which is also shaping things romantically for the world, as Pisces is a more emotional and heartfelt sign. While Saturn is in Pisces, we learn through our emotions, and we discover the stability that comes from healing. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the tough questions this year and to do what it takes to move you away from fear of vulnerability, and closer to love. With Juno in Virgo for most of this year as well, the need to take care of yourself and your well-being and to create more of this good health and nurture in your relationships is prevalent.
This year is overall about recognizing your needs in love, and if they align with the people you are connected to or are in your life. Are you overcompensating or giving more than you want to or have in you to give? Can you ask for what you need to create more room for clarity and understanding in your relationships rather than confusion?
If you were to take a look at where love and the close relationships in your life are right now, would you be satisfied and happy with where things are, or would you look for a new path? This year is an opportunity, and it’s one to strengthen where the love is for you already or open new doors by showing you what else is possible for you.
Keep reading for your sun and rising sign to see what your energy in love is like for 2024:
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ARIES
This year is a powerful year of love for you, Aries. You are receiving the love you are looking for, and the growth you are moving through now is here to stay and is only going to get better for you. With an eclipse in your sign this year, the North Node in your sign, and Chiron in your sign as well, a lot of the focus is on you in 2024, and you are a true power player of the year.
Something healing is taking place for you over the next year, and you are healing your perspective and idea of love. There is less of a need to always do things alone and to keep everything in, and this year is teaching you that you can trust love, you can trust the people in your life, and that when you open up to the things you want, you feel less alone.
TAURUS
Love this year is about giving patience and allowing yourself it as well, Taurus. Jupiter is in your sign until May, and when Jupiter is in your sign, you experience some of the luckiest months of your life. So, being in this energy is going to benefit your life on all levels, including love. However, Chiron is also in your 12th house of closure, and you are letting go of your past traumas or challenges in love.
With you already being a relationship-focused sign, things can feel like a lot to handle emotionally at times this year.
Your guidance is to think things through, to think before speaking, and to only take action when you feel inspired and intentional about it. Allow love to fall into place without getting too ahead of yourself, and trust that the right person will be there when you are ready.
GEMINI
This year is about opportunities in love, Gemini. New paths are opening up to you, new people are coming into your life, and love is moving forward. This is an exciting year for love, and with Jupiter, the planet of blessings in your sign from May 25th into 2025, you have luck on your side right now. This is a year of being seen for the gift that you are and about experiencing success in many different areas of your life, including romantically. There are two eclipses in your 5th house of romance this year, and things are getting interesting for you here.
You are moving through changes in what and who makes you happy, what you want to spend your time on, and how you want to show up in your relationships. With Venus in your sign from May 23rd until June 17th, mid-year is when things start to pick up for you in love, and this energy will last through the year.
CANCER
Love this year is all about trusting your intuition and using what wisdom you have gained for your benefit, Cancer. You are someone who understands emotions well, and you are using this strength of yours in your relationships. Venus is in your sign from June 17th until July 5th, and mid-year, you are moving through a time of feeling seen and like the love you give is being reciprocated.
The Cancer New Moon on July 5th is a good time to set your intentions for romance and to focus on what perspectives you have to make sure you are manifesting what you want and not what you fear. With Saturn in Pisces and in your 5th house of romance this year, you are learning a lot about what makes you happy right now, and this may be a gradual process for you. Trust where you are being led in 2024, and trust your own inner heart to guide you.
LEO
Your heart is protected, and you are free to love, Leo. This year is a big year for growth in love, but the lessons in obtaining it may be difficult at times. You are being guided to create more healthy boundaries in your life, to not give up on the things you have worked towards, and to trust your heart. Being there for yourself is not selfish, and the people who get it will be there for you regardless of what is happening in your life.
Mars goes retrograde every two years, and just so happens to be going retrograde in your sign this year from December 16th until February 24th. The end of the year will be a time of releasing negative energy from your life, refocusing your motives and intentions, and finding renewed passion in love. This year overall is helping you see where you need to let go emotionally and where you want to strengthen.
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VIRGO
Love this year is about trusting your instincts, Virgo. You may have to make some uncomfortable decisions this year, but they will ultimately lead you to a better experience in love overall. With Saturn, the planet of challenge, restriction, and structure, in your 7th house of love and partnerships this year, you may be feeling more pressure in your relationships, and like there is room to grow here. Give yourself and others as much grace as you can, yet be firm in what you want for yourself and where you want to be.
