May

If you were born in May, your insecurities commonly get the best of you. You stay up all night, overthinking, because you’re worried that you said something that upset a family member or friend. That you are accidentally pushing away the people who are closest to you, or that you made some sort of mistake that is going to result in you losing your job. You are always panicked that your decisions were the wrong decisions, that you made some horrible mistake that is going to ruin everything. But you need to remember, no one is being as hard on you as you’re being on yourself. Even if you did make some tiny missteps throughout the day, most people probably don’t remember a thing. You’re the only one worried about it.

November

If you were born in November, you lean more toward pessimism than optimism. Since you’re always worried that something horrible is going to go wrong, it’s hard for you to fall asleep without thinking through every potential scenario. After all, you want to be prepared for whatever you’re about to face. You want to think through every single angle so you aren’t caught by surprise. But you need to remember, life is unpredictable. You won’t always be prepared, even if you take all the proper steps. Sometimes, you just have to let things happen and deal with them as they come.

September

If you were born in September, you’re a perfectionist. You aren’t happy with yourself, even when you’ve gone above and beyond that day, because you always feel like you could have done more. You put way too much pressure on yourself to be perfect, which is why you stay up at night, thinking about all the things you could have done differently. But you need to remember, perfection is impossible to reach. You need to start appreciating everything you’ve done right instead of zoning in on the super small things you could have done better. Stop being so hard on yourself because you deserve so much more credit than you’ve been giving yourself.

January

If you were born in January, you have an active imagination. Even if everything in your world is going well, you are going to daydream about everything falling apart. You are going to torture yourself by thinking through the worst-case scenarios. Plus, you are going to think far into the future and deep into the past because you struggle to enjoy the current moment that you’re in. You’re always worried about another time and place instead of focusing on the here and now. But you need to remember, you can’t fix problems that don’t exist yet. You need to focus on today. Focus on what you’re experiencing right now, not what you might experience a few weeks or months or years from now.

Aquarius

Aquarius, you know exactly who you are and you aren’t going to apologize for it. You couldn’t care less about fitting in with the crowd and being accepted by others because you would rather stay true to yourself. You would rather be the real you. You are one of the most authentic signs in the zodiac because you know what you want and you chase after it. You know what you like and you openly admit it. You aren’t going to play pretend in order to come across as cooler or more interesting. You are as honest and transparent as they come. What others see is what they get.

Taurus

Taurus, you are as stubborn as they come. Although this can be a negative at times, it’s also the reason why you are so authentic. You couldn’t care less what others want from you. You aren’t going to change yourself to please them. You aren’t going to do something that makes you uncomfortable in order to be liked more. You are going to do what you want to do in any given situation. You refuse to change yourself — and if someone else expects you to change, that’s a sign that they don’t deserve you. You know who you are, and although you have had your fair share of insecurities in the past, you like who you are too. You don’t want to live your life differently. You are living it exactly the way that you want to and you don’t care who approves.

Aries

Aries, you care about other people’s opinions more than you would ever admit, but you never act like it. You are unapologetically yourself because you wouldn’t be comfortable playing pretend. You are the most authentic version of yourself because you love yourself. You know the real you is more than enough. Besides, you are extremely blunt, so it’s hard for you to hold back how you really feel. You aren’t the type of person who can sit there and lie about your thoughts and opinions. And you don’t see why you would want to do something like that. You would rather be real, even if it means less people are going to like you in the end. After all, you can’t please everyone. Why try?

Capricorn

Capricorn, you aren’t trying to impress anyone other than the person in the mirror. Although you would love the rest of the world to see you as successful and respect you, you understand that you can’t control their perspective. You can’t impress everyone, even when you’re doing everything right, because there will always be someone unhappy with you. You have such a strong sense of self because you aren’t setting out to please anyone other than yourself. You are making the decisions that you want to make instead of choosing what you think others want you to choose. You are living for yourself, not for them.

