Cancer  (June 21-July 22)

It’s not your job to make sure someone else sticks to their own rules and standards (unless of course someone’s actually paying you to do just that). Even the gentlest reminder that they may be straying off the course they’ve set for themselves will probably not be particularly appreciated; chances are they already know. This is one of those scenarios where you’re best off simply minding your own business, even if that means allowing someone else—perhaps someone you really care about—to make a mistake. Naturally, you should also feel no obligation to clean up the mess they make, either. Let them do that. How else will they learn?

Leo  (July 23-Aug. 22)

Home is wherever you decide it is. If you’re convinced it’s back where you grew up, you’ll never feel truly rooted in your new place. What does “home” mean to you? Why not see if you can inject at least some of those qualities into your current situation, even if it’s temporary? If you’re reluctant, because you’re scared it’ll rob the old place of some of its specialness, try to remember that that place actually only exists in your mind; it’s changed while you were gone. You’ve heard the phrase “You can never go home again.” But if you make home where you are, it’ll be as if you never left.

Virgo  (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Violence often begets violence. Frequently when people are cruel or abusive, it’s because they’ve been victimized themselves. That certainly doesn’t mean they should be let off the hook, of course; conscious people have free will and the ability to make their own choices. However, pure recrimination will probably not be particularly effective in ending the cycle. Mixing consequences with compassion and a chance at redemption, however, would be better. Yes, it may prove fruitless, but at least has the chance of garnering productive results. And that’s all you’re obligated to provide, as a fellow human being: a chance.Libra  (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You learned long ago that expecting others to live up to your standards (of hygiene, morality, creativity, or tidiness) would almost always lead to disappointment. However, in this case, you have a mandate to at least request that they try. Don’t take that as permission to start haranguing everyone who isn’t meeting your expectations, but in this one case, go for it. The situation calls for a little nagging and sermonizing. That may not be a fun job, but someone’s got to do it, and guess what: You’re it. It’s for their own good—and your own serenity.Scorpio  (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

One thing I love about you Scorpios—you’re not afraid to own your opinions. If you think someone’s moronic, you don’t chastise yourself like one of those oversensitive Pisceans (“Oh, that’s so mean; I shouldn’t think that!”). I hope you never lose your ability to clearly understand and express your own ideas about the world, even if they’re harsh or critical, without becoming muddled in self-censorship or self-delusion. However, that doesn’t mean you should always express those opinions out loud or in mixed company, especially this week. By all means have them—but keep them to yourself.Sagittarius  (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

The first time you let yourself fart in front of a lover is, comically enough, a reasonably significant indication of how comfortable and intimate you two are. Intimacy isn’t all whispered sweet nothings and amazing sex. Some of it is about shouldering each other’s problems—and putting up with each other’s gas, bad breath, or inability to cap the toothpaste. You’re usually too laid-back to fixate on these petty details, but one is likely to nag at you this week. Make a conscious effort to let it go. Remember, this isn’t a deliberate attempt to annoy you; it’s actually just a sign of how close and relaxed the pair of you have become.Capricorn  (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

It may seem like it’s time to go back to the drawing board, but that’s not the case. While some of the progress you made (in the wrong direction, unfortunately) must be scrapped, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Much can be salvaged here. What can you repurpose, alter, and make over to move forward with? Take a day or two before you act, then step in with the aim of keeping as much as possible without becoming too attached to any particular outcome besides coming through this with as little waste and suffering as possible. If you’re resourceful and flexible enough, you’ll end up with something better than you’d hoped.Aquarius  (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You’re probably as annoyed and astonished as I am about how quick many Americans are to pursue lawsuits over the most ridiculous, petty things. However, while many such situations are mostly imagined (or at least magnified and exaggerated) wrongs, when you are truly mistreated, you must do what you can to fight and correct the situation, even if it’s difficult or inconvenient. This may be one of those times. Hopefully things won’t get to the point of requiring a lawyer, but standing up for what you believe in right now isn’t something you’ll regret later on. Please do it.Pisces  (Feb. 19-March 20)

How surprising that you, arguably the most sensitive and compassionate of the zodiac signs, might feel uncomfortable about another person’s feelings. Because you don’t understand where they’re coming from, you probably won’t have a clue how to respond. Don’t freak out! You can’t go wrong with simply being compassionate or sympathetic. Also, you don’t necessarily need to respond right then and there. Simply say “I need a moment to think about this; please excuse me,” and return when you know better what to say or do (get some advice if you have to). Don’t use that as an excuse to ignore the situation indefinitely, though—just to minimize the amount of words you might have to eat later.

Aries  (March 21-April 19)

One thing I love about you Rams is your willingness to try virtually anything that looks fun or interesting, without regard for whether or not you might actually be good at it. Some signs won’t attempt anything new unless they’re guaranteed to be successful at it. Boring! Yeah, some of the situations you’ve leapt blindly into it have turned out to be unmitigated disasters—but certainly entertaining, educational, and exciting ones! Continue to ignore the overcautious counsel of your staid astrological neighbors. Don’t try to unlearn this thrilling quality. It’s part of what makes you you, and great.Taurus  (April 20-May 20)

Friendships end, and sometimes there’s nothing you can do about it. Occasionally it doesn’t even have anything to do with you. However, as a friend, you do have an obligation to at least try to figure out what’s happened and repair the damage, if at all possible. Step up and make a meaningful gesture or three, even if you feel as if things may have already gone on too long. Be the bigger person here, and make compassion and forgiveness your top priorities (rather than being miffed about what’s happened), and try to fix this bridge before it burns down completely.Gemini  (May 21-June 20)

Take a step back from the situation. Some scenarios (having an extramarital affair, for instance) are almost impossible to see clearly when you’re in the middle of them. Your own desires encourage rationalizations and illusions that cloud the issue. That’s not to say your most prudish friend is right about your circumstances, either—just that you’re probably not taking the long view. Try to picture yourself looking back on this time in 20 years, and guess what you’ll think about it. Will this turn out to be a mistake you’ll regret? If so, nip it in the bud now, to minimize the misery later.sign.language.astrology@gmail.com