29 minute read
Lifestyle
Arena’s ‘American Prophet’: Majestic, Mesmerizing – A Tour de Force
Writings, Speeches of Frederick Douglass Come Alive in World-Premiere Musical
D. Kevin McNeir WI Senior Editor
In this pivotal moment in America’s history in which constitutional rights and decades-old notions of privilege, power and supremacy continue to be reexamined, refuted and rescinded, the words of Frederick Douglass have fittingly come roaring back in a world premiere musical, “American Prophet.”
Appearing now through August 28 at Arena Stage in Southwest, the mesmerizing musical features the speeches and writing of Douglass, along with a sizzling score replete with new melodies and an original script penned by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena’s “Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story,” Broadway’s “Motown the Musical”)and songwriter Marcus Hummon.
Set in our nation’s turbulent past of 1851 through 1865 with flashbacks to Douglass’ formative years, the play opens as Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frederick Douglass), in his Arena Stage debut, unequivocally states, “I have no love for America,” before launching into the song, “What Does Freedom Look Like?”
As he further explores this newfound notion for those like Douglass born into slavery, or even if free men and women, still live in fear – treated more like property than people – the song asks us to consider what does freedom move like, sound like while declaring that one of the most essential characteristics of freedom remains “it never leaves someone behind.”
Smith delivers a breathtaking performance in word and song bearing the kind of countenance and gaze that one might imagine Douglass wore and exuded with little or no effort.
When he abandons his slave name of Bailey and chooses Douglass both for himself and his wife, Anna, the
5 Cornelius Smith, Jr. (Frederick Douglass) in American Prophet which continues through August 28 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. (Photo courtesy Margot Schulman)
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PROPHET Page 33
WORLD-PREMIERE MUSICAL AMERICAN PROPHET
FREDERICK DOUGLASS IN HIS OWN WORDS NOW PLAYING
ARENASTAGE.ORG 202-488-3300
5 Thomas Adrian Simpson (Abraham Lincoln/Garrison) and Cornelius Smith, Jr. in American Prophet which continues through August 28 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. (Photo courtesy Margot Schulman)
PROPHET from Page 32
significance and power of one’s name cannot be ignored as explained in the song, “A Name,” as led by Smith, Kristolyn Lloyd (Anna Murray Douglass), Thomas Adrian Simpson (Abraham Lincoln/William Lloyd Garrison).
Lloyd, a Grammy- and Emmy-winning actress, brings to the forefront an often-ignored but essential part of Douglass’s evolution as a freeman and his rise as an abolitionist, publisher and orator – the unflinching support she provides for him and their children and the lessons about freedom which she has learned as a freewoman and which she imparts to her husband.
Incidentally, it soon becomes clear why Lloyd has achieved such an impressive list of stage credits to her name as listed in her production biography – she’s an amazing actress with a voice “to die for,” as the saying goes.
Actors in recent years, particularly those who hope to make it to Broadway or to star in reputable regional productions as represented in the works of theatres like Arena Stage, agree that they must be prepared to sing, dance and act. And the cast of American Prophet definitely deliver the goods.
In addition to the actors mentioned earlier, you may want to look out for Cicily Daniels who makes her Arena Stage debut in several roles, most notably as Betsey Bailey, Douglass’ grandmother. The Potomac, Maryland native sings a song with heart-wrenching lyrics, “If I Were Your Mother,” that describes the pain and despair experienced by enslaved women whose children would routinely be snatched from their arms as either the child or the mother were sold to another master.
In her comments provided in the production’s program, Molly Smith, Arena Stage artistic director, reminds us of the arduous process and delays she and her team faced due to the pandemic before bringing this musical to the stage.
But we are better because of their diligence.
“The idea of placing some of Frederick Douglass’ words into music is transcendent,” said Smith, who marked her 25th anniversary with the start of this new season.
“What Douglass has to say about freedom and life in America continues to resonate with great power today . . . The songs are electrifying . . . [and] created a perfect avenue for a new generation to learn and understand about the great orator – and perhaps even shed new light on Douglass’ ideas,” she said.