You never bring up your accomplishments in conversation.

You’re not bragging by bringing up achievements that are important to you, that you worked your butt off to receive. You are allowed to post about them and talk about them to your friends and family. They shouldn’t be some big secret. Remember that you are deserving of this success — and you deserve to bask in the moment. Enjoy it instead of simply moving onto the next thing without taking some time to celebrate.

You feel too guilty to set boundaries.

You shouldn’t accept a date with someone, or remain in a relationship with someone, just because they’re nice to you and you feel sorry for them. Barbie didn’t enjoy turning down Ken, but she did what was best for them both. You need to do the same moving forward. Don’t let anyone pressure you or guilt you into a relationship. If you don’t want to be with them, you don’t need a reason. Just say no.

You are always doubting yourself.

It’s natural to have unkind thoughts about yourself, but you shouldn’t dwell on them. You shouldn’t pick apart every little flaw when you look in the mirror, or hold yourself back from speaking because you’re afraid what you have to say isn’t important enough. You are allowed to take up space and use your voice. Like Barbie, you need to believe in your worth. Know that you are beautiful. You are intelligent. You are capable. You are strong.

You hold yourself back out of fear of failure.

Barbie can be anything she wants to be — and so can you. You shouldn’t hold yourself back because you’re worried you don’t have what it takes to succeed. So what if you fail? You can pick yourself up and try again. Remember, the only thing scarier than failing is never trying at all. You can’t live a life of fear or you’re never going to reach your full potential.

You constantly compare yourself to other women.

You shouldn’t tear others down to feel better about yourself. And you shouldn’t let another person’s success make you feel terrible about your own life. In the film, all the Barbies support each other. They are proud of each other’s accomplishments. They lift each other up and encourage each other because they understand there’s room for them all to succeed. They are an inspiration to each other, not competition.

You are obsessed with appearing perfect.

Although Barbie might start the movie out feeling like she needs to be perfect, she ends the movie deciding to be human instead. She no longer fears aging or having a hair out of place. She understands that she doesn’t need to be perfect in every single way in order to hold value. She just has to be her true, authentic self.

It’s the real thing if you find yourselves talking seriously about the future.

If you’re only going to be together for the summer, then you’re only going to be making plans for a few days, or maybe weeks, into the future. You might talk about hypothetical dates you would go on in the future, but nothing is set in stone. However, if it’s the real thing, then you’re going to be figuring out how to make the relationship work beyond the summer. You’re going to be setting plans for months later because you plan to keep each other in your lives permanently.

It’s only a fling if you aren’t putting an official label on the relationship.

If this person keeps making excuses about how they don’t like labels or about how they want to keep their options open, then your relationship is probably not going to last much longer than a season. After all, if they want to keep you in their life forever, then they’re going to be clear about their feelings. They’re going to make a real commitment and put an official label on the relationship, so you can start your journey as a couple.

It’s the real thing if you develop a deep, emotional connection.

Summer flings are about passion. You’ll spend most of your time together kissing and holding hands, enjoying your physical connection. However, if it’s the real thing, then they are going to let their walls down completely. They’re going to open up about their deepest secrets, fears, hopes, and dreams, then ask you about yours. They’re going to give you access to every side of themselves, not only the surface layers.

It’s only a fling if you never spend time alone together.

Even though it’s fun to hang out with big groups of friends, especially over the summer, you’re never going to develop a deep connection if there are always other people around. Remember, make-out sessions shouldn’t be the only time when you’re alone together. If you’re always hanging out in big groups, and only sneaking off for kisses, then it’ll be hard to get to know each other as well as a couple should. However, if it’s the real thing, then you’ll go out on actual dates. You’ll spend one-on-one time together. You’ll make time for each other.

It’s the real thing if they post about you online.

