In the immortal words of Beyonce, hey all my single ladies!
If you're looking for love while you work on securing the bag, this read will give you divine tips on how to secure your soulmate in 2018 based on your zodiac sign. In honor of the month of love, we are providing you with the secrets to attracting the love you deserve.
The love you've been waiting for might be closer than you think. Click through the gallery below to learn what the stars have in store for your love life this year, according to your zodiac sign.
1.Aries
Aries, indecision due to steep expectations and wanting to be in ultimate control will not lead you to finding the love of your life. Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad, and no one is perfect. Sometimes Aries will get stuck in between a rock and a hard place when it comes to love because of being unable to just go with the flow and let the cards fall where they may. I know you are a spit-fire when it comes to love, but you must allow the potential "one" to shower you with genuine love and passion. You may want to soar in love with the right person, but sometimes you have to let yourself fall into it.
Let down your guard and your soulmate will be there to catch you.
2.Taurus
The power in finding the one for Taurus lies in manifestation and affirmation. The one will come when you least expect it this year, if you set the right intention.
You are the magician in your world and you can speak this divine love into existence.
When you find this person, you won't have to play hard to get because this man or woman will be the partner you've been praying for. The power of the mind is not a joke, and the power of the heart is even stronger. Manifest through both mind and heart, and you will conjure your soulmate this year.
3.Gemini
Gemini, you might be holding onto someone you've been wanting for a long time, but he or she is not the one. If you can dissolve your lust for this person who is not for you, the right person will come along before you know it.
You have to allow emotional space for true love to come in.
If you are afraid to lose something that you know is less than what you deserve, you may miss out on the one that is made just for you. You deserve more, and you deserve reciprocation in love. Open yourself up to receive it.
4.Cancer
The one for you will be able to provide for you financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Stop entertaining people who only check 1 or 2 of 3 of those requirements because it feels good in the moment.
Affirm that your soulmate will check all the boxes, and not just the emotional or sexual ones.
Once you set these intentions, your soulmate will be delivered to you in a fairytale-like manner.
5.Leo
Leo, you have to get out there and be social. You will never meet the one staying home watching romance movies on Netflix, and apps like Tinder might not be the way to go.
You must be willing to get out of your comfort zone and expand your circle of prospects.
Travel, go to new places, and try new things. You will meet the right person if you put yourself out there. Stay away from bars and nightlife. Try speed dating, or look for a meetup with people who are into the same things as you.
6.Virgo
Virgo, you may often find yourself in fleeting relationships that run out of steam because you are in love with the idea of being in love. If you find yourself in one relationship after the next, ask yourself why the passion fizzles out so quickly.
In order to find "the one," you may need to cut off all your prospects that you are dating just for the sake of dating them.
Build up your self-control when it comes to wanting to date frivolously. Focus on your career and purpose and the one you will never lose a buzz for will come buzzing along.
7.Libra
Libra, you are a very independent and proud woman who wants and deserves the best...but you might be falling for partners who are flashy and present themselves as wealthy or worldly, but they may be superficial or egotistical. You may fall for the charmer who appears to be outwardly successful, but comes with baggage and emotional wounds that they expect you to mend. The one for you won't be a fly-by-night person and will show a level of emotional maturity that you're not used to.
"The one" will humbly show that he or she has sacrificed to get where they are, and that is the type of character you really need in a soulmate.
8.Scorpio
Scorpio, you tend to be a heartbreaker because of your alluring aura. You jump into relationships very quickly, and don't give the bond a substantial enough time to form a long-lasting and sturdy foundation before you bounce.
To find your soulmate in 2018, take your time.
Get to know anyone new fully. Pick their brain and create a deeper spiritual connection. Date someone who is spiritually aligned, creative, and free-spirited. This person is most likely to be the one for you.
9.Sagittarius
Sag, you may have some unresolved feelings attached to a past love that is energetically blocking "the one" from entering your life. If you compare a new prospect to an ex, then this person is not the one.
"The one" will have you saying, "ex, who?"
