Life
Unwrapped: The Astrology Lover’s Gift Guide
The perfect gift is written in the stars
'Tis officially the season for gift-giving. For us, that's a full month (31 days!) in which we'll be providing gift ideas for everyone on your list with our Unwrapped holiday gift guides. So make your holiday shopping a breeze this season, and let us help you find gifts for all the people in your life—and maybe even a spoiled pet or two.
Everything gets complicated when Mercury's in retrograde, including shopping for gifts. Honestly, what's a gift-giver to do when everything's spiraling out of control? Look to the stars for clues, of course! Or, you know, look to us.
So, here you have it. From caffeine fixes and cozy accents to magical dusts and witchy spells, there's something in this astrological gift guide for every sign. Whether you're shopping for a bold Leo or a pensive Sag, this expertly curated list is sure to help you on your gifting quest.
Onward!
ARIES
It’s winter, and what better way to take care of the first fire sign of the zodiac wheel than by giving them a Fire Starter? Look no further than the best on the market. Once the wood stove is crackling, perhaps your Aries would love to light a magical Palo Santo bundle (with agate and herbs) courtesy of Catherine Rising. Or, perhaps, light a spell candle from Brooklyn Brujeria and invoke some self-love and steady power. By the light of all those fires, an Aries might start to think about a fire in the spirit and would find good company in We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-85, A Sourcebook, a beautiful collection that expands upon the Brooklyn Museum’s recent show featuring black women artists like Lorna Simpson and Carrie Mae Weems.
Vargo, Ultimate Fire Starter, $24.95, available at Amazon; Catherine Rising, Upstate Palo Santo Bundle, $18, available at Catherine Rising; Brooklyn Brujeria, Amor la Vela // Chiquita Brujita x Brooklyn Brujeria Nueva Novena Prayer Candle // Love, $10, available at Brooklyn Brujeria; Brooklyn Museum Shop, We Wanted A Revolution Black Radical Women 1965-85 A Sourcebook, from $22.45, available at Brooklyn Museum.
TAURUS
You know what a Taurus loves? Comfort, utility, and reasonable luxury. That’s why there’s no better way to go than with flannel sheets from L.L. Bean. Speaking of the Taurus in their bedroom, here’s a gift any Taurus could use: an alarm clock. But, not just any alarm clock, a Philips Wake Up Light sunrise simulation alarm clock and sunset fade night-light. Make it easier for them, winter is not their season. And, once they’re awake, how about a Blue Bottle Coffee weekender travel kit? It’s a great deal with a beautiful pour over dripper, two enamel tumblers, cozies, filters, travel coffee packs, and a Timbuk2 bag! Ah, it all sounds so useful, doesn’t it? Alright. How about this lovely Taurus trinket plate from Anthropologie? Now you’re set.
L.L. Bean, Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set in Windowpane, $119, available at L.L. Bean, Philips, Wake-Up Light With Colored Sunrise Simulation, $129.99, available at Amazon, Timbuk2 x Blue Bottle Coffee, Weekender Travel Kit, $95, available at Blue Bottle Coffee, Anthropologie, Zodiac Trinket Dish in Taurus, $14, available at Anthropologie.
GEMINI
I don’t mean to be cheesy, but I can’t help myself. I can’t imagine why a Gemini would ever say no to a Gemini Espresso Maker, which I’ve checked out several times at the MoMA store in green (although it’s my duty to tell you that it's cheaper in red). Well, after a Gemini is all jazzed up on espresso, perhaps they’d like to do some exercise in a pair of unique Lukafit leggings? Support small business and brilliant WOC! Alright, but what about Gemini’s changeable nature? Give them a Winky Lux flowery balm to match their mood (and skin tone)! And, I hate to admit I got suckered by Urban Outfitters hipster art but isn’t this Gemini print by Never Made kind of rad?
MoMA Gift Shop, Gemini Espresso Maker, from $24, available at MoMA Gift Shop, Winky Lux, Flower Balm, $14, available at Winky Lux. Lukafit, Limited Edition Self-Care Sister Legging, $44.95, available at Lukafit, Urban Outfitters, Never Made x UO Horoscope Tapestry, $19, available at Urban Outfitters.
CANCER
It’s not the easiest winter season for Cancers this year. Emotions run high and they flow all over our little crabby friends. That’s why they need their beauty sleep. Why not get them the best mask on the market: the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask. Help your sweet Cancer keep an eye on the moon with a luminous hand-pulled moon poster/calendar from A Little Lark and encourage them to keep track of their own ups and downs with LilBlackLamb’s DIY Self Care Tracker (now available in digital). Last but not least, consider how much every Cancer in your life might benefit from a Carson Quick Release Bug Catcher given how hard it is for them to kill anything.
