
Your November 2024 Horoscopes Are All About Healing Through Change & Securing The Bag

November is a month of the scales of karma coming into balance. We are walking toward the end of this year at full speed as an active, expansive, and transformative month is ahead of us. A lot is happening in the stars in November, and many different aspects of life will be influenced by this energy, especially when it comes to your financial and emotional worlds.
Eclipse Season is officially over, but now we enter some significant astrological transits and retrogrades of the year. November is all about finding your balance between the powerful changes occurring and the intentions you are creating. The month begins in Scorpio Season and with a New Moon in Scorpio on November 1. This New Moon is bringing transformations and new beginnings when it comes to intimacy, emotional connections, shared resources, and your financial reality.
This is a good New Moon to set your intentions for the commitments you want to build and sustain over the next month and where in your life you want to feel a renewed sense of empowerment. This New Moon is here to be a catalyst for what is next for you, and this will be an especially transformative time for finances.
Exploring the November Cosmos: Key Transits & Transformations
On November 2, Mercury enters Sagittarius where it will be until January 8, 2025. This is a significant Mercury transit as Mercury will be in this fire sign for a while and will be going retrograde in Sag from Nov. 25 until Dec. 15. Mercury in Sagittarius is bold, outspoken, self-confident, and open-minded. This is an active and, at times, aggressive Mercury sign, and in retrograde, it's best to consider having even more patience with others than usual when it comes to communication matters.
Mercury in Sagittarius acts from thought alone, and while sometimes this can be inspiring, during retrograde, it backfires. This Mercury transit is all about getting inspired, considering all options and solutions, and moving forward intentionally.
Mars enters Leo on November 3, and another significant transit occurs. Mars will be in Leo until Jan. 6, 2025, and will be retrograde from Dec. 6 until Feb. 23, 2025. Mars in Leo is creative, passionate, enlivened, and self-empowered. While Mars is direct in this sign, this is a great time to put yourself out there, honor your skills, talents, and authenticity in life, and do something bold.
Throughout November, Mars will be direct, and this will be the best time within the next few months to advocate for yourself and support your dreams, as once Mars is retrograde, there may be some more obstacles here. Overall, Mars entering Leo in November is the passion and self-love we need to fuel the inspiration and empowerment this Scorpio Season is bringing.
Saturn goes direct in Pisces on Nov. 15 after being retrograde since late June, and we have a Supermoon in Taurus on the same day. Mid-November is bringing in closure, but also the love that comes from healing. Saturn now being direct makes the head and the heart feel a little clearer, and this is also a better time for creativity and inspiration.
With a Full Moon happening on the same day, we are wrapping up a chapter in love as we commit to something deeper right now. With the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus, relationship matters are highlighted, and much-needed clarity, forgiveness, and acceptance are here during this time.
Pluto enters Aquarius on Nov. 19 and will remain here until 2043, and we begin a new generation and collective energy. This is one of the most important transits of the year, and its influence will be felt on a larger scale over the years to come.
Pluto in Aquarius brings transformations to the community and the world at large, and there will be a rebirth and a coming together in the world. Pluto, in this air sign, feels empowered to connect and bring greater equality and progress overall. Sagittarius Season begins on Nov. 21, and we end the month ready for some excitement.
This Sag Season is starting slower while Mercury will be retrograde, but there is a sense that there is a lot to look forward to and gratitude to embrace right now.
Read for your sun and rising sign below to see what November has in store for you:
What November 2024 Has In Store For Your Zodiac Sign
ARIES
November is a month of opportunities for you, Aries. You are being recognized for the work you have done and the skills you have, and this is the time to put your best foot forward. You are claiming your abundance this month, and with a New Moon in your 8th house at the start of November, this is a good time for seeing new beginnings within your financial world, business partnerships, and the commitments you are making in this area of your life.
On Nov. 25, Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and being retrograde in a fellow fire sign means you are going to be feeling this retrograde a little more so than others.
For you personally, this isn’t the best time for travel matters or for taking any unnecessary risks, and you should focus on going within more over the next few weeks as life adjusts around you. Before November comes to an end, a Supermoon is occurring in another financial area of your life and what you were intending for financially at the beginning of the month is coming full circle for you now in positive ways.