Listening to your inner wisdom, and gut feelings will lead you to your soulmate, but you have to completely cut the cord to any old flames. Learn from your past mistakes, and lessons in love, and leave the past in the past where it belongs.
10.Capricorn
It is likely that you find the one in a professional setting. Whether it's someone at the office, or at a networking event in your field, your soulmate will love how you take charge, lead, and are all about securing the bag. You may even work with this person in a professional way.
Don't be afraid to explore this option...just keep it professional and separate business from pleasure.
You may even meet this person in a place of business. So the next time you go to the bank and the teller is fine and doesn't have on a ring, give them your business card, wink, smile, then strut away.
11.Aquarius
In order for you to find the one, you actually have to make an effort to find him or her. They will not magically show up at your front door and you won't find them hiding underneath your bed. If you have been dating the same type of person, that is one of your problems right there.
"The one" will excite you and leave you enticed and wanting more.
He or she will break all of the rules, but you will be drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Take a walk on the wild side...that is where "the one" will be waiting.
12.Pisces
It seems like there is some kind of healing that needs to take place for many of the single Pisces out there. There is an energy of a "rite of passage," that must be taken before finding "the one."
Indulge in self-love and healing.
We all have energy that is exchanged when dating, and if there is any deficiency within the self, it will most definitely transpire through an ill-fated or karmic relationship. Once you fill any voids left in your heart and spirit, "the one" will come knocking on your door.
Featured image by Getty Images
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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.”
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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).
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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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This article is about crystals not Scripture, so when it comes to the latter, I’ll just briefly say that if you mosey on over to Exodus 28, you’ll see that a high priest breastplate is referenced; one that contains precious gems including topaz, sapphire, agate, onyx and jasper (and that’s just for starters!). Yeah, it really is important to not just throw judgments around like confetti — know of what you are actually speaking of first (because that’s what Matthew 7 is really all about).
I did think it was important to mention that for potential skeptics about why this article even exists. Because although there are Scriptural and evenscience-based individuals who roll their eyes at the power of what gemstones and crystals can (possibly) do, I’m pretty sure that some of you are not surprised that the holistic and Ayurveda worlds see it all very differently.In those realms, energy plays a big role in physical, emotional, and mental health, and crystals are believed to cultivate balance or intensify certain feelings or experiences through that said energy.
That said, when it comes to sex, specifically, there are certain stones (which are basically what crystals are;in fact, all gemstones are a type of crystal) that are believed to help make intimacy even more satisfying. If you’re curious about which ones are, I’ve got 10 for you below.
10 Crystals That May Enhance Your Intimate Life
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1. Garnet
Garnet is a rich shade of red that happens to be January’s gemstone. It’s considered to be one of the oldest gemstones around, one that Egyptians believed was a symbol of life and something that they oftentimes wore in their signet rings. As far as symbolism goes, garnet also represents love and vitality as well as energy, passion and even self-confidence — all of which are quite relevant when it comes to having an active and fulfilling sex life.
2. Amethyst
Queen Cleopatra and Leonardo da Vinci are just two powerful figures who were big fans of the purple gemstone amethyst. Interestingly enough, it is February’s birthstone — the month that Valentine’s Day falls under. Another interesting fact is many early Christians relied on this gem in order to increase their spirituality while many Greeks used to see it as a stone that provided protection. When it comes to intimacy, amethyst is also associated with love and devotion as well as feelings of calm and reduced anxiety — and since the less calm you feel, the easier it is to climax…well. #wink
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3. Orange Carnelian
Looking to experience more joy and happiness? Or maybe you want to strengthen your friendships. Or perhaps it’s time to increase your pleasure levels or to go into deeper levels of sensuality. For all of these things, orange carnelian is a top-tier pick. As I did a bit more research on this stone, it’s considered to be a royal one and something that can bring forth peace. One of my favorite things about orange carnelian is it comes in different hues of orange — the deeper the color, the more passion it exudes. Just an FYI.
