Tag: Way of life

  • November is here! Prepare for last energy – and new beginnings

    November is here! Prepare for last energy – and new beginnings

    Welcome to November, stars!

    After a whirlwind round of October eclipses, we’re headed for a different kind of reckoning: election season and the onslaught of holidays, both of which will test our tact, strength, and ability to breathe through emotional triage.

    Fun.

    For most of this month, the sun will shine in the dark waters of Scorpio. vaclav – stock.adobe.com

    The month begins with a new moon in Scorpio on November 1, setting an intense tone for the transformative weeks ahead.

    On November 3rd, with the closest presidential election in decades, death daddy Pluto in Capricorn will directly oppose warmonger Mars in Cancer. The energy here is powerful, but it can also support self-control and unleashing a death blow (a Pluto/Mars poem) on things that are dead, dying, or determined to destroy us.

    I can’t think of a better day to quit smoking, break up with a narcissist, or swear off corn syrup.

    On November 11, Venus, our planet of possessions, relationships and aesthetics, moves, or rather, power moves ino Capricorn. Venus in Cap knows what she wants and wants it to last, providing an impetus to commit or disengage—depending on the ROI.

    This month, the full moon falls in the horned and horned sign of Taurus on November 15th. Start – stock.adobe.com

    On November 15, the Full Moon in Taurus rises and shines.

    The Moon is exalted in Taurus, which means our luminary of food and security lives to bask in the pleasure pastures of Taurus. But this year, dashing and lightning-fast Uranus is in the mix, making us prone to impulses, excesses and outbursts. Tread carefully, and because Taurus rules the throat, speak your mind—lest you choke on the dry husk of your honest diatribes.

    On the same day, Saturn goes direct in Pisces after months of retrograde; this stationing should help us all see a little more clearly and move purposefully towards dreams and schemes that may have felt stuck in neutral/energetic purgatory since June.

    Pluto, named for the god of the underworld, moves into Aquarius this month. siangphong – stock.adobe.com

    On November 19, power planet Pluto sets up shop in Aquarius, where the dark lord will reign for the next two decades. Pluto in Aquarius will (hopefully) usher us all into the age of the utopian alien where we can rise to the strange and perhaps even subvert the dry, exploitative, capitalist structure of yore.

    Stay tuned.

    On November 21, the sun moves from the crypts of Scorpio to the pirate sails of Sagittarius, providing a much-needed spiritual lift.

    Get it while you can, folks – Mercury retrograde begins on November 25th. The trickster planet will be in peak interference until December 15th.

    Mercury retrograde; don’t be afraid, be prepared. wasan – stock.adobe.com

    This is a relatively short retrograde period for Mercury, but if we consider the shadow period, it will last through both Thanksgiving and Christmas, which can mean more explosions and internal strife. But in the Sag spirit, what is spilled, spoken or broken can lead to broader views and better connections.

    Here’s the hope. Read about your sun and birth signs.

    Make your ashes the clay this month, Aries. deviney designs – stock.adobe.com

    Scorpio season highlights your eighth house of sex, secrets, endings and beginnings, Aries. While you have no problem finding fuel for your proverbial fire, this month has you wondering what can be built upon the pile of what has been burned.

    To help you to your scaffolding, I bring you the words of fellow Aries and Dadaist poet Tristan Tzara: “Not old, not new, but necessary.”

    Taurus may see their trusted relationships tested this month. Kittipong – stock.adobe.com

    Scorpio season casts a shadow over your seventh house of partnership, Taurus. The Full Moon and Uranus in your sign at mid-month promise something shocking to your system and to the foundation of your trusted relationships.

    Remember, my taurus babies, while we would rarely, if ever, choose to be rocked or completely overturned, in the currents we often thrive.

    By slowing down and adapting, Gemini can elevate their routines into rituals. Enigma – stock.adobe.com

    This month, themes of routine and ritual are at the fore for you, Gemini. Consider the ways in which the former can rise to the latter. In relation to your daily life, certain situations, such as living quarters, jobs, hobbies, etc., may feel inconvenient for you this month.