TAURUS
You are feeling inspired, passionate, and happy this month, Taurus. This is a beautiful month for you and a time when you are feeling confident about where life is and what is next for you. You are building the magic in your world and the New Moon happening on the first day of the month is when you are recognizing how capable, loved, and supported you are in life. The beginning of November is all about finding your balance and setting your intentions in life and in love.
On Nov. 11, your ruling planet, Venus, enters your 9th house, and this is a great time for you to enjoy a joyful, romantic, and exciting love. You require a little more freedom emotionally this month and you want enough space to be, explore, and learn, and you are having fun doing so. The stars align for you as the month ends, as we have a Supermoon in your sign on Nov. 15.
This Supermoon is the closing of one chapter, and the clarity of another, as you can see yourself and your path forward a little clearer now.
GEMINI
November is reminding you to let it go, Gemini. A lot is coming to the forefront of your life this month, and it can feel heavy to address it all at once. The month begins with your ruling planet, Mercury, entering your 7th house of love, and you are thinking a lot about your role in some of the relationships in your life, what makes you feel at peace within them, and where you may be giving more than you have to give.
It’s about asking for what you need right now, as once Mercury goes retrograde at the end of the month, it will feel more difficult to find that understanding here.
A Full Moon is happening in your 12th house of closure, healing, dreams, spirituality, and secrets on Nov. 15, and this Full Moon is bringing up a lot of emotions. This month is about acceptance and not putting things on the backburner anymore, and emotionally, you are clearing out some cobwebs of past experiences and relationships. Overall, there is a lot to work through this month, but you are ready to finally do so and to move forward for good.
CANCER
November is about taking care of yourself, your health, and your overall well-being, Cancer. This month is reminding you of the disruptions that can come from overthinking and showing you a way out of some unhealthy attachments or coping mechanisms. You are entering the month with a New Moon in a fellow water sign, and this is a good time for you to think about the things and people who make you happy, how you can honor your passions, creativity, and interests more, and to set your intentions for the love you want surrounding you now.
Venus, the planet of love, enters your 7th house of partnership from Nov. 11 until Dec. 7, and this is bringing a coming together for you romantically. Opportunities in love are presenting themselves, and it’s all about knowing that what you seek is seeking you, too, right now, and not overwhelming yourself or self-sabotaging things here with old insecurities. There is a Supermoon in Taurus before the month ends on Nov. 15, and this is allowing your heart to let go of doubting your dreams and intentions and embracing the magic you bring to the world and others.
LEO
November is all about perspective, Leo. This is the month to focus more on gratitude and intention so that you don’t let anything disrupt your peace or happiness. On Nov. 2, Mercury enters your 5th house of romance where it will be into 2025, and there is a lot to think about when it comes to love right now. With the Sun also in your 4th house of home and family for most of this month, your focus is on the love and people around you and how you can feel more supported and uplifted here.
One of the most important transits of the year for you happens at the beginning of November, and that is Mars entering Leo from Nov. 3 until Jan. 6.
Mars in your sign brings extra energy, passion, motivation, and direction in life, and this is going to be a good month for you to get things done, reinvent yourself, and focus on your personal goals and path. You are entering a space in life where you are learning to be a little bit more selfish with your time for your peace of mind and health while also nurturing the relationships you want to continue to build.
VIRGO
This month is about using your voice, Virgo. Communication matters hold prominence for you in November, and you are getting your message across right now. With the Sun in your 3rd house of communication for most of the month and a New Moon here on the first day of November, you have a lot of new ideas to gain and perspectives to consider, and you are finding your power within the clarity you are receiving now. You are exuding inner peace and confidence in November, and you are not to be messed with this month, Virgo.
On Nov. 11, Venus enters your 5th house of romance for the next few weeks, and love is flowing through your world in a new and more secure way. You are focused on your passions, happiness, and interests and are looking for new ways to feel more stability and abundance here. Before the month ends, we have a Supermoon in Taurus, and this Full Moon is bringing things full circle for you mentally. You are gaining an inspiration you have forgotten and are embracing honesty, spirituality, and contentment right now.
LIBRA
This is a month of focusing on your values and priorities and grounding your energy, Libra. A lot of your energy is going towards your finances in November, as this area of your life is more prominent for you around this time of the year. The New Moon on Nov. 1 is a great time to set your intentions for your financial abundance, create a new income plan, and ask for what you need within financial matters.
This month is reminding you that you are worthy of the things you are asking for and that you don’t have to change who you are to receive them.
