Laura Linney, an Aquarius.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Getty Images
The moon moves through gentle Pisces today, squaring off with Jupiter in the morning before aligning with Saturn at night. You’re likely to feel relatively cheerful early in the day, but be mindful not to get overconfident, or you could make careless mistakes. Later in the day, the mood gets more serious as your responsibilities to others weigh heavily on you. Don’t feel guilty for being unable to single handedly solve all the world’s problems — everyone has their own small role to play; focus on fulfilling yours.
You try not to dwell on your shortcomings — it only makes you feel guilty and powerless, and you’d rather direct your energies in more useful directions. Today, though, avoidance will feel worse than facing your imperfections head-on. Taking an honest look at the traits you don’t like — neither reprimanding nor justifying yourself — can be clarifying and surprisingly freeing. There’s no shame in having flaws — the key is to remember that they don’t define you.
In general, you strive to be happy with what you have. That’s not to say that you don’t have big dreams, only that you want to enjoy life now, not put it off until you’ve achieved more. Today, though, you might worry that this approach is inadequate, that you should have built greater successes by now. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether or not you’re satisfied with the life you’re living — just remember that being hard on yourself won’t make you happier or more successful. However you want to grow, you can be kind to yourself while you do it.
You might feel your limitations acutely today. You have soaring ambition, but only so many hours in the day; there’s so much you’d like to do, but limited resources make it necessary to prioritize. While it might be tempting to push yourself to cram more into each day, you’ll be more successful if you accept the fact that you can’t do everything — at least, not all at once. Instead, try to accept that the conditions aren’t perfect, and find ways to live a rich and meaningful life anyway.
There’s so much in the world that’s completely outside your control that you sometimes start to wonder whether it’s worth trying to change any of it at all. It might be easier, you think, to just make the best of things. Today, though, defeat might feel intolerable. You’re tired of treading water; you want a world where you can thrive. So don’t shrug and accept it: Find one area where you can make a difference, one person you can help, one small issue you have the power to change, and get started.
You might react to situations more emotionally than rationally today — and as a result, you could end up taking dramatic action, speaking before you think, or making big, unplanned life changes. Instead of beating yourself up, just adjust your plans and go with it. That’s not to say you should try to make chaotic choices — only that if you end up moving in an unexpected direction, trust that you’ve got what it takes to navigate the detour, and come out stronger on the other side.
Sometimes, alone time is necessary to think clearly and see your problems for what they are. Today, though, solitude is more likely to make you nervous and unsettled; you could quickly start spiraling as you ruminate on every loaded — or just awkward — interaction you’ve had lately. In the absence of other people, it’s easy to imagine that everyone’s out to get you — or that they never cared about you to begin with. But if you make a point to spend time with your friends, and even tell them about your concerns, you’ll be reminded that they’re on your side.
Today you might feel a strong sense of duty to the people around you. You’re eager to set aside your own desires and be an asset to your community — but while this sounds simple in theory, it can be incredibly difficult to figure out how to be of use. Nobody else is going to show up and tell you exactly how you can best contribute (as much as you might wish they would), so don’t be afraid to take matters into your own hands, either. You won’t be perfect, but simply putting yourself out there is the best way to get started.
You have a tendency to downplay your talents. Maybe you’re being modest, or maybe you genuinely think that, compared to other people, you don’t have anything special to offer. But while it’s valuable not to keep your ego in check, it’s possible to take it too far. You have unique skills and insights, but they won’t be of any use if you underplay their value. The world needs what you have to offer, so find a way to put your gifts to use.
Beneath your good-natured exterior, you have a confrontational streak. If somebody treats you rudely, you won’t take it lying down; if they hurt somebody you care about, you’ll defend their honor. Sometimes, it seems like the best, or even the only, way to do good in the world is by finding an opponent to fight and unleashing your ferocity. Today, though, you might do more good by caring for the people around you. The world doesn’t only need your fire — it needs your loving, protective energy, too.
If there’s one thing you can’t stand, it’s wasting time. Some people might be perfectly content to drift around without a plan, but you tend to get frustrated and antsy; you’re too aware of all the other, more useful ways you could be spending your time. Today, you might feel even more pressure than usual to make the most of your days — but remember that you’re not a machine. Give yourself space to wander: It might not be the most efficient, but it’ll make your life better all the same.
You’ve got the energy and drive to get ahead, but sometimes it feels like you’re only spinning your wheels without seeing any actual progress. Today you might feel like the answer is to push harder, move faster, do more — but that’s more likely to lead to burnout than to success. Stop imagining that you should be able to transform your life overnight — it’s an unrealistic goal that’s only putting unnecessary pressure on you. Commit to slow and steady change, and you’ll be surprised how far you get.
When you look around, you see so many people doing amazing things. It can seem like everyone else is constantly launching major projects, experiencing life-changing career successes, providing a crucial service to their communities. In comparison, your own contributions might seem embarrassingly small, at least to you. But today, resist the impulse to compare yourself to everybody else. What matters most isn’t whether you’re doing “more” or “less” than the people around you — this isn’t a competition — but that you’re carrying yourself in a way that you can be proud of.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.