Artist Hedda Stars, a lion. Photo Illustration: by Preeti Kinha; Photos: Getty
Late Friday night, action planet Mars enters fickle Gemini, making single-minded pursuit of your goals harder than ever. You get distracted in the middle of your work, quickly lose interest in new people, or are tempted to change strategy at the slightest provocation. A part of you may be trying to force yourself to stay the course. But you will be happier and also more successful if you can work with this energy instead of fighting against it. Let your interests change and branch out; let your dreams expand and transform. You don’t have to stick to the goals or plans you made in the past if they no longer make sense. Circumstances change, and so can you.
You occasionally wonder if your life would be better if people took you more seriously or if you would be better at following their rules. You imagine if you had less fun then all doors would open to you. This week, the urge to mold yourself to fit the standards of others may be stronger than ever, but resist. It will not help and will only serve to belittle what makes you wonderful, what makes you you. Don’t let other people’s expectations dictate how you live. Your instincts are strong. trust them
Usually you are in tune with your abilities and opportunities. You know how much you can reasonably get done and you know how long it will take. This week, however, everything is going to take more effort than you think it should. It’s not because there’s something wrong with you or because you have to work harder. You have carried a heavy load for a long time and are tired. You are not a machine and you should not expect to act like one. For now, rest as much as possible and trust that your energy will return.
For better or for worse, your natural curiosity is hard to turn off. Your instinct is always to know the details of any interpersonal drama, form your opinion on any controversy, learn as much as you can about the people in your life. It’s not that you’re curious. You are curious about others, concerned with the world outside your head. For your own sanity this week, remember that you can filter out some of that, too. Let gossip roll by; Accept that you will never have an informed opinion on every subject. Your life will be more interesting and much more peaceful anyway.
When your role, whether at work, in your family, or in the community, is one of responsibility, meeting your need to take (healthy) risks is almost impossible. When everyone around you assumes that you will be the voice of reason, it’s hard to express your ruthless side. Because no matter how conscientious you are, you are also imaginative and you deserve to give that part of you a voice. This week, know that you don’t always have to give other people what they want or expect. You must also be true to yourself—your whole, complicated, contradictory self.
It may sound silly or sentimental, but this week your main task is simply to be kind – both to others and to yourself. You’re probably reading this and thinking that challenging and pushing yourself isn’t enough have to. And you are right that gentleness alone will not suffice forever. However, there are seasons for everything. Just as every minute of the day cannot be dedicated to work, every chapter of your life cannot be filled with intensity. At the very least, consider that you are in a period of softness (albeit brief) and see what happens when you act accordingly.
As much as you enjoy your social life, you can underestimate how valuable it is. It seems more like a valued luxury, something separate (and possibly a distraction!) from the serious work of life: personal growth, career success, or the struggle for a better future. However, this week you will be reminded of how important your employees really are. Not the “important ones” with the power to help you achieve your goals, but the ones that populate your everyday world. It’s magical to be part of a rich network of friends, family, co-workers and neighbors who care about each other. If you prioritize the people in your life, you won’t regret it.
Boredom is sometimes necessary, even good: the small, everyday duty of looking after one another isn’t often exciting, but it’s always rewarding. Even the most important projects that really excite you will involve some tedious tasks, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there are other kinds of sadness that you never have to accept. This week you can refuse to repeat the same arguments over and over again, spend your free time with people you don’t respect, or read books and watch shows you don’t find interesting because you think you “should”. your time is yours; do not forget it.
You may find it challenging to let others treat you generously. Experience has taught you that there are many people out there who cannot be trusted who offer friendship or support that come with hidden terms. But this week, genuine kindness will come into your life, and your task (a surprisingly difficult one) is to let it in. You have to let go of your vigilance long enough to allow connection, to reach out to others with an open heart. Not everyone in the world will treat you right, but many people will, and you may be surprised at how much love they have to give you.
These days you feel like you should be good at everything, knowledgeable about everything and getting along with everyone you meet. That pressure can come from your boss, family, or yourself, but whatever the source, it’s unreasonable. You don’t have to know or be everything. You just have to be yourself: a person with your own beautiful, specific skills, experiences and ideas. Give yourself permission to devote yourself to what you are good at, what you love most. That will do.
You are acutely aware of how short life is, how limited our time on earth. In order to achieve your great ambitions, you know that you must use each day wisely in the service of your greater goals. But this week, you’re faced with the reality that no one can be “on” all the time. It’s not possible to have total control over your thoughts, your energy levels, your focus. If you’ve been riding yourself too hard, which you probably are, make a point of relaxing your grip. You have permission to do things that aren’t immediately “useful” and instead are enjoyable and fun. Indeed, as a human, you must.
Lately the weight of your regrets and past mistakes has been pulling you down. There is so much you wish you understood sooner, and so much you wish you could have done differently, that it’s hard to imagine a way forward. However, if you make the effort to mend broken relationships this week, people will be more receptive than you think. If you do your best not to retreat in shame or fear, but to learn and move on, you will be amazed at how the world opens up to you. You can’t repeat the past, but you can change your life from now on.
From time to time your normal fears go away, if only for a moment, and you catch a glimpse of yourself as you appear to those you love. In their eyes you are caring and courageous; Your flaws are more than outweighed by everything you have to offer. Moments of clear and uncomplicated self-love are rare, so when you experience them, as you will this week, don’t let them slip by unnoticed. Think how that feels. You can’t banish insecurity permanently, but you can hold on to the knowledge that you are worthy of being loved.
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