Venus enters your 4th house of stability mid-month, and this will help you fully grasp your reality financially and emotionally right now. You are building beauty, peace, and acceptance in your home life, and this is a good time to spruce up the home, create safe spaces, and connect with family or your roots. Mercury goes retrograde before the month ends and will be retrograde in an area of your life that has to do with the mind and communication.
Remember that not everyone is going to understand you or your perspective, but that doesn't mean you don't have the right idea about something.
SCORPIO
Scorpio Season is here, and it’s time to bring some more magic into your life, Scorpio. You are thinking clearly and powerfully this month and are connecting with all the right people. With a New Moon in your sign on the first day of November, you are walking into the month feeling an empowerment and renewal that will take you far, and you have all the tools you need to succeed right now. This is your month to move full speed ahead and to remember the power of your voice.
Mid-month, we have a Supermoon in your sister sign Taurus, fueling a new understanding of love. You are seeing gifts and clarity being reflected to you now within your relationships, and some real progress is likely within your one-on-one partnerships overall this month. On Nov. 15, Saturn goes direct in Pisces after being retrograde here for the past five months, and you are ready to experience more bliss when it comes to romance, passions, hobbies, children, and your self-expression.
You have less weight on your shoulders right now, and new paths are opening up for you to embrace and find security in your happiness.
SAGITTARIUS
Dreams are coming true for you in November, Sagittarius. This month is an opening for you and a time to set your sights high. The Sun is in your 12th house of closure for most of the month, but the closures you are moving through are closing out chapters that bring you more reward than anything. You get to enjoy the success of your endeavors and are emotionally moving into a space of fulfillment right now.
With Mercury entering your sign as the month begins on Nov. 2 until Jan. 8, your mind is especially active now, and there is a lot to think about and get inspired by.
Sagittarius Season officially begins on Nov. 21, and it’s your time to shine! It’s all about embracing the things that make you unique and allowing love to come to fruition for you through grace and patience. Mercury goes retrograde in your sign from Nov. 25 until Dec. 15, and some old miscommunications or misunderstandings may be coming around for you again to address and heal from as the month ends.
This Mercury retro is about being kinder to yourself and giving yourself and others time most of all.
CAPRICORN
November is about choosing your battles wisely, Capricorn. Not everything needs a reaction, and you are recognizing when and where you need to put your energy right now. The New Moon on the first day of the month will be giving you clarity on the friendships and community in your life that need addressing, and this is a good time to set your intentions for your future here and what you want to manifest for yourself in regards to the support and love you receive in your life.
Venus enters your sign from Nov. 11 until Dec. 7, and you are ready to feel the romance you have been seeking as of late. Venus in your sign brings greater love, harmony, and beauty into your life, and your power of attraction is especially strong right now. Self-love is what is holding prominence for you now, as you show others an example of how to treat you by the way you are treating yourself.
Before the month ends, your ruling planet Saturn goes direct in your 3rd house of communication, and you are overcoming and healing from some mental obstacles that may have been playing out these past few months.
AQUARIUS
This month is about moving on and moving forward, Aquarius. You are choosing yourself and your peace as you continue into your dream reality. There is a letting go you are moving through emotionally in November, but this is long overdue as you close out some old chapters in your life. With Venus in your 12th house of endings, closure, secrets, dreams, and healing for most of this month, your heart needs time to process right now. It’s about knowing what you deserve and not settling for anything less.
Saturn, one of your planetary rulers goes direct on the 15th after being retrograde since June, and your finances see a positive turnaround during this time.
Saturn has been helping you build stability financially, but may also have given you some tough lessons in the process. Now that Saturn is direct, you have more opportunities to grow than just dream. Pluto enters your sign on Nov. 19, before the month ends, where it will remain for the next 20 years or so. This is a very significant transit for the world, but for you especially, and you are entering a time of greater empowerment, self-recognition, and support from others.
PISCES
November is a month of abundance, success, and fulfillment for you, Pisces. You have a lot to look forward to right now, and you are walking through some new doors of opportunities. The New Moon on Nov. 1, is a good time for you to set your intentions for what adventures you want to go on, what you want guidance on, and what new people you want to connect with, as you are in a good space to manifest and to receive some extra good luck right now.
Saturn then goes direct in your sign on Nov. 15, after being retrograde here since June. This is huge news for you and a time for you to fully embrace the power and magic of your existence and build up some new dreams as well. There will be a Supermoon in Taurus that occurs that same day, and you are ready to let go of what doesn't serve you or your mental health and are focused on progress more than loss. You have a lot of good going for you right now, and life is magical for you this month, Pisces.