If you don’t do anything else this summer, be sure to see American Prophet. In fact, this writer plans to return for a second encounter. WI
5 Kristolyn Lloyd (Anna Murray Douglass), Cornelius Smith, Jr. (Frederick Douglass) in American Prophet which continues through August 28 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. (Photo courtesy Margot Schulman)
5 Cornelius Smith, Jr. and the cast of American Prophet which continues through August 28 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. (Photo courtesy Margot Schulman)
Job Announcement Posting
Senior Pastor Vacancy
Gethsemane Baptist Church in Washington, DC is seeking a full-time Senior Pastor that is called by God, ordained, dedicated to the ministry of Jesus Christ, and equipped to effectively carry out the mission and vision of this Church. The Pastor shall provide the required spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and spiritual growth of all congregants, including children of all ages. • The applicant must be a Christian, called by God, licensed, and ordained as a Baptist Minister, with a knowledge of Baptist doctrine and traditions. • A minimum of a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary is required. Additional training and education is a plus. • A minimum of 6 years of pastoral experience, which demonstrate the ability to clearly articulate a vision for the church. A copy of the announcement and application is available at https://gethsemanebaptistchurch.org/pasoral-search.
If you have additional questions, you may contact Deaconess Verna Walker by email at vernawgbc@gmail.com.
Dr. Attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz with family of Emmett Till DEMANDING ARREST WARRANT TO CAROLYN BRYANT DONHAM for her involvement in Emmett Till’s murder in Mississippi, 1955
Black Lawyers for Justice in Conjunction with Nia 2X RADIO
Join in the nation to call for the arrest and indictment of Carolyn Bryant Donham!! It’s legal, effective and beneficial. Attorney General Lynn Fitch 601-359-3680: Sheriff, James Haywood:662-887-2121. District Attorney DeWayne Richardson:662-378-2105. We can win this fight for Justice for Emmett Till and family from our one call to each listed above. Remember, Fredrick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a Demand.” For more
information see www.blackonblackunity.com (click public relations)
Area Restaurants Celebrate Strong Return During the Pandemic
Creativity is Key Ingredient as Establishments Continue to Rebound
Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer
Members of the restaurant industry appeared poised and ready to celebrate at the 40th RAMMY Awards held recently in Northwest during which winners and special recognitions were unveiled by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).
The event, known as the “food prom,” attracted more than 2,300 attendees who occupied two levels in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
But as many of the participants agreed, it’s been a long haul as restau-
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rants have struggled to recover and rebuild during the ongoing pandemic.
Kathy E. Hollinger, RAMW president & CEO, noted ongoing challenges as the industry continues to recover from a huge variety of losses.
“While it may not feel like it, we are indeed in a moment of hope and promise,” Hollinger said. “We stuck together, we worked together, we fought together to help each other survive and in many cases to thrive.”
As the audience entered the room for awards announcements, a special video was shown promoting Black-owned restaurants. Created by PepsiCo, the Instagram video leads viewers to recognize their favorite Black-owned restaurants.
Winners were announced in 22 categories with Scott Drewno and Danny Lee of “The Fried Rice Collective” receiving the top award as Restaurateur of the Year. Operating under the brand CHIKO for Chinese/Korean, “The Fried Rice Collective” includes several locations throughout the District, Maryland and Virginia. The restaurant group was started in 2017 by James Beard Award-nominated chefs Drewno and Lee. Their locations “Anju” and “I Egg You” include a robust catering arm that keeps the team growing.
During his acceptance remarks, Drewno embraced the industry’s unity in advocating fairness and acceptance of important causes. He noted how the District’s restaurants came together to support “Black Lives Matter, the LGBTQ+ community and spoke out against violence towards Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
“I feel everybody has a place, everybody can be in the same room and work together for a common goal,” Drewno said. “I think the ecosystem of restaurants is a beautiful thing.”
