Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

It’s time to come clean. Why? First off, you’re terrible at keeping certain secrets—abysmally, embarrassingly, catastrophically bad. Anyone with half a clue can read you like a book—the kind you know the end of by page two. Secondly, this is not the kind of secret that keeps well in any case. Even a gifted liar would have problems not getting found out. Don’t make the mistake of trying to pull off a scam—no matter how well-intentioned—that will crash and burn faster than the Hindenburg. Spill your guts before they’re spilled for you; that’s bound to get a lot messier than doing it yourself.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

I once had a teacher who would practically drench herself with perfume. Clouds of sweet stink would precede her arrival, and a nauseating, headache-inducing miasma of suffocating floral scent would linger after her departure. Naturally she donned this scent in order to be more attractive, never guessing it might have exactly the opposite effect. Something you’re doing is similar—instead of making you sexier or more appealing, as you intend, it’s driving people away. Once you figure out precisely what it is you’re doing wrong (you might need to enlist the aid of others; like my teacher, your nose may be inured to the noxious fumes of your efforts), it shouldn’t be too hard to rid yourself of the bad habit—about as easy as throwing a perfume bottle straight into the trash.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

Skilled firefighters sometimes fight forest fires with fire. In order to preserve something an out-of-control blaze might otherwise consume, they burn a swath of land between the fire and whatever they hope to save, leaving the blaze no way to leap the gap. This is something like the strategy you should probably employ when facing an emotionally destructive force. Some stuff will be consumed no matter what you do, but if you’re smart, farsighted, and quick, you may yet save most of what’s valuable to you by sacrificing just a few things you care about. There’s no time to waste, though. The smoke is already on the horizon. Get to work.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Pride has frequently been your Achilles’ heel. That’s why the humbling recent events are probably good for your soul. You’re great, but you’ve probably realized (again) that not everyone is always going to appreciate that. While you should have an easier time grasping and accepting such a lesson than, say, those wild, self-centered Aries or noble Leos, it doesn’t mean it will actually be easy, especially since the person who is less than impressed is someone you’d actually like to please very much. Unfortunately, trying harder to get their praise and attention is likely only to have the opposite effect, so if I were you, I wouldn’t bother.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Why is romance so often rife with misconceptions, delusions, and deceptions? Some people are less likely to call someone the more interested in them they are. I’ve met couples who survive only by well-meant deception of each other. And so many infatuations (and even full-blown romances) are fueled by intense, almost mythical, delusions. It’s enough to make me wonder, in my most cynical moments, whether romance is compatible with disclosure, honesty, and the stripping of illusion. I don’t know the answer, but you might—or at least you’ll be closer to it than I am before this month is through.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

If you can’t handle the truth, don’t ask for it. It’s not fair to set someone else up for your freak-out because they gave you exactly what you demanded. Let them lie to you (or withhold facts) if it’ll preserve your peace of mind. That’s better than the needless drama that would unfold if you insisted on full disclosure before you’re truly ready to absorb and react to it in a rational and sensible way. Please just let sleeping dogs lie if you’re only going to beat them unconscious otherwise. We’ll all be happier for it.

Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

For some people, the stinkier a cheese is, the better. Others can tolerate nothing more challenging than a prewrapped slice of American. Luckily, tastes can change, if people are motivated enough. Even if you’re not exactly the flavor someone’s looking for, that doesn’t mean you can’t teach them how great you are. However, there’s only so far this can go—some people will simply never appreciate an aged Camembert, no matter what. Still, attempting to expand someone’s world so that you can be included in it is always the way to go, even if you fall short of that goal sometimes. The alternative is shrinking yourself to fit into the world they’ve already accepted—even if that were more than temporarily possible, we both know that’d be a terrible idea. Don’t even consider it.

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

In this case, a hidden approach might be best. As you confront whatever wall lies between you and your desires, choose your course carefully. It’d be easy for someone to stop you from climbing over it or knocking it down. Therefore, in the manner of a determined prisoner intent on escape, you should do the equivalent of burrowing beneath it. If you do it right, those who aren’t keen on your intentions will have no idea you’re following through with them until you burst victorious from the ground—by which time no one will be able to do anything about it.

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

You may think your window of opportunity has passed. I wonder why. Perhaps it’s because you sat on your hands and watched it go? Now that it’s out of sight, I bet you’re kicking yourself, wishing that you’d had the guts to hop that train. Luckily, I have good news for you: It’s been delayed just around the bend. If you start running now, you should be able to catch up and hop aboard the caboose. Well, what are you waiting for? Don’t tell me you’re going to chicken out twice in a row. Get off your ass and go for what you want while it’s still possible to get it.

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

We all forget things sometimes. No one’s perfect. But when someone repeatedly spaces on something, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that they don’t care all that much about it. That may or not be the case here, but if you’ve committed this gaffe, it’s up to you to prove you do give a shit after all. Just saying you do won’t cut it; actions are required here, not words. It’s time to put out or shut up—either come through the way you said you would, or admit once and for all that it’s never going to happen. Stringing things along further is not only a bad idea, it’s verging on cruel.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

Some people’s pride prevents them from kissing ass. Others won’t balk at a little harmless (and easily forgotten) butt-smooching to get what they want. Which are you? Because your desires can only be achieved by a tiny bit of brown-nosing, you must weigh them against your ego. At the end of the day, which would you rather have? Personally, I think your self-respect is more resilient than you think, and your ego-bruises will be soothed by the sating of your desires. However, you may decide to cling to your unsullied pride instead. Whichever you choose, I suggest letting the other go. Trying to hang onto both will just make you miserable.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Don’t be a bitter, complaining brat when you don’t get your way. It’s hard to blame an untrained dog who wants to go out when he barks unabated for hours. Even an undisciplined child who whines endlessly until she gets her way can be forgiven. You, however, should have the good judgment not to attempt such an annoying strategy when you’re thwarted, and the wisdom to quit long before it gets to the point of making people crazy. You have many more tools at your disposal than just being an annoying pest. Please use them.