Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)Although overlooking them would be kinder, sometimes problems are too difficult or disturbing to ignore. Gently acknowledge them, either to the person in question—or to those who’d notice if you started putting extra distance between yourself and that person. Glossing over and ignoring what’s actually happening isn’t a viable long-term (or even short-term) solution, but that doesn’t mean it needs to become a huge drama, either. This week, figure out the best (usually kindest, most rational, mature, and low-key) way to bring this up, so that it doesn’t need to be brought up again, ever. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)Just as clouds have silver lining, blessings have dark sides. It might be lucky to have a stunningly beautiful partner, a high-paying job, or to win the lottery, but they can have unguessed downsides. Perhaps the beautiful lover’s a boor, or makes you feel plain and ugly by comparison. The high-paying job may make someone prestigious and rich, but also lonely, stressed, and with no time to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Winning the lottery could destroy someone’s trust in others’ sincerity and damage valuable relationships. You’re lucky. If you think the grass is greener elsewhere, look again; it might not be as good as you think.Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)Mean girls may rule the school in junior high, but there’s no reason they should have any real power in adult life. There are ways and ways to give these unpleasant people what they deserve, and I hope you do, but this time, calmly (and probably privately) explaining how distasteful and unacceptable their childish behavior is may be your best bet. Your goal is to end the bullying without becoming a bully yourself, nor cause undue drama. The correct course here may not be the most emotionally satisfying one, but results matter more than vengeance, right?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)There’s other people’s business and there’s your business, and which is which isn’t usually really a big mystery. Sometimes, though, the question of whether or not you should butt in isn’t altogether clear. Naturally, such a decision mustn’t be made lightly, given the rather dramatic consequences of your involvement (or lack thereof), so carefully weighing both options is important. But neither should you allow your choice to be made by default; since time’s an issue here, you need to make up your mind faster than you’re used to or want to—so get on it.Aries (March 21-April 19)Diving into conflict when you must is healthier than ignoring issues or bottling feelings until they explode. However, even if choosing whether or not to fight your battles isn’t really a question, deciding when and where to do so still should be. There are times when you’re more likely to get the results you hope for, and times when fighting will have less (or more) of a negative impact on people who are tangentially involved (or simply nearby). Consider all those factors before you next decide to fight the good fight, and consider biting your tongue if delaying it will be better for all concerned.Taurus (April 20-May 20)Rocking the boat can be scary. Even if you feel so bogged down, trapped, and frustrated that shaking things up seems to be the only way to move forward, many Bulls are still reluctant to do so. Yes, by making the changes you have in mind, you could capsize the boat you’re in. But that’s simply a risk you must take, because you already know that being stuck exactly here isn’t working for you. If you proceed wisely and communicate well, there’s a possibility of keeping much of what you have, even while opening the door to new horizons—go for that. And if the boat sinks, never mind—you’ve always been a strong swimmer.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)Holidays can be volatile enough without you stirring the pot. Start psyching yourself up to be the calm voice of reason this season. Mentally roleplay stressful scenarios, and how you’re going to choose to react to them instead of getting worked up. If everyone did this, holidays would be a time of pure joy, instead of the general mix of happiness and high drama they can sometimes turn into. Of course, almost no one does, and this year, your mellowing, rational influence could make all the difference between a wonderful holiday and a barely tolerable (or downright miserable) one. Cancer (June 21-July 22)When you’ve suffered for a prolonged period of time, it’s very easy for such misery to become habitual. Even once you escape the source of your distress—be it relationship, job, crappy childhood, or traumatic circumstance—you may discover that you continue to carry a piece of it in your head. That stupid voice continues to berate or threaten you in some manner—often in such a way that you manifest a similar scenario again. Of course, it’s you who’s the source of your own pain now; however, silencing it isn’t necessarily easy. Luckily, though, this week will give you a fantastic opportunity to, if not shut that voice up completely, at least turn down its volume.Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)What’s right is what’s right, and standing up for that is always a good thing. Even (and perhaps especially) if you were on the wrong side of an issue before, fighting for the right side now doesn’t make you a hypocrite—it makes you someone who’s come to their senses. Don’t dread the consequences of finally stepping up. Eagerly anticipate them, because they’ll mostly be positive, pleasurable, and celebratory. Only the stubborn morons still on the wrong side of the line will dare to criticize you for it; the rest of us will admire you. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)When you ask someone to do something, and they follow your instructions, but not in the way you expected, you don’t exactly have a right to get pissed off—at least at them. You can be vexed with yourself for not being specific, but directing annoyance at others for not being mind-readers isn’t just naïve, it’s a source of unnecessary drama. What you intended is of course perfectly obvious to you, and even if you believe it should have been just as clear to them, it wasn’t. Let this be a lesson to you; if you want something done “right,” you should be crystal-clear about just what that means—or, of course, simply do it yourself.Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)For years, I had trouble sharing what was going on in my life; if things were going great, I didn’t want to talk about them too much, out of superstitious fear that I’d jinx them. And if I was at a low point, I didn’t feel like it was much fun to share that or make people feel burdened by my troubles. At some point, I realized that both attitudes are actually a bit selfish, and that people mostly want to share both good times and bad—ideally, in balance. That balance, of course, is your forte. Since that strength will serve you so well this week, celebrate and exercise it!Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)You’re a big believer in letting people make their own mistakes, but when the consequences will result in others’ suffering, you must intervene. Figuring things out on your own, and screwing up along the way, is a huge part of life, but occasionally someone wiser gets to step in and teach the lesson in a kinder way, with fewer awful repercussions. This time you get to play that wise teacher. Sure, your lesson might not be as “effective” as the one life would’ve taught, but it should still do the trick, and spare more than one person needless pain and suffering. That’s reason enough to step up.sign.language.astrology@gmail.com