Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)In an ideal world, people would always get credit where it was due, receiving appropriate praise and compensation for their work. But when money, recognition, and personal advancement play a role, it’s all too tempting for some to step forward and claim responsibility for something they actually had little to no part of. Whether or not you call them out isn’t a clear-cut question, though—there are definitely negative repercussions, and they might or might now outweigh the benefits of claiming your due. It might, sadly, turn out that it’s best just to let this one slide.Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)Time passes so very quickly. In the moment, sure, it may seem to drag on, but you’ve been amazed at how short these chapters seem in retrospect. This one too will seem entirely too fleeting once it’s passed, so instead of wishing it were over already, or different, try to cherish it for what it is, good and bad, and trust that soon enough you’ll be looking back on these times and wishing they weren’t done. To ensure that there’s more fondness than regret associated with these memories, embrace what’s happening right now as fully as you can. It’s easier than you think.Aries (March 21-April 19)While you’re arguably one of the most generous signs in the zodiac, you’re also occasionally one of the most selfish. When these urges come into conflict, things get messy, but hopefully you know by now that you’ll always feel better in retrospect if you make the generous choice—even if it involves a sacrifice or personal suffering. Choosing the selfish thing will never feel good, because it’ll always be tainted by the fact that it cost someone else something (even if they don’t know it). Give. You already get tons of lucky breaks. You can live without this one.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)Losing something, be it a loved one, a relationship, or even a cherished possession, isn’t something you can instantly get over. That’s not how humans are wired. You probably wish you could just let it go and move on with your life, or fast-forward through the grieving process somehow, but unfortunately the only thing that does the trick is the passage of time. Since you can’t rush that, the only thing to do is wait it out. The next time you (or someone you know) suffers such a loss, remember: Rushing through it isn’t the answer. Practicing immense and generous patience is. Gemini (May 21-June 20)Once a gift is given, it’s gone. Unless obligations are negotiated and agreed upon ahead of time (making it more of a contract than a true gift), the giver relinquishes all rights to their offer and any and all say about what happens to it. There are very few situations in which it’s OK to ask for something back or stipulate how or when it should be used. If such a request comes your way, consider it if you wish, but remember that you already fulfilled any and all obligations by gratefully accepting this present in the first place. You’re off the hook. Cancer (June 21-July 22)Lying to help someone else (playing a fake job reference, for example) is an example of when deceit occupies an unquestionably gray area. Because there are no hard and fast rules, trust your gut. Mostly, it’ll probably feel good to help a friend by telling a white lie to a total stranger. Don’t hold to rigid lines of what you will and won’t say, but rather judge each instance on a case-by-case basis. Recall that there are few (if any) moral absolutes, and that you are the ultimate arbiter of what is right (or wrong) for you. Of course, figuring that out before you agree to things is generally best.Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)You wouldn’t expect a kid who just learned to swim yesterday to suddenly be doing Olympic-level dives today. You can be proud of her for accomplishing steady doggy-paddle laps from pool-edge to pool-edge. So why do you expect yourself to instantly be a master at anything new you try, even though you know, rationally, that most skills worth acquiring require time and tremendous amounts of practice to master? Give yourself that time, and be OK with being completely terrible at something for a while. Everyone else is. You’re your own worst critic—but you don’t really have to play that role. Since it’s not actually helping you at all, give it a rest for a while (or forever).Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)Minding your own business is the key to keeping the peace this week. You’ll probably desperately want to intervene or help  someone who clearly “needs” it, but your interference (as it’ll be viewed) will be unwelcome, and more likely to cause drama than actually help matters. Butting out is hardly one of your fortes. We all know you know best, which is what makes it so hard. This time bite your tongue and let people make their horrifying mistakes, and also pay the price for those mistakes. Could you have stopped it? Maybe. Would they have thanked you for it? No. Also, and most important, would they have learned anything if you had? Not in the slightest. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)When you meet someone, it’s their prerogative to not necessarily reveal everything about their pasts. Some of that stuff is simply none of your business. However, things that may in a concrete way affect you (like if someone you’re seriously dating has kids, or a life-threatening job/disease/hobby) should be disclosed while you still have a chance to opt out without hassle or guilt. If someone fails to do this, you can justifiably be upset. However, I hope you have enough compassion to cut them a little more slack than you might otherwise—if it’s a deal-breaker, it’s a deal-breaker, but don’t let your understandable initial reaction make a deal-breaker out of something that might otherwise be only a deal-changer.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)Some emotional wounds leave permanent scars. But that doesn’t mean they’re truly unforgivable. If both parties are interested, finding ways to work around those scars and move on is definitely possible—albeit involving lots of work. The first question is—is that where everyone’s at? If so, finding a way through should be fairly simple—still time-consuming and difficult, of course, but the path itself is obvious. The real question is whether everyone is willing to walk that path its entire length. This week, the answer to that question should be clearer than it has been so far.Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)You have powerful personal ethics. You also maintain close and loyal ties to those you love—who may not be burdened with the same moral fortitude you possess. That’s when things get tricky, confusing, and messy. Being torn between your idea of “what’s right” and your desire to help your friend isn’t a fun place for you Sagittarians. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way out. Sticking to your guns will piss off your friend. Weigh that against how upset you’ll be about bending one of your own rules (and how quickly you’ll get over it) and see which comes out on top. You’ll never feel totally good about this situation, but viewing it this way should at least help you feel a little better.Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)Just because someone else doesn’t agree that the boundaries you’ve drawn should be respected doesn’t mean they’re not worth enforcing. Get a second opinion. This guy may be way off base if he just shrugs and blows it off when someone crosses the line. Of course, it’s hard when someone flat-out tells you you’re being silly or are just plain wrong. Seek some validation from someone reasonable who has no real reason to simply give it to you. If they agree with the other guy, accept that you may have chosen a stance that’s a tad unreasonable, and revise accordingly.sign.language.astrology@gmail.com