Taraji P. Henson, a Virgo.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images
It’s a relatively quiet day — astrologically, at least — but you can continue to make the most of the waxing Sagittarius moon by leaving your comfort zone, choosing adventure over monotony, and taking a risk or two. This evening is a lovely time for low-key, relaxed socializing. That could mean going out, but something as simple as calling a faraway friend and chatting into the night would be just as good.
Life is likely to lead you in wonderfully unexpected directions today. But while you don’t mind the spontaneity, the trouble is that you don’t necessarily like to be led. You want to be in the driver’s seat. Try to take a step back. See what happens if you go with the flow, just for now. You might even find that if you relax and let go, you’ll manage to get out of your own way.
You’re cautious about dumping too much on other people — even your closest friends. Maybe it’s because you don’t want to stress them out with your problems, or maybe you worry that showing too much vulnerability would clash with the cool, confident image you try to project. But today, put all of that out of your mind. What you need now isn’t casual chit-chat, but deep, authentic human connection — though it will require you to summon up all your courage and open up.
Sometimes, friendship feels like a competition to you: Who can be the smartest, the funniest, the best company? Who can make the room laugh loudest? But today, take a break from that. If you can stop worrying about how you measure up, you’ll remember how much simple, uncomplicated love exists in your life. Act like you have nothing to prove, and approach others with generosity and good faith — they’ll do the same for you.
You understand — better than most — that human beings are strange and complex creatures, filled with competing impulses and contradictory ideas. This means that you tend to be good at dealing with others as they actually are, not as you wish they were. Every so often, though, you make things more complicated than they need to be. Today, remember that people can also be simple. Sometimes, they say exactly what they mean. Don’t invent problems for yourself by reading too deeply into your interactions with others.
Lately, practical matters have felt all-consuming, and you’ve had to suppress some other side of you — the carefree or creative or playful part. When you complain, others might tell you that you can’t expect life to be fun all the time. But that’s not what you’re asking for; you just don’t want it to feel like a slog all the time, either. Today, do something that’s not productive or useful or on the to-do list, something with the sole purpose of refilling your cup.
You tend to feel hesitant, even ashamed, about asking for help: You understand that everyone has their own problems to deal with and most people are already stretched to their limit. Your thoughtfulness is admirable, but don’t forget that your life is full of people who want to support you, who would be happy to lend a hand. They might not always know exactly how to help, and they might not always have enough to give, but sometimes, if you’re brave enough to ask, you’ll get exactly what you need.
You know that it’s normal for your connections with others to ebb and flow — people don’t stay exactly the same forever, and that means relationships don’t, either — but that doesn’t mean you have to like it. Lately, you’ve been missing old friends, nostalgic for the way life used to be, already dreading any future change. But today, the quickest way to lose something good is to hold on too tight. Everyone, including you, needs room to grow and evolve and change their minds.
You’re a sharp-eyed and astute observer of human nature; you learn so much simply by paying attention to other people — their body language, their quirks, the way they behave when they think no one’s watching. Today, you might need a reminder that you’re not only a spectator of the world around you: you’re also a participant in it. Don’t get so caught up in observation and analysis that you forget to live your own life, too.
By now, you’ve probably experienced enough of the world to know where your natural talents lie. You don’t have to be good at everything; you simply have to develop your own unique gifts. But while there’s nothing wrong with playing to your strengths, that doesn’t mean you need to avoid all friction and difficulty. Sometimes it’s worth trying things you might fail at, or spending time on skills that don’t come easily. Stretch yourself today: If you put in the work even when it feels difficult, you might find that you’re capable of more than you thought.
One of the best ways you can care for yourself today is to give yourself space to think. It sounds so simple but is probably easier said than done: Your schedule is crammed with activities and obligations and other people are constantly demanding your attention. It can seem hard to justify spending time on quiet reflection. But you’re only human. It isn’t your job to work without ceasing. Plus by allowing yourself to sit and dream, you’ll accomplish bigger, more interesting things in the long run.
You protect your independence ferociously, refusing to let anyone else define you, tell you what to think, or dictate the terms of your life. Sometimes this means that you need to draw boundaries in a way that others don’t like, but that’s a trade-off you’re happy to make. Even so, today, make sure that you’re not isolating yourself unnecessarily. Human connection doesn’t have to come at the expense of your freedom, so invest in the relationships that give you the space to be you.
You might feel a bit hesitant, lately, to ask for what you need — especially if what you’re yearning for is something intangible, like recognition, attention, or love. You probably try to bide your time, trusting that things will happen when they’re meant to. But today, remember that sometimes the best move isn’t to wait for perfect conditions, but rather to create your own conditions. You have more of a say in your future than you might think.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.