Marking decades of successful business, 2022 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award recipients celebrated the joy of keeping the doors open during troubling times while embracing loyal patrons.
Those restaurants and their years in business included: 1789 and The Tombs (60 years); Anthony’s Restaurant (50 years); Bombay Bistro (30 years); Duangrat’s (35 years); El Tamarindo (40 years); Franklins (30 years); La Côte d’Or Café (30 years); Mike’s American (35 years); and Tabard Inn (100 years).
The RAMMYS took time to remember several people in the metropolitan area, some who represent members within the restaurant industry and others who have provided their support.
Honorees included Richard Shannon, founder of the D.C.-based carryout seafood institution “Horace and Dickie’s;” RAMW advocates Kyle and Charlie Savage, a Prince George’s County couple who were tragically killed in an auto accident; and news anchors/reporters Wendy Rieger of NBC Washington and Bruce Johnson of WUSA-TV.
For a complete list of winners and honorees, visit RAMW at www.RAMW. org
WI @bcscomm
5 Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, co-owners and chefs of “The Fried Rice Collective,” received the top award as Restaurateur of the Year during the 2022 RAMMYS held recently at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (Photo courtesy RAMW)
For more information on how you can go green for less, check out dcseu.com/ElectricLawnCare or call (202) 479-2222.
Ode to Mister Softee and the Iconic Ice Cream Truck in America
Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
Kathyrn Snapka recalled fondly when the blue and white ice cream would pass through her close-knit neighborhood with a familiar jingle that children responded to like fans at a rock concert.
“It used to make our smiles brighter,” said Snapka, the founding partner at The Snapka Law Firm.
“Ice cream trucks were an important part of my childhood,” she said. “They were not only a source of all children’s favorite treats but much more. Everyone would rush out to the truck to get their ice cream first. Then, we’d all sit together and devour the ice cream before it melted in the summer heat. All these moments were brought together by something simple – the ice cream truck.”
James Green, the owner of Cardboard Cutouts, recalls playing with others in his neighborhood and how everything would cease when the Mister Softee truck arrived.
“All games would stop and kids would sprint home to beg for money and chase the ice cream truck down the street until it stopped,” Green said.
However, he acknowledged his disappointment about the decline of the iconic ice cream truck in today’s society.
“In much of America today, neighborhoods are largely empty compared to just a few decades ago,” Green said. “This makes it difficult for ice cream truck drivers to make enough money to keep up with the increased licensing and permits they’re required to have. The hordes of children playing in the streets of my childhood are all inside or in structured sports programs where they’re supervised – the ice cream truck and free-range children are on their way out.”
To illustrate the rising prices, a recently-published report noted that the diesel that powers the trucks had topped $7 a gallon, vanilla ice cream costs $13 a gallon and a 25-pound box of sprinkles now goes for about $60, double what it cost a year ago.
The New York Times reported that many vendors in the Big Apple said the end of the ice-creamtruck era has been years in the making.
“Even the garages that house these trucks are evolving, renting parking spaces to other types of food vendors as the ranks of ice cream trucks dwindle,” the newspaper reported.
Further, the report noted that, parks, pools, and residential streets were once prime territory for the ice cream man.
However, more often than not, a soft-serve truck’s jingle plays to a crowd of no one as prices for some cones with add-ons like swirly ice
5 Mister Softee and other ice cream trucks have mostly disappeared, becoming a relic of the past. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia commons) cream and chocolate sauce reach $8 at some trucks.
Also, new delivery methods reportedly are proliferating through third-party apps or ghost kitchens.
“Brick-and-mortar scoop shops focus on offering a fun experience and serve dozens more flavors than a traditional ice cream truck can, driving lines away from these
ICE CREAM Page 51
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DC4ME provides D.C. government employees, including independent agencies and other government-based instrumentatlities, a first trust mortgage at a reduced interest rate.
www.dchfa.org/homeownership
Radio Execs Form National Association of Gospel Radio
WI Staff Report
A group of the most influential executives in the urban inspirational and gospel music radio industry have come together to create the National Association of Gospel Radio (NAGR) with a mission to empower stations as they preserve, protect and advance the format.
