Between takes and pretending to eat eggs and hashbrowns, we clicked: he was tall, ex-military (it’s nearly unavoidable anywhere near DC), juggling a day job with dreams of acting and pro wrestling. Kinda random, kinda intriguing.

Before the final take, he leaned in and asked, “Would you join me after we wrap... for a real date?” A textbook meet-cute was underway! 😍

We headed to The Cheesecake Factory at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and it honestly felt like the perfect movie moment… until he casually dropped a weird comment about how Black women are “usually so ghetto.” I nearly choked on my brown bread and honey butter. He shared that he was "pleasantly surprised" that I was a Duke grad and so "articulate." It was crazy talk, but maybe heightened by the fact that he was a Black dude. Cue instant deflation. That's Venus conjunct Neptune in a nutshell. From cloud-nine to concrete in under an hour.

❤️‍🔥 That Hollywood Spark

Venus will meet Neptune in Aries on May 2nd. Think fairytale romance on fast-forward: all the dreamy “meet-cute” vibes with a side of rose-colored disillusionment. Venus meeting Neptune gifts us those once-in-a-lifetime sparks—but reminds us they’re often more magic trick than rom-com finale. It's a great time to try a glamorous new makeup routine or pen a new love song.

And if you're wondering—yes, Venus and Neptune were in aspect the day I met Mr. Internalized Racist Wrestler.

✈️ Words Take Flight

When Mercury sextiles Jupiter on May 5th, words swell with optimism and big ideas. Perfect for pitching a project—or proclaiming your wildest dream. You may feel a surge of thoughts. Write down the big ideas that come to you during this time. It's a busy time for travel, too.

🔪 When Words Cut Deep

A single phrase can reopen old wounds—or stitch them closed as Mercury joins Chiron in Aries on May 6th. Watch your mouth (and emails, and texts, and...). Mercury rules short-term journeys, too, so keep your eyes on the road and your cool intact. Don't play into road rage. It's not that deep. Neurodivergence is a Mercury-Chiron theme, and we're already hearing more news about autism.

🔮 Big Deck Energy

Welcome to Big Deck Energy—where I pull a tarot card each week on behalf of our collective to offer insight, reflection, or a much-needed reality check. Think of it as a weekly reset, a moment to pause and take in what’s unfolding. This week, I asked: What story are you romanticizing (and why)?

Here's what the Tarot had to say: King of Cups.

Let’s be honest: this "King" is not okay. Look at him, he even looks annoyed.

He’s got the title. The crown. The air of authority. But he’s sitting in a role that doesn’t fit. The King of Cups is water wearing a fire costume—he was built for tides and tenderness, not commands and campaign strategies. But here he is, expected to lead. Expected to want to lead.

This isn’t daddy energy. This is why are you trying to make me your daddy? energy.

There’s someone—maybe you—who’s holding it down in a role that looks impressive from the outside but feels like a trap on the inside. They didn’t ask for this level of responsibility. They didn’t want the promotion, the pressure, the pedestal. They just wanted to do the thing they love and be left in peace. But now they’re managing a whole operation when all they wanted was to create, support, or feel. Burnout in progress. The water evaporates, leaving them high and dry. *Cue Radiohead or the Roman Gianarthur version.* 😉

This card reminds us:
​Stop trying to change people.​
Stop waiting for someone to “step up.”
Stop scripting a story in your head that they never signed up for.

Not everyone with a crown wants a throne. Some people just want to surf the cosmic tide and be left alone. Let them.

*And for whatever reason this K. Michelle song just came to mind. If it doesn't apply, let it fly.*

Final Thoughts...

• Savor the sparkle. Let Venus–Neptune sweep you into a dreamy scene of your own—but don’t take it personally if the story fades before the final act.
• Stay grounded. Before you speak or text, pause and ask, “Will this heal… or hurt?”

Here’s to living our best rom-com scenes—and choosing words that keep the credits rolling on a high note.