Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Beware of excess this week. This isn’t a warning I often have to give to a Libra, of all people, but it’s actually necessary at the moment. Whether your particular poison takes the form of alcohol, sex, or (very likely) fat and sugar, the likelihood that you’ll overindulge is quite high right now. It may seem, from your perspective, like just an occasional treat or extravagance, but in this case, it’s potentially relationship- or job-threatening. I know I frequently encourage you Librans to explore extremes, but this week your usual instincts should prevail: The middle path is indeed the best one.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed with self-doubt regarding certain questionable decisions you’ve made in the past. It’s good to question yourself; that’s a habit I hope you never give up. But taking it to obsessive extremes is never healthy. Luckily, this week you have a couple guardian angels who’ll be there—if you let them—to help reassure you that you’ve made the right choice, or set you on the correct path if you’ve screwed up. All you have to do is resist your talent for introspection long enough to notice and listen to these helpful companions.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

I sure hope neither of us ever decides that we’ve actually “seen it all.” Besides the fact that we’d be sadly deluding ourselves, our joie de vivre would be severely (perhaps catastrophically) diminished. We both crave surprises and new experiences. Every once in a while I guess you probably also get bored with your circumstances, but can’t quite rouse your imagination enough to figure out where or how to indulge your craving for exploration and expansion. Luckily, this week holds the cure to that particular ailment. Keep your eyes peeled; you’re likely to see so many doors open (each revealing a glimpse into many possible futures) that exploring them will keep you busy for years to come.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Creation is the key. I’m obsessed with it. I like making things. I’ve tried knitting, painting, sewing, sculpting, designing Web pages, baking, throwing pottery, building furniture, drawing, printmaking, quilting, designing jewelry, making clothing, and of course, writing. Some of these things I suck at; others less so. But that doesn’t matter; what matters is that I’ve made something new and enjoyed it all. Too much of your life is abstract at the moment. You need to use your hands to create something. Forget whether you’re any “good” or not; there’ll always be someone “better” than you, anyway. Just make something new. It’s the cure for what ails you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

You’re a confused bee, trapped indoors. You’re buzzing against the glass, not comprehending why you can’t get to that gorgeous expanse of blue sky right in front of you. Meanwhile, as if that weren’t enough, you have to dodge potentially deadly slaps with a rolled-up magazine. What you don’t know is that someone’s opened the window right next to the one you’re trapped behind, and their attempts to shoo you toward it are meant to help you, not compound your misery. Let yourself be swatted in the right direction, so you can zip out into the open and finally escape the trap that could otherwise be your doom.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

You’ve been taxiing down the runway for years, but haven’t been able to build up enough speed to get airborne. Now, just ahead of you, is a long, straight expanse of smooth concrete. Here’s your chance to get aloft for the first time in ages. Take advantage of it! Increase your momentum, immediately. If you hit full speed right now, you’ll be in the air long before the runway ends, but the thing’s not endless. If you wait at all to achieve takeoff velocity, you’ll miss this window of opportunity. I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll have your next chance to soar, but I can tell you this: It’s not soon.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

Our pasts are just stories we tell ourselves, not “reality.” When two people describe the same event, their accounts can differ dramatically, depending on their perspectives. You’ve let your past limit you, but it’s really about the stories you’re telling yourself about it, not what “really” happened. You’ve unconsciously distorted your own perception of it, actually robbing yourself of power. You have a chance this week to “rewrite” history; that is, reconsider your perception of it. What standards should you use when developing a new interpretation of your personal story? Not necessarily the ones that make you “look good,” whatever that means. Simply make it into the best story possible. What’s that mean? Why, the one that enables your brightest future, of course.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Sometimes it’s helpful to think of yourself as a soul simply clothed, for the moment, in a body. Then you can separate your idea of yourself from whatever’s happening to your body and address it in a more rational, dispassionate way. For example, an emotional reaction to being overweight might involve miserable self-deprivation and recrimination, whereas a more balanced one would coordinate a sustainably edited diet with increased exercise. Your knee-jerk flip-outs to your circumstances aren’t helping anyone. Take a step back from the situation to assess it. In this case, that might mean actually taking a step back from yourself.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Your scars don’t make you ugly, not to anyone who’s lived. To me, scars usually make people more beautiful. I trust that they’re more likely to be compassionate regarding my own wounds and tender places. Don’t be embarrassed about the pain you’ve suffered. It’s a part of who you are—in fact, you wouldn’t be that person without having endured hardship, nor would you be able to appreciate the joyful times so well if you’d never experienced misery. You’ve done your best to cover over and hide your scars, but I think that’s the wrong strategy, especially right now. Be honest about them. It’ll make you feel good, at least. And at best, it’ll make someone else feel a lot better about you.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

This week’s about balance. The new moon in Libra is your chance to make subtle but significant changes to your life that will enable more stability and flexibility. You’ve resisted moderation of your emotions because in some corner of your brain their extremity helps you feel alive. Ironically, however, more balance means more intensity, not less. What you’re giving up is being helplessly at the mercy of your out-of-control emotions, which means you need no longer fear them. Since they’ll no longer (or at least less often) knock you on your back, you can embrace them in ways you never have. In other words, adopt the middle path this time; it’ll make your life more vivid and rich, not less.

Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

Usually you’re one of “the cool kids,” but occasionally you find yourself on the outside of the inner circle of some group of people you find compelling. I know how awful that can make you feel, especially because you, at least, know you really belong among them, even if they haven’t figured it out yet. This week, luckily, you have a good chance of catching their collective eye and revealing just what they’ve been missing out on. Ironically, once you’re inside the clique, you might realize you don’t actually belong there at all. Shit happens. I guess this falls under the category of “what you see is not always what you get.”

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

A Virgo acquaintance recently moved into a new apartment. Once there, he decided the place had a “bad feeling” about it, and tried everything to rid the apartment of its negative vibe. He burned sage, had a New Age friend bless the space with her pouch full of crystals, tried feng shui, and did everything short of calling in a voodoo priestess. It never once occurred to him that the feeling might be coming from inside him, instead of from the rooms he inhabited. I don’t know you. But I ask you to consider the possibility that your problems are internal, not external. Just asking yourself the question, I guarantee, will bring you at least a little closer to resolving them.