Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

The superficial can matter. However, it shouldn’t outweigh deeper concerns; if you’re letting someone’s unibrow or love handles get in the way of your connection to them, you’re simply being too shallow. That doesn’t mean that you need to immediately love those imperfections, though. Perhaps over time you’ll learn to adore them, or perhaps they simply need to be corrected (an hour with the tweezers or a casual gym habit should do the trick). Appropriate responses to something you’re not crazy about: Ignore it or embrace it. Rejecting someone over it would be shamefully inappropriate, though—so don’t.

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Don’t drop hints. They’ll fall on deaf ears and get swept under the rug. Now is not the time for subtlety. Be bold and direct without being hostile or defensive; simply state the reality of the situation and ask for what you need. This isn’t something that necessarily comes naturally to you, but luckily you have some excellent examples of how to approach situations this way, in the form of exceptionally bold and forthright friends. Look to these inspiring companions and emulate the best of what they’ve got to offer. I’m pretty sure you’ll be pleased by the results.

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

It’s a small world, and about to get a little smaller. To some extent, you like to allow a bit of separation between different aspects of your life. Occasionally, however, they’re bound to collide, and you’ll end up socializing with people from the office, fooling around with someone from church, or anonymously cybering with your second cousin. Try not to be too embarrassed or freaked when these juxtapositions happen. Embrace it, own it, laugh about it—whatever works. But denying it, hiding it, or running away wouldn’t help you much—so avoid those reactions whenever possible.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Compromise is not your strong suit. You’re about as stubborn as they get, and this is further compounded by your tastes; often, compromises are watered-down versions of situations, which have lost anything that might have once compelled you. You’re drawn to the dramatic, passionate, and intense, and the middle ground rarely has any of these qualities. However, please recognize that sometimes you need to go there anyway. In the big picture, backing down once in a while will ultimately lead to more of the excitement you crave. This, my dear, is one of those times—so in the name of the intensity you desire, chill out and bend for once.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

I tend to think “Better late than never,” but someone is likely to advise you the opposite this week: Better never than late. Did you miss your window of opportunity? Somebody thinks so, but that doesn’t necessarily make it so. It’s true, you let the best moment pass you by, either through bad luck or a simple loss of nerve. It might also be true that no matter what you try now, it won’t work. However, even if that’s the case, you have nothing to lose by giving it a go; at the very least, it’ll be good practice at jumping into action, so that the next time a golden window of opportunity presents itself, you won’t miss it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Giving someone tips on how to be a better lover is a touchy subject. However, as awkward as such a conversation might be, it’s still certainly preferable to cheating on them to get the sex you want, dumping them, or just miserably resenting them. This isn’t just about making sure you’re satisfied—it’s about solidifying and deepening a connection. It may not even be about sex (I just used that as the most obvious and delicate example), but this week is about open and honest communication, and offering constructive criticism in a way that’s loving, gentle, and (relatively) easy to hear. Of course, if you get some of your own medicine thrown back at you, you’d better gracefully take it.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Pointing out to someone how badly they’re mishandling a situation is pretty unlikely to help matters. Chances are they already know, and your intervention will just put them on the defensive and possibly escalate the negative aspects of the scenario. Your job is to offer them information and tools on how to better cope with the circumstances before them, in a way they’ll be receptive to. This is no easy task, I know—however, I hope that you’ll at least try to rise to the challenge. Putting yourself in their shoes might be hard (after all, you’d never botch things this badly); nevertheless, it’s your first step.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

Demanding that everyone else make things easier for you is not the way to go this week. We all have burdens to bear, and it’s not fair to force others to carry the bulk of yours for you. It’s OK to occasionally ask for help, but don’t try to change a whole situation just to accommodate your special needs. Sometimes it’s OK to lean on your friends. Sometimes not standing on your own two feet is simply being lazy. Let the situation be exactly what it wants to be, and navigate your own way through it—by yourself.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

It’s one thing to not let others “cramp your style,” and quite another to blatantly ignore well-meant feedback. Of course you must consider the source of the criticism, and take all of it with a grain of salt—but you should still take it on board. Aries often are too receptive to the opinions of others; however, occasionally you can be stubbornly blind to the reality checks your benevolent friends try to give you. Keep dreaming with your head in the clouds, by all means—but if someone you trust tries to tug you back to earth, let them help you plant your feet on solid ground.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Yes, people lie, all the time. However, that doesn’t mean you need to become chronically suspicious. A hearty dose of skepticism is certainly in order in your day-to-day dealings, but be careful that it doesn’t cross the line into outright paranoia. Humans are frequently untruthful and deceptive, it’s true—but most of the time they’re actually mostly honest, simply because it’s easier and feels better. Practice more trust this week. If you get burned, you get burned. You’ll find, once you’ve let go of the awful burden of trying to always protect yourself, you won’t mind a little scorch here and there.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Just because you have a special fondness for blue eyes does not mean all your lovers must have blue eyes—of course! However, while your rational mind accepts things like this, part of you still tends to dismiss people who don’t fit some superficial ideal you subconsciously desire. You need to look deeper and be more flexible. That doesn’t mean you must “love the one you’re with,” but you ought to at least try. Almost no one ends up with their pre-imagined ideal mate. In fact, most happy couples are relatively surprised at whom they ended up with. Allow for a similar surprise, won’t you?

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Never underestimate the power of the new when it comes to matters of love, and especially lust. We all crave newness at times; even if we inevitably return to the comfort, safety, and wonder of the beloved familiar, anyone honest has to admit that they are often drawn to the unfamiliar, unknown, and exotic. Surprises are sexy. Use this natural human tendency to deepen your own intimacies this week. You, after all, are full of surprises—this week would be a brilliant time to unveil another one, and celebrate a heretofore unrevealed facet of yourself.