    Use this energy to look for unexpected alternatives. While you don’t have to change everything, wealth is with you if you choose.

    Scorpio floods your house of fun, Cancer. Dennis – stock.adobe.com

    The Sun in Scorpio waters floods your house of fun, Cancer, offering countless opportunities for fancy flights, afternoon delights and falling dice.

    There is little friction between opportunities for praise and the pressing demands of everyday life. Don’t miss your chance to play ball, baby.

    If you’re not able to say, ‘Take this job and push it,’ try to build fun into each day, every day. Eat an ice cream on your lunch break, put your bare feet on the grass, go dancing with strangers. For energetic inspiration, I recommend watching “Hook,” starring the moon child, the late great Robin Williams.

    Rifle through your roots this month, Leo. CrunchyBeans – stock.adobe.com

    Scorpio season asks you to dig deep into your root system, Leo. Use your sign’s theatrical merits to analyze the knots tied by the suffocating threads.

    If you see your life as performance art, are the parts of mother, father, elder, sage, and brother played by the right people in ways that make you feel confident and brave? Free and complete. If not, it’s time to reframe.

    Keep your ear to the ether this month, Virgo. Iswanto – stock.adobe.com

    The Sun in Scorpio places a seashell in the ear of your third house of communication, Virgo.

    For the first half of the month, Mercury, your ruling planet, will also be in Scorpio, encouraging you to listen carefully to messages of all kinds from all sources.

    The veil between worlds is at its thinnest this time of year, so if you’re in the mood to seek guidance or reassurance from someone you’ve lost, now is the time to set out a can to call upon the dead.

    Feel good, take gold Libra. photobieshutterb – stock.adobe.co

    Scorpio season highlights your second house of values ​​and valuables, Libra, house of cash and cold, hard faith.

    In astrology, as in salary, there is a direct correlation between our earning potential and our concept of what we deserve. With that in mind, I hope you’ll evaluate before you say yes to anyone. Being wanted and needed by others is not an adequate reason to avoid your pursuits. No more martyrdom as a means of self-sabotage, Libra! Overcome your fear of inadequacy by claiming and doing exactly what you want.

    Dress like the divinity you are this month, Scorpio. Pixel Matrix – stock.adobe.com

    Happy return of the sun to you, Scorpio. This month begins with a powerful new moon in your sign, offering you a chance for rebirth in the dark night. Your sign is synonymous with transformation and trauma, but this time of year, challenge and change can take the form of a physical adjustment. Fashion is a language, and the best way to communicate your latest incarnation may be in stoic armor or the screaming neon of a new outfit.

    Pro tip: Imagine how your favorite movie character or mythical figure would fit into our broken, modern world. What does Medusa wear to the grocery store? Hades in the club? Does my horse go for a run?

    Find a mantra for self-mastery this month, Sagittarius. Infinity – stock.adobe.com

    The Sun in fixed Scorpio waters always invites introspection. However, the call is stronger for you, Sagittarius, while Scorpio highlights your twelfth house of conclusions, ghosts, hidden forces, and the subconscious mind.

    Experts agree that the best way to influence the subconscious is through repetition of words; basically, what we speak becomes what we believe. You can find a mantra that makes you master of yourself.

    Find unexpected inspiration this month, Capricorn. Sergey Shimanovich – stock.adobe.com

    The Sun in Scorpio highlights your eleventh house of community and connection, Capricorn. You tend to be a one-of-a-kind type, ensuring absolute perfection and glory.

    However, this season, with Pluto in its final death throes and the degree of your sign, you are called upon to call upon others, if not as direct collaborators, then as unexpected sources of insight and inspiration.

    The wilder and wider the net you cast, the richer you will be.

    PS – Trees, animals, children and ghosts in your car and/or dreams all count as community members who can contribute to your cause.

    Cut or kill Aquarius. eliosdnepr – stock.adobe.com

    Ahoy, Aquarius! The big news for you is the entry of death father Pluto into your sign, heralding a period of serious transformation, especially in relation to how you hold, hold and experience power.

    As an outer planet with a very long orbit, this impact will not be instantaneous.

