With the Fall Equinox settling in right before October arrives, and the change of seasons of the Earth, the fast moving energies of the summer will be slowing down.
Collectively, we will all be feeling the need to detach from things that don't feel right to us anymore, reflect on where our lives seem to be heading, and become more insular and cognizant of how we are transforming emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
The planetary activity is not as active in the sky as it has been, so for many of us, a feeling of calm, pause, balance, and retreat may be on our spirits.
Scorpio will be the month's MVP! Venus enters a retrograde in Scorpio on the 6th. A new moon illuminates the earth in Libra on the 9th, and Mercury is ready to set things off in Scorpio on the 10th.
There will be 10 days of quick interactions between multiple planets between October 11th through the 22nd, and the planetary movements become more energized with the Sun entering Scorpio on October 23rd. Lastly, a full moon will be arriving in Taurus on October 24th.
Click through the gallery below to see how October is looking for your zodiac sign based on my tarot readings! Also be sure to pre-order your own deck here!
Aquarius
In the beginning of this month for Aquarius, Venus retrograding into Scorpio will bring in some lusty and sexually pumped vibes. Depending on your current situation, or your preferences in sex and dating, you may either have to pump the brakes on something moving too fast or nip any No-No's in the bud. There is also likely a big change brewing that could either blindsight you or something you saw coming.
Either way, it's important to engage your true feelings about whatever comes up.
There will be a duo of back-to-back energies of the New Moon in Libra and Mercury entering Scorpio that will affect Aquarians starting on the 9th and 10th. There could be something that you are confused about or have to make a decision on how to go forward. The New Moon in Libra will push you to do the right thing but internally, you may be juggling conflicting emotions and thoughts about exactly what the right thing is.
Mercury entering Scorpio may have you wanting to take care of things on your own but you might find that you have to seek help or be more humble in the situation.
Near the middle of the month, there is a 10-day wave of energy that may send you off into your own world. Anything that has felt constricting may receive the cold shoulder, or even a middle finger from an Aquarius! You may feel like you are doing what you want to do for once!
And finally, another back-to-back duo of energies caused by the Sun entering Scorpio and a Full Moon in Taurus could present a major opportunity for your advancement in career, or finances, however, it will require a lot of work and dedication before you can obtain the rewards. The Full Moon in Taurus will reveal anything that you would have to sacrifice in order to continue down your current path. Are you ready for the long haul?
All astrological Tarotscopes channeled via Melanade Stand's Tarot Cards! For your own Intuitive Channeled Healing Session, follow @Melanade_Stand on IG and send an inquiry via DM! Pre-order your own deck here!
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Fontaine Felisha Foxworth is a writer and creative entrepreneur from Brooklyn New York. She is currently on the West Coast working on creating a TV Pilot called "Finding Fontaine", that details the nomadic journey of her life so far. Keep up with her shenanigans @famoustaine on IG.
The Mecca Of Fashion: The Top Street Style Moments At Howard Homecoming
Outfits were planned, bags were packed, and cameras were ready to capture Howard University's collegiate spirit during its centennial Homecoming celebration. Not only does it hold the number one ranking as the most elite Historically Black College and University or its top performing academics, diversity of students and alumni, but the HBCU also leaves a legacy of style and grace.
The essence of effortless poise and refinement shines bright through the iconic university colors of indigo blue, red, and white. Every October, Howard University students, alumni, staff, and friends gather on the prestigious campus in Washington, D.C. to take part in time-honored traditions and events, which is Homecoming. This year's theme, “The Meccaverse,” was a week-long celebration of Howard University’s heritage, including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, Greek Life Step Show, Homecoming Day of Service, Lavender Reception, and the iconic Yard Fest Concert.
As 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the Howard Bison trek back to The Mecca and after two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was to be a celebration of a lifetime. We enlisted HU alumnus Sharmaine Harris, a luxury retail buyer, as she revisited her alma mater as eyes on the yard for fashion-forward outfits mixed with personal style and campus pride for the weeklong celebration.
Before we get to the looks, discover how attending Howard University impacted her career in fashion and her day-to-day style:
Credit: Sharmaine and Friends
xoNecole: Describe your personal style. Did attending Howard have any impact on developing it?
Sharmaine: Howard taught me that there’s no such thing as being TOO dressed. There’s always a reason to “put it on” and look presentable, even if it’s just for a day of classes. Standing out was celebrated and encouraged with my peers embracing the opportunity, giving me the confidence to try new styles and trends.
xoNecole: How did Howard shape your career as a luxury buyer?
Sharmaine: I studied Fashion Merchandising, through which I was fortunate to have professors who were very connected to the industry and able to give first-hand accounts of opportunities and what to expect post-college. I was also able to build a network through my peers and other Howard Alum, which has opened doors to endless possibilities both within fashion as well as daily life.
The same confidence instilled in me through my style has also been rooted deeply within me as I step into any role or project I’m faced with throughout my career.
xoNecole: This year marked Howard’s 100th-anniversary Homecoming celebration. Can you describe what the weekend looked and felt like?
Sharmaine: I’ve gone to many Howard Homecomings since graduating, but this year’s 100th anniversary felt like a huge family reunion filled with nothing but love. It was beautiful to see so many Bison return home looking great and radiating joy. It was beautiful!
xoNecole: What makes Howard fashion different from other HBCUs?
Sharmaine: Being that Howard is The Mecca, we have such a diverse population with each individual having their own spin on fashion. Getting dressed is second nature for us, but the layered confidence is our secret ingredient to make any look come together. Through that comfortability to push barriers, we have a legacy of setting trends, as indicated by the many alumni we have in the fashion and entertainment industry.