Nidra, Deep Rest Eye Mask, $12.95, available at Amazon, A Little Lark, 2018 Moon Calendar, $48, available at Etsy, LilBlackLamb Prints, Ultimate Self Care Planner, $13.50, available at Etsy, Carson, BugView Quick-Release Bug Catching Tool, $8.19, available at Amazon.
LEO
Leos are summer babies, so they need to be pampered in the winter time and live in an indoor fantasy world. And, while they may act all independent, you can certainly help them along. Start with the big splurge: a flower delivery subscription, try UrbanStems or Flowermuse. They’ll die over it. Don’t have $150 burning in your back pocket? How about a cool AF towel featuring a Monica Kim Garza painting? Yeah, now I’m speaking that “Real-Ass Woman” Leo language. Speaking of real-ass women, consider buying your Leo a poster print from the Who Shot Sports Exhibition at Brooklyn Museum featuring powerful joyful Nigerian women runners. I promise you also won’t go wrong with a silk pillowcase from Slip since we all know when a Leo’s hair is happy, a Leo’s heart is happy. And, if none of these seem quite right, your social media-savvy Leo will love a ticket to February's Simply's New York conference, the industry's biggest networking event during New York Fashion Week.
Urban Stems, Three-Month Flower Subscription Service, $149, available at Urban Stems, Monica Kim Garza, "I dedicate to you" Beach Towel, from $45, available at Monica Kim Garza, Brooklyn Museum Shop, Who Shot Sports Exhibition Poster, from $7.20, available at Brooklyn Museum Shop, Slip, Pure Silk Pillowcase, $79, available at Anthropologie, Simply, Fashion and Beauty Conference Tickets, from $50, available at Simply.
VIRGO
Here’s something I know about Virgos: They want everything to be the best version of what it is. They research products like crazy and are meticulous about quality when they mean to invest. In the spirit of Virgos everywhere, I present to you these offerings, including the truly incomparable in quality Traveler’s Notebook, handmade in Chiangmai with real leather and refillable, fountain pen-friendly MD paper, in a customizable cotton case. You ought also to get them the Tombow dual-brush pen art markers, perfect for the Virgo that needs to write it down right away, both ways. Then there's the Audio Technica Professional Turntable for the Virgo music-perfectionist. And finally, from the best Virgo there ever was, an Amy Winehouse LP, to warm your Virgo up with sultry songs while they organize the living room.
The Traveler's Company, Traveler's Notebook Starter Kit, 46.50, available at Jet Pens, Tombow, Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, $16.25, available at Amazon, Audio-Technica, AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Professional Turntable in Silver, $249, available at Amazon, Amy Winehouse, Back To Black Vinyl, $25, available at Discogs.
LIBRA
Libras are sentimental creatures with a penchant for elegance. For this reason, I’m compelled to present an unusual gift, The Livada Fragrance Vase. This vase concentrates the fragrance of small bouquets and bunches of herbs, releasing it slowly over time or in one large rush—if you want. Another lovely gift—for anybody, really, but especially Libras—is a travel kit from Aesop’s body care kit collection The Enigmatic Mind. I suggest the Sway kit, which is all about “analyzing how we adapt to accommodate those around us, with agreeable formulations for hand and body.” Speaking of enigmatic minds, why not gift your Libra a brilliant book written by a fellow Libra, Abandon Me by Melissa Febos. And, if all else fails, no Libra could resist some lovely citrine studs from RawSpirit.
Livada, Fragrance Vase, $40, available at Livada, Aesop, Sway Kit, $120, available at Aesop, Abandon Me by Melissa Febos, $26, available at IndieBound, RawSpirit, Raw Citrine Studs, $28, available at RawSpirit.
SCORPIO
You might tell me I’m wrong, that I’m going too far, but if you don’t have a Scorpio in your life whom you can buy this Bordelle Bubble Ouvert Wire Bra for, I’m not entirely sure you truly have a Scorpio in your life. That being said, it is true that you might not have over $400 to spend on your Scorpio (so sad, this oatmeal everyday life). Consider then, giving your Scorpio some Sex Dust from Moon Juice, so that they can use magic roots and herbs to get that sacral chakra right, because winter is hard and the night is really long. Introduce your Scorpio to the spirit of fellow Scorpio Georgia O’Keeffe through a collection of letters between Georgia and her partner Alfred called My Faraway One. And, if all else fails, you can never ever go wrong with my president, Rihanna, and her Fenty Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick.
