Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images
On Sunday, the Taurus new moon invites you to (temporarily) stop thinking about the big picture and focus on what’s right in front of you. Instead of stressing yourself out over abstract questions or issues outside of your control, think about how you might change your own small corner of the world for the better. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, love planet Venus enters Aries, where it will stay until early June. If you’ve been overthinking things lately, you have a chance now to remember the exhilarating joy of honoring your desires.
When you have an impossibly long to-do list, it can feel like the only thing to do is to work faster. But this week, rushing through your days won’t bring you any relief; it will probably only stress you out further. Although it might feel counterintuitive, you might find that the best thing you can do now is slow down. Instead of rushing through tasks — and probably making mistakes along the way — insist on doing them well, even if it takes longer.
Other people’s unkind comments can stick with you, turning into insecurities that you end up carrying around for a long time. Maybe they were simply lashing out in the heat of the moment, not intending to hurt your feelings, but even a thoughtless remark can change the way you see yourself. This week, though, you have a chance to change the stories you tell about yourself. Try to let go of the old narratives that others imposed on you; decide that from now on, you get to decide who you are.
With your quick mind, you probably enjoy being around people who aren’t afraid to disagree with you. It’s fun to go back and forth, to be challenged on your ideas, even to let things get a bit heated. Sometimes, though, you get so focused on trying to one-up others that you lose sight of what you actually believe. This week, get back in touch with your inner feelings and values; forget about winning arguments and think about what you care about on a deeper level.
You probably aren’t the sort of person who’s constantly seeking to grow your social circle — not because you’re shy or unfriendly, but because you’re more interested in the quality of your friendships than the quantity. To you, a few friends you can truly trust is better than a vast web of casual acquaintances. Just make sure you aren’t closing yourself off to potential relationships that could, with time, become something deeper. This week, especially, put yourself out there — you’ll be grateful for the new people in your life.
The bigger your goals, the longer it takes to reach success, and while it’s easy to stay focused and energized in the early days, you might find your motivation flagging as time drags on. This week, though, you have an opportunity to find your resolve again, and to recommit yourself to the projects you care most about. Don’t overdo it with a flurry of new activity — you’ll quickly burn out that way — but settle into a steady routine, remembering that you’re in it for the long haul.
This week, you’re likely to get bored if you spend all your time with your usual social circle. It’s not that you don’t love your friends, only that time spent with them can feel formulaic — always rehashing the same arguments, gossiping about the same people, playing out the same dynamics. You’re longing to be challenged and surprised, and you need to step out of your comfort zone for that to happen, so make a point of going to new places and meeting new people.
When people have advice to offer, you do your best to listen — you’re well aware that you don’t know everything, and you’re generally willing to learn. This week, though, remember that others don’t necessarily know any better than you. Sometimes their opinions are often ill-informed, and their feedback can do more harm than good. If someone’s input strikes you as a little off, or if you suspect that they don’t have your best interests in mind, proceed with caution. Not all criticism is equally valuable, and you’re allowed to reject it.
In your closest relationships, it can feel like you’re constantly having the same arguments. You each make the same points again and again, without ever seeming to make any progress. This week, though, you could finally see a breakthrough. The key is to be willing to let some of your defenses fall. Remember that the other person isn’t an adversary; you might not agree on everything, but ultimately you’re on the same side, and if you can both start acting like it, you’ll come out stronger.
You tend to struggle with routines — those that others enforce on you, but also those that you set for yourself. In order to be happy, you need variety; doing the same thing every day tends to make you antsy and irritable. At the same time, though, everyone benefits from some structure in their lives — so this week, try to create routines that will actually work for you, ones you’ll want to stick to. It isn’t about scheduling every minute of your day, but about building a few good habits.
By the time you’ve finished your work and tended to your own basic needs, you’re often left with no time or energy to enjoy yourself. Part of you might believe that isn’t so bad, and that leisure is an unnecessary luxury — but in reality, you’ll be miserable if you try to go without for too long. This week, make a point of finding room for unfiltered gratification. You don’t need to do anything extravagant — even a few simple pleasures will reinvigorate you.
You most likely have a strong and deep support system — but sometimes you can be so stubbornly independent that you forget it’s there. Even if you know in the abstract that you have people to rely on, you still default to trying to solve your problems alone. This week, make a point of reconnecting with the people in your life and asking them for help where you can. Community isn’t just something for other people to take advantage of — it’s there for you, too.
It can be difficult to take the first step toward your goals if you don’t have a plan for your next step, and the one after that. You fear that if you act too soon, your energy will be wasted, so it seems wiser to hold off until you’ve formulated a strategy. But this can also be a way to put off life’s big risks indefinitely. This week, remember that planning your entire future isn’t actually required before you’re allowed to take action, and that it’s better to take a small, tentative step than do nothing.
Read the weekly horoscopes for the week of April 20. The weekly horoscopes for the week of May 4 will be online next Sunday.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.
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