Lily Singh, a Virgo.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images
For the past few weeks, while communication planet Mercury moved through Virgo, everyone has seemed more judgmental than ever, ready to pounce on the smallest mistakes. But today, as Mercury moves from critical Virgo into diplomatic Libra, you may feel the pressure ease. The goal is to understand, not find fault, and, as a result, people are willing to interpret your words more generously now. Try to return the favor.
You don’t rely on others to tell you how to think: You have the confidence to form your own opinions about the world. So it may come as something of a surprise, today, when friends challenge your ideas or point out contradictions in your thinking. This may feel disrespectful at first, but in reality, something else is going on. They’re attempting to create space where you can think out loud together. It’s valuable to have someone to bounce ideas off of, so make the most of it.
Sometimes it feels like the people in your life are constantly rushing you to work, think, or make decisions faster. And while they may say there’s a good reason for this, you suspect that they’re simply impatient and prioritizing their timeline over yours. But moving at the pace you do allows you to catch important mistakes and notice details others miss — so don’t let anyone pressure you to speed up today.
You do some of your best thinking out loud and your best learning through trial and error. What’s important to you isn’t to be correct from the jump but to get there eventually. But lately, it feels like everyone else expects you to get it right on the first try, like there’s no room left for experimenting. Today, though, it becomes possible to have fun again if you simply give yourself permission to take risks and make mistakes.
You understand that everyone endures unpleasant emotions sometimes; jealousy, resentment, and dissatisfaction are simply part of the human experience. Instead of making it your goal never to feel them, you simply try not to make them everyone else’s problem. Today, though, attempting to bear the weight of the world alone will only make everything feel worse; the more you try to hold it all in, the more likely you are to lash out. Tell your friends what’s been bothering you, and let them support you: This is what they’re here for.
Some people seem to change their minds constantly, forever adjusting their opinions to fit in with the crowd. You could hardly be more different: While you’re not a contrarian just for the sake of it, you hold your convictions deeply, and you’re not likely to abandon them just because it might make you more popular. Just remember, today, that it isn’t a bad thing to learn from the people around you. Letting yourself be changed by new ideas or perspectives doesn’t make you weak or fickle: It just means you’re alive and still growing.
Intellectually, you recognize that other people are allowed to see the world differently than you do. But when you come face-to-face with someone whose values seem completely opposed to yours, it’s tempting to write them off immediately, assuming you have no common ground. You may even be right; it’s certainly not your job to make nice with everyone you meet. But today, if you give people a chance, you might find that it’s possible to connect after all.
Some people imagine that the best — or at least the quickest — path to success is to be a little ruthless. They tell you to stop worrying so much about others and to focus instead on your own priorities. Today, though, you’ll probably be happiest if you do the opposite. When you’re true to your inherent generosity, it ends up benefiting you in surprising ways. Ask people about themselves, and tell them about you. Do your best to connect. You may find the goals too daunting to take on alone become possible when you work together.
It isn’t your responsibility to bare your soul to everyone who enters your life: Your emotions and experiences belong to you, and you get to choose when, or if, you want to share them with others. At the same time, though, intimacy demands trust, and if you want genuine closeness with another person, you’ll eventually have to let them see you at your most vulnerable. It might feel harder than ever to open up today, but it’ll be worth it.
Sometimes, it seems like the world has provided you with a series of clear paths. You progress in an orderly fashion through your education, or you climb the professional ladder one step at a time. It can be useful to have a map laid out before you, but it can also make you forget that this isn’t the only trajectory your life might take. Today, remember that you have options. People live all sorts of lives, and if you don’t like where yours is heading, you have the power to change direction.
Even if you know precisely what you want out of life, it isn’t easy to figure out how to get it. The path between points A and B is rarely straightforward, and there’s no shame in feeling uncertain of your next step. So today, if you’re not sure what to do, then ask. Your life is full of people who like you, who want you to succeed, who possess knowledge and experience that might help. Don’t imagine that you need to muddle through the big questions alone: Let the wisdom of others help you along.
When you’re an unconventional thinker, you quickly learn how important it is to believe in yourself, your quirks, and your opinions. Some people may find your ideas to be silly or misguided, but as long as you have faith in yourself, their judgment hardly matters. It’s possible, though, to grow so accustomed to defending yourself that you never take anyone else’s input seriously. Today, remember that other people have worthwhile ideas, too, and it isn’t a betrayal of yourself to listen to them.
You’re an excellent communicator, but when difficult feelings or contentious topics are involved, it’s all too easy to soft-pedal and talk around the issue. People often seem uncomfortable when you get serious; they prefer you to put on a happy face no matter what. Today, though, the best thing you can do is make a good-faith attempt to express yourself clearly and honestly. Others might just find the courage to meet you where you are.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.