    Still, water bearers can set the stage and pave the way for Pluto to do its work by eradicating anything that weakens it, be it habits, beliefs, heritage or relationships.

    Believe me, my boys – in due time, if you do not surrender these things freely, they will be taken away by force.

    You have to get through it to get there this month, Pisces. jonathan – stock.adobe.com

    Finally, Saturn is going direct in your sign, Pisces. Saturn is known as the Great Teacher, and while his lessons are rarely easy, they are formative. Saturn’s guidance leans heavily on themes like patience and sacrifice—again, not a lot of good times and happy rags.

    To that end, you may face obstacles and setbacks that feel sharp in the moment—but later prove to be the breadcrumbs and levers that lead you on the right path and equip you to open doors and windows of opportunity. truths.


    Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Star


    Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and reports irreverently on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.

    #November #Prepare #energy #beginnings
    Image Source : nypost.com

  • Crazy for Madison Avenue: NYC’s famed retail boom sees surge in luxury homes, post-pandemic retail boom

    Crazy for Madison Avenue: NYC’s famed retail boom sees surge in luxury homes, post-pandemic retail boom

    The pandemic destroyed the storefronts of Madison Avenue. But luxury retailers are now back in force, pumping new life into this world-famous shopping district.

    Earlier this year, IWC Schaffhausen brought a flagship store to 60th Street and Madison Avenue, and in September, French jewelry house Boucheron opened its first NYC boutique on 65th Street.

    It is also increasing real estate. The brand new Giorgio Armani Residences at 760 Madison Ave. sold its 10 apartments in July after it went on the market less than a year ago (the penthouse went into contract asking $32.5 million).


    Exterior view of The Surrey Residences at 20 East 76th Street #14C, a luxury condominium offered by Corinthia Hotel with private club and dining options.
    The brand new Surrey – which opens this week – is a Corinthia Hotel offering 14 exclusive apartments (the most expensive priced at $15.95 million), along with a private club and dining by Casa Tua. Noe & Associates with V1

    Megadeveloper Related is now building a 1,200-foot apartment-hotel-retail tower on 58th Street, while another 22-unit luxury apartment tower from Legion Investment Group and Nahla Capital just scored $195 million in construction financing on 83rd Street .

    The list goes on, but arguably the most exciting new project to hit the streets is Surrey, which opens on Friday.

    The new five-star Corinthia hotel is from British developers Reuben Brothers, who plan to give New York’s other big hotels a run for their money. Located on 76th Street, it’s just steps from the Carlyle and just a block from the Mark. Surrey plans to one-up its neighbors by bringing the buzz factor together with the city’s first Casa Tua running its own food and beverage program.

    Her other weapon? Ultra-exclusive real estate. “The Surrey was built as a residential hotel in 1926 and has always been the home away from home for many famous New Yorkers,” says Susan de França of Douglas Elliman, who directs sales at Surrey’s 14 residences. “Most of the buyers so far are people who live in New York, a lot in the neighborhood. They’re legacy transactions, where people say, ‘I’d like to pass this on to future generations because it’s so rare.’ “


    A three-bedroom residence in the Mark Hotel, Upper East Side, with a dining table and chairs.
    A rare three-bedroom residence at the Mark, the legendary Upper East Side hotel, is asking $6 million. Celeste Godoy

    DeFrance has already sold all but four of the new two- to three-bedroom units, and is letting out the rest (the 16th-floor penthouses have yet to be released).

    Currently two apartments are on the market; 15A is the most expensive at $15.95 million. The 3,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, 3 1/2-bathroom home features Calcutta marble, white oak floors and a 27-foot great room. Number 14C, which is asking $11 million, is a 2,127-square-foot, two-bed, two-and-a-half bath.

    It comes with a terrace of almost 200 square meters. Surrey is also a surprisingly good neighbor, adding interest to the entire Madison Avenue corridor — and creating an unbeatable bar-hopping circuit.

    Start with a sip that evokes Miami or Aspen at Casa Tua, followed by one of Bemelmans’ “so big you can drown in it” martinis. End the evening with a Scotch at Mark Bar and sleep upstairs, where a rare residential unit, no. 1503, is on the market for $6 million.