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: Kyra Jay for xoNecole
Tayler Barakat is a Mystic who has studied Astrology for over a decade. She does intuitive astrology and tarot readings for people all over the world, and her work focuses on healing and empowering individuals. Follow her on Instagram @taylerbarakat_ and check out her website www.listentothevirgo.com.
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy
Be Careful. Those Casual Friendships Can Be Red Flags Too.
A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to someone vent about an area of frustration that they couldn’t seem to get to the root of — why they keep getting taken advantage of by certain individuals. When you’ve been a life coach for as long as I have (and you were a journalist before that), you learn how to ask certain questions that can cause people to consider things that they may never have before.
So, when I asked her, “What is the common thread with all of those folks? And sit still for two minutes before answering,” when she finally heard her own self speak, her eyes got wide and her mouth dropped open: “They’re all people who I’m not really sure what they are in my life.”
Ding. Ding. DING.
A life coach by the name of Thomas Leonard once said that “Clarity affords focus” and, believe you me, when it comes to dealing with other human beings, if you don’t get clear on where you stand when it comes to your interactions with them, you can very easily find yourself “focusing too much” on those who don’t deserve it and too little on those who absolutely do. And y’all, this lil’ PSA couldn’t be more relevant than when it comes to what I call “casual friendships.”
Let’s dig — and for some of us, dig our way out of — what it means to have a casual friend, so that you can get clear on if you really need those in your life…and if so…why?
Article continues after the video.
It Can’t Be Said Enough: Always Remember What “Casual” Means
There’s a reason why I decided to share two videos by mental health coach Isaiah Frizzle at the top and bottom of this article. It’s because a lot of what he shares in both of them complements a piece that I wrote for the platform last year entitled, “This Is Just What Purposeful Relationships Look Like.”
It’s the author M. Scott Peck who once said, “Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it” and please believe that the older (and hopefully more mature) you get, the more you tend to see just how valuable — and fleeting — time is; and that is what plays a huge role in motivating you want to only involve yourself with people, places, things and ideas that will honor your time — and when something is casual? In my opinion, it’s highly debatable that it’s worth much of your months, days, hours, or even too many of your minutes.
The main reason why is addressed in an article that I wrote back in the day entitled, “We Should Really Rethink The Term 'Casual Sex.'” The gist? When it comes to relationships, “casual” is certainly not a favorite word of mine because I know what it means. Have mercy — why would you want to invest your time, energy, and emotions into something that is, by definition, apathetic, indifferent, careless, lacking emotional intimacy, and/or is without purpose?
I don’t know about y’all but that sounds like a complete and total crap shoot to me — especially if you are going to go so far as to consider this type of dynamic a true friendship (check out “Ever Wonder If A Friend Is Just...Not That Into You?,” “6 Signs You're About To Make A Huge Mistake In Making Them A Close Friend,” “5 Signs Of A Toxic Friendship That Is Secretly Poisoning Your Life,” “12 Friend Facts That Might Cause You To Rethink (Some Of) Your Own,” and “Less & Less Of Us Have Close Friends These Days. Why Is That?” ).
To me, when you decide to call someone “friend,” it means that they are loyal, reliable, consistent, trustworthy and willing to be there to support you to the very best of their ability — even if it’s inconvenient to do so sometimes (check out “Life Taught Me That True Friendships Are 'Inconvenient'”). How in the world can you expect that from something that has the word “casual” in it?
And you know what? That actually segues into my next point about casual friendships pretty darn well.
Ponder the Purpose “Casual Friends” Serve in Your Life
A couple of years ago, Verywell Mind published an article entitled, “How the 4 Types of Friendship Fit Into Your Life.” The four that it listed were acquaintances (which I actually don’t consider to be friends; check out “6 Differences Between A Close Acquaintance And An Actual Friend”), casual friends, close friends, and lifelong friends. After reading the piece, I think they consider casual friends to be the “pleasure” friends that I mentioned in the article, “According To Aristotle, We Need ‘Utility’, ‘Pleasure’ & ‘Good’ Friends.”
And although I certainly get that, I think my “cause for pause” is calling those people “friends” when they probably should be called something like an associate or possibly even a buddy instead. Why do I feel this way? Well, I’ve shared in other articles that I think social media has jacked up vocabulary words and their true meaning on a billion different levels.