Juno is in Virgo until August of this year, and this energy is healing for you in love and is allowing you to see the fine details of your relationships clearly. Overall, this year is about being brave, being honest, being grateful, and doing what you feel is right.
LIBRA
ove for you this year is transformational, Libra. Love is overall surprising you in 2024, and there is a lot to grasp, and also a lot to let go of as you move through the year. With two eclipses in your sign and one eclipse in the area of your chart having to do with love and relationships, you are finding your balance here. The New Moon Eclipse in Aries on April 8th, is when you are going to start seeing these changes and new beginnings come about for you in love, but this year is also more about having fun with it all and not holding yourself or anyone else to too many restrictions.
Things change, and the more you can trust that you will benefit from said changes, the better. The North Node is in your 7th house of love this year as well, and you are overall going to be developing a lot regarding relationship matters and will be reaching some important awareness and goals here.
SCORPIO
This is a year of good karma for you in love, Scorpio. The things you have been hoping for, the justice you have been seeking, and the balance you have been working towards are coming into focus for you now. This is a powerful year for you when it comes to romance, and the first half of 2024 is when a lot of this energy is going to be more prominent for you. Jupiter is in your house of love until May 25th, and you have good luck on your side when it comes to soulmates and manifesting your dreams in love.
Uranus is also in your 7th house of love, and there are some surprises in store for you this year, and they are coming exactly when you need them. Saturn, being in your house of romance for the year as well, is balancing the growth and new beginnings you are experiencing with the stability and structure you need to maintain them.
SAGITTARIUS
You are being protected in love this year, Sagittarius. This is a year of gaining awareness in your relationships and about creating a new chapter for yourself here. Not everyone is going to get you or be the right one for you, and you are weaving through the what-ifs and making room for the people you truly want to say yes to. The second half of the year is going to be the most beneficial for you in love, as Jupiter enters Gemini and moves into your house of partnership from May 25th to 2025.
Love is going to get really good for you as the year ends, especially with Venus entering your sign for a month on October 17th. Chiron, being in your 5th house of romance this year, is also guiding you toward your personal happiness, and attracting to you healing, loving, and emotionally expressive individuals who want to show their love for you.
CAPRICORN
This year, you are in a good space in love and are feeling the stability, growth, and abundance of your relationships. This is a time when you are being recognized for what you bring to the table and the fact that you deserve everything you want here. You are leading the way forward in love and are claiming the good that wants to come into your life this year.
Venus is in your sign twice in 2024, once at the beginning of the year and again at the end, and there are also two Capricorn Full Moons this year as well. There is something extra magical about this year for you, Capricorn. There are gifts that want to come in for you, opportunities to grab hold of, and self-empowerment to own. You are happy with where things are in love in 2024, feeling emotionally secure, and are doing things your own way.
AQUARIUS
This year is about overcoming fears in love, Aquarius. You are moving through a time of healing in your relationships and a time of noticing where the restrictions have been for you in love. There are some limitations you are overcoming now, as you challenge yourself to connect and be more vulnerable with how you are feeling with others.
True power can come through expressing your emotions, and with Pluto in your sign this year, you are finding your voice and where you can hone in on your strengths more.
With Saturn being in your 2nd house of self-confidence, investments, and values this year, you are also looking at where you want to put more energy into your relationships and where you need to ask for more of what you are looking for. Venus is in your house of love from July 11 to August 4, and this is a good time of the year for you romantically in 2024.
PISCES
You are getting a fresh start in love this year, Pisces. This is a fruitful year for you emotionally, and a time where you are seeing your relationship goals manifest and come to fruition. Saturn is in your sign in 2024, and you are going through a major growth spurt in life, but you are finally starting to see the benefits of how you have evolved personally.
You are going about things in your relationships in a healing and nurturing way, and you are receiving the love and support that you give. Mercury will be retrograde in your 7th house of love for a little over a week from August 4 to August 14, and some extra patience within your relationships will be needed then. However, with Juno also in your 7th house of love for most of the year, you are overall at a time of feeling commitment and receptivity in your love life this year.
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During the Los Angeles tour stop, which spanned three dates on May 21, May 23, with the finale on May 24, xoNecole had the opportunity to test out the glosses included in this soft launch, as SZA revealed in a statement that "this is just the start of other lip products, including plans to launch stains, liners, and creams all inspired by SZA's “infamous layered lip combinations.”
Courtesy
So, what is included in the first Not Beauty launch?
The current Not Beauty products available are lip glosses that come in three shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz.
