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The planet Mars was named for the God of War. So it makes sense that astrologically, the red orb is thought to rule anger, action, egos, and desire. So the fact that it’s about to go retrograde in Aries — after being direct for the past two and a half years — is worth paying attention to. The sign of the ram is this planet’s “home”; as Mars tracks backward through determined and passionate Aries, we can expect plenty of drama and fiery chaos. Oh, and the red planet will stay retrograde for two whole months, from September 9 until November 13.

“Hold onto your seats, this is going to be a wild ride!” says Mysticalcraft Arriana, a Keen.com advisor and tarot card reader. “Try to take the next few months with an open mind, as it will be intense during this time as Mars comes in and shakes up our lives — Mars style.” She says that when the planet of action leaves its retrograde, we’ll all be staring at a new beginning. Keep your eye trained on that prize to help you get through the next couple of months.

Because Mars is so close to the Earth, when it goes retrograde, every single sign of the zodiac feels its wrath, says Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for SunSigns.com. “Low energy, lack of sex drive, simmering anger, and stifling passions are some of the classic themes during a Mars retrograde,” she tells Refinery29. “It doesn’t sound fun — and it’s not!”

During this time, our ambitions may be sidetracked as we work to redefine our goals, according to astrologer Lisa Stardust. “It’s time to dig deep within and embrace what makes us happy, which may result in finding solace in unexpected endeavors,” she says. “On the flip side, we all will have mini temper tantrums here and there, due to the fact that Mars is slowing down.” Beware of how you treat others, and try to avoid judging yourself too harshly during this transit — it’s a rough time for everyone.

Worth mentioning: Mars will be retrograde during the 2020 election. Stardust says that there will be a lot of protests due to a challenging square between Mercury, Mars, and the Capricorn planets during this time. Judging by the transit, Stardust even says that there could be a recount of the ballots — which makes sense, given President Trump’s current War On The Post Office and infatuation with voter fraud.

Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, agrees that this will be an aggressive transit. “Unfortunately, we will see a great deal of aggression and anger in the world during this cycle, and especially the latter part of September into October as Mars will bring some major clashes,” she tells Refinery29. “Politics will play a big role and we will see political scandals and those who behave badly.”

Once Mars turns direct, though, we should be set for smooth sailing, according to Mysticalcraft Arriana. “When this all settles down, you will find yourself able to thrive. Much of the unrest will conclude, with our eyes opened by the many truths that have been shown,” she tells Refinery29. “The need for peace will be felt strongly as this ends. We’re all tired from so much pent up energy being let go!”

Hale agrees. “After November 13, things will begin to ease up and return to normal. This will be the time to implement all of the plans we have thought about and re-considered over the past several months,” she says.

“The truth is that it will take tons of self-care and anger management to deal with the impulsivity and fire coming from this retrograde,” Montúfar says. “It’s also helpful to know that when facing obstacles, the more we push, the harder things will become.”

So there is a light at the end of this chaotic retrograde tunnel. Until then, anything you can do to prepare for the chaos will help: Keep your to-do list organized, meditate more often than usual (might I suggest an aura cleanse?), and focus on finding your balance. My personal mantra for Mars retrograde? If I can get through this, I’ll be able to get through anything.

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While there are astrological transits that can bring you down — Mercury retrograde, maybe you’ve heard of him? — there are also planetary movements out there that spark joy. And Venus in Leo is one of them. When the planet of love enters the confident sign of the lion on September 6, be prepared for some fiery hot, passionate love.

“Venus is the goddess of love, romance, beauty, and values,” Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, tells Refinery29. “When she transits through Leo, the heart radiates with extra fire and love, or a desire for romance.” Hale says that the best and highest manifestation of Venus in Leo is a childlike joy — so be prepared for your summer fun (and your summer fling) to go on a bit longer.

“While love was sweet and tender when Venus was in Cancer, when the Goddess of Pleasure enters fire sign Leo, love becomes, bold, generous, and unabashed,” Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for Astrology.com, tells Refinery29. “Overall, this is an exciting transit for dating and even for couples who have been together for a long time.”

If you’ve been holding off on telling your crush how you really feel, now’s the time to put on Electric Love (it’s a TikTok reference) and lay the truth on them. Don’t be shy. The seductive combination of Venus and Leo is behind you, giving you all of the charisma and confidence you need to lure in your potential new lover.

Already in a relationship? Take advantage of this transit’s passionate glow and actually date your partner again. Now’s the time to ramp up the PDA and lavish your boo with gifts, flowers, cards, and dinners, Montúfar says. We’re talking romantic walks on the beach, grand gestures, surprise gifts, and some intensely heated moments (wink, wink).

“For those in relationships, this is the month to really express what’s in their hearts, regardless of how long they’ve been together,” she says. “Especially because after Leo, Venus will enter Virgo, a sign that is not the best for outward expression when it comes to love.” Embody the powerful lion of Leo right now and let your love roar while you’re both still in the mood.

“Venus in Leo brings an intense and passionate energy to our love lives,” astrologer Lisa Stardust tells Refinery29. “We can expect to go big or go home when it comes to how we express ourselves and our sentiments.” Our hearts will be regal, open, and generous during this transit, she says.

Hold nothing back. But beware of the drama. Stardust says we might tend to throw off some overly theatrical sentiments right now; we could also feel like everyone else is being a little high-key toward us. “The only downside to Leo is when things go sideways in love, personal drama can be extreme, overstated, or egotistical,” Hale agrees. “Actions or even conversations can occur simply for the dramatic effect it will cause.”

But honestly, it could be worse. Try to avoid stirring the pot, and focus on speaking from the heart. And if things get a tad overblown or passionate, try to channel it for good. After all, who doesn’t like a little bit of flair and glamour in their love life?

Montúfar says to take advantage of the Fridays during this transit, which lasts until October 2. This is the day of the week that traditionally is ruled by Venus. “A couple of days to watch out for are September 15, September 28, and September 29,” she says. “During these days, sparks could fly, and surprises could happen when it comes to love and relationships.”

So open your heart, and let Venus in Leo guide you to romantic victory over the next month. Whether you end up having an end-of-summer fling, getting a head start on locking down a cuffing season mate, revitalizing your relationship with your long-term boo, or practicing some truly incredible self-love — you won’t regret it.

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Mercury, the planet of communication, enters justice-minded Libra on September 5. The planet of communication isn’t in retrograde — yet. But its entry into Libra can still bring up some frustrating roadblocks. Namely: procrastination and indecision, says Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com.

“Since Mercury in Libra has an innate ability to see things from all viewpoints, it can seem indecisive,” Hale explains. “But most of the time it is a careful consideration of all options and viewpoints.”

Mercury is only in Libra until September 27 — but on October 14, the Swift Planet will start tracking backward, and during this retrograde period, it will re-enter the sign of the scales on October 27. Hale says during this second pass through Libra, we may feel especially unsettled or confused.

“From its position in Libra, Mercury will form tense squares and oppositions to many intense planets,” including Saturn, Pluto, and Mars, adds Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for Horoscope.com. “This combination of aspects will set us up for a very intense and active time when it comes to communication.”

But remember how we said chatty Mercury was going to leave Libra, then return? When it comes back, Montúfar says we’ll get a second chance to get things right — but it won’t be a walk in the park. She says that during this time, we’ll be fighting obstacles and locking heads with authority figures. But, she adds, “In a way, Libra’s rational, diplomatic, and people-pleasing skills will be really helpful.”

Another zinger: Mars will enter retrograde on September 9, which will result in another blow to our productivity. “It will almost be better to pick our battles and not push things, since making strides will be so much harder than usual,” Montúfar suggests. Figuring out what tasks matter most to you can help you avoid this slump, so consider prioritizing your to-do list and taking things one step at a time — just don’t beat yourself up if it feels way harder than usual to make progress.

“Mercury and Uranus retrograde share a semi-square that will force us to take action around manifesting our dreams,” astrologer Lisa Stardust tells Refinery29. A minor frust

In general, Mercury in Libra is characterized by back and forth. For instance, “Mercury will square off with Jupiter on September 17, which will expand our minds and philosophies. But on September 18, Mercury shares a semi-square with Neptune, which will make us feel like we are suffering from brain fog,” Stardust explains. She suggests doing what you can to stay focused, whether that means taking a ton of breaks or getting outside.

Other key dates: On September 21, Mercury and Pluto square off, which can bring about arguments and power struggles, Stardust adds. Be careful about what words you use, because hurtful ones will cut really deep on this day.

“Mercury connects with the Nodes of Destiny on September 22, aligning us with others who share similar views as we do,” she continues. “On September 23, Mercury squares off with Saturn, limiting our communication. And, finally Mercury opposes Mars retrograde on September 24, which will bring past arguments to light.”

Sure, it’s a lot to take in — but having these dates out in front of us will allow us to take ownership over this brain-bending transit. Remember: The stars may make it more likely to feel or act certain ways on certain dates, but we still have free will, and with a little intention and strategizing, we can make the most of any transit.

So use Mercury in Libra as an opportunity to get your priorities in order and to practice being gentle on yourself when things feel hard. When the chatty planet leaves the air sign for good, you’ll be able to keep those lessons with you, and they’ll continue to serve you all year long.

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September is Self-Improvement Month — and it's really no surprise, given that the season is all about change. The weather change; your schedule changes; your wardrobe changes. It's the perfect time to turn over a new leaf.

Admittedly, talking about self-improvement in 2020 feels a little strange. It's been a hard several months for many of us. But that's the thing about self-help books: They have a reputation for being a lot of work — but some of them are just motivating, uplifting, entertaining reads, perfect for delivering the perspective shift you need to make your days a little sunnier. (That said: If you're more about rewatching the entirety of Friends right now — we feel you, and we support you.)

Take a look at our picks for the most inspiring self-improvement books on the market for you to enjoy this month.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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I know January 1 has a reputation for being the time to start fresh. But really, fall always seems more like the season of renewal to me. And this week’s moon phase is amplifying that energy. The upcoming Full Moon — which will ascent on September 2 at 10:22 p.m. — will be in dreamy Pisces, and it’s preparing us to turn over a new leaf.

“Known as the Full Corn moon, this is a transitional lunation that takes us from the summer to the winter months,” Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer for SunSigns.com, tells Refinery29. “Both Virgo and Pisces are mutable signs that hold the kind of energy that helps us respond to life’s only variable: change.”

Of course, change has been the theme of 2020. Everything is different, from how we do our jobs (work from home, anyone?), to the way we go to school, to what issues have made their way to the forefront of the upcoming election. Montúfar says that the arrival of this Full Corn Moon may be just what we need to adapt to the so-called “new normal.”

According to Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, this Full Moon is ripe with sensitivity and perception. Pisces is associated with creativity and spirituality. “For some this can be a magical or other-worldly type of energy,” Hale says. “For others it may bring up deep-seated issues that can relate to emotionality and endings.” The Full Moon in Pisces can also, she warns, “create insecurity and make things seem worse than what they really are.” So lean on your spiritual side, nurture yourself through creative activities you love, and be ready to fact-check your feelings when possible.

Montúfar notes that this Full Moon is forming a sextile with Uranus, the Planet of Change, which is retrograde in Taurus right now. “Because the sextile is a positive aspect, we will be feeling supported in letting go of the old and embracing what’s new and exciting, even if it seems scary at first,” she says.

Astrologer Lisa Stardust agrees. “With Uranus having a heavy hand in this luminary, it’s a wonderful time to get excited about starting school, a new job, and moving to a new city.” Stardust says during this Full Moon, it’s important to be open to all of the possibilities that life has to offer, to go with the flow, and and not sweat the small stuff. “As long as we let our instincts and gut feelings guide us, then we can start anew easily with a positive, drama-free attitude,” she says.

The consensus seems to be: Expect the unexpected. Things will change during this time — especially, Montúfar says, in our relationships and our finances. So if we can embrace the fact that disruptions or unforeseen events will crop up, we’ll find it easier to lean in to any curveballs and find solutions as needed.

Change can often be uncomfortable, but from that discomfort can come extraordinary growth. So as we start transitioning into a new season, take a moment to reflect on all the change you’ve weathered over the past several months. Use the knowledge of how far you’ve come to give you the strength to continue moving forward this fall. Continue doing this that nourish you and that allow you to see the positives that come with turning over a new leaf.

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You mostly hear people mention imposter syndrome in reference to to professional insecurities. Valerie Young, PhD, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, defined it as that “secret belief that deep down we’re not as bright, capable, competent, or talented as other people seem to think we are, and therefore have this fear of being found out,” in a previous interview with Refinery29. Turns out, these intrusive thoughts can happen in our romantic relationships, too.

“This is when there’s this internal false belief that you’re not enough [for your partner],” Moraya Seeger DeGeare, licensed marriage and family therapist and the co-owner of BFF Therapy in Beacon, NY, tells Refinery29. “It’s the thought that, ‘If I show up as my authentic self, this person is going to reject me and I’m not deserving of this relationship.'” Another common relationship imposter syndrome situation is the feeling that you’re not attractive enough for your partner.

This feeling stems from a place of insecurity, DeGeare explains. And it doesn’t just hurt your own psyche; it can actively harm your relationship. “Because you have this false belief that you’re not enough, you’re going to show up differently,” she says. “It’s actually going to limit your intimacy in your relationship if you really aren’t addressing this idea that this person deserves someone better.”

DeGeare gives this straightforward, four-step guide to help you begin to break free from your relationship-related imposter syndrome.

Start to listen to your thoughts

Before trying to change anything, start to notice when you start having imposter-style thoughts, such as “I’m not good enough for my partner” or “I’m not successful enough to support my partner.” After you start to pick up on how often those thoughts come up, ask yourself how these thoughts are impacting you and your relationship, DeGeare suggests. Do your fears about being “not enough” cause you to seek validation excessively? Withdraw and become emotionally unavailable? Pick fights?

“We often want to blame a relationship’s end on a really tangible thing,” she explains. “But a lot of times someone is really emotionally unavailable because they haven’t done the work to realize what their blocks are to intimacy.” And this kind of imposter syndrome is one of those blocks. Start by asking yourself, ‘Am I actually available to have a relationship or are my own insecurities going to get in the way and what I’m afraid could happen?’

Practice daily affirmations

Most likely, it will feel awkward and silly at first. But DeGeare says that exercises involving daily affirmations — or some other daily ritual that’s designed to help you let go of these negative thoughts — are key to overcoming your imposter syndrome.

Here’s an easy way to start: Find a quiet spot, maybe in front of a mirror, and tell yourself that you’re enough: that you’re a good partner, that you’re deserving of your relationship, and that your partner cares for you too. You can speak out loud or recite these affirmations in your head. The important thing is to push past the discomfort and keep it up; it can take time to work.

Consider therapy

If you can afford it and have access to it, therapy is a great way to get additional support. “[You need] to get to a place where you can let go of these negative thoughts that say that you’re not enough so that you can really show up to a relationship and know ‘I’m enough with or without you, I’m enough for this relationship,'” DeGeare explains.

Talk to your boo

So much of relationship imposter syndrome happens in your head. So actually addressing your insecurities directly to your partner can be useful. “Bringing up your fears and allowing [your partner] to comfort you is intimacy,” DeGeare says. “If you say your insecurities out loud, then that partner can reassure it and now that negative self talk has a new voice, that’s like, ‘Oh but they said this,'” DeGeare explains. “That really helps to battle that.”

Worth nothing: What DeGeare is suggesting is not asking your partner for reassurances day in and day out. “As you bring it up, you also have to listen to them and accept what they’re saying and believe them.” Being at a place where you can accept your partner’s (or even your friend’s or family’s) reassurance is essential. If you find yourself asking some variation of “Am I enough for you?” repeatedly because the relief you feel at being reassured only lasts for half a second — you may have more work to do.

We all have our own insecurities, but it’s important to recognize when they’re actively hurting us and our relationships. Remind yourself that you are enough — even if it sometimes doesn’t feel like it.

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Who among us can say that they have never read a love horoscope or done a little googling to find how how compatible they were with their boo based on their zodiac sign? I might not break up with someone just because they're a Capricorn to my Aries, but I still want to know what the stars hold in store. Comparing birth charts with friends, however, seems to be less universal. But why? Astrological compatibility is a thing, after all — for all relationships, not just romantic ones.

"Certain signs always find each other in the universe," astrologer Lisa Stardust tells Refinery29. "This allows them to become good friends or best frenemies." Stardust acknowledges that astrological compatibility isn’t 100% accurate all the time — two signs that match on paper may not match well IRL. But there are signs who often align with one another to make the perfect friendship duo. Isn't it kind of cool that the very best friendships could be written in the stars?

Here, Stardust tells us each sign's likely BFF.

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My first introduction to manifesting (or so I thought) was pretending to read The Secret in middle school. You know, that film-turned-self-help book based on positive thinking that sold 30 million copies and turned everyone into philosophers? It claims that thoughts can change a person’s life directly, that what you think literally becomes reality. I was reminded about that phase of my life recently, when I started noticing a lot of manifesting videos were landing on my TikTok “for you” feed.

As evidenced by my The Secret kick, I’ve always been into the idea of thinking your way to what you want. So I asked a few experts to refresh my memory about how, exactly, it’s done. And they explained to me that the practice outlined in the book is a little different from what I’m seeing gain traction on social media.

The Secret advocates for “the law of attraction.” But while manifesting is about turning your dreams into reality, what some people miss — including my middle school self — is that it requires you to take concrete actions toward the thing you want, Sarah Potter, a tarot reader, professional witch, and color magic practitioner based in New York City, tells Refinery29.

So when I tried to think my middle school crush into asking me to be his girlfriend (probably over text) and didn’t actually do anything about it myself — that wasn’t manifesting. “I don’t want to spread the belief that if you sit and think good thoughts all the time, everything you want happens,” Potter says. “That’s not reality, that’s not manifestation. That’s spiritual bypassing and denial of pain and trauma.”

So what does a true manifestation practice look like? First, you form a very clear, specific goal and outcome. “I think we have to be very clear with our intention. The more specific we can be, the easier it is to make something happen,” Potter explains.

But your dream doesn’t have to feel realistic, necessarily. Potter says if you get very clear with your intentions, you can make anything you want happen. When I asked her what she meant by anything, (like, anything?) she clarified, “I think you should dream as big as you possibly can.”

Once you’re crystal-clear on your intention, you’ll need to implement those actions. So say your intention is to meet the love of your life. First, develop a picture of the person of your dreams — the more specific, the better. Then, ask yourself: In addition to putting your intention to be with this type of person out into the world, what kind of actions can you take to bring yourself closer to them? If you dream about an adventure buddy, take an adventure. If you’re deepest wish if to have a super-kind partner, start being kinder, and stop hanging out with unkind people. Date, and also work on opening yourself up to love.

Sounds simple, right? But Potter has seen it work. In her own life, in her clients, and even in her friends. Astrologer Lisa Stardust has as well. “Manifesting does work. If you keep your intention, or your goal, in mind, you’ll find that you’re able to envision what you truly want to call in,” Stardust tells Refinery29. “This will enable you to bring your dreams into reality.”

The more I look into manifesting — whether it’s through chatting with witches, astrologers, or scrolling through my carefully curated TikTok “for you” page — the more I realize that… I’ve done this before, although maybe not intentionally. In fact, I’m think I manifested the job I have right now. Sure, it sounds bizarre, but hear me out.

During my post-grad search for employment, I envisioned myself working at one of my dream outlets (a list that Refinery29 was on). I’d stalk their websites, subscribe to their print editions, and familiarize myself with their mastheads, imagining my name on one.

These positive thoughts were accompanied by concrete actions. I worked hard in college and in my internships, I networked, I had a few more post-grad internships and fellowships, and I aggressively applied to every open full-time position I saw. And while Refinery29 wasn’t the first job I got after graduation… I’m here now.

As I speak with Potter, I start to realize: I was manifesting! Of course, I don’t want to pretend that I got to where I am because of magic — I was privileged to be able to devote so much energy to my studies and to accept low-paying jobs and internships, to put it mildly.

While landing this job that has put me on the path I’ve always envisioned for myself, the outcome of manifesting can be unexpected. “I think sometimes we manifest things and they don’t look how we thought they would,” Potter explains. “Sometimes the job we think is a dream job isn’t, or the person we really want to be with isn’t actually a good match. I think there’s also being open to the possibility that what you’re manifesting is not going to come to fruition in the form you thought it might.” In other words, be open and flexible.

Maybe it goes without saying that there isn’t any scientific evidence out there that explicitly says manifesting works for sure. Although, there is some interesting literature available regarding quantum theory and our reality. Still, trying to manifest something isn’t actively harmful, and attempting to make your dreams come true using a combination of your thoughts and proactive actions won’t hurt you. So why not try it out?

If you’re ready to take a crack at manifestation, Potter has some easy-to-follow tips to amp up your practice. First: Try keeping track of the moon cycles. “I think a really great guide is working with cycles of the moon,” she says. “When the moon is new, it’s an optimal energy to set an intention. And when the moon is full, we can release any blockages or let go of anything that’s no longer serving us.” Following the moon and its cycles can get you into a good rhythm for manifesting, she says.

There are rituals you can use alongside manifesting, such as alter building, candle magic, and using different colored flowers, herbs, and botanicals to amplify your intentions. An easy one Potter says will work for anyone making a career-oriented manifestation (hello, promotion) is to write a letter of intention, place under an orange candle, then meditate on the intention while watching the candle burn.

“Step back from [the intention] after that,” she suggests. “If you stay hyper-focused on it I feel like that can mess with the magic. Let it go, and see how it unfolds.”

As you begin your journey into manifesting your desires, don’t be too hard on yourself. “Rid yourself of obstacles and limiting belief systems, ask the universe, take action, trust the process,” Potter says. She also cautions against obsessing over whether or not your practice is “working.” Trust that it is, and remember to show gratitude for what you already have.

If manifesting was as simple as it sounds, you might think that I’d currently be a millionaire — no, a billionaire — living on a beach in Hawaii without a care in the world. I’m not. But could I get there if I really wanted to? Who knows! In Potter’s words, I’ll just have to keep “thinking it, saying it, and creating it” — and wait and see.

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In an Instagram story posted yesterday, model Olivia Culpo revealed that she has endometriosis, a condition that affects an estimated one in 10 American women during their reproductive years. “I’ve never publicly said this before but I have endometriosis,” she wrote on the story. “Aka the most excruciatingly painful cramps/periods. Anyone else reading this have endo? No fun.”

When you have endometriosis, tissue that is similar to what makes up the uterine lining grows elsewhere in the body, usually on the outside of the uterus and nearby organs. And like Culpo says in her Instagram story, this can cause intense period pain, as well as issues including painful sex and constipation.

“There’s a surgery you can get for it but I don’t want to get,” the former Miss Universe said. The surgery she’s referring to is called laparoscopic surgery, a procedure that removes scar tissue, endometrial tissue, and cysts that build up due to the condition. Instead, Culpo is choosing to use “lots of heating pads, lots of water, and lots of Midol.”

Other celebs have opened up about their endometriosis diagnoses in the past, too, including Halsey to Lena Dunham. And their experiences sound similar to Culpo’s: painful, exhausting, and even frustrating.

In her story, Culpo advised her followers and those watching to be vigilent if they’re experiencing symptoms of endometriosis. “I just think it’s really important if you are having very painful periods and you are not being diagnosed with what you think could be endometriosis, definitely do your research because if you don’t discover that you have this, it could get in the way of your fertility,” she says. “You could have tissue growing in areas that you really shouldn’t have that would interfere with maybe getting pregnant some day, your eggs could be getting damaged.”

That’s one of the reasons Culpo says she’s decided to bring awareness to the condition now. “My doctor tells me about people who come to her in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s about not having been able to have kids,” she shared. “The thing that’s so sad about that is because they may have had endometriosis that may have affected their fertility in some way and if they had caught it earlier, they could have frozen their eggs. There would have been more options.”

In an article she wrote for Refinery29 earlier this year, actress Bojana Novakovic, who also has endo, shared a similar sentiment. “For me, a huge part of my problem was shame. The symptoms of endometriosis were embarrassing to talk about. I didn’t want to tell anyone that my nether regions ached, that sex was painful. I thought I was weak… It’s important to destigmatize pelvic pain, so that we can talk openly about solutions. After all, if I had heard someone talk about it when I was a teenager, I might not have lived in all that pain for nearly 20 years.”

“It’s a disease that is very poorly understood, even though it’s been almost a hundred years since it was first described,” Shaheen Khazali, MD, a consultant gynecologist and endometriosis surgeon, and honorary secretary of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) previously told Refinery29. “We are still struggling both as a scientific community and as doctors to properly understand and address the issue.”

If you’re experiencing symptoms such as painful periods or other uncomfortable symptoms such as such as painful urination, sex, and bowel movements, you’ll want to head to your doctor to make everything is alright. “You just never know,” Culpo says. “You don’t want to wait too late, so I want everyone to take that seriously.”

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Back in June, the Coalition for the Homeless released a report that revealed those experiencing homelessness in New York City are 61% more likely to die from COVID-19 than the average resident. They reported that in June 2020 there were 58,736 homeless people, a number that includes 19,626 homeless children, sleeping each night in the New York City municipal shelter system — and people of color are disproportionately affected, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. Homeless New Yorkers are one of the most vulnerable communities that’ve been hit by the pandemic.

As medical director for Primary Care at the Center for Urban Community Service, Emily Gerteis provides essential resources and healthcare for homeless and unsheltered New Yorkers every day. Right now, her work includes treating patients in need of medical attention at shelters and in supportive housing programs. She agreed to take a few minutes out of her day to answer a few of our questions.

Refinery29: What does an average day look like for you right now?

Emily Gerteis: “My wife has taken to making breakfast for me since my favorite coffee shop closed due to the pandemic. Back in April, we were both sick with COVID-like illness, and I probably gave it to her! Despite that, I’m feeling thankful to have a partner to quarantine with, to take care of each other.

“As soon as I walk into my office, clients start knocking. My office is in a big supportive housing building, so I have a clinic in an apartment building. The clients that I work with all got their housing because they have a history of homelessness, mental illness, substance use history, HIV/AIDS, or a combination of the above. 

“I’m used to being busy at the clinic but things are more hectic now since essential staffing means we don’t have any medical assistants. Also, clients are generally more anxious and really starved for connection. People have taken to knocking just to check in and say hello. When they knock, they’re asking about me, how I’m doing. It really brightens my day.

“I’ll have a few walk-ins in the morning. I’ve been impressed at how people are taking the initiative to take care of themselves during this time, even though they have a lot to deal with.

“Social workers will drop off a bunch of patient medications and pillboxes in the afternoon. They normally help clients with their medications, but due to coronavirus, they’ve had to cut back on the amount of support they can give clients face-to-face, for everyone’s safety. Without reminders, it’s hard for some patients to manage their medications for chronic conditions like diabetes. But we’re doing the best we can.”

What’s the biggest difference between your pre-COVID work and now?

“The average day before all of this had a lot more unstructured, in-person colleague office time. Now, with the way people are social distancing in the office and all of my staff working in different clinics throughout the week, none of us really overlap. We don’t get together for any meetings anymore. I haven’t seen some of my colleagues in six months. Obviously we see each other on Zoom, but that’s very different from how things used to be. I think, especially in medicine, the need for a curbside consult or to run things by each other is how we work. It’s part of our workflow, it’s how we practice medicine, and to not have that time has been a big change for us.

“We’re seeing about the same amount of patients, but the focus is a little bit different. Recently we’ve gotten back to the typical primary care focus of vaccinations, routine screenings, and things like that. 

“When the prevalence of COVID was really high in the city, we were foregoing all of that and we were talking about ways to keep them safe, we were talking about their fears. A lot of folks with mental illness are already really isolated. So to then not have senior lunch, for example, or not have their AA meetings available was a big, big shift. They’ve become a lot more isolated. A lot of our medical appointments were focused on mental health wellness, substance abuse, disorders, people who are struggling with the isolation. 

“It’s shifting back now but we’ll see what the fall has to offer.”

“Housing, in this pandemic, is healthcare. A hotel room instead of a shelter bed, that’s healthcare right now. Giving people access to that is saving lives.”

Emily Gerteis

What’s it like working with such a vulnerable population during the pandemic?

“Now has been a time where we see folks who have really struggled with adhering to their medication. Without that extra support of really robust social work, a lot of folks have dropped off of being on top of their medications and being on top of their illnesses. I’ve seen it take a toll on people, where their conditions are getting worse. 

“Diabetes is a good example. People who were really controlled in their diabetes before have been really struggling to manage it in the pandemic. And again, these are the folks who for years and years and years were living on the street with a mental illness, with a substance abuse disorder. They’re already kind of on the edge of not keeping it together. It takes a lot of years to feel like they really own what’s going on with them and to take that ownership over their own health, when for so many years they weren’t engaged with it or were sidelined by the system and didn’t get the care that they needed.”

What’s one of the hardest things about your job right now?

“We found a client deceased last month. The social worker had called me up to his apartment. Because they can’t touch clients, it’s up to me to assess his heart rate and identify him as pulseless. I’ve known him for 6 1/2 years. He was almost 70 and most likely died of coronavirus. Being someone that grew up in mental health institutions, hospitals were like prison to him. So on Friday, when we asked him to go to the emergency room for being short of breath, he refused. And on Monday when we checked on him, he was dead. It’s so intensely sad. I’m heartbroken. But I remember that ultimately, it’s up to him to do what he wants to do with his life.

“I had a client who missed his appointment on Monday. I worry about him because one of the ways he manages his mental illness is to work. Since he’s been laid off, it’s been harder for him to cope. He says he’s okay, but I wonder how much he’s not sharing with me.”

What are some things you wished people knew about the homeless and working with them right now?

“Homeless people are just as afraid as we all are of this disease. Housing, in this pandemic, is healthcare. A hotel room instead of a shelter bed, that’s healthcare right now. Giving people access to that is saving lives. Whatever was going on with us before the pandemic, whether it was depression or anxiety, they’re all exacerbated right now. The same with homeless folks. Think about that as you envision what it’s like to be homeless during a pandemic. We are very privileged to have our homes to quarantine in, although we are sick of it.

“Our patients are survivors. A lot of us, when we see homeless people on the street, we see their weaknesses. We don’t see the strengths and the survivor mentality that they have and how they’ve been able to survive for so long. I feel privileged in my role that I can follow someone from not doing well on the street, to the shelter, to their apartment, to this real path of wellness. That’s really gratifying for me. And I think if folks can envision that journey, it can really help the person that’s on the street.”

What’s been a rewarding part about your experience during the pandemic?

“A client came in earlier this week, telling me that he burned his beard while smoking a cigarette and he can’t get a haircut right now. So I cut his beard for him. He says I did a pretty good job. I’m glad because his surgical mask fits a lot better now. Plus, I like doing stuff like that. Something concrete, you can see the results right away. Satisfying. It’s not all the time that we get to see that in this kind of work. It’s usually slow progress in primary care, especially this kind of primary care. We are used to a lot of setbacks before we see any progress.

“This job is particularly suited to a whole person wellness program, which is why we have psychiatrists and social work and medical and nursing all wrapped up together at CUCS. One person needs all of those things if they’ve gone through what our folks have gone through. On one side of the coin, I really get to know my patients. I really get to understand their struggles and I get to develop care plans around what their goals are. In that way, we get to really work on the person as a whole instead of being like, ‘Yeah, just take this medicine and follow up in three months.’

“The other side is that I get close to my patients. So when someone dies I’m there to support the staff in that and pronounce someone dead. That’s part of my job, and it’s a really hard part of my job, especially when you get to know patients in the way that we do. The joys come with the sadness as well.

“Those little moments when you see progress and development in someone, that’s a joy. To be able to get people who are really psychotic to wear a mask and understand why they’re safe. That’s a joy. It’s those little moments when you see progress and when you have a win. Clinically, those are the things that are a big deal.”

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Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian West go way back — like, to the early 2000s. Their friendship hasn’t always been rock solid, but more recently, the two have seemed to be pretty buddied up. At one point, Kardashian even thanked Hilton for her career. And now, Hilton has opened about about how much Kardashian has helped her — specifically, on her own fertility journey.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times, the heiress revealed that she decided to freeze her eggs — and she went on to say the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was her inspiration. “I had a really amazing conversation with Kim [Kardashian] about it,” Hilton revealed. “She introduced me to her doctor, and I was so inspired by her to actually do it.”

Kardashian has been very open in the past about her personal experience starting a family with her husband, Kanye West. She used frozen embryos to conceive her youngest three children, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. Due to difficulties during her first two pregnancies (with her eldest North and Saint), Kardashian also chose to use a surrogate to carry Chicago and Psalm.

In the interview, Hilton revealed that freezing her eggs gave her “control” over her fertility. “I think every woman should do it because you can really control it and not have that ‘Oh my God, I need to get married,'” said the heiress. Hilton currently DJs in Ibiza, but she expressed an interest in stopping her appearances in order to focus on starting a family.

“Egg-freezing was considered ‘experimental’ until the American Society for Reproductive Medicine removed that label in 2013,” Caitlin Dunne, MD, a fertility specialist based in Vancouver previously told Refinery29. “Since then, women have become a lot more aware, which is really the key goal.”

Dr. Dunne says egg-freezing procedures have gone up 180% between 2017 and 2018, something that might be at least partially due to celebrities, such as Hilton and Kardashian, being open about their own experiences with the technique.

As far as when Hilton says she’s ready to start a family, she’s not so sure — but when she does, she’s hoping for a little girl first.

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It’s Virgo season, baby. From August 22 to September 22, the sun will be in the loyal and practical sign of the maiden — something that might be a welcoming change from the fiery and intense Leo season that just passed. “During this time, we’ll try to put logic first and embrace our analytical approach to problem solving,” astrologer Lisa Stardust tells Refinery29.

Virgo season is usually a pretty chill time in the astrological calendar. But it’s 2020, and nothing is as it should be. So this year, Virgo season is set to be intense, due to many powerful planetary transits that will happen during this period, according to Narayana Montúfar, senior astrologer at Astrology.com.

“For starters, Mars in Aries will square Saturn in Capricorn, meaning that the confrontations with the government and the police will escalate in the next couple of weeks,” she explains. “Later on, Mars will begin its much-dreaded retrograde, which will slow everything down for about two months. When the planet of action sleeps, productivity takes a hit — and we will all be feeling it.”

Our fight for equality and social justice has been going steady since it picked up the pace in June due to the outrage caused by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery. These upcoming transits may make us feel like our drive has pulled a disappearing act. But the passion and dedication behind our actions are what will keep propelling us forward. Continue fighting for what’s right. You may feel a lack of motivation or purpose, but if you push on and stick with the actions you’ve been taking the past few months, you’ll find your drive again — and you’ll be happier for it.

Another caveat, according to Stardust, is that Neptune and the Nodes of Destiny will create a Grand Cross with the Virgo sun on September 16. Need a translation? She says that this “occurs when there are two squares and two oppositions that intersect with each other in the cosmos.” It’ll create some fraught and frantic energy that’ll make us confused and uncertain around our decisions. “This means that we’ll all be drawn towards mysterious events and bizarre relationships, in an effort to make sense of them, which we won’t be able to do,” she explains. “Be careful, because it can lead to heartbreak and financial losses as we may be bamboozled by others — especially politicians!”

Luckily, Virgo season does gift us with a hefty dose of logical, practical energy, and we can use it to get through this time. Remember: Keep your head on your shoulders and allow yourself to take in all of the facts before making brash decisions. You’ll be happy you did.

Montúfar echoes Stardust’s warnings, but says that we can also expect our love lives to feel a shift. “At a personal level, we all must be careful when dealing with our relationships, especially during the beginning of Virgo season,” she says. “Venus, the planet of love, will be forming three challenging squares, with Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn in Capricorn. Combined, these transits can make us overly optimistic, or we can lose control and let manipulative tendencies get the best of us.”

Thankfully, not everything about this Virgo season is negative. “Mercury will be in its home sign Virgo, helping our minds be strong and discerning in a positive way,” Montúfar says. Also, the upcoming Pisces full moon will be a positive lunar energy that’ll be supportive of our hopes and dreams — and Montúfar says it might actually bring along some happy surprises.

“When Mercury is in Virgo, communication is more about facilitating ideas, analyzing information, and presenting facts in a straightforward manner,” Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, tells Refinery29. But while the planet of communication is in this practical sign, Hale warns that it’s easy to become lost in the details, overly critical, or picky. Just something to be aware of, so when you feel yourself fixating you can redirect your attention.

“Virgo is about healing — getting to the core issue, resolving problems, and moving forward in a positive manner, bringing us all closer to true success,” Hale says. At its core, it’s a positive season that lets us grow. The key to making the most of it? Trying to avoid getting bogged down in the details, and focusing on keeping your spirits up.

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