What The Mercury Retrograde Means For Your Zodiac Sign
We're currently in the midst of our first Mercury Retrograde of the year. The planet of communication, learning, and travel has dipped back into dreamy, intuitive Pisces until the 28th of the month. Expect a dip in your energy levels now that we have quite a few planets in this sign, including the Sun and Neptune, which can make our minds a little foggy. You may feel a lack of direction right now due to the Piscean mutable energy. However, you are encouraged to surrender to the flow right now as this Mercury Retrograde gifts you the opportunity to reconnect with your soul and to receive the next steps for your journey.
Be gentle with yourself and others, as this is a highly sensitive time. Focus on developing your psychic gifts through meditation, divination, or dream work. Your inner world will be very active over the next few weeks. Try to keep a journal to record your experiences or to simply release the overwhelm of emotions that you're feeling during this empathic time. Overall, this Mercury Retrograde can be a beneficial factor in helping you gain the closure you need surrounding situations in which you've played the role of victim or martyr. It's time to revamp your perspective when it comes to using boundaries that empower you and contribute to healthier interactions with others.
Check out the horoscopes below to help you navigate this Mercury Retrograde:
Sagittarius
Laci Jordan for xoNecole
Mercury Retrograde brings your focus to home and family matters over the next few weeks. You may be planning to return to your roots at this time or in the near future. If you do plan on traveling this month, make sure to dot your i's and cross your t's. Double check your bags before leaving and give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. For the most part, you'll probably be more interested in secluding yourself in your own humble abode. This is a great time to revamp your space so that it feels like a sanctuary tucked away from the chaos of the outside world.
Emotions are tender over the next few weeks. Any unresolved issues with a mother figure or your family as a whole may be triggered during this time. Be gentle with yourself as you explore these feelings and restructure the way that you process your emotions. Maybe you grew up in a household that didn't allow you to express the more sensitive side of yourself. Avoid playing the blame game by accepting your family's dynamic for what it is and choose to empower yourself by shifting the narrative that you were raised to believe.
Want more stories like this? Check out these other xoNecole reads:
What Your Zodiac Says About Your Style - Read More
The Best And Worst Traits Of Men To Date By Their Zodiac Sign - Read More
What You Really Need To Know About Compatibility Based On Zodiac Signs - Read More
- Your Monthly Horoscopes: October 2018 - xoNecole ›
- Janelle Belgrave ›
- Your Monthly Horoscopes: December 2018 - xoNecole ›
- Best Meditation Practices For Your Zodiac Sign - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Survive Negative Effects Of Retrograde - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Your March 2021 Horoscope Is Here - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- The Summer Ends With Mercury Going Retrograde, Here’s What This Means For Your Zodiac Sign - xoNecole: Lifestyle, Culture, Love, Wellness ›
- Table of Mercury Retrograde Dates to Year 2030 - Susan Miller ... ›
- 9 Zodiac Signs Whose Careers Mercury Retrograde March 2019 ... ›
- Mercury Retrograde in Pisces is Here - What to Know About Mercury ... ›
- Mercury Retrograde Calendar for 2019 – When Mercury is in ... ›
- Mercury Retrograde Dates 2019 | What is Mercury Retrograde ... ›
- Intuitive Astrology: Mercury Retrograde March 2019 - Forever ... ›
- How Mercury Retrograde March 2019 Will Affect Your Love Life ... ›
- How To Survive Mercury Retrograde Effects In March 2019 ›
- Mercury Retrograde March 2019 ~ by Darkstar Astrology ›
- 2019 Mercury Retrograde Calendar ›
Meet The Designer Behind This Megan Thee Stallion "Hiss" Video Look
When Megan Thee Stallion dropped “Hiss,” a shift happened. From the audacious lyrics to the striking visuals, there was no doubt that the song and video would go viral. The opening of the video shows the H-town hottie rocking a barely there Shibari red dress, showing off her voluptuous frame. It was a sexy moment created by Timeekah Murphy of Alani Taylor. The designer exclusively tells us how the opportunity came about and what it was like seeing her design on Megan for the first time.
Timeekah Murphy
Photo courtesy
xoNecole: How did the opportunity to create such an iconic look for Megan Thee Stallion's "Hiss" video come about?
Timeekah Murphy: The opportunity came from a DM from celebrity stylist Zerina Akers. She asked for a unique Shibari piece for Megan, and I needed to get it done in two days. So, of course, I did everything in my power to make it happen. I've always wanted to design for Megan, so this was an awesome opportunity for me.
xoN: What was that initial feeling of seeing the dress on her for the first time?
TM: I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her.
xoN: Did you meet her? If so, how was that moment?
TM: I didn't meet Megan during the shoot, but during my time in LA, I got the opportunity to meet her at LA Pride with Tiffany Haddish, Common, and EJ King (stylist). Megan is such an amazing person, so it made it even better to know that my designs were going to be worn by her. I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her.
"I was shocked because, at first, I thought it hadn't been used. I saw Megan's last video and thought, damn, maybe it didn't fit. So, to see it on such an amazing video was breathtaking. I was beyond excited to finally say I designed for her."
Photo courtesy
xoN: Walk us through the creation of the dress. How did you come up with the look, and how long did it take to make it?
TM: I was the co-designer for a brand called Deviant in 2018-2020, and we used to make custom Shibari pieces. That's how Zerina knew me. So I'm very familiar with making these types of pieces. We made plenty for Beyoncé, Cardi B, Tiffany Haddish, Tyra Banks, and so many others. So Zerina knew exactly what she wanted.
