Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Do you feel the hate? I bet you do, but only because you’re so sensitive to it. The fact is, there are always going to be some people who more or less despise you, no matter what you do. It’s lame that you should get this kind of treatment now, during your birthday season, but try not to fixate on it, if at all possible. You focus way too much as it is on the negative stuff you receive. The truth is, there are many, many more people who are fond of and appreciate you than who spurn you. They should get a corresponding proportion of your attention, don’t you think?

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

I admire your patience. You’re as prone to dramatic outbursts as any fire or water sign, and you certainly understand the kind of passion that produces them. But lately you’ve been remarkably patient and balanced when it comes to planning for, creating, and simply waiting for change. As a result, what you end up with is usually far wiser, more sensible, and more functional than what would have resulted if you’d pushed harder. This week, be careful of that steady, stable progress; don’t risk that slow maturation of plans and shrewd foresight by letting yourself be goaded, encouraged, or tricked into the kind of rashness you’ve worked so hard to avoid.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

Adding spice to something, especially a relationship, involves more than just pouring hot sauce all over it. That can work sometimes, but usually it’ll just make whatever it is you’re trying to eat unpalatable, or at least it’ll lose the subtler flavors that attracted you in the first place. Mostly it’ll just end up tasting like anything else smothered in hot sauce. What’s the point? Be more thoughtful as you try to mix things up. It’s time for a change, but try to make it purely for the better. Losing everything that used to be great in order to create something new would be an awful shame.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Seek difficult but willing partners. Whether you’re collaborating on a creative project, a relationship, or a business venture, the people who are going to challenge you at every turn are the ones you want, even if that feels like a huge hassle. As long as they are willing to see you through to the end of whatever it is, and are inspired to try to create something truly great, it’s desirable—perhaps even vital—that they have in mind a completely different path to get there. The goal should be to end up with a route to your destination that incorporates the best of both your worlds—not a compromise, but a synergy.

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Wear different lenses this week. It might be scary to suddenly totally transform the way you look at familiar people in your life, but it might also be incredibly useful. Can you view your lover purely through the lens of friendship? What would your relationship be like if you weren’t attracted to him or her at all? Can you see an old friend as a potential lover? This isn’t to say that you need to follow through or act on these altered perceptions, necessarily, but you might be surprised at how many interesting (and fruitful) ramifications they reveal, regarding the way you view and live life in general.

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

Where is your famous flexibility now? Lately I’ve seen you make more excuses than anything else. Yes, while it might be easiest for you to work on a creative project in a certain environment, or have a specific kind of discussion at a specific time, the truth is that your ability to manifest these very particular situations is limited right now. That leaves you with two options: Make stuff happen in the spaces and times available to you, no matter how far from ideal they are; or simply do nothing (except make excuses about why you’re doing nothing). To me, that choice is a no-brainer.

Aries (March 21–April 19)

While you can present the appearance of being totally uninhibited and oblivious to other people’s perceptions, the truth is you’re usually acutely aware of them and simply making a determined effort to do what you want and be who you are, anyway. The problem is some people really want you to care what they think, and may write you off if they believe you aren’t aware of or sensitive to their opinions. Since you actually are, and the truth is you do give a crap, why not clue them in? Leaving them in the dark at this point might as well be a self-sabotaging lie.

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

You’re beautiful when you smile, you know that? I worry because lately you haven’t been smiling as much as you should be. I would never suggest that you force yourself to grin when you don’t feel like it; I think people ought to be authentic and genuine at all times. I just worry that you’re not feeling happy enough; that you don’t, in fact, have a clear idea of what would make you happy. Is that the case? Or are your parameters for experiencing happiness too extreme and hard to attain consistently? This week, focus on figuring out what would bring a smile to your face, and making sure the list includes many things that you can manifest on a daily basis. Then do what you have to to make them happen.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Some skeptics require unequivocal proof before they will believe something. Other people are willing to buy into something without the slightest confirmation that it is real or true. Most of us fall somewhere in between, as we should—especially you, especially right now. You’re unlikely to get incontrovertible evidence about the things you are being asked to believe in and support. However, there’s no need to blindly throw in with something. Let faith meet a bit of reasonable guesswork and belief here, and find a comfortable place to live in the middle. Walking that fuzzy line between optimistic trust and pessimistic skepticism is just where you want to be. Aim for it.

Cancer (June 21–July 22)

Cancers are generous, but sometimes you have trouble giving things without invisible strings attached. Often you yourself don’t see them until something happens down the line—you find you’ve been keeping a subconscious tally of all the things you’ve given and those you’ve received, and you’ve realized the numbers don’t add up. This shouldn’t vex you. Because of your nature, you will almost always give up more than you get back in tangible ways. That’s got to be OK. If you’re not already cool with that, then spend this week figuring out how to let it go, how to cut the invisible strings and just be the munificent sweetheart you were always meant to be.

Leo (July 23–Aug. 22)

You’re a cut flower in water. Right now you have all you need to blossom and be beautiful, but how long can it last? I have a feeling that your current setup isn’t particularly sustainable. You need to get your roots into some dirt, pronto, before your bloom fades. What is “dirt” for you? Do you even know? What will nourish and sustain you, even as winter approaches, and keep you going while you’re lonely and buried under a mound of snow? That’s what you need to find and integrate into your life as fast as you can—preferably this week.

Virgo (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

After inviting a friend to stay with you (perhaps even insisting that they do so), it’s hardly fair or reasonable of you to complain about your lack of privacy. You went out of your way to manifest the situation you’re bitching about, and just because it hasn’t worked out as you imagined doesn’t mean it’s not your fault. I suspect that your expectations weren’t particularly realistic. Now you have to admit you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, and ideally get over it if you can. Don’t blame the person whom you set up to ultimately piss you off. Put reasonable limits on the situation, and then grin and bear it. You’ll be glad you did, later.