Here is your September 2023 Horoscope

Mercury may be in retrograde this September but that is not going to change the fact that this Virgo season will be filled with exciting opportunities. Moreover, as Venus retrograde ends on September 4, you can also expect to see your love life take a better turn. Read your September 2023 horoscope to know what this Virgo season has in store for your star sign.

VIRGO (23 August – 22 September)

Born under the Virgo star sign, you are great at thinking with practicality and logic. While this has made you appear less compassionate around others, this September, some incidents will change the way people perceive you. They will begin to appreciate your thought process and even ask for your opinions and actually take them seriously.

While this sudden change, especially from your partner, may confuse you at the beginning, you should try not to overthink and go with the flow. Your needless suspicions can only have a negative impact but accepting them could benefit your relationship. So, though it may be in your nature to think critically, it is best to set aside that characteristic of yours, at least for the time being.

LIBRA (23 September – 22 October)

While your past self might have felt discouraged by the many hurdles you have to overcome to taste victory, you are more mature now, so you understand that success does not come easily. This month, you will find happiness in knowing that you have put in your best efforts in the things you do. (Libra of the Month: Atthaphan Phunsawat, Thai Actor, 4 October 1993)

SCORPIO (23 October – 21 November)

September could turn out to be the most exciting month for you, as you will find yourself involved in projects that you are highly passionate about. In fact, a certain person may be amazed by your expertise and give you an opportunity to advance in your career. If it feels right, just go for it, Scorpio. (Scorpio of the Month: Ryan Gosling, Canadian Actor, 12 November 1980)

Sagittarius (22 November – 21 December)

You are feeling a sense of despair but now is the time to stay optimistic, Sagittarius. Life can be more exciting for you if you learn to pay attention to the new beginnings in life rather than pondering over what has ended. September is the right time for you to unwind and focus on your health and personal life before you become busy. (Sagittarius of the month: Sebastian Croft, British Actor, 16 December 16)

CAPRICORN (22 December – 19 January)

Given the planetary alignment this month, you will find September to be less exciting but you may not be very concerned about feeling bored on some days. Your priorities will completely lie in knowing that you have passed each month without any troubles and that you were not involved in any minor or major arguments. (Capricorn of the Month: Kim Taehyung, South Korean Idol, 30 December 1995)

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)

You will come across a couple of hurdles that would initially discourage you from continuing to work towards your goals. Do not let those minor troubles stop you from focusing on your aspirations because when you see the bigger picture, these recent obstacles will have actually taught you some valuable lessons. (Aquarius of the Month: Tom Hiddleston, British Actor, 9 February 1981)

PISCES (19 February – 20 March)

Communication is going to be the most vital thing for you, Pisces. Whether it is at work or at home, reminding yourself and letting the people around you know what your true feelings are, will help you and the people around you to resolve issues. September brings you the opportunity to fix any past misunderstandings. (Pisces of the Month: Emily Blunt, British Actress, 23 February 1983)

ARIES (21 March – 19 April)

You may feel like there is something holding you back, not allowing you to go ahead and do the things you planned. Such intuitions are mostly just in your thoughts. Learn to put your self-confidence in the forefront and it will be easy for you to see significant progress in your life, but try not to get overconfident because that might just work negatively for you. (Aries of the Month: Jim Parsons, American Actor, 24 March 1973)

TAURUS (20 April – 20 May)

Now is the right time to look at events from this year and reevaluate your past which may give you an awakening that will encourage you to look forward to a better future. If you have been procrastinating certain discussions to avoid conflicts, September will make it easy to have such difficult conversations. (Taurus of the Month: Andria Tayeh, Jordanian Model, 9 May 2001)

GEMINI (21 May – 20 June)

Previously, you might have reclined from chatting with strangers in fear of being judged or coming off as unlikable. But, this month, you will let go of that shyness and find yourself networking with new people and focusing on growing your career. Besides, you do know how to talk in a way that impresses everyone. (Gemini of the Month: Troye Sivan, South African Singer, 5 June 1995)

CANCER (21 June – 22 July)

In the last couple of weeks, you were probably focusing on all the things that are missing from your life and that has only made you feel low. Fortunately, your stars are pushing you to be more optimistic and look at all the simple yet great things that you have overlooked recently. Sometimes, bliss comes from within you, Cancer. (Cancer of the Month: Camila Queiroz, Brazilian Actress, 27 June 1993)

Leo (23 July – 22 August)

September may feel more stressful than you expected it to be, so planning out in advance and following a strict schedule will be both necessary and beneficial for you, Leo. Your proper time management may even make the last week of September much more relaxed and raise your desire to go on a weekend trip to a new destination. (Leo of the Month: Dulquer Salmaan, Indian actor, 28 July 1983)

Here is your August 2023 Horoscope

August is quite a special month in astrology as the month brings not one but two blue moons which can have a unique effect on each zodiac sign. Scroll down to read your August 2023 horoscope to learn what this month has in store for you.