During my visit to the first LA Not Beauty pop-up activation, I not only had the chance to purchase all three glosses but also took a peek inside the blow-up log tent. Inside, fans got to experience SZA’s love for nature and her fascination with bugs, which are prominently featured in her performances for this tour. At one point, she even had human preying mantis prancing across the stage y'all.
There were blow-up photos of the beauty that is SZA for fans (myself included) to take photos, but in wooden-like tree trunks were a deeper dive into some of the ingredients featured in her products and their benefits.
For example, the glosses feature Hi-Shine Lip Jelly and Shea Butter as key ingredients and some of the listed benefits included are:
- Shea Butter - “A powerhouse ingredient, offering both functional and nourishing benefits.”
- Hi-Shine Lip Jelly (featured in the In the Flesh shade) - “Formula glides on with perfect adhesion to the lips without stickiness).
Courtesy
What are in the products?
Featured in an orange package, with images of a bug and flower on the side, the back of the box reads: “It’s NOT BEAUTY, it just works. Developed by Solána “SZA” Rowe.
As someone who never leaves home without a good lip gloss, I loved how compact the wood panel packaging is. Perfect to slip into my purse, or in the case of the show at SoFi Stadium, into my pocket when I’m not carrying a bag.
Because I’m a sucker for a good black and brown lip liner and clear gloss combo, I decided to wear the Quartz flavor on night one of the Grand National Tour LA stop, and it did not disappoint. I’ll admit, it’s light weight feel made me nervous because it felt like there was nothing on my lips. However, when I checked my lips in my compact mirror several times throughout the night, I was shocked to find that my gloss was still intact. I only reapplied once out of the habit of looking cute and applying my gloss, but not necessity.
Here are some of the ingredients featured, but not limited to, in the Quartz flavor.
- Polyisoubutene
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)Butter
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
- Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
- Tocopherol
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Lip prep
I’m a simple girl who loves to stay true to her roots. So ahead of the show, I stopped by a local Inglewood Beauty Supply store and grabbed a Black and Brown shade lip pencil for just under $2 a piece.
Shading the outline of my lips with the black pencil first, I used the brown to lightly fill the inside of my lips before applying my Quartz Not Beauty shade gloss.
How to apply
There’s truly no right or wrong way to apply lip gloss (in my opinion), with this being a brush applicator sort of product, I simply untwisted the top and swiped the gloss around my top and bottom lip generously.
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Results
Again, my Not Beauty Quartz product stayed on my lips from the start of the show, which began with a fire DJ set from LA’s very own, Mustard, to the conclusion when Kendrick and SZA reunited on stage to send us home to their duet, “luther,” featured on the rapper's GNX album.
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Chile, that song is so brilliantly written that I once shouted it out in a podcast that I did with a dear friend of mine a few years back (you can check it out here if you want to): “I can't keep on loving you one foot outside the door/I hear a funny hesitation of a heart that's never really sure/Can't keep on tryin' if you're looking for more/Than all that I could give you, than what you came here for.”
Won’t it preach? “Almost” when it comes to romantic dynamics? It’ll have you out here feeling like you’re in some straight-up purgatory because, when you’re not really sure where things stand with someone and/or things feel like a perpetual game of hot-and-cold, you never really know what you should do — and that can have you in a very uncomfortable mental limbo or feeling like you’re in some emotional version of the throwback game Twister.
Today, though, we’re going to discuss “almost doesn’t count” from a broader perspective. I want to explore what happens when you’re in ANY DYNAMIC where it feels like you’re in a state of almost — and what you should do about it if that is indeed the case.
I’ve added Brandy’s jam for you at the top of all of this. Feel free to play it as your background music as we finally figure out what to do with the “almost ish” that is (currently) in your life.
Almost. Revisited.
GiphyY’all, I am so sick of people allowing social media to redefine words.
For instance, just because something didn’t work out with a guy, that doesn’t automatically make him a narcissist (check out “You Could Be Turning Into A Narcissist...And You Don't Even Know It,” “What If It's Your Parents Who Happen To Be The Narcissists?” and “3 Warning Signs You're In Love With A Narcissist”) and just because someone doesn’t “gel” with you, that doesn’t mean that they are toxic (check out “5 Signs Of A Toxic Friendship That Is Secretly Poisoning Your Life” and “7 Signs You Have A Toxic Relationship...With Yourself”) — and while we’re here, just because you hear the same online opinion dozens of times a day, that doesn’t make it a fact. Google is our friend. Open up browsers to fact-check things. It’s a wise move and well worth your time.