    The 2,815-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath residence is listed with Corcoran’s Janet Wang. With prices moving up and down the Madison, what’s good for the goose is great for the thinkers.

    #Crazy #Madison #Avenue #NYCs #famed #retail #boom #sees #surge #luxury #homes #postpandemic #retail #boom
    Image Source : nypost.com

  • This is war: fresh hell awaits during this week’s Mars-Pluto opposition

    This is war: fresh hell awaits during this week’s Mars-Pluto opposition

    Gather, my babies; this week, we have a powerful opposition between Pluto, the planet of death and destruction, and Mars, the planet of conflict, action and aggression.

    If that sounds yikes, that’s because it is.

    The opposition is correct on November 3, but we will feel the effects and dizzying consequences of this showdown for several days before and after the main event – including but not limited to election day.

    Understanding the Mars-Pluto opposition

    Mars is getting ready to move from the cardinal waters of Cancer to the feline fires of Leo. graphic master – stock.adobe.com

    In conversation with each other, Mars and Pluto are combative, but they also invite us to find and stand in our power, overcome our base instincts, and fight the proverbial good fight.

    Mars in Cancer directly opposes Pluto in Capricorn at a fatal and anaretic 29 degrees. Both are just days away from changing signs, and this precipice amplifies the energy of the antagonism.

    Current views of this week’s Mars-Pluto opposition. zef art – stock.adobe.com

    Mars is the planet of war, while Cancer is the sign of maternal care and memory. In this way, this transit asks us to consider what memories and past pains continue to cause conflict in our consciousness, what triggers they continue to cause – and what roles we insist on reviving.

    Mars in Cancer craves stagnation, the toxic known over the frightening unknown, and tends to react more than respond. During this opposition, emotional resistance, all-out outbursts and hypersensitivity are predicted.

    Conflict can arise to test whether we operate from a place of bold empowerment or covert encouragement and patterned victimization. While the divine machine of fate does not stop, there are ways to observe and integrate its teachings.

    Power struggle and warnings to cause

    Pluto is named for the god of the underworld. Archivist – stock.adobe.com

    Pluto is the planet of karmic punishment, and Capricorn is the sign of power, authority, and the paternal structure. Since Pluto began its tour of Capricorn in 2008, the dark lord has been at work uncovering and destroying traditional structures and oppressive power dynamics. See the financial crisis, the #MeToo movement, and the takedown of accused predators and power wielders like Weinstein, Epstein, and Diddy.

    Pluto eventually emerges from the mouth of Hell to heal.

    In its highest expression, Capped Pluto displaces and overturns the obsolete. On the other hand and in the lower abdomen, it can express itself as a dark need for control and an oppressive father knows the energy best. In the final stages of this transit, it will be interesting to see what kind of curtain the planet of death will close.

    Pluto = death and Mars = vitality, so this opposition can manifest as life-or-death scenarios—or power struggles that reach a fever pitch and make you feel like survival can only come through detachment.

    However, Pluto eventually emerges from the mouth of Hell to heal. Pluto is also the planet of karmic reckoning, and this opposition and the subsequent presidential election occur a few days after Pluto enters Aquarius, the sign it was in when the United States declared its independence.

    Cultural catharsis

    Pluto is sounding its death knell in the last degree of Capricorn. Janez Volmayer – stock.adobe.com

    Similarly, this opposition and this upcoming Pluto cycle promise to usher in a new era for our nation.

    Some people will experience this transit as explosive right away, while others will see the seeds planted in the coming days produce flowers of change and challenge over the next few months.

    Whether the effects are fast and furious or slowly transformative, it’s a moment of deep catharsis.

    Remember that the etymology of catharsis is to cleanse through purification. Typically, catharsis follows crises, as one must reach a major scale before one can pivot. We can’t be redeemed without failure, we can’t cleanse without being poisoned, and we can’t rise without resistance, people.

    In myth, Orpheus connects the worlds of Pluto and Mars. SERHII – stock.adobe.com

    In myth, the clearest connection between the god of the underworld, Pluto/Hades, and the god of war, Mars/Apollo, is Orpheus, the slayer of the free-spirited lady.