If they’re keeping you a secret, then there’s a good chance you’re only a fling and they want to look like they’re still single so they don’t lose their chance with anyone else. But if they delete their dating apps and post pictures of you on social media, making it clear you’re a couple, then it’s the real thing. They’re showing you off because they’re proud to be with you. They’re excited to start their love story with you.

It’s only a fling if they are always inviting you out at the last minute.

If they refuse to set plans in advance, they’re probably waiting to see what other options come along. They’re probably only inviting you out when they’re bored and lonely, when they have nothing better on the agenda. Of course, you shouldn’t be a backup plan. You should be the first person they want to hang out with when they have free time.

It’s the real thing if they introduce you to their family.

No one is going to bring you around their parents on purpose if they’re planning on walking away once the summer is done. If they’ve invited you to family parties and are introducing you to all their favorite people, then they are picturing you as a permanent part of their life.

It’s only a fling if they refuse to talk about their feelings for you.

Even if they like you, a relationship is never going to work if they aren’t sharing their thoughts and feelings. Someone who really wants to be with you won’t be shy about how much they care about you and how much you mean to them. So if they never give you compliments or talk about how much they like you, then there’s a chance it’s only a fling and their attraction is more physical than emotional.

It’s the real thing if they’re putting in as much effort as you are.

If they want to be a permanent part of your world, they’ll show you that they care through their words and their actions. They’ll put effort into initiating conversations, keeping conversations going, planning dates, and making you smile. If they’re actively trying, it’s a good sign. It means they want you around forever, not only for the summer.

Be careful with your words because they can have a heavy impact. 

One of the most powerful quotes is the entire film is when Nimona says, “I don’t know what’s scarier. The fact that everyone in this kingdom wants to run a sword through my heart, or that sometimes I just want to let them.” Even though someone might not deserve the hatred they’re given in any way, if enough people treat them poorly, it’s going to be hard for them to keep going. So spread kindness. Your words will impact others, in good ways and bad, so be careful with how you treat them.

You deserve to live as your most authentic self.

One of the most powerful aspects of Nimona is the film’s emphasis on being your true self. You should never hide who you really are, even if that means pushing certain people away, because you deserve to live authentically. You deserve to embrace your truth. There’s a powerful scene where Ballister is asking Nimona what would happen if she held it in, if she didn’t shapeshift anymore, and Nimona jokes about dying before telling him: “I wouldn’t die die. I just sure wouldn’t be living.” (Fun fact: If you look closely, there’s a trans flag in the background of this scene!)

Don’t ask small-minded questions.

This is a key lesson that Ballister learns throughout the film. Although he begins the story by constantly questioning who and what Nimona is, he eventually learns that they’re friends. That’s all that matters. Nimona is Nimona.

Your assumptions about other people might not be based on reality.

A big takeaway from this film is that you should question everything. You can’t always believe what you hear because other people have their own agendas and might be trying to manipulate you. Or they simply might be wrong. You can’t always assume the people you were taught are villains are actually as bad as everyone claims because you should be forming your own opinions, asking your own questions. Nimona said it best with: “Kids. Little kids. They grow up believing that they can be a hero if they drive a sword into the heart of anything different. And I’m the monster?” Don’t be so rigid that you refuse to change your opinion on someone or something, because there’s a chance you were wrong.

You can’t care too much about what other people think of you.

Early in the film, Nimona says, “Once everyone sees you as a villain, that’s what you are. They only see you one way, no matter how hard you try.” Although the film eventually makes it clear that people like Ballister can change their opinions and their beliefs, you can’t care too much about what the rest of the world thinks. It’s much better to surround yourself with people who love you and support you. People who will remind you of your worth and make you feel special exactly the way you are.

In episode three, Frank tells Bill, “Love me the way I want you to.” And that’s an important thing to remember. When you’re in love with someone, you should pay close attention to their love language because the things that you expect from them could be entirely different than what they expect from you. Although it’s the thought that counts, it’s much more thoughtful to pay attention to your partner’s desires than to assume your ideas are superior. If you want your love to last, love them the way they want you to — and that starts by listening.