Okay, so in order to build the foundation of this piece, let’s look at what almost means (even though I’m sure that you basically know):
Almost: very nearly; all but
Synonyms: approximately, essentially, most, relatively, practically, virtually, about
It is a very wise man who once said that “The worst lies are 99 percent true” — and that is what’s so wild about almost: It can be so close to being something that you will think that it is that thing…when it actually…isn’t. You can literally have close to 99 percent of everything that you needed, wanted or required and that missing one percent can still totally jack you up out here.
A good example? A condom. If you go to pretty much any health-related website, it will say something along the lines that — eh hem — when used perfectly, condoms are somewhere around 98 percent effective. And yet, while I do tend to roll my eyes whenever folks (in general) end up pregnant and shocked, all the while claiming to have used them (because I also know that only one-third of men and one-fourth of women use condoms and even they don’t consistently), I am aware that there are some people who are being completely honest: they used them, each and every time, correctly, and still…a positive pregnancy test result. And that’s because condoms are ALMOST totally reliable. Not totally, though.
Or a white lie. Oh, those are the “best” and most damning ones because they have so much truth to them that the deceptive part is super subtle. Hmph. It makes me think of a rather young South Korean artist (in her 20s) by the name of Dahyun. She once said, “When you love someone, or when someone is special to you, there are situations where little white lies are necessary.” Yeah, that makes me think of a quote by an author named T.J. Klune; he once said, “I lied to you because I thought it’d be easier for you, but I was really just trying to make it easier for me” — and he’s exactly right.
One of the greatest lies anyone can tell is that they are lying to protect or help another individual. More times than not, it’s a form of cowardice, because people don’t want to deal with the accountability (or even possible fallout) from telling the truth. Proof of this is a white lie: enough truth to cleverly hide the deceptive or omitted part(s).
Yeah, that’s what can trip you up about being involved in things that are “almost” what you are looking for or expecting: they can be so close to being on the mark that you let your guard down to the point where they can actually end up catching you off guard in some pretty profound ways.
The Difference Between ALMOST and POTENTIAL
GiphyBefore we go even deeper, I do think that it’s important to explain the difference between almost and potential because, although they might seem like the same thing, they actually aren’t.
Say that you are working at a company where there is plenty of room for growth and promotion; that is potential. Potential is about possibility and capability. Sure, it may not have happened yet; however, you see plenty of signs that it really could. Okay, but after working there for two years and running circles around many of your co-workers with your performance, you keep getting passed over for other positions — and that is when almost comes into play.
What has you trying so hard is the POTENTIAL of what could be. What has you disappointed is things keep ALMOST happening — almost yet nothing more.
Let’s do relationships. Personally, I think it is hella arrogant and a bit delusional to say, “I don’t date for potential.” Umm, everyone out here is potential-in-progress, so are you saying that you want people to grant enough patience to allow you to keep evolving and transforming when you won’t extend the same grace their way? Gimme a break. There is nothing wrong with seeing someone’s potential and wanting to have a front seat in their life in order to encourage and support it. The issue comes in when they keep “almost” getting there without ever actually hitting their goals — and the reason why that’s problematic is…what is keeping you stuck at “almost”?
Example. Say that you’ve been exclusively dating someone for 15 months. You get along well, your family members and friends like you together and you seem to have similar life values and ambitions. Thing is, you want to get married within the year and he says that he wants to have a certain amount of money saved up before jumping the broom. The POTENTIAL of you becoming his wife is if you notice that he really is stacking paper. You ALMOST marrying him is when you factor in all of the other stuff that I said and yet his money is still funny (because he’s misspending, not saving or he’s simply not prioritizing like he said that he would).
Do you see the difference between what potential and almost look like and why “almost” can be so much more mentally draining and emotionally dangerous? “Almost” can — and oftentimes will — have you wasting precious time because it can deceive you with a feeling of “someday.” And that’s because things are so close to becoming a reality and yet, they never end up coming into full fruition.
And that, my friend, is why Brandy’s song is right on the money — at the end of the day, “almost doesn’t count” because, if you keep experiencing “most” or “practically” or “very nearly” of something or even someone and yet what is required for that something to actually become all of what you desire never manifests…what that ultimately boils down to is it — whatever “it” is — is really not much of anything at all.
It’s basically like what a playwright by the name of Nikita Gill once penned: “The saddest word in the whole wide world is the word 'almost'. He was almost in love. She was almost good for him. He almost stopped her. She almost waited. He almost lived. They almost made it.” It’s like…if it almost happened yet didn’t…why does the almost really even matter (much)?