Bordelle, Bubble Ouvert Wire Bra, $384.03, available at Bordelle, Moon Juice, Sex Dust, $38, available at Moon Juice, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, My Faraway One, from $33.96, available at O'Keeffe Museum, Fenty Beauty, Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick, $19, available at Sephora.
SAGITTARIUS
A Sagittarius is a creature on the go, even if the only place they’re going to is a million miles in their mind, and they want to be prepared. That’s why you should consider getting your Sagittarius the best travel mug on the market, the Zojirushi, probably in a zesty green! While your Sag is sipping their hot coffee in the car, they might wind up spitting it out in bouts of laughter while listening to Tiffany Haddish’s (yup, she’s a sag) The Last Black Unicorn on audiobook. But, what about the Sagittarius at home? Look no further than a beautiful backgammon set for your cerebral centaur; they won’t be able to resist such a well-designed challenge. For the risk-taker who loves their risk-taker, might I also propose Butch Femme from Carlen Parfums? I know a Sagittarius who changed her whole scent profile upon discovering it.
Zojirushi, Stainless Steel SM-KHE48GC Mug, $33, available at Amazon, The Last Black Unicorn Audiobook by Tiffany Haddish, from $12.99, available at Amazon, The Company Store, Ridley's Game Room Backgammon, $22, available at The Company Store, Carlen Parfums, Butch Femme, from $105, available at Carlen Parfums.
CAPRICORN
Listen, there’s no doubt in anybody’s mind that Capricorns work hard, and when they crash, they crash all the way down, ‘cause they’ve been running on reserve energy long past when reserves ran out. That’s why it’s on us, the people who love them, to treat them well. Consider signing up your Cappy for a Moon Cycle Bakery Subscription so they can have treats when they need them most. How about covering your resting Cap with a limited-edition Pendleton blanket featuring good ole’ Mickey Mouse? Capricorns like quality and nostalgia! You and I both know that just because a Capricorn has got her feet up doesn’t mean her wheels aren’t turning. Give her ardent mind something worth her time, like Masha Gessen’s National Book Award-winning new book, The Future Is History. And, if you’re in a pinch, you can bet she’ll appreciate Rebecca’s Solnit’s City of Women Poster for a dash of inspiration.
Moon Cycle Bakery, Bakery Box Subscription Service, from $5, available at Moon Cycle Bakery, Pendelton, Disney's Mickey's Salute Blanket, $199, available at Pendelton, The Future Is History by Masha Gessen, $16.80, available at Amazon, Rebecca Solnit, City Of Women poster, $21.95, available at Nonstop Metropolis.
AQUARIUS
Sometimes an Aquarius needs help figuring out what’s going on in the mystical sack of flesh they refer to as their body. That’s why they could really do with some tarot cards. And, I’m sure the Aquarian you know is on top of all the cool new decks out there, but there’s something neat about giving them the Aquarian Tarot, don’t you think? Another gift I’m sure no Aquarian will turn down is a lovely embroidered hoop from YesStitchYes featuring one of Jenny Holzer’s truisms. When Jenny’s truths don’t cut it, consider Aquarian Samantha Irby’s New Year, Same Trash just in time for NYE. And, when the stocking gapes empty, stuff it up with this otherworldly Titanium Quartz soap from WildMedicine.
The Wild Unknown, Aquarian Tarot, $21, available at The Wild Unknown. YesStitchYes, Jenny Holzer Embroidered Hoop Art, available on Etsy, New Year, Same Trash by Samantha Irby, $0.99, available on Amazon, WildMedicine, Titanium Quartz / Tea Tree Soap, $22, available at WildMedicine.
PISCES
Pisces has had a hard year (if not a few hard years), and they need help letting some of that pain go. Help them invoke change with Magic Hour’s "Letting Go" candle. Buy them a new, completely free of past negative vibes, tarot deck like Cristy C. Road’s totally queer Next World Tarot. Encourage your soft-hearted Pisces to take long self-nurturing baths and don’t hesitate to buy them the scarf-wrapped Dreamscape set of bath bombs from LUSH (did you know LUSH quietly funds resistance movements?) Finally, consider this opulent, unnecessary, and yet truly soul-reviving Amethyst Bottle from GLACCE. Ask yourself: why did the Goddess inspire the making of something so beautiful and perfect if not for the purpose of gifting it to a beloved Pisces?
Magic Hour Astrology, Letting Go Handmade Ritual Candle, $30, available at Etsy, Cristy C. Road, Next World Tarot Deck, $12-$50, available at Cristy Road, Lush, Dreamscape Bath Bomb Set, $39.95, available at Lush, GLACCE, Amethyst Glacce Bottle, $84, available at GLACCE.