You can love again after having your heart shattered. 

It isn’t easy for Joel to open his heart again after losing his daughter, but he allows himself to grow close to Tess. And slowly but surely, he is allowing himself to grow close to Ellie. Even though his losses have deeply wounded him, he still says, “You keep going for family. That’s about it.” He might not even realize it himself, but he believes that loving is worth the trouble, worth the pain, worth the uncertainty. Although he’s had his heart shattered in the past, his heart isn’t broken beyond repair. He’s able to love again.

Even the strongest relationships aren’t going to be easy all the time.

When you’re in love, the relationship isn’t going to be fun and exciting all the time. It won’t even be happy all of the time. There will be stressful moments, speed bumps that challenge the strength of your love for each other. However, if you are committed to each other and are both willing to put in the effort, you will get through those tough times. Frank put it beautifully when he said, “I’ve had a lot of bad days. I’ve had bad days with you too. But I’ve had more good days with you than with anyone else.”

Love makes you vulnerable.

Loving someone is always a risk. There’s always a chance you’re going to get your heart broken in the end, whether it’s on the day that you break up with them or the day that they die. But that risk is worth taking. Bill delivers one of the most beautiful lines of the series when he says, “I was never afraid until you showed up.” But he clearly doesn’t regret gaining that fear. The reward is worth the risk. Loving someone is worth the heartache they could potentially bring one day.

Love can be downright dangerous.

If you’ve played the video game, you know how dangerous love can be — and you’re already seeing this in the show too. Characters in TLOU kill to protect their loved ones and to avenge their loved ones. They will go to great lengths for the people they consider family. Love can bring out your softest side, but it can also bring out your most brutal instincts. Like writer Neil Druckmann has stated, “That kind of love, that unconditional love, is beautiful and can be scary at the same time.”

Let your accessories do the talking.

You don’t need to purchase an entire new wardrobe when you want to change up your style. All you need are the right accessories. As Margot Robbie proves, extravagant necklaces and earrings are the key to a glamorous outfit. To recreate her look, you can simply add a string of pearls to your dress. Or you can add another staple accessory that she rocks throughout the film, like headbands, belts, or hats. They’re bold, glamorous statements that won’t cost you a fortune.  

Get creative and make your own clothes.

Babylon is about a group of dreamers who understand the importance of artistic innovation. Let these characters inspire you to create your own looks. Literally. You can pick up some fabric from your local craft store and sew your own dress. That might sound intimidating, but when you’re creating a dress without a waistline, like the ones featured in this film, it’s easy to make at home – and it will save you a ton of cash. 

Rent your party clothing for a cheaper price.

Babylon is filled with lavish parties, but you aren’t going to wear costumes as glamorous as these characters do every single day. Since you’re only dressing up for one night and you might never wear the same outfit again, try renting your clothing online. You can have special items shipped to you, wear them, and then bring them back without having to pay the full price. No one else will know the difference.

Pay extra attention to hair and makeup.

New clothing can add up when you’re packing your shopping cart, but as long as you have one or two statement pieces, you should be set. Remember, hair and makeup can change your entire appearance (and it won’t break the bank!). Rocking bright red lips, a curly updo, and heavy eye makeup like Margot Robbie does in this film will help you land the right aesthetic.

Choose the proper footwear for the occasion.

Looking fashionable isn’t enough. You need to feel good about what you’re wearing too. Remember, you don’t have to choose between aesthetics or comfort. You can have it all. That’s why you should ditch those thin high heels that are hard to walk in and stick to wearing lower, chunkier heels that you’re able to move around in — and dance in! That way, you’ll be able to have fun without sacrificing style. You’ll get the best of both worlds.

Mix and match your clothes and accessories.