The national organization’s first president will be Charles Johnson aka Pastor CeJay, elected by the board to serve as its first lead officer. Johnson represents a transformative community leader and an executive with Alpha Media, which boasts five terrestrial stations in its Shreveport, Louisiana cluster. The organization will operate in a limited capacity with plans to launch fully on January 1, 2023.
“We are America’s only trade association for radio professionals working in the gospel/ inspirational format,” Johnson said. “Separately, we reach thousands of ears every day but together we reach millions of listeners. Our membership comprises radio station programmers, management, engineers, announcers and salespeople. We believe our existence will uphold the legacy of gospel radio and help it grow for generations to come. Our vision is to become a trusted ally and to provide a hub of resources to stations to help them expand their listening base, increase advertising, and to support music artists within the format.”
Kyle Glover, an executive with the Reach Gospel Radio network that reaches 20 American cities and Canada, will serve as Executive Vice President. Ju Joyner, from Virginia Beach’s Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting concern, will be Vice President of Finance. Fred Harris, of Salem Media Group which reaches nearly 40 USA media markets, will be Vice President of Marketing & Promotions. The leadership is rounded out with Board members: Dr. Sctonda Kelly Gordon, Program Director with Eternity Media Group in Augusta, GA; Chris Squire, Senior Vice President of Sales with iHeart Media, the largest radio corporation in America; and Ron Thompson, Program Director with Radio One (the largest urban radio corporation in America) in Washington, D.C.
4 Left to right: President Charles Johnson, and Vice President, Kyle Glover, hit the red carpet at The 37th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards at the Cobb Energy Center for Performing Arts in Atlanta, GA last week, to talk about the new organization. (Photo courtesy NAGR)
Visit loc.gov/bookfest to learn more.
Join us as the National Book Festival returns to the Washington Convention Center Saturday, September 3, from 9 am to 8 pm
Conversations with authors Stories for children Book Signings
Free for Readers of All Ages
2022 SEPT. 3
fresh,local & tasty.
Every Saturday 9AM - 1:30PM Rain or Shine
halfstreetfarmersmarket.com 1250 Half Street SE
2022 Bright Future Summer Series
Need help navigating college enrollment and registration, financial aid, and student loans?
The DC Department of Insurance, Securities & Banking (DISB) has you covered. This summer, we are hosting a three-part series of events aimed at helping recent high school graduates and their families and prospective college students prepare for and navigate college. Topics include assistance with financial aid verification completion, deciphering financial aid awards, understanding your student account—including refunds, book vouchers, balances, and payment arrangements—as well as strategies and resources to be a successful student.
Bright Future Summer Series
Birthdays wishes for Centagenarians
5 Sally Washington celebrated her 108th birthday on July 31 at the senior building where she resides in Laurel, Md. The celebration, which included family, friends and church members, was held on July 29. (Photo courtesy Chawndese Hylton)
In-Person: 1050 First Street NE, First Floor Virtual: Webex link to be sent after registration Thursday: August 4, 5:00-8:00pm
“I’m in, Now What? Enrollment Requirements Post COVID-19”
Thursday, August 11, 5:00-8:00pm
“What Success Looks Like: Tools for Student Success”
Please note that advance registration is mandatory. There will not be an opportunity to register at the event.
register at www.brighfuturesummerseries.com
*For those attending an in-person session, you will have the opportunity to meet with a counselor before and after the workshop from 5:00-6:00pm or 7:00-8:00pm. Bring your financial aid or admissions documents, and a counselor will provide an individual review. For those attending virtually, you will be able to register and attend the workshop only from 6:00-7:00pm. If you register as a virtual attendee, a Webex link will be sent to your email.
