Sign Language

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)Acting out of anger rarely leads to anything good. While you certainly can’t help experiencing that emotion (nor should you try), allowing it to consume you or direct your choices will almost always make your life worse, not better. Choices made in anger or out of a desire for retaliation usually indirectly fan the flames of that rage, and exacerbate matters. Feel your fury, but when it comes time to act, allow reason and rationality to guide your decisions. If you can’t do that right now, simply don’t act. Wait until you’ve got a handle on what you’re feeling and can consciously choose what you’re going to do next. Sure, you may still regret that decision—but if you act before you’ve cooled off, you definitely will.Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)Some secrets are kept because people are selfish or cowardly, and don’t want to confess something awful they’ve done. However, sometimes keeping a secret is the more generous thing to do, since telling it would be a purely selfish and self-serving act (someone just looking for relief from guilt, for example). When trying to determine which is which, you must ask yourself if whomever you tell it to would be happier in the long term if they knew (they’ll almost never be happier in the short term, so forget that), and also who stands to gain the most from the revelation—you or them.Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)Sagittarians know better than almost anyone that the future isn’t written in stone. Anything can happen! However, that’s only as true as you make it. If someone decides that nothing’s going to change, the only changes they’ll see will be inevitable (and mostly negative) ones. To improve, we must try to make things better—and believe that they can get better. Since others’ optimism isn’t as advanced as yours, they could benefit powerfully from a strong dose of the kind of medicine you have to offer. Find those pessimists and show them how wrong they are. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)Deal-breakers are deal-breakers. Ignoring explicit boundaries set out by others just because they don’t make sense to you may be understandable—but it’s still not acceptable. Sure, you’re free to make your own judgments about what’s OK and what’s not, but you can’t force those views on anyone else, or lie to preserve their illusions. That will catch up with you. This week, concentrate on accepting what people say (and the limits they set) at face value, whether or not you think they’re reasonable, logical, or smart. They may be none of those things—and yet they’re still valid. Choosing to disregard them will not end well.Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)Other people’s baggage is not your problem. You don’t need to carry it for them, or even make space for it. You have problems of your own, after all, which you’re handling mostly on your own. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have compassion for them, or make some allowances. You have your perfectly respectable and understandable boundaries and limits, but beyond those there’s no need to be a cold-hearted hard-ass. That’s not who you are, or ought to be. Offer a little kindness, accommodation, or encouragement when you can, especially this week. It’ll go a long way. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)Maybe you’re more understanding than I am, but I don’t give flaky people that many chances. After a few disappointments, it’s all too easy to walk away—so I do. What’s to understand, after all? When someone’s chronically late or absent to your plans together, they’re clearly saying, “I’m either unable, or uninterested, in taking your time and company seriously.” Why would anyone put up with that? Obviously, people deserve the benefit of the doubt at first, but eventually you must conclude that enough is enough, and cut them loose. Has that time come? I think maybe so.

Aries (March 21-April 19)Witch hunts are pointless. The accused parties deny the accusations, the accusers can’t produce proof, and the whole thing either becomes a senseless debacle or a reasonable stand-off, with hard feelings on both sides. This is one of those things you’re better off simply letting go of. Whether the crime is filching your yogurt out of the office fridge or sleeping with your lover, keep your suspicions to yourself, since revealing them will only make things difficult, unpleasant, and awkward for all concerned, and resolve exactly nothing. Even if it happened as you suspect, there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it now, so it’s better to just forget about it as best you can, and move on.Taurus (April 20-May 20)Don’t close the door to possibilities. You may be pretty sure you don’t want this to happen anymore. But if you really think about it, does that mean you don’t want anything to happen? Closing the door completely on this situation is so final, and probably unnecessary. It’s definitely time to change things up until they take on a new, more positive configuration. But ending them? That’s far too extreme. Can’t you invent the possibility of this turning into something great—perhaps, even, exactly what you wish it could become? The potential may or may not be there, but the only way you’ll know for sure is by giving it a chance.Gemini (May 21-June 20)I’ve certainly met some people who are completely oblivious to their effect on others. They somehow don’t seem to notice that when they show up, conversation dies, and people escape whenever they can—probably because they’re too busy talking to pay attention to inconsequential details like that. Don’t become one of these people. While being a meekly observant wallflower is pointlessly boring, erring on the side of listening more than you speak will earn you more friends and respect than running your mouth, no matter how funny, fascinating, or otherwise entertaining you think you are. Cancer (June 21-July 22)Having such huge emotions makes Cancers, by default, a little more high-maintenance than most of your astrological peers. Thus you must constantly find ways to shoulder the burden of handling your own feelings and minimizing their impact on others. This doesn’t mean you need to be an isolated emotional island—just that when a tidal wave hits it shouldn’t wreak havoc on others’ shores as well as your own. You’ve been letting a little too much of your emotional weather rain on others’ internal landscapes. If the dark cloud of your mood is casting too big a shadow, fix that this week.Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)While I certainly admire physical beauty, I tend to value cultivated beauty—things like being honest, funny, honorable, kind, and insightful—much more highly. After all, having a gorgeous face or full head of hair takes zero ability—it’s pure dumb genetic luck. On the other hand, when people take the time to cultivate integrity, creativity, and compassion, that requires skill, intention, and effort, which I find much more admirable and attractive. This week, do your best to ignore physicality (easier said than done, I know) and focus instead on the kinds of loveliness that come from within. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)Any long-lasting relationship requires intense cooperation between head and heart. Emotions are a funny thing—they don’t stay consistently strong long-term. That’s why you need conscious thought and choice to keep things together during the times when those feelings may be at more of an ebb. Finding ways to feel connected to other people even when you’re not feeling it especially intensely is this week’s challenge. However, I’m confident you’re up for it. Above all else, don’t sabotage things just because of whatever mood you may be experiencing right at the moment. That mood will pass, and I’m pretty sure you’ll be happier if your relationship’s still there when it does. sign.language.astrology@gmail.com