Cameron Diaz, a Virgo.
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photo: Getty Images
This morning, communication planet Mercury enters sharp, analytical Virgo. For the next two weeks, you might be more detail-oriented than usual, less willing to tolerate mess or dysfunction, or to let the small stuff slide. Or, conversely, you might feel that others are the ones who have suddenly become nit-picky, demanding an unreasonable standard of perfection. Either way, try to give others some grace. Life is messy, and mistakes are inevitable, but even so, it’s worth striving to do things right.
You understand that when you’re working hard toward a goal, the process isn’t always neat and straightforward — and that isn’t a bad thing. You’re willing to tolerate a fair amount of mess along the way; you figure you can always come back and sort things out later. Today, however, is a good opportunity to take a break from your forward progress, and devote some energy to sorting out any details you’ve been neglecting. It might not feel like an optimal use of your time, but it’ll prevent problems down the road, and help you to think more clearly moving forward.
It can seem like nobody around you really gets your sense of humor. Even if you’re confident that you’re great at telling stories, delightful to be around, or just generally sharp and funny, it can be demoralizing to feel that nobody else sees this side of you. But today, resist the impulse to retreat into yourself when you feel misunderstood. Right now, there will probably be some people who don’t get you — but plenty of others will.
When you look back at previous phases you’ve gone through, it can be tempting to roll your eyes at yourself for being so capricious. You’ve gone through countless different jobs, or taken up so many hobbies you later gave up on, or started friendships that went nowhere. Today, though, the things you thought you’d moved on from might become unexpectedly relevant again. Old skills could come in handy, or former acquaintances could offer a helping hand. Take it as a reminder that none of your efforts went to waste, even if it took you a while to realize it.
It can be hard to keep a truly open mind — not because you’re rigid or incurious, but simply because you’ve already seen and experienced so much. You aren’t a blank slate, and there’s no point in pretending you are; you judge people and situations according to what you’ve already learned about the world. But just for now, try to hold your preconceived notions at a distance. You might encounter people who truly surprise you and make you think differently, but it’s up to you to give them the chance.
It’s easy to prioritize dramatic occasions and grand gestures over the little, mundane actions that make up your life. Everyday actions can feel so inconsequential; if you’re looking to genuinely make a difference, it seems more impactful to think bigger. But today, don’t underestimate the power of small steps, taken consistently over time. You don’t need to be a hero; flashy, attention-grabbing feats aren’t the only way to change the world. The details add up to much more than you realize.
You’re sharp and observant by nature — you notice everything that goes on around you, and you’re self-aware about your own moods, too. You tend to be clear-eyed about your feelings and sure about what you want; the trouble is that all this self-knowledge isn’t helpful unless it leads to action. Today, don’t be too reluctant to open up to others about what you’re feeling, and don’t be afraid to chase after what you want. Reflection is important, but it’s not enough on its own; now is a good time for doing, too.
You don’t generally like dealing with uncertainty, but today, you’ll probably have no other option but to make choices based on partial information, to act in spite of all the gaps in your knowledge. You might be tempted to put off all your decisions until you have total clarity — but the truth is that you’ll never know everything, and there are always going to be some uncertainties and surprises. All you can do is move forward anyway — and once you get started, you’ll be relieved to have taken the first step.
You can be hesitant to share your opinions until you feel certain they’re correct; it’s embarrassing to put your ideas out there only to walk