Leo (23 Jul – 22 Aug)

Individuals born under the Leo zodiac sign are natural leaders who attract attention with their flamboyant presence. This August, you may be inclined to make changes in a specific matter that affects you and those in your proximity. Do not hesitate to take the first steps, even if no one has taken any action in the past. Your initiative can inspire others to follow your lead, and the ultimate result will provide a sense of relief.

Fortunately, you have a supportive partner by your side to help you on this journey. Remember that it’s normal for them to expect the same support, even if they don’t ask for it. With this mutual understanding, your relationship can continue to thrive and maybe even improve.

VIRGO (23 August – 22 September)

You are having second thoughts about the people around you, especially because you feel they don’t encourage you as you do for them. You may be inclined to hang out with new people but keep in mind, it is better not to have high expectations from others. (Virgo of the Month: Zendaya, American Actress, 1 September 1996)

LIBRA (23 September – 22 October)

You have a certain charm to you that attracts new people leading to new opportunities too. This August, your amicable personality will have people wanting to collaborate with you and if it interests you, you can look forward to the success of these projects. (Libra of the Month: Thanawat Rattanakitpaisarn, Thai Actor, 13 October 1998)

Also Read: The most anticipated movies released this August

SCORPIO (23 October – 21 November)

Though you may not be ready for it, the universe calls you to make certain decisions. With both your options being equally pleasing, you are worried about the loss that comes with not choosing the other. It is time to focus on what would make you happier so pick the one close to your heart. (Scorpio of the Month: Björk, Icelandic singer-songwriter, 21 November 1965)

SAGITTARIUS (22 November – 21 December)

When you rethink why you made some choices in life, you would realise that you are onto something productive and though you may not see its outcomes immediately, you will surely one day. Don’t let this dull phase in your life make you feel agitated and discouraged from working towards your goals. (Sagittarius: Jung Wooyoung, South Korean Singer, 26 November 1999)

CAPRICORN (22 December – 19 January)

You are actually your strictest critic, Capricorn. Some incidents in August may have you thinking that you are not showing your full potential but it is better not to be very hard on yourself and understand that it is essential to prioritise your mental health. (Capricorn of the Month: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Japanese composer, 17 January 1952)

AQUARIUS (20 January – 18 February)

On a positive note, you, things are going to go undisturbed on the career aspect. However, your love life may see a downfall unless you learn to express your love towards your partner and being subtle is just not enough at least for the time being. (Aquarius of the Month: Alexander Glantz, American Singer-songwriter, 23 January 1995)

PISCES (19 February – 20 March)

You have found an environment that is ideal for you to succeed and that has allowed you to work without any worries. While such circumstances have pushed you to work hard, so that you can see victory, you may want to slow down and remember that using all your energy now will leave you hopeless in the future. (Pisces of the Month: Catherine O’Hara, Canadian-American Actress, 4 March 1954)

ARIES (21 March – 19 April)

This month’s planetary position pushes you to have high expectations of yourself and though it may feel daunting at first, it can become your own dose of encouragement once you see that you are more capable than you think you are. Take full advantage of this new-found hope to win big in life. (Aries of the Month: Tristan Tzara, Romanian Poet, 28 April 1896)

TAURUS (20 April – 20 May)

August could feel like the longest month and it will test your patience as you will find yourself waiting for things to happen. Look at it optimistically and all that extra time gives you more room to prepare better and perform better. (Taurus of the Month: Miranda Kerr, Australian Model, 20 April 1983)

GEMINI (21 May – 20 June)

You are feeling like you are stuck in a slump with nothing happening the way you planned. Don’t let this despair stop you from working towards your ambitions. Diverting your mind from any negative thoughts you may have, will benefit you significantly. (Gemini of the Month: Ranganathan Madhavan, Indian Actor, 1 June 1970)

CANCER (21 June – 22 July)

You have discovered your true potential but this turned out to be a double-edged sword for you, Cancer. Now, you are pushing yourself to work even harder and not giving the rest you most certainly need. August could be the right time to take a break and then swing back with full force. (Cancer of the Month: Sofia Vergara, Colombian-American actress, 10 July 1972)

Also Read: Things to do this August in Hong Kong

Plant Parenthood Made Simple: Apps for Keeping Your Plants Healthy

Plants not only drastically elevate the aesthetics of your interior decoration, but they also come with many other advantages such as better air quality and reduced stress levels, anxiety and fatigue. If you decide to do some home gardening and grow some herbs or flowering plants, our selection of plant apps will help you to take care of your greeneries even if it is your first time doing it.

Blossom

Catered to both experienced gardeners and newbies, Blossom holds a Webby award for being one of the best apps for taking care of plants. It is programmed to help you through every step of growing your plant. It includes features such as setting reminders for watering your plants based on the size of the pot and the weather and identifying any disease your plant may have and providing tips to nurse them. However, if you will need more assistance, the app even has botanical experts who are online day and night to assist you.