    According to many accounts, Apollo taught Orpheus how to play and/or gave him his first instrument. So beautiful was the game of Orpheus that all forms of life, even inanimate objects, moved in rhythm with him.

    When a snakebite killed Orpheus’ wife, he descended into the underworld to bring her back from the dead. His pain and the music he held were so moving that Hades himself was moved to tears and granted Orpheus his wish, on the condition that he never look back until he reached the world of the living.

    if you’re going through hell, keep going. QuietWord – stock.adobe.com

    In this sense, our instructions for surviving and overcoming this transit are similar – we must keep moving forward, and only when we surrender to the other side of the destruction, can we return and begin to understand the path that brought us through it.

    Basically, if you’re going through hell, keep going. If you have personal planets falling in late degrees (25 to 29 degrees) of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn), you will feel the effects of this opposition more acutely.

    Good luck there. After the rubble and ruins, the road leads to better, brighter days to come.

    Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and reports candidly on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.

    #war #fresh #hell #awaits #weeks #MarsPluto #opposition
    Image Source : nypost.com

  • This is Halloween: The Nightmare Before Christmas Inspired Jewelry

    This is Halloween: The Nightmare Before Christmas Inspired Jewelry

    There is no shortage of Halloween themed activities once the spooky season arrives and this year is no exception with one of the most “spooky” activities available; Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Trail of Light at the New York Botanical Garden (now through Nov. 30).

    Fan fantasies come to life with songs, characters and scenes from the film set against a lush botanical backdrop. Many are sure to show up in their favorite character’s costume, but those who want to be festive with less flair can opt for a creepy or decidedly ominous piece of jewelry.

    Reach into your jewelry box and pull out your seasonal gems, or better yet, grab one of these funky numbers for a chill night on the light trails and beyond.

    Of course, the most classic motif would be a skull, similar to that of Jack Skellington. Designer Amanda Pearl created a fused skull ring that will make people look twice—and what goes better with a skull ring than a bone-chilling chain bracelet from Anthony Lent?

    Creatures are a must, like Sauer’s horned snake and diamond snake necklace and a skin-crawling two-tone pearl spider brooch from Lagos. Pendants may be the easiest way to get on trend, with chic charms that are equally creepy and cheeky from New York-based designers. Bittersweets NY hit the nail on the head with their version of a jack-o’-lantern charm, and Olivve NYC expanded on their popular themed charms with a bat motif.

    The Mason H Jewels “Skin” collection spiral earrings project a luxurious echo of Jack’s famous spiral hill scene. While the State Borsh ring creates an optical illusion with a nod to Jack’s striped ensemble. The green quartz pendant from Claire Florence’s necklace is cut into a coffin and is hauntingly gorgeous.

    Whichever one you choose will definitely get you in the mood for Halloween town….

    Courtesy of Amanda Pearl
    Courtesy of Sauer
    Courtesy of Lagos
    Courtesy of Anthony Lent
    Courtesy of Bittersweets NY
    Courtesy of Claire Florence
    Courtesy of Maison H Jewels
    Courtesy of State Property
    Courtesy of Olivve NYC

    #Halloween #Nightmare #Christmas #Inspired #Jewelry
    Image Source : nypost.com

  • Day of the Dead 2024: The History and Meaning Behind the Mexican Holiday

    Day of the Dead 2024: The History and Meaning Behind the Mexican Holiday

    In life, death is only the beginning.

    An excerpt from “The Smitten God: The Mesoamerican Mythological Tradition,” decrees, “For bones are like seeds: whatever dies goes to Earth, and from it new life is born in the sacred cycle of existence.”

    Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, honors that sacred cycle by honoring the dead and celebrating their annual return to the world of the living.

    What is the day of the dead?

    Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, honors that sacred cycle of life by honoring the dead and celebrating their annual return to the world of the living. ALEXSTUDIO – stock.adobe.com

    Día de los Muertos is an interweaving of pre-Columbian ritual and European tradition. It celebrates the richness of life and the inevitable journey of death.

    It is important to note that Día de los Muertos celebrations vary from region to region, and not all communities in Mexico celebrate the holiday.