Stay Informed!
www.washingtoninformer.com
5 Evangeline “Vangie” Paredes, the city’s oldest Filipino-American, an Eastern High School graduate, celebrated her 106th birthday July 26 with friends from the Kingdom Care Senior Village in Ward 8. (Photo courtesy Vera Abbott)
National Night Out
5 Isiah being assisted by and talking to a US Marshall as he tries on protective gear at the National Night Out kick-off with the Metropolitan Police Department (1D) at Lincoln Park on Tuesday, August 2. (Jacques A. Benovil/ The Washington Informer) 4 Isiah holding up his Junior Deputy US Marshal Certificate at the National Night Out kick-off with Metropolitan Police Department (1D) in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, August 2. (Jacques A. Benovil/ The Washington Informer) 5 Former Washington Commanders wide receiver SantAndre.L Wright, assistant chief, Patrol Services South (PSS) and Tasha.T Bryant, Commander (1D), listen intensely as Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division speaks passionately about how gun violence forever changed his life during the kick-off of National Night Out with the Metropolitan Police Department (1D) in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, August 2. (Jacques A. Benovil/The Washington Informer)
(Top right) Kevin Kearney, volunteer Cotton Candy spinner and a senior at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC was invited on stage to play drums with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Side by Side Band during the National Night Out kick-off with MPD (1D) in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, August 2. (Jacques A. Benovil/The Washington Informer)
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
Possible Solutions and Next Steps REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Thomas said solutions to the city’s gun violence problem remain SOLICITATION NO.: 0023-2022 within reach with a more committed effort from multiple sources. FIRE ALARM SYSTEM PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE “We need long term services AND REPAIR SERVICES and support from city officials who can provide programs to help people heal mentally and emotionally from gun violence,” he said. “It is important for partnerships The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Fire Alarm System Preventive Maintenance and Repair services at various DCHA Properties. to be formed with community organizations performing this work.
There should be pressure on our SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning policymakers to help the victims Monday, August 1, 2022 on DCHA’s website at and perpetuators of gun violence to enact policies that are designed www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”. to help people. We should bring people together more to fight this MANDATORY SITE VISITS are scheduled for problem. These solutions need to be part of some action plan.”TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2022 Harper believes a plan will reLobby of 1170 12th Street, NW, Promptly @ 10:00 am. sult from the conversations held during the recent meeting but did not go into specifics or share a date for its implementation. OR Wednesday, August 10, 2022 Lobby of 1170 12th Street, NW, Promptly @ 10:00 am. D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) who attend Respondents must attend one of the above Site Visit dates ed the meeting supported the ef-in order to submit a proposal. fort but said he’s more concerned about what happens next. “It was good to see so many people here but we in the community SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 11:00 AM. need to know what the next step will be,” he said. People on the Email Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at outside, those who didn’t come to lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org this meeting, need to be involved for additional information. and know what happens next.”
© 2022 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 38, No. 37
How do fish swim so close without colliding? Fish use a combination of their senses to create smooth schooling movements. Eyes: Each fish can look forward with one eye while the other is looking backward.
Lateral Line: Along each side of a fish’s body there is a line of tiny holes or pores. Tiny hairs inside the pores feel the slightest ripple or movement in the water. This lets fish know when another fish is nearby. If one fish moves in a different direction, all the others sense it and move accordingly.
Join fish expert Professor Pescados as Kid Scoop explores schools of fish.
Underwater schools are different from the school you go to. A school in the ocean is actually a group of fish that swim together. About 4,000 kinds of fish swim in groups called schools.
Schools of fish are always made up of one kind of fish swimming together. Sardines swim with sardines, and minnows swim with minnows.
In a school, the fish are able to swim together, moving in the same direction or even changing directions in an instant without bumping into each other. This can make a school of thousands of fish look like one big fish.
Standards Link: Life Science: Living organisms depend on one another for survival.
Can you nd these pictures in the school of sh?
RULER COMB PENCIL HOUSE GLOVE
Some fish travel in schools to confuse enemies that want to eat them. Traveling together also helps in the search for food. Having thousands of eyes and noses on the lookout for food gives the school a better chance of finding dinner.
