Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)We get nervous about telling the truth when our gut says it won’t be well-received, no matter how much the person we’d tell it to claims otherwise (“You can tell me anything!”). Everyone’s been burned by someone who said they’re cool with whatever—and then freaked out when they heard what actually came out of your mouth. That shouldn’t stop us, though. The truth is the truth, and how people react to it is their problem, not yours. Even if you don’t like that reaction, isn’t it better to discover that now than to learn later what a hypocritical douche they are?Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)Grey areas are kind of your specialty—but your long practice living in those zones doesn’t necessarily make them easier to navigate. When asked to help clean up someone’s mistake, your admirable first instinct is, of course, to do so—until you consider the wider consequences, like does helping them fix this mess implicate you in it? Will you now be blamed for enabling their screwups? These are all worthy considerations, but ultimately don’t get too into-your-head about it. Trust your gut. If your instincts say steer clear, then do so. If they say dive in and do what you can, then bombs away! Aries (March 21-April 19)Everyone has stuff they do that they don’t notice doing, including you. Having someone hold up a mirror and point out these habits may not be a particularly pleasant experience, especially if the habits are unflattering, but it can still be a useful one. It’s always better to hear from someone that you’ve got spinach in your teeth than to discover it when you get home, knowing it was there all day. Be grateful, not annoyed, when someone points out this stuff, even if they do so maliciously. This kind of self-knowledge will only make you cooler, better, and stronger.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)It’s totally natural and understandable to hope that the next time you run into your ex, they’re fatter, shabbier, or otherwise worse off than when you two were together. But all that energy you’re wasting wishing them ill is doing you absolutely no good. How, after all, does your life improve when theirs suffers? Imagine what you could accomplish with all that energy if you could just move on and forget them instead? Don’t spare them a thought unless they happen to be standing right in front of you. Easier said than done, I know—but this week you should be able to at least make progress in this department. Gemini (May 21-June 20)You may not be able to spin straw into gold, but many of your problems and woes can be transformed—into comedy. There’s not a lot you can do about some of the shit that goes down in your life, but figuring out ways to laugh at and about it is something you’re certainly capable of. That’ll make these burdens so much lighter. Of course, being able to chuckle at this stuff will involve taking yourself much less seriously—but you can handle that, can’t you? Try sharing these trials and tribulations with others, in such a way that they can laugh with (or perhaps, lovingly, at) you—that will, curiously, make them easier for you to handle, too. Cancer (June 21-July 22)Accidents happen, and even if people freak out in the moment while their emotions are running away with them, they should be able to get to a more rational place once they’ve calmed down. Offer them that chance, before you give them hell for their initial overreactions. You of all people should know what it is to lose control while in the grip of a powerful feeling, so be the rational, understanding, and experienced one here, and practice patience and tolerance. Wait for their real, considered, more thoughtful response before you engage. Everyone will be happier that way.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)Trust is delicate. It’s incredibly difficult to repair after it’s been shattered. Even patched up, it’s more fragile than before, and can’t take rough treatment. You need to take special care around it, like shielding an injured body part from activities that would subject it to needless strain and cause re-injury. Yes, that’s extra work and not likely to be easy, but it’s necessary and obligatory in these circumstances. If you’re not able or willing to do that, you should probably make your exit now before you cause pain that could and should be avoided. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)Being loving and generous is always appropriate as long as there isn’t a terribly selfish agenda behind it. Do try to spread the good cheer and affection (while of course remaining perceptive about how it’s being received). And don’t let naysayers tell you that you ought to be feeling otherwise or being vindictive or petty (like they probably would). Your ability to push past those kinds of emotions and remember all the good stuff is a special one. Keep exercising it. What goes around comes around—which means you too will soon receive kindness and understanding when you least expect (or feel you deserve) it.Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)Sometimes just the fact that you’re even asking a question is an answer in and of itself. There are some things you should just know, and if those pieces of the puzzle are still missing at this point, it means it’s forming a picture completely different than you anticipated. That might mean some real-life readjustment that’s better accomplished sooner than later. Don’t keep trying to jam pieces into spaces they don’t fit into just so this puzzle will turn out the way you hoped. Figure out what it’s actually going to look like, and plan around that—whether you like it or not.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)Some betrayals, while still brutally painful, have their roots in good intentions. Perhaps the person who (maybe inadvertently) stabbed you in the back had their eyes on the big picture instead of just your best interests, and was trying to do right by everyone involved. It’s incredibly difficult to separate yourself from your pain and try to see things as they do, but please try. Context and long-term repercussions matter more here than your immediate personal suffering. If you can see what they saw, you’ll be more inclined to forgive—you might, surprisingly, even be glad you took one for the team.Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)Having yourself blown the lid off many a minor cover-up, you should know that secrets don’t keep. Sooner or later the truth comes out. Your experience tells you that sooner (except sometimes in the case of children who are too young to know some stuff) is always better than later. You also know that ‘fessing up is always received more open-mindedly than a guilty admission after someone’s snitched, so please consider that route. What you’ve done isn’t all that bad, after all—but it’ll seem much worse coming from someone else’s mouth, or after you’ve been caught in a lie. Go do what you’re good at: Tell the truth, already.Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)Don’t ever begrudge yourself joy. Like everyone, you deserve to be happy. Try to minimize its potential negative impact on others, of course—but don’t deprive yourself to spare someone from feeling jealous or upset. That’s their baggage, not yours. Be compassionate but not masochistically stupid. Downplaying the fun you’re having or your good luck just to keep from rubbing it in someone’s face is one thing; denying yourself the good fortune or joy that comes your way is quite another. It’s what you’ve got coming, so (quietly, if you must) enjoy it as much as you possibly can.sign.language.astrology@gmail.com