    During Día de los Muertos celebrations, family members often visit cemeteries where their lost loved ones are buried, cleaning and decorating the graves and gathering at the graveside to eat, play music, and talk about and with the dead.

    To show the dead that they are not forgotten, altars or offerings are built at home.

    When is the day of the dead and where is it celebrated?

    Armir – stock.adobe.com

    Dia de los Muertos is observed by those of Mexican heritage throughout Central, South and North America on November 1st and 2nd. The first date is dedicated to the spirits of dead children, while the second is reserved for the spirits of adults.

    These dates correspond to the Catholic feast days of All Saints and All Souls. Mexico City and Oaxaca are known for the extent of their Día de los Muertos celebrations, while San Antonio is home to the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the United States.

    The History of the Day of the Dead

    Day of the Dead by Banda Monumental De Mexico perform on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. PA images via Getty Images

    The origins of Día de los Muertos stretch back 3,000 years to the death rituals of the Nahua people of Mesoamerica.

    The Nahua, which includes the Aztecs, saw the universe in cyclical terms and humanity as an emergent duality. Death was not a separation from life, but an integral part of it.

    According to the National Center for Hispanic Culture, “Humans were the bridge between heaven and earth—the point of contact between the divine and the profane, the spiritual and the material, the rational and the irrational. Man was the union of opposites and responsible for maintaining the balance between the conflicting forces of the universe. ”

    According to Aztec mythology, Mictlanteculhtli was the god of the dead and the King of the deepest part of the underworld. Gianpiero – stock.adobe.com

    For the Nahua, death was not an end, but a kind of embarkation. Upon death, a person takes the soul’s journey to Chicunamictlán or the underworld.

    After a trying journey of nine levels and four years, the spirit would finally surrender to Mictlán, its final resting place.

    Originally, rituals to honor the departed were held in August and the living offered essentials such as food and water to help their ancestors through this journey. These ancient offerings served as inspiration for the altars and alms that mark contemporary Día de los Muertos celebrations.

    Spanish influence

    Oaxaca De Juarez during the annual Day of the Dead celebrations. Alliance dpa/photo via Getty I

    In the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors, fresh from the dark days of the Black Death and riding high on the fumes of Christianity, took a grim view of death, not that that stopped them from delivering it en masse to those who colonized mercilessly. deviate.

    The Christian faith has a long history of “renaming” the holy places, myths and celebrations of those seeking to convert.

    In this way, temples are torn down to make way for churches, the nuanced underworld becomes a hellscape of fire and brimstone, and holy occasions coincide with feast days. Such was the fate of the pagan festival of Samhain, and so the Nahua death rituals were adapted to All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

    The importance of Día de los Muertos was recognized by UNESCO in 2008. Emanuel – stock.adobe.com

    Despite the best efforts of the Spanish to regard death and the afterlife of the soul as something to be feared, the essential ethos of the universe as cyclical and death as celebration continues in and through the continued observance of Día de los Muertos.

    The ethos of death as celebratory and the universe as cyclical continues in and through the observance of Día de los Muertos.

    UNESCO recognized the importance of Día de los Muertos in 2008 when the organization added the holiday to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, citing, “It the encounter between the living and the dead affirms the role of the individual within society and contributes to the strengthening of the political and social status of Mexico’s indigenous communities.

    Day of the Dead traditions

    This traditional Dia de Muertos offering has seven levels, each representing the number of steps a soul must take to reach heaven. Getty Images

    altarscried altars of Muerto OR offerings, are among the most prominent and significant features of Day of the Dead celebrations. theirs function is to show the dead that they are not forgotten and to guide them home. Depending on the region and tradition, altars are built with a different number of levels and a wide variety of offerings. In this context, ofrenda describes the altar and offerings.

    These offerings may include photos of lost loved ones, salt, water and alcohol to quench their thirst and skullglittery decorated skulls made of sugar and meringue that represent what has passed and serve as a symbol for the sweetness of life.