Standards Link: Life Science: Adaptations in behavior improve an organism’s chance for survival. Not all fish school. For the most part, predator fish do not school. One exception is this fish. These fish are born into and live in large schools. Circle every other letter to find the name of this fish.
Some groups of underwater animals are not called schools. Use the code to find out what each group of animals below is called.
TROUT
HERRING BASS
Look through the newspaper and find five common nouns and five proper nouns. Cut them out and glue them to
Professor Pescados’ chart in the correct column.
Standards Link: Life Science: Animals have structures that serve different functions in survival.
R D R A W K C A B Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.
E S E N I D R A S T R M C O I P C T A I A H P O H L R W A N P R O O O A R H L E O S L S H E E S L Y H W E C D S S W O N N I M N L A T E R A L M
UNDERWATER SCHOOLS MINNOWS RIPPLE U SWIM R LATERAL O SARDINES T PREDATOR A HAIRS CLOSE D NAME E BACKWARD R PORES P CHART WHY
My School
Look through the newspaper for five or more adjectives that describe your school. Then look for words that describe what you want to learn this year. Use these words to write a paragraph with your plans for the coming school year.
Standards Link: Grammar: Identify and use adjectives; Writing Applications: Write brief expository sentences.
WHALES
SHARKS
A D E H I L M O P R S V Y
Standards Link: Life Science: Students know examples of diverse life forms in the ocean. Standards Link: Grammar: Identify nouns.
KID SCOOP IS SPONSORED BY
If Fish Went to School
What would a school FOR fish be like? What would fish study? What games would they play? What would they eat for lunch? Write a story about a day in a school for fish.
wi book review horoscopes
AUGUST 4 - 10, 2022
Kids Books on Tolerance and Inclusion
c.2022, Various publishers $17.99-$18.99 Various page counts
Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer
School will start soon, and you're going to meet a lot of new kids.
You'll meet kids from other towns and maybe from other countries; some will have lighter hair and some will have darker skin. Maybe they will look like you, and maybe they won't, so why not find out what's different and interesting about those new kids by reading one (or all!) of these great books …
Do you know where your new classmates will live? In "My Town Mi Pueblo" by Nicholas Solis, illustrated by Luisi Uribe (Nancy Paulsen Books, $17.99) two cousins live very near one another, and very apart. She lives in the U.S., he lives in Mexico, and they're separated by a big river. In this book, they tell you about their towns — her, in English; him, in Spanish — they explain why they like visiting one another in the town across the river and what they do for fun. This is a great book for kids who are bilingual, and for those who may have playmates that are. Look for it on Aug. 16.
For the child who straddles two cultures or for the kid whose playmates do, "American Desi" by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Supriya Kelkar (Little, Brown Young Readers $18.99) is the book to share. Here, a young girl has "one foot" in America and the other in India. So is she Indian or American... or both? Can she enjoy her Bindis and bangles and still like hip-hop music? How she reconciles her two lives and even brings them together is a story of pure joy, illustrated in colorful pages that your child will want to look at again and again.
For future Black men and their current playmates, "Black Boy, Black Boy" by Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond, pictures by Ken Daley (Sourcebooks, $17.99) is a book that inspires and informs. Here, a father proudly walks his Black son on a path through history to show the boy that inventors, activists, writers, musicians, politicians and others have gone before him and paved the way. This pride-instilling book comes out Aug. 9.
And finally, for every kid everywhere, no matter who he or she is, "Our World is a Family" by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, pictures by Nomar Perez (Sourcebooks, $17.99) is fun and helpful. The words inside this book show kids and their families from all over the world, including children that are disabled, kids who speak different languages, kids who eat unusual foods, and kids who need friends. It explains immigration in words that small children can understand, and it tells kids how to be welcoming to those who are different.
These books are great for kids ages 4 to 7, but if you're looking for inclusive books for older children or for toddlers, reach out to your favorite librarian or bookseller. They'll help you find exactly what you need for your child, no matter what their reading (or listening) level. Your librarian or bookseller will introduce you to all kinds of new books to meet.
