Zoe Chao, a Virgo.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images
Today, the waning moon enters Taurus. After the emotion and drama of this week’s eclipse, the Taurus moon urges you to remember the practical side of life. The things you can see and touch deserve your attention too. Then in the evening, Neptune could cloud your judgment a bit: Avoid making commitments for now, as you may feel differently in a day or two.
Decision-making could be unusually challenging for you today with your characteristic boldness replaced by caution. You’re suddenly hyperaware of all that could go sideways, of all that you stand to lose if you make the wrong choice. But the harder you think, the more overwhelmed you’ll get. Somewhat counterintuitively, the solution might be to think less. Instead of trying to reason your way through the problem, or to chart an optimal path forward, you’ll do better if you simply go by feel.
You tend to be a good judge of character, and can quickly determine if someone is all talk, or if they don’t have your best interests at heart, or if they’re hiding something. Today, though, it might be harder to read people — especially those who are intriguing or charming. You want to believe the best of everyone; being cagey and critical feels so exhausting. But just focus on what people do over what they say. Words can be deceptive, but actions rarely are.
You’re personable and fun to be around, and your life is filled with people who find you delightful. Today, though, you could be haunted by the sense that they aren’t seeing you for who you really are: Maybe you worry that they’re ignoring your flaws; maybe it seems like they’re so focused on what they want to see in you that they miss your actual good qualities. If you’re feeling misunderstood or invisible, you’re allowed to set the record straight.
Lately, your life might feel strangely cramped — like you’ve outgrown your old activities, ambitions, even relationships. You need something more thrilling; when you tell your life story, you don’t want it to be boring. No matter how careful and rational you try to be, there’s still a part of you that yearns for adventure — and that side of you deserves to be listened to. But don’t rely on others to deliver excitement into your life: Step up and seek out adventure for yourself.
Most of the time, you’re good at standing up for yourself. You’re all too aware that some people would walk all over you if you gave them the chance, so you’re vigilant about asserting your boundaries. Today, though, a part of you might wonder whether you’re only being selfish, whether it’s wrong or rude to say “no” to other people. It’s valuable to check in with yourself and make sure you’re giving as much as you reasonably can — but you don’t need to feel guilty for saying “no” when others ask too much of you.
You like for your relationships to be clear and unambiguous — no wondering whether your partner is really on the same page or whether your friend values your connection as much as you do. Honest communication can go a long way toward building the kinds of transparent relationships you want, but it can’t resolve every lingering question or insecurity. People are confusing, sometimes even to themselves. There’s no way to get rid of all the mystery: At a certain point, you simply have to trust.
Sometimes it feels like your generous nature only gets you into trouble. The harder you work, the more tasks land on your plate; the more support you give others, the less you receive in return. Today, an inner voice might start to ask whether kindness is really worth it: Would you be happier if you forgot about other people and focused on yourself? Don’t listen. Putting your own needs last will lead to burnout and resentment, but that doesn’t mean compassion is a waste of time.
Most of the time, you keep your cards close to your chest. You’re not trying to be secretive; you’re simply a private person. There’s nothing wrong with this, and your wariness has kept you safe on more than one occasion. But today, that caution might end up causing you trouble. If you don’t let your friends know what you want, they can’t help you find it — and might end up getting in your way.
You tend to be resourceful and emotionally resilient. If something goes wrong, you’ll shift to a plan B; if you’re feeling stressed or sad, you’d rather keep moving forward than stew. Sometimes, though, this approach means that other people don’t recognize when you’re struggling. That doesn’t mean you should cause a huge fuss, but if you want sympathy and understanding today, you’ll have to stop glossing over the more painful parts of your emotional reality and start telling people how you actually feel.
Today, it could feel like everyone in your life is less reliable than usual with friends flaking on plans, co-workers dropping the ball, even your mail being misdelivered. You know that you tend to have high expectations of people, but you’re not unreasonable — you simply want them to follow through on their promises. But try to resist the temptation to lash out. Everyone needs a little extra patience sometimes, and if you’re understanding now, you’ll be in a better position to ask for grace when you need it.
You might not be an impatient person by nature, but lately, it’s like nothing can move fast enough for you. You don’t want to change your life slowly: You want results now. A sense of urgency can serve you well in some cases, but today, be cautious of anyone or anything that promises instant transformation. Dramatic measures likely won’t be as effective as you hoped and may even backfire. Your slow, steady, everyday actions, on the other hand, will add up.
You’re always good at reading other people’s emotions, but today you might find that you’re even more sensitive to them than usual. You can pick up on the smallest changes to the social temperature and read cues that are invisible to everyone else. This can help with communication, but it can also make you treat everyone else’s moods like a problem you are responsible for. They’re not. Treat others with kindness, but remember that you’re not in charge of anyone else’s feelings, only yours.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.