    Drilling into the colorful paper known as papel picado allows easy access for traveling spirits. Salander Studio – stock.adobe.com

    Punching on colorful fabric paper known as papel picado it allows traveling spirits easy access, while the delicacy of the paper symbolizes the fragile nature of life itself.

    Pan de Muertobread of the dead, is one of the many food items placed in offerings.

    Flowers, including marigolds and marigolds, are commonly added to altars. Petals are sometimes scattered from the house to the altar in the hope that the vivid color and strong fragrance of the flowers and the flickering light of the candles will serve as guides to the ancestral spirits.

    A stack of decorative skulltypical of those used to decorate Día de los Muertos altars. NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Día de los Muertos preparations are made with great care to ensure that the dead are welcomed and enjoyed. They are believed to carry the power to bestow pain or prosperity, depending on the quality of the offerings and the execution of these rituals.

    Day of the Dead is NOT a Halloween holiday

    Celebrants during the Day Of The Dead Festival parade in Guanajuato, Mexico Getty Images

    Although themes of death feature heavily in both traditions, Día de los Muertos is NOT the same as Halloween, and the conflation of the two and the commodification of the former is a source of controversy and cultural appropriation.

    As the Los Angeles Times argues, “Day of the Dead has effectively become wrapped up in Halloween retail hype, troubling some observers who see it as cultural appropriation that turns centuries-old Day of the Dead memories into commercialism crazy”.

    Halloween is closely related to the ancient pagan harvest festival known as Samhain. Modern Halloween celebrations share little beyond skeletal imagery and a seasonal convergence with the Day of the Dead.

    “The costume is for Halloween, and Día de los Muertos is not a costume.”

    Jessica Razo

    As Jessica Razo reminds us, “Dressing up is for Halloween and Día de los Muertos is not a costume.” So please, unless you grew up in a community that traditionally observes the holiday, don’t put your sugar skull in a costume. sometimes.

    Day of the Dead and cultural appreciation versus appropriation

    A Día de los Muertos celebrant wears skull makeup Future Publishing via Getty Images

    Mourning (along with friendship, music, language, love of Paul Rudd and abhorrence of incest) is one of our major cultural universals, and Día de los Muertos can provide impetus to explore our ancestral traditions of death and remembrance.

    However, there is a very fine and uncertain line between appreciating and appropriating and bending and borrowing from.

    “The biggest way to change the culture of acquisition is with your wallet.”

    Jeremy Cohen

    Día de los Muertos is an important cultural holiday, not a name or an aesthetic that can be flagged for profit, much to the chagrin of the Walt Disney Co., which tried to do just that in preparation for the release of “Coco ” and Mattel, who were attacked for Day of the Dead-themed Barbies.

    Sigh.

    There is a very fine and precarious line between appreciating and appropriating and bending over and borrowing from Oleg – stock.adobe.com

    Those who did not grow up with the traditions of Día de los Muertos, but are attracted to the holiday, can educate themselves and observe the festivities with the ultimate curiosity and reverence.

    Learn and engage with it, but don’t take from. Ask permission to take pictures. Observers and assessors should be mindful of how and where they spend money related to the holiday and related items.

    Día de los Muertos can provide impetus to explore our ancestral traditions of death and remembrance. Parkpoom – stock.adobe.com

    “The biggest way to change the culture of acquisition is with your wallet,” explains Jeremy Cohen on Talk Death. “If you want to buy sugar skulls or Day of the Dead merchandise, make sure your money goes into the hands of people who actually benefit from it, not into the hands of foreign conglomerates.”

    By spending carefully, honoring respectfully, and investigating your ancestral traditions, you can pay homage to the sacred cycle of existence that counts bones as seeds and birth and death as equal blessings.


    Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Star


    Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and reports candidly on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.

    #Day #Dead #History #Meaning #Mexican #Holiday
    Image Source : nypost.com

  • Christopher John Rogers for J.Crew, omakase in Dumbo, more NYC events

    Christopher John Rogers for J.Crew, omakase in Dumbo, more NYC events

    Each week, Alexa is rounding up the buzziest fashion awards, hotel openings, restaurant debuts and popular cultural events in NYC. It’s our curated guide to the best things to see, buy, taste and experience around town.