WI ARIES As the week begins, the cosmos intensifies your desire to acquire more power and recognition for your efforts. Pinpoint your exact goals and then go after them with your signature passion and fire. You'll be unstoppable. Lucky Numbers: 8, 19, 33
TAURUS Early in the week, you'll be compelled to carve out solo time dedicated to resting, recharging, and tuning in to your intuition through meditation or a similar form of reflection. While you tend to train your focus on set patterns and goals, it's best for you to let go of preconceived notions about how you should be spending your time and just be right now. This type of mindfulness can lend itself to more self-understanding that you can use to amplify your focus and success in the weeks and months ahead. Lucky Numbers: 18, 22, 49
GEMINI You could feel uncharacteristically laser focused on fulfilling a longtime fantasy at the start of the week. If you're attached, sharing your thoughts and desires with your significant other can open the doorway to fulfillment. If you're single, meditate and perhaps even do a special ritual to manifest the connection and experience you're dreaming of. Lucky Numbers: 10, 16, 32
CANCER As the week starts, you'll be extra focused on elevating your standing with higher-ups and receiving recognition for your efforts on the job. Own this need by clarifying exactly what you want to achieve, then express that to those who support you the most. You'll find that by being bold and driven, this transit can power up your efforts to advance your professional aspirations. Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 23
LEO When the week begins, you might very well be feeling restless. Give in to the urge to travel or otherwise broaden your horizons (think about using a meditation app or attending a sound bath). This can prove inspiring and set the tone for exploring a wide variety of avenues that feed you spiritually and intellectually. Lucky Numbers: 7, 13, 40
VIRGO At the start of the week, you'll be focused on feeling even more centered in your deepest feelings and most intimate connections. Understanding how you relate to others and the foundations of your closest relationships can lead to greater self-awareness and confidence, not to mention fulfillment of your most pressing emotional needs. Lucky Numbers: 9, 35, 50
LIBRA At the beginning of the week, you'll do well to commit to an aspiration you share with your closest colleague, friend, or significant other. Whether you want to build a business or take your relationship to the next level, you'll have the focus and collaborative power to map a winning course now together. Lucky Numbers: 11, 24, 28
SCORPIO You'll be presented with an opportunity to pinpoint health goals and strategies for achieving more work/life balance as the week begins. If there's a fitness app you've been wanting to try, an acupuncturist you've been hoping to see, or a yoga instructor you've been eager to check out, now is your chance to explore and home in on what the next chapter of your self-improvement journey will look like. You'll be filled with the promise of amplifying your vitality. Lucky Numbers: 4, 14, 27
SAGITTARIUS As the week starts, you'll be feeling downright inspired. It's time to put monotonous work aside, which might truly be weighing on your adventurous spirit, and lean into the fun-loving energy that has you fired up and ready to leap into a new relationship, stimulating professional project, or travel experience. The mood is right for proposing that creative project or setting a whole new magical tone around your nearest and dearest relationships. Lucky Numbers: 6, 9, 21
CAPRICORN At the beginning of the week, you'd do well to really tune in to the roots of your feelings and take steps to elevate your personal power. You have a chance to set intentions that will enhance your feeling of security. Talking your needs through with loved ones can be a promising way to lay the groundwork for your vision. Lucky Numbers: 13, 37, 41
AQUARIUS Spending time with friends, neighbors, or even strangers tends to be your forte, and early in the week, the more you can engage in animated conversations with a wide variety of connections the better. You might be stunned by how quickly a casual discussion turns into a truly inspiring game plan for achieving a long-held professional dream. At the very least, you could forge new, intellectually stimulating bonds. Lucky Numbers: 15, 30, 32
PISCES If you've been feeling unfulfilled or stuck in your current professional path, you'll have a fruitful opportunity to turn the page early this week. This is fertile ground for envisioning a new definition of success. Run any money goals by your intuition and you'll be right on track. Lucky Numbers: 20, 22, 44