To get it done, it took me a day and a half. It's very intricate and time-consuming, so I spent about six hours making it then I sent an image of it to Zerina, and she didn't approve the first one, so I had to start from scratch again after getting my guidance and understanding of what was needed. The next day, I went to The Lab and created another version, and she approved it. I had to get it shipped overnight so that she would get it in time and fast forward to seeing it on the big screen.
xoN: What's next for you?
TM: Everything. The sky is not my limit, so the Alani Taylor brand is expanding into so many different avenues. We are getting involved in the community more, offering sewing classes to the youth. I've opened up a store for my brand in Atlanta and now preparing for fall/winter Fashion Week.
Megan Thee Stallion "Hiss" video/ YouTube
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Dating Apps Are Out, Meeting People IRL Is In — And Here’s How To Do It.
Whoever coined the phrase, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” certainly was not referring to the state of our dating scene. Whether online or in real life, you don't have to go far to hear the grievances of singles calling for the immediate repair of all leaks, cracks, and fractures in the dating pool.
No matter the state you live in, your age, how much you earn for a living, or if you’re a chronic app dater, there’s a general consensus that something (anything) must be done to restore the hope of singles looking for long-term, fulfilling relationships. And as many of us hold on to the hope for an unexpected cross-encounter with our next love story, others are leaning on the side of giving up completely. But before throwing in the towel, it might be time to make a few adjustments.
Dating Apps Are In Their Flop Era, Making Connections IRL Is Where It's At
Alistair Berg/Getty Images
Many singles agree that spending their leisure time swiping through dating apps is out. What’s in is stepping out of one's comfort zone to make connections in the real world. Scary. We know. But unless you were one of the lucky few to find love on dating apps before its flop era or made a love connection from home during the pandemic, going about your dating life the same way is bound to render the same results: being single with a headache. And we want better for you.
It’s safe to say that constantly meeting strangers off the internet for a chance to find love has lost its charm, leaving singles open to the train, farmer’s market, the gym, or a friend’s house party to be prime real estate for matching up with potential partners.
This shift, as Marissa Nelson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and BLK’s Relationship and Intimacy Expert tells xoNecole, is due in part to a growing concern about the authenticity of online profiles — in other words: is what you’re seeing, in fact, what you’re getting? “From their profile picture, what they say they do, the height they say they are; it’s this fear of, ‘Am I really talking to who I think I'm speaking to?'” she explains.
On our journey to finding “the one” out in the real world, a common question is, “Where do you find the available singles?” The short answer is, everywhere. The long answer is at the grocery store, on a plane, during happy hours, at work, at a conference, on a solo vacation, or, as Nelson puts it, anywhere you are showing up as your most open and vulnerable self.
“You never know where the connection is going to come from, which is why it's even more important to be receptive, to stay open, be curious, and lean into your vulnerability,” she says. In fact, Nelson encourages singles to release themselves of the rigidity around finding the perfect person at the “perfect” place, because, in essence, there isn’t one. “We have to let go of the constraints that we can only go to singles events to meet people,” she says. “We have to be open to however love shows up.”
"We have to let go of the constraints that we can only go to singles events to meet people. We have to be open to however love shows up."
We all can relate to the fact that the idea of shooting our shot in real life is a lot more exciting than the actual act. The relationship expert explains that one of the greatest hesitations to us putting ourselves out there and taking a chance on love is rooted in the fear of rejection. However, it’s important to keep in mind that “we’ve all been hurt” and most importantly, “we’re all afraid of rejection.”
That’s why Nelson suggests the following strategies to make the first move and find love in your everyday life.
1. Don't close yourself off.
“When you relax your expectations, you start to meet really cool people. Some of those cool people became friends and that makes your life richer because now, you have new friends and great people to hang out with. Even if it wasn't a love match, it can become a significant or meaningful friendship.”
2. Don't let your "type" hold you back.
“We all have a type. And a lot of women will say, ‘I like them tall. I like them like this or that.’ When we’re rigid about who we believe we ought to be with versus being open to people who might be more aligned with our values, we close ourselves off. Sure, you're not going to date somebody that you are absolutely not attracted to. But people have a lot of unwritten rules around who they will allow themselves to get to know, and I challenge people to challenge their rules because that can hold you back from expansive experiences.”
skynesher/Getty Images
3. Make the first move.
“I think that if we can be bold, be brave, and if there's somebody that's good-looking, catches your eye, or just seems like they have a good vibe, we can approach them with curiosity. Ask them how they're doing. Introduce yourself. It doesn't have to lead to all these things; you can just have chemistry and flow from there.”
4. Ask better questions.
“When you meet someone for the first time, asking them ‘What do you do?’ is not the best first question because that only tells you what they do for money, not necessarily what they're passionate about. To get insight into who that person truly is, ask: What are you passionate about in your life right now? What lights you up? What excites you? What are you working towards?”
5. Shift your mindset.
“We've all been hurt. And we can be guarded because we don't want to get hurt again. The brain is a very complex and brilliant system designed to keep us safe, and emotional survival is a real thing. We become super protective, and in that, we come up with a lot of different rules, paradigms, [and] belief systems. The biggest mindset shift is: how can we do our own work to know and believe that we are worthy and deserving of love.”
Whether you’re on a dating app or roaming your local Trader Joe’s, love is everywhere — and the abundance of love is available to us once we remove limiting beliefs that make it feel scarce and out of reach. Vulnerability, shedding our walls, and openness just might be the tweaks we need to snitch up the dating streets and watch it heal for the better.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by LeoPatrizi/Getty Images