At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, other than (hopefully) the lessons learned…it…doesn’t.
Someone Who “Almosts” You? That Is a Conscious Decision.
GiphyAnd here’s the wild thing about the person who “almosts” you — nine times out of 10, they know exactly what they are doing. The boss who almost promotes you and yet doesn’t…over and over again? You think they don’t have a self-serving strategy (or is it stratagem?) in that? The boyfriend who almost proposes (tells you that he wants to marry you while months to years later, he doesn’t do anything to prove that) and yet never does? You think he’s not aware of what’s going on? Oh, take it from me — the “almost folks” like being that way.
Why? I mean, think about it: If you are giving someone just enough for you to get what you need out of them without giving them all of what they want in the process, why not keep them in the cycle of “almost”? Let’s circle back to Brandy’s chorus to further illustrate the point:
I can't keep on loving you one foot outside the door
I hear a funny hesitation of a heart that's never really sure
Can't keep on tryin' if you're looking for more
Than all that I could give you, than what you came here for
Look at what she was doing: she kept on trying while he kept on hesitating. And what this basically means is she was mistaking almost for potential. And you know what? He was letting her because he was benefitting from all of her trying and, although she was getting something in return (maybe even 99 percent of what she was looking for), his hesitation was causing her to see that something isn’t everything…and everything is what she deserved — and still, he chose not to do that.
HE CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. He chose to remain in the relational purgatory of “almost” because he didn’t want to be “all in.” He was right where he wanted to be and if that kept her uncomfortable…so be it.
See how ugly, self-serving and manipulative “almost” can be?
Do you see why we need to stop romanticizing it because it really shouldn’t count?
What Should the Shelf Life of Almost Be?
GiphySo, final question with this: When it comes to the “almost” areas of your life, how long should you allow them to last? Honestly, I think the answer to that lies in the definitions of the word “almost.” You see, the reason why most of us even notice that we have an “almost situation” going on is because there is a need (sometimes a want) that is going unmet to the point where we aren’t satisfied. And since one definition of almost is “all but” — what is the ALL and then what is the BUT?
Once you figure that out, it’s time to address the “but” part with the individual who isn’t providing it — and honestly, not just their response (words) but their reaction (actions) will let you know what the shelf life of the almost needs to be.
Case in point: When it comes to some of the couples who I work with, sometimes one of the partners goes through a significant change and they want their spouse to quickly adapt to that fact. Usually, the change within wasn’t instantaneous, and so, I share that it’s unfair to expect that to happen immediately; usually, a fair amount of time should be allotted. The relationship is ALL good in every area BUT where the evolution is transpiring. If the spouse’s response is, “Give me a minute to get used to this new you,” the partner should. The spouse is almost where they can accept matters. They just need a bit more time for the almost to turn into “I’m good now.”
However…say that you have a friend who you like and enjoy just about everything about them. The challenge is the fact that they want you to be on-call for their issues and gripes and yet, whenever you need them to do the same thing for you, they are more unavailable than not. Not only that but, whenever you bring it up, although they acknowledge your point, time and time again, nothing ever changes; you still pick up their calls at 11 p.m. while you are still leaving voicemails when you reach out their way. If that is indeed the case, that makes me think of an Instagram post that I recently watched that is underneath this last point. In it, the content creator says, “It’s so important to know where people go. Your feelings will be less hurt.”
And along these same lines, it’s important to know an “almost” when you see it. Isn’t it interesting that one definition of almost is “all but” and to that, I think most of us have heard that whenever you use “but” in a sentence, it negates pretty much everything that you said before it. Chile, if someone is doing all BUT and the BUT is a really big deal to you…does the “all” really “scratch your itches” like you need them to? And again, if they are refusing the “but” (and the “but” is realistic, by the way), isn’t that saying a lot about how they see you and y’all’s dynamic? I would certainly think so.
So, how long should the shelf life of an almost be? Long enough to articulate your needs, for the person to hear them, and then make adjustments. If no adjustments are made…almost is probably where things are going to remain — what you choose to do about that is on YOU not THEM. How long you take speaks to how much you value…yourself.
All this from the word “almost”? Yep. You can thank Brandy for that. LOL.
You deserve to get and have what you need. If you’re almost getting it, remember what Brandy said: When it’s all said and done, sis…almost doesn’t count.
A white lie will tell you it does.
The truth has just revealed — otherwise.
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