4. Rose Quartz
If you want to take your romantic relationship to another level, rose quartz has a solid reputation for helping to make that happen for you. In fact, this pink crystal is oftentimes referred to as being the stone of unconditional love because it encourages the wearers of it to both give as well as put themselves in the position to receive love too. Since rose quartz is also tied to things like emotional healing, restored trust and harmony, if you’re looking to make a much deeper intimate connection with your partner, this just might be the stone for you.
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5. Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a red-rose colored stone that I personally hold dear. I say that because, as a survivor of sexual abuse, it is one that helps recovering individuals to work through sexual trauma (and trauma, in general). It is associated with love, compassion and strength as it helps you to process your emotions in a positive way, so that you are able to effectively release past pain and deal with any PTSD that you might have. You know, I know a wife who sexually struggled in her marriage for years because she had been sexually assaulted in college and never told her husband.
A stone of compassion is a precious one — including when it comes to dealing with sexual trauma and intimacy challenges and learning how to face them. Salute to this stone right here.
6. Citrine
Citrine is November’s birthstone and its rich yellow color explains why it represents things like abundance, prosperity, radiance and happiness. Aside from this, whether you’re seeking clarity, you’d like to be more creative or you’re interested in becoming more sensual, citrine encourages all of this. Sensuality is a dope word because it’s all about appealing to all five senses; especially during intimacy. To learn more about how to do that, check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever.”
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7. Red Jasper
While doing my own research on what red jasper represents, what I liked the most is it’s something that encourages emotional stability which is always a wonderful thing to have. Although it is a fiery red color, it also contains grounding properties and it symbolizes strength, courage and, another word that can always make sex more pleasurable: stamina. Since stamina is what helps both men and women to last longer during sex, anything that is a “stamina hack” earns an automatic mention when it comes to sex-themed content — including this.
8. Clear Quartz
A fun fact about quartz is it’s one of the most common minerals on this planet. When it comes to clear quartz, specifically, I like the way that it looks because it’s either a cloudy white or something that you can see straight through. As far as its symbolism is concerned, if you want to reduce physical discomfort, remove distractions and focus more on heightened levels of yourself, this crystal represents all of that. Clear quartz also encourages healing, spiritual growth and balance. To me, it seems like if you want to cultivate a spiritual or meditative (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”) experience with your partner, clear quartz is a stone to try.
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9. Shiva Lingam
I ain’t got no lies to tell you — when I first happened upon this particular stone, the first thing that came to my mind was an article that I penned for the site back in the day entitled, “Blow Your Man's Mind By Giving Him This Tantalizing Massage.” That’s because it explains what a lingam massage is and, as you can see, this crystal has that word all up in it. The history of lingam is a bit layered (you can read about it here); however, because it is considered by many to be a phallic symbol and that typically represents the penis — shiva lingam is a neutral-colored crystal that represents both sexuality as well as fertility. Shocking, right? #sarcasm
10. Pyrite
It doesn’t escape me that it’s kind of funny that I’m closing this out with a crystal that has the nickname “fool’s gold.” That’s due to its appearance. That said, it’s also a stone that has some interesting symbolism to it. Since it comes from a Greek word that means fire — of course, it’s a crystal of passion. Since it also taps into things like heightened energy, self-esteem, creativity, awakened senses and the removal of toxic thoughts — if any stone should be in your “let’s get it on” crystal collection, pyrite would be the one!
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Know what’s kinda wild? While I was on Etsy’s site looking for another moonstone, a sake popped up in my feed on what the merchant calls their “libido crystal set” — and six of the 10 stones that I’ve mentioned throughout this article are featured in the collection.
Yeah, I’ll take that as a confirmation that whether you purchase a piece of jewelry that has one (or more) of these stones or you buy a piece of crystal itself to place somewhere in your bedroom — just putting your own energy into wanting a better sex life is a powerful step in the right direction to achieving it.
And what science can’t refute is the benefits of positive thoughts and actions — crystals or not.
So, if precious stones are totally your thing — enjoy, sis. Enjoy!
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