The aesthetics in Babylon are beautiful because of their scope and scale. But little things can make all the difference in real life. All you have to do is make a slight change to an old outfit in order to make it feel brand new again. The same dress can be paired with different jewelry, hats, and makeup and it will suddenly be unrecognizable. Just like Babylon is the perfect blend of genres, you can create the perfect blend of clothes. All it takes is a little bit of creativity.

Wear your clothing with confidence.

The clothes you choose are only going to get you so far. If you really want to make an impact, you need to have the confidence to pull them off. Remember, fashion is all about having fun and showcasing your style. You should always be wearing outfits that make you feel confident — and make you feel more like you. Although the characters in Babylon are great style inspiration, don’t try to be them. Be yourself. They’re beautiful, but so are you!

See Babylon, only in theaters, December 23rd! Tickets are available here.  

This week, don’t underestimate your own abilities. You are capable of achieving far more than you think, so don’t hold back out of fear of failure. Even if you don’t see the results you want, you’ll be proud of yourself for giving it a shot.

Taurus

This week, spend more time with your own thoughts. Pause for a second and give yourself the chance to really think things through instead of rushing from one moment to the next without asking yourself how you’re doing or what you want.

Gemini

This week, protect your peace. Don’t waste time arguing with people who are never going to see the situation from your point of view. Don’t listen to their ramblings when they aren’t going to give you the same respect and hear you out. Just walk away.

Cancer

This week, stop sweeping your problems under the rug. Confront whatever is bothering you. Admit that there is a problem because that’s the first step toward finding a solution. Even though you might feel uncomfortable causing a fuss, you deserve to have your feelings heard.

Leo

This week, give yourself grace. When you mess up, try your hardest to accept that whatever happened is over and done instead of dwelling on it and beating yourself up over it. Everyone else makes mistakes too, even though you might not see them. You’re not alone in this.

Virgo

This week, allow yourself to sit in the discomfort. If something is bothering you, don’t push the emotion away. Take some time to ask yourself why this is bothering you, what it could mean, and what you could do to change the situation.

Libra

This week, stop trying so hard to impress the people around you. Even though society has conditioned you to care about validation, it doesn’t matter if others are proud of what you’ve accomplished. It matters whether you’re proud, whether you’re living a life that genuinely makes you happy.

Scorpio

This week, sneak some treats. This might mean letting yourself sleep an hour later than usual or setting aside time to binge-watch a series that you’ve been excited to see. Either way, do something nice for yourself. Something fun and relaxing.

Sagittarius

This week, be selective with how you spend your time and who you’re spending it on. You don’t want to dedicate too much effort to someone that isn’t doing the same for you. You don’t want the relationship to become completely one-sided.

Capricorn

This week, celebrate loudly and proudly. Don’t hold back your excitement about the good things that are going on in your life. Don’t be too modest. You’re allowed to brag a little. You’re allowed to be proud of yourself.

Aquarius

This week, accept that you’re going to take steps back sometimes. But that doesn’t mean all your progress was lost. That doesn’t mean you’re on a downward trend. All it means is that you had a bad time. Remember, progress isn’t linear.

Pisces

This week, be gentle with yourself. Don’t push yourself too hard. Don’t rush yourself to move at an impossible pace. Accept that you’re going to get there when you get there. Stressing yourself out isn’t going to help in any way.

This week, give yourself some more credit than usual. You’ve been working your butt off but you haven’t stopped to celebrate or bask in your own accomplishments. You’re doing better than you think, so make sure you take some time this week to mull over how well you’ve done.

Taurus

This week, make sure you’re making decisions based on what you want, not what the rest of the world expects from you. Even though you want to please your partner and parents and friends, they don’t actually know what’s best for you. Only you get to make that decision for yourself.

Gemini

This week, sit down and set goals for yourself. Instead of doing whatever feels right in the moment, develop more of a routine so you can squeeze everything you want into the week. In the long run, it’ll cause less stress when you have more of a game plan.

Cancer

This week, don’t let love distract you from your other goals. Remember that a relationship isn’t everything. You should be putting effort into other areas of your world too, like your career and your hobbies. Don’t forget about everything else that matters to you because you’re so swept up in romance.

Leo

This week, stop trying to control everything and everyone around you. Accept that you don’t have total control over others, that you aren’t always the one in charge, the one responsible for solving problems. Accepting what you cannot change will do wonders for your stress levels.

Virgo

This week, speak your love into the universe. Tell the people you care about how much they mean to you. It doesn’t matter if this is a crush or a family member or friend. Whoever it is, just make sure they know that you care. Don’t expect them to know instinctively.

Libra

This week, stand your ground. If you have an opinion, you’re allowed to share it. If you have a boundary, you’re allowed to enforce it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t let them try to silence you.

Scorpio

This week, pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t get so lost in your own world that you fail to see what’s right in front of your face. Examine the people and places around you. Stay present in the moment. Stay mindful.

Sagittarius

This week, give yourself permission to cry. Release the emotions that have been building up inside. There’s nothing weak about shedding a tear. It’s healthier to let your emotions out than to keep them stuffed inside.

Capricorn

This week, point out problems instead of pretending everything is fine. If you want to strengthen relationships and friendships, you need to be honest with each other. You need to admit when something isn’t working. If you stay quiet, then the problem will only snowball.

Aquarius

This week, try to set aside some private, quality time with your favorite person. Get away somewhere where it’s only the two of you, where you aren’t distracted by work or by other people.

Pisces

This week, put your phone down. Instead of texting back and forth for hours, see if you can meet up in person. Have some fun face-to-face.

This week, stop putting off your problems until later so that you can feel comfortable today. If you keep procrastinating, you’re only prolonging the pain. The quicker you deal with what’s wrong, the quicker you’ll be able to heal and move past it.

Taurus

This week, stay away from social media. Give yourself a break from reading hot takes and examining other people’s lives. Distance yourself from the negativity that it brings you, if only for a few days, and see how your mood changes.

Gemini

This week, try finishing what you started instead of hopping from project to project. Even though you have a habit of changing your mind and your interests based on whatever mood you happen to be in, consistency and follow-through is important. If it matters to you, stick with it.

Cancer

This week, remember you don’t owe anyone anything. You aren’t obligated to give someone your time, your body, or your attention. You get to decide whether this is what you want to do. Not them. Start making decisions for yourself, not the people around you.

Leo

This week, give yourself room to make mistakes. Stop expecting perfection from yourself because you’re accidentally holding yourself back. You’re stopping yourself from reaching your full potential because you’re so scared of failing.

Virgo

This week, branch out and try something new – whether that’s reading a different book genre, cooking a new type of dinner, or taking a new route home from work. It can be something small and silly. Just switch things up a bit and see how you feel.

Libra

This week, don’t hesitate to make the first move, send the first text, plan the first outing. Take initiative. Do whatever your heart is pulling you to do instead of waiting for someone else to do the work for you.

Scorpio

This week, focus on making memories. Enjoy your time spent with your favorite people. Stay present with them instead of hiding behind your phone and thinking about things that aren’t right in front of your face.

Sagittarius

This week, don’t close yourself off to new people. Give them a fair chance. Don’t let your history convince you that they’re going to treat you terribly. Let their actions guide your decisions about them.

Capricorn

This week, get in touch with your inner child. Act playful. Have fun. Don’t take yourself so seriously all the time – especially with Halloween right around the corner. It’s a great time to dress up and act ridiculous without feeling self-conscious.

Aquarius

This week, manage your time wisely. Don’t say yes to every opportunity. Be selective so you don’t burn yourself out. You don’t want to overextend yourself. You don’t want to put too much on your plate at once and end up extra stressed.

Pisces

This week, don’t give and give without getting anything in return. There’s a difference between doing nice things for someone and letting them take advantage of you. Don’t let it reach a point where you’re bleeding yourself dry for someone who never lifts a finger for you.