Take “friend,” for example. Facebook had us out here calling everyone we connected to on their platform “friends” when some of them, we’ve never even spoken to before — and I personally think that influenced, affected and perhaps even infected our psyche to the point where we will call folks, both online and off, “friend” even when they haven’t earned it and/or who possibly don’t deserve it.
That said, do I think that we all could use lighthearted interactions that don’t go very deep and are filled with not much more than fun? Sure. However, if we were to move this over into a sexual thing — those types of people would probably be called a sneaky link, and there is nothing significant or substantial about ‘em. In fact, if anything pretty much automatically comes with an expiration date, sneaky links would have to be it.
And that’s kind of the point that I’m trying to make about a casual friend — so long as you know that the word “casual” is being used to describe them, while you may enjoy the people who fit that bill, they aren’t really anything that you can or even should fully rely on. Instead, take them for what they are and don’t really expect much more than that. Otherwise, you could be in for some profound levels of disappointment. And who wants that?
Final point.
How a Casual Friend Can Become a Huge Red Flag
I’m telling you, y’all gonna quit clowning Tubi. LOL. To me, the best way to describe it is it’s the Cricket of current streaming apps. What I mean by that is, back when Cricket (the cell phone service) first came out, people, like me, who used it service got incessantly clowned because it was seen as a bootleg provider. Now it’s owned by AT&T, and as someone who has rocked with them since I was in my 20s, I don’t have one regret for doing so. Cricket has always been good to me, chile.
And Tubi? Well, when you get a chance, check out CNBC’s article, “CEO at 33, Tubi’s Anjali Sud on success hacks she learned at Amazon, IAC on way to top of Fox streaming” — take note of the moves the streaming app is making and the quality of programming that is transpiring in real time.
Anyway, I find myself bringing up Tubi more and more in my content because it helps to amplify some of the points that I like to make. This time, it’s a movie that’s (currently) on there calledRight Man, Wrong Woman. If you haven’t seen it before, I don’t want to give too much of the film away. What I will say is that the main female character, she had a casual friend and then she had a close friend.
That casual friend—the one who liked to kick it all of the time—was a lot of fun; however, dealing with her came with a ton of semi-unforeseen consequences. Meanwhile, the close friend? She’s what the Aristotle article (that I mentioned earlier) would call the “good friend” because she tried her best to hold her friend accountable.
And really, it shouldn’t be a shock that the casual friend turned out to be a plum trip because if someone is loads of entertainment and pleasure and yet they are indifferent towards you, they make careless decisions around you and/or they don’t really make known the purpose for you being in their life other than to pass some time — where really do you and that person have to go past drinks after work or dinner on a rooftop restaurant from time to time? And if that is all that the two of you are doing, again, why are they deserving of the word “friend”?
Hmph and don’t get me started on the lack of reciprocity that typically transpires when it comes to dealing with people like this because, while they won’t mind you spending your coins on them, taking their calls in the middle of the night or listening to all of their issues — when it comes time for them to show up for you, they very well may gaslight you into thinking that you are being dramatic, clingy or “doing the most.” Why? Well, it’s mostly because the two of you never really established what the hell the both of you are to one another.
And so, while you’re somewhere taking them seriously, they are out here seeing you casually, and as much as it might hurt to hear, that doesn’t automatically or necessarily make them a bad person. You shouldn’t expect much where no clarity is involved. After all, casual is just that: CASUAL.
____
I’m hoping that you can now see why I entitled this piece in the way that I did. It’s because a red flag is pretty much a warning, and to me, a casual friend is about as big of an oxymoron (again, to me) as casual sex is. Friends and sex are both too intimate to be seen or treated casually. Oh, but if you step out and take that risk, you could find yourself getting far more involved than the other individual ever wanted to go, because casual is how things have always been. “Friend” was simply to get you more mentally and emotionally invested. SMDH.
American columnist Walter Winchell once said, “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” A wise person once said, “One good friendship will outlive forty average loves." Former President Ulysses S. Grant once said, “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.” Does any of this sound casual to you? Yeah, me neither.
Again, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have people in your life who aren’t on deep levels. I’m just saying that you might want to consider putting them into another category than friend, because what friends do for people? There ain’t nothin’ even remotely casual about it, sis. Not even a lil’ bit.
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 Shutterstock