    What’s making our luxury list this week? Christopher John Rogers for J. Crew, Jenny Bird and Wollman Rink pop-up reopens.

    Christopher John Rogers brings his vibrant style to J.Crew in a new collection of over three dozen pieces Courtesy of J. Crew

    Christopher John Rogers has created a collection of over three dozen vibrant styles that debuted at select J.Crew stores (and online) last week. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native who won the 2020 CFDA Emerging Designer Award noted “My brand is about providing people with the tools to express themselves through color, through print, through volume… We wanted to have a lot of print variety in the collection while keeping everything cohesive through a limited color palette. We have a bold stripe next to the giant polka dots, smaller polka dots – it really runs the gamut, but everything is easy to mix and match Shop his limited edition offerings, including kids’ pieces, at JCrew.com.

    The art of photographer Fernando Bengoecha lives on in an exhibition at the Cristina Grajales gallery, curated by the late artist’s former partner Courtesy of the Artist

    “I accept the death of my brother, but I do not accept that his art dies with him,” says a quote attributed to Marcelo Bengoechea about his brother, the late photographer Fernando Bengoechea. Fernando died in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; he was vacationing in Sri Lanka with his partner, Nate Berkus, at the time. Fernando had invented an innovative technique of stitching together two identical Giclee prints, resulting in the same image translated into a textured style. Marcelo has continued that tradition, cutting and weaving images of his brother. An exhibition of those pieces, called “Woven Together: Reflections” is now on display at the Cristina Grajales Gallery. It is curated in partnership with renowned designer and Fernando’s former partner, Nate Berkus, and will continue through January at CristinaGrajales.com

    Kinjo is the latest omakase joint to take over Manhattan – head to Dumbo to check out their extensive menu and custom grace. Max Flatow

    The omakase invasion continues with the opening of Kinjo at 11 Adams Street, the site of a former torpedo factory under the Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo. Their opening menu is $95 and includes six nigiri and five additional courses, which vary but may include ikura-dressed Kumamoto oysters, scallops and yuzu crudo, truffled wagyu, curry-glazed botan ebi and duck cured with koji with pineapple hoisin. Small plates (overseen by chef Eddie Lee, formerly of Momofuku), are offered at the bar and in the lounge area: rice cakes with truffle butter, udon with boiled egg and aonori, snow crab with chips, toast tuna with crème fraîche and a cucumber salad. Kinjo also collaborated with Brooklyn Kura to create and bottle a custom Junmai Ginjo Namazake craft beer. KinjoDumbo.com

    Pop up today, gone tomorrow! Meet Jenny Bird’s Nolita location before the Canadian jewelry store maven’s closes its doors at the end of December. Anna Morgowicz

    Jenny Bird, a semi-fine jewelry brand with “lightweight” pieces worn by Michelle Obama, Selena Gomez and Zendaya, has opened its first, albeit temporary, retail store at 21 Spring Street in Nolita. Bird, who hails from Canada, is a self-taught designer who debuted with handbags but branched out into jewelry and, a few years ago, added sunglasses to the mix. Interestingly enough, she credits a trunk show by the late, great Henri Bendel (and subsequent coverage in Daily Candy) as helping launch her own bag line. This is very IYKYK. Even if you don’t, it’s worth checking out her pop-up for trendy styles that won’t break the bank. Until December 22. Jenny-Bird.com

    Go for the gold at Wollman Rink this winter, now open to the public – from Olympic hopefuls to those just hoping to avoid the drop. Getty Images

    Attention skaters: prepare to channel your inner Nathan Chen. Wollman Rink is now open. This iconic New York venue, which debuted in 1950, is more than just a stage to show off your axel, spin, salchow and lutz. Skate School, for example, offers lessons for skaters of all ages and skill levels. There’s also a village of lighted igloos on the square side, complete with cozy interiors and two dining options: The Café (located in The Clubhouse) and Melba’s in the Park (an outpost of Harlem’s infamous Melba’s ) located in The Overlook area. WollmanRinkNYC.com.

    #Christopher #John #Rogers #J.Crew #omakase #Dumbo #NYC #events
    Image Source : nypost.com