Teyana Taylor, a shooter. Photo illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images
On Tuesday evening, a new moon in Sagittarius will reawaken your confidence and faith in the universe. No matter how bleak the future seems or how naive the optimism may be at the moment, this week's new moon invites you to keep moving forward and stubbornly hold on to your hope. Then, in the early hours of Wednesday, Mercury begins retrograde in Capricorn. This is a time to slow down: Instead of starting new projects, reflect on the past year. Appreciate yourself for what you've accomplished, whether it's major achievements or you just did it in one piece. Mercury begins moving forward again on New Year's Day. Until then: take your foot off the gas.
You try not to dwell on the things you can't control – you know it's just an exercise in frustration. But lately you're still worried. You have a nagging feeling that one wrong step could harm other people, damage your reputation, or derail your entire future, and that doing things “right” is more important than ever. This week, try to take some of that pressure off yourself. After all, it comes from you. Being perfect has never been your responsibility, and it's not the case now. Find (or create) a space where you can safely experiment and take risks. You're fine, you just need some air to breathe.
Lately, you've been unable to look away from everything sad in the world and are also confronted with the darker sides of yourself. It feels impossible to escape it, to find joy where you normally do, and even to imagine a future where life is simple and beautiful again. This week, however, you can rest easy. You don't need proof that things are on the up; You just have to remember that you are still standing. The fact that nothing has managed to defeat you yet – that you have retained your love and your humanity – is a good sign that nothing will.
This week it's especially important to start new friendships or relationships on the right foot. You have the chance to set the tone for the future, so take advantage of it. Don't leave small problems waiting in the hope that they'll be fixed later, nor do you ignore incompatibilities that could prove to be deal-breakers later. Be upfront about who you are, what you're looking for, and how much time you can (and can't) dedicate right from the start. The more honest you are at the beginning, the better chance the relationships have to thrive.
Taking care of yourself sometimes means putting up walls: refusing to associate with people who you know will bring you down, avoiding the news and your heart from all the bad, the ugliness and the injustice to protect in the world. However, hiding from discomfort this week will likely leave you feeling hollow and dissatisfied. Instead of avoiding danger and uncertainty, welcome it. Face the challenges the universe throws at you. When the situation calls for it, you can be as strong and courageous as anyone else. Maybe you just need a reminder.
You've probably had trouble with overthinking lately. The more determined you are to do the right thing—for yourself, for other people, for the world—the harder it becomes to figure out what that looks like. You are overly aware of all the mistakes you could make and the traps you could fall into; You fear that every move you make might be the wrong one. This week, try giving your brain a break. At least do it slower. Let the magic back into your life by following your instincts instead.
You might get a little messy this week if you speak too freely, confess your feelings before you want to, and pour your heart out to the “wrong” person. It's scary being an open book and having so little control over how you present yourself to the world. But just because it's discouraging doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, you can draw strength from vulnerability. Letting go of your desire to constantly be well-groomed and well-behaved allows you to take risks, express yourself more honestly, and create space for new and deeper intimacy.
At the moment, it is challenging for you to concentrate on all the everyday tasks that require your attention. Who cares about sending emails or cleaning the kitchen when the world is on fire? Your mind is focused on the bigger picture, and in comparison, household chores seem petty and boring, and at worst, selfish. But it's still important to take care of them. This week make sure to take care of the little things; Not because you're a perfectionist or because your to-do list is more important to you than anything else, but because it creates a strong foundation from which to tackle the important things.
Your pragmatism has served you well, keeping you focused on what matters most to you and preventing you from becoming distracted by outlandish and impossible dreams. However, this week, your efforts to be realistic may be preventing you from being bold, taking exciting risks, and being the best you can be. Remember that you are allowed to be bold in your desires, to set goals that may not come true, and to want too much. You are capable of more than you realize. When you stop protecting yourself from failure so much, you will finally have fun.
Even you can't please everyone. There is no perfect combination of words that everyone will agree with, no action that will find universal approval, no way to be alive in the world without making someone, somewhere, think you are wrong. If you try to avoid any judgment or disapproval, you'll just end up suppressing the parts of yourself that you particularly care about. So this week, don't worry about how your actions will be perceived. Other people's opinions are their business. All you can do is live your life without shame.
They place high demands on others and even higher demands on themselves. They strive to always be committed and focused, and to remain disciplined in times of stress and distress. But you're only human, and sometimes you have to put progress on hold so you can think, dream and play. Be extra careful with yourself this week. You've been dealing with a lot lately and you deserve a moment to process it all. You'll be able to move on again soon, but for now, rest.
When you connect with other people, your life becomes larger. The problem is that larger life is less predictable and sometimes more stressful and you want stability and ease in the moment. You may be tempted to isolate yourself this week to protect yourself from the chaos and drama of socializing, but try to keep an open mind. You need the connection more than you realize, and the hassle of dealing with people won't be nearly as bad as you fear.
This week you have the opportunity to prove yourself. If you've always wanted to be braver, you'll get the chance to put your courage to the test. If you crave excitement, you'll get the opportunity to shake things up. You can remind your friends (and yourself) that you shouldn't be underestimated. However, none of this will happen on its own: it's up to you to rise to the occasion.
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Read the weekly horoscopes for the week of December 3rd. The weekly horoscopes for the week of December 17th will be online next Sunday.
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