

Venus Is In Retrograde & The Slowdown Is Asking You To Stop To Reflect
Venus is turning retrograde on December 19 - expect a slowdown in your love and finances this month, ladies! In astrology, the energy of Venus influences money, beauty, likability, attractiveness and most interestingly, love and romance! When planets begin moving backwards, or in other words retrograde motion, this signals a slowdown or in more extreme instances a reversal in all of the forward momentum and energy of that planet.
You are likely to have noticed progress in a lot of Venus-ruled themes when Venus first entered Capricorn in early November. Any progress made between then and now is likely to stall for a bit, until Venus returns to forward mention late next month on January 29. Impulse purchasing and lockdowns interfering with our ability to share love with others is also highlighted under this transit.
Use this time to reflect and take a restock on all things dealing with your beauty regimens, your finances and your love life. This is a review period and not a time to act on or make any major moves as they relate to these themes.
On a global scale, we can expect slowdowns and setbacks as they relate to major financial institutions, the stock market and big business - all of which are ruled by Capricorn and Venus.
Here’s how 2021’s Venus retrograde will affect your sign:
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1. Aries
You are likely to find that any talks of promotions or raises at your job that started in early November will begin to stall or stop altogether now. Be patient, Aries. Things will get back on track for you between late January and early February.
2. Taurus
You were considering making bold moves or expanding your knowledge, experiences, and horizons in some shape or form over the past several weeks, Taurus. You are going to begin to notice things standing in the way of you acquiring higher knowledge or bigger, better experiences for the remainder of this and next month. Progress will resume again beginning in late January.
3. Gemini
Gemini, if you had money on the way or were scouting out a potential lover, expect a slowdown as it relates to actually getting that bag or being able to consummate your relationship with a new beau.
4. Cancer
You may have had plans to take things to the next level with your partner or to break up altogether in early November. Whatever you’ve set in motion as it relates to a serious or a potentially serious relationship is likely to stall or slow down over the next several weeks. But everything will fall into place as they are meant to in due time. Pace yourself and exercise patience between now and late January, Cancer!
5. Leo
In early November, you probably started to notice a little pep in your step as it relates to establishing new daily routines. You have figured out a way to organize your life so that you can handle your health and responsibilities in a more streamlined way. Unfortunately, starting now and into late January, you’ll notice that monkey wrenches get thrown into your plans.
Take it in stride, Leo. These are just temporary setbacks. Use this time to refine the way you want to handle mundane tasks. That way, when Venus heads direct on January 29, you’ll be able to hit the ground running.
6. Virgo
This is a time to reflect on who you truly are inside, outside of the labels and expectations society has placed on you. Dive deeply into yourself and your self-expression, especially as it relates to art, recreation, or even procreation. If you’re a parent, things may become a little tense with your children right now. Ride the wave until late January, Virgo.
7. Libra
In early November, you had the drive and motivation to go full blast on your relocation, redecorating, home purchasing, or apartment leasing plans. You are likely to notice a slowdown in those matters now, Libra. Are you trying to expand your family? You may experience a bit more difficulty than usual now until late January.
Use this time to plan out and envision how you want to structure your home and family life. You’ll be ready to move forward on those plans starting in late January.
8. Scorpio
You are going to experience this transit as if Mercury were going retrograde, Scorpio. Interactions with others that were previously smooth may now be subject to misunderstandings. Take your time when communicating and repeat your message tactfully, as necessary. Don’t shoot off any angry emails during this time. Remain patient!
9. Sagittarius
This transit may impact your self-esteem, or the things that you value in others or that make you feel valued. Take time with your expenditures now. Impulse purchases are highlighted for you during this time, Sagittarius.
10. Capricorn
Reschedule those major beauty procedures now, Capricorn! They may not turn out the way you anticipated. You experienced increased attraction and attention in early November, but you will experience the next month or so as a recovery period where you’re more reflective, introspective, and in the shadows.
Use this time to plan, refine and perfect the public image that you will want to have when Venus heads direct again on January 29.
11. Aquarius
Your hunches, vivid dreams, and gut instincts are taking a little nap for the next few weeks, Aquarius. Spend this time alone and journaling. Don’t make any major moves based on any epiphanies that you experience during this time.
12. Pisces
Pisces, you will feel like life is separating you from your friends or a semblance of any social life. An increase in COVID diagnoses is likely to result in lockdowns affecting your ability to spend time with your circle. Things will return to normal on January 29. Be patient and FaceTime for now!
Featured image by Getty Images
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.