For those curious minds who would like to learn more about their plants or the ones growing in their neighbourhood, Blossom knows about 12 thousand plant species so all you need to do is click some pictures and the app will use its artificial intelligence technology to tell you everything you will need to know about the plant.

Download on ios or Android.
Price: HK$29.90/month

Plantin

Herbs, shrubs, succulents, flowers or whichever type of plant you own or would like to learn about, you can undoubtedly rely on this app called Plantin which literally has a database consisting of information about more than 16 thousand plants. With such wide data, this app can effortlessly aid with taking care of both healthy plants and dying ones which will need extra care and attention.

Plantin’s main goal is to make gardening more fun and for this, the app is built in a manner that makes plant parenting easy for everyone. All you need to do is scan your plant and the app will let you know the ideal environmental conditions required for it to grow well. It focuses on factors like sunlight, humidity, temperature and more. Simultaneously, plant parents can also communicate with other botanical enthusiasts to share their gardening journey.

Download on ios or Android.
Price: HK$778

Gardenia

Gardenia is an app that is most suited for house plants like herbs and vegetables you would typically grow on your terrace or balcony. Once you let the app know which plant you own in your garden, it will give you tailored information on the right portion of water, the proper fertilisers and pesticides and even the perfect placement for your potted plants so that it is exposed to the correct amount of sunlight.

Whether you have one plant or more, the app has an inbuilt tracker which allows you to set alarms in order to care for them individually. In addition to all this, Gardenia also pays attention to the daily weather and other environmental conditions of your surroundings so that the guidance provided by the app is more tailored and accurate.

Download on ios or Android.
Price: Free

PlantSnap

With an aim to get the younger generations interested in gardening, PlantSnap is an app that has collaborated with Snapchat so that you can record and share your gardening journey with your friends using cool snaps. On top of that, PantSnap has one of the largest collections of plants in its database with the app being able to recognise more than 600 thousand plants while also translating the details into nearly 40 languages thus making the app user-friendly for more people.

However, PlantSnap is limited to only helping with the identification and cannot actually help you with taking care of the plants. But, given that the app can apparently identify 90 per cent of the species around the world, this could be a go-to source if the other apps don’t have information about your plant in them.

Download on ios or Android.
Price: Free

Everything You Should Know About Quiet Luxury – The Rules Of This Fashion Trend

Gwyneth Paltrow’s courtroom fashion during her recent eight-day trial or some super-wealthy men like Mark Zuckerberg and Simon Cowell who are mostly spotted wearing outfits that look super casual – people associate their fashion to high-end brands simply because it is them who are wearing it and as you guessed it, all their attires are branded.

The Meta owner’s choice of clothing for instance includes a simple-looking grey T-shirt which is actually a Brunello Cuccinelli estimated to be about HK$2500. The X-Factor judge’s laid-back white or black T-Shirts are Armani. Likewise, if it does not look obvious to the unfamiliar eyes, the wellness icon and Goop founder was decked in Celine, The Row, Prada, Ray-Bans, Foundrae, Gucci and other luxury brands during her appearances in the courtroom.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by No Glitter Before Noon ✨ (@noglitterbeforenoon)

These simple-yet-luxurious styles, which resemble the ‘money talks, wealth whispers’ phenomenon, are what is gaining traction in 2023 and are referred to as quiet luxury or as social media platforms have popularised it – old money aesthetics. So, what exactly is quiet luxury?

Quiet luxury is a fashion trend that focuses on dressing simply and sophisticatedly. It follows the minimalist approach while sticking to investment pieces usually falling under the colour palette like neutrals such as black, white, grey, beige, olive green, caramel and more that allow for endless possibilities of outfit combinations to wear. In other words, it does not boast monograms or logos that make it very apparent that they were purchased from a high-end brand.

Instead, quiet luxury prioritises the quality of the clothing and sticks to closet essentials that will be in vogue forever. The easiest example has to be something like a white T-shirt. Quiet luxury encourages you to buy one that is of great quality and that you can wear comfortably for many years to come without worrying about its wear and tear. Precisely, it is also a smart and sustainable way of shopping because by opting for clothes of better quality, you are not inclined to do an annual purchase of your basics. You are cutting down on fashion waste.

Another important rule of Quiet luxury is that the clothes are always very neat, ironed and well-tailored because if you agree or not, quiet luxury is definingly the fashion of the ultra-rich so the trend is also an extension of their lifestyle. These are people who are driven in their cars thus never having to worry about their shirts or blouse getting crinkled while taking public transport and the material itself is less prone to wrinkles. They also have their own personal tailors who will alter anything they buy to fit them perfectly. As a result, these people’s styles always look prim and proper and that is the aesthetic Quiet Luxury is going for.