Keep scrolling for the top street style moments from The Mecca's Homecoming weekend:
Credit: Lacey Gallagher
Credit: Alan Henderson
Credit: JaLynn Davis
Credit: Dylan Davis
Credit: Caleb Smith
Credit: Kendall W.
Credit: Jordyn Finney
Credit: Vanessa Nneoma
Credit: Dr. Mariah Sankey-Thomas
Credit: Caleb MacBruce
Credit: Tiffany Battle
Credit: Teniola
Credit: Ilahi Creary
Credit: Nicolas Ryan Grant
Credit: Dylan Davis
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Featured image courtesy of Sharmaine Harris
SZA Bares It All: 7 Key Takeaways From SZA's 'British Vogue' Cover Story
Solána Imani Rowe never ceases to amaze us. In a recent interview withBritish Vogueas their December cover star, we got to learn more about our queen and what makes her her. The multi-dimensionality is unreal. It’s one of the things Kendrick Lamar loves about SZA.
He told British Vogue, “Her vulnerability through her music is brave and inspiring. She’s a reminder of what the human experience looks like: a roller-coaster of emotions. And that’s okay. We are alive.”
In her lyrics, SZA often oscillates between contrasting emotions and contradictory statements, creating a stream of consciousness that encompasses both love and hate so this interview reflected that same energy. Ahead, find the seven gems we took away from the much-needed feature.
1.SZA Gets Real About Her BBL
SZA got extremely candid about her decision to get a BBL. In early 2022, she began a rigorous gym routine, swiftly gaining muscle mass. However, despite her progress, the growth of her gluteal muscles lagged behind, presenting a unique challenge in her fitness journey.
"I’m so mad I did that shit," she said.
SZA continued, "I gained all this weight from being immobile while recovering and trying to preserve the fat. It was just so stupid. But who gives a fuck? You got a BBL, you realise you didn’t need the shit. It doesn’t matter. I’ll do a whole bunch more shit just like it if I want to before I’m fucking dead because this body is temporary. It just wasn’t super necessary – I have other shit that I need to work on about myself…
"I need to get my fucking mental health together… Not to say you can’t do those things simultaneously, just, for me, I realise wherever you go, there you’ll be. But I love my butt. Don’t get me wrong. My booty look nice. And I’m grateful that it looks pretty much… I don’t know, sometimes natural, but I don’t even care. It’s something that I wanted. I’m enjoying it. I love shaking it."
2.SZA Takes An Aura-Altering Baño Blanco
Also known as a white bath, this act is used to cleanse negative energies. As PopSugar suggests, a baño blanco, apart from purifying negative energy, is a wonderful method to achieve inner peace and tranquility. This baño might be ideal for you if you have trouble sleeping. Think of it as a soothing lullaby in bath form. Hence, it serves as an excellent introduction to spiritual baths for children. The gentle and comforting touch of this baño will calm their souls and gently usher them into dreamland. Simply mix the baño blanco into warm bathwater and let them absorb all the benefits.
3.SZA Suffers From Severe Anxiety
SZA’s manager and Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label president Terrence Henderson Jr, better known as Punch shares the intricacies of performing at a festival like British Summer Time Hyde Park (BST Hyde Park.) The music festival held once a year in London's Hyde Park lasts for up to three weeks.
"When you do a festival, it’s so much shared space… different crews, different teams, you don’t know who’s who." On her own tour, she’ll "come out, mingle and talk to everybody. She’ll usually pull fans back. With a festival… she’ll usually get off stage and go straight to the hotel."
When labelmate Kendrick Lamar first met the star, he recalls her being a "shy yet outgoing individual who was open for information but always had a question about something. At present, he shares, "I recognize a more expressive SZA. The shy shit is completely out the window – to a degree, at least. She has the answers to some of the things she was curious about and is willing to tell it all in the most disruptive yet beautiful compositions this generation has ever heard."
4.SZA Is Really A Nature Girly
In a moment of reflection during the interview, gazing upon a vibrant purple flower, she fights back tears. "Nature just be naturing and we don’t even know why. It’s so weird, and so bizarre, and magical, and so great. It’s such a reminder: this shit is completely out of your control. As she sees it, the weeds are doing their part and they’re part of the larger landscape.
"They don’t get to choose if they’re a fucking tulip or a tiger lily or a dandelion." Homegirl also admitted to talking to everything. "I talk to plants. I talk to energies… I try to greet them. I leave an offering."
5.SZA Questions If She’s Done With Music
"Every day I grapple with, 'Am I done with music?' Maybe I’m just not meant to be famous – I’m crashing and burning and behaving erratically. It’s not for me because I have so much anxiety. But why would God put me in this position if I wasn’t supposed to be doing this? So I just keep trying to rise to the occasion. But I’m also just like, 'Please, the occasion is beating my ass.'"
6.SZA is Here For Her Day Ones
She relies on her "day-one fan pages" to provide feedback and keep her informed about online discussions. The singer struggles with the impersonality of being a public figure and the constant scrutiny and criticism she faces, including being labeled as a whisper artist and having her musical style pigeonholed.
7.SZA Dresses as A Mood
Whether comfortable or ethereal or intellectual, she’ll always choose moods over a specific look. Her longtime stylist, Alejandra Hernandez said, "[Her style] is very similar to her music: a mix of so many different genres."
As a "child of nature," SZA embraces a bohemian style that's currently making a comeback, thanks to Chloé's new direction under Chemena Kamali. While the boho look is often seen as Eurocentric, there's always been a Black hippy movement. We learned that even though SZA loves Maison Margiela, Valentino, and indie labels such as Ottolinger, "she always comes back to vintage: old Tom Ford or Roberto Cavalli; polo rugbys, cargos and oversized Obama tees."
Read the full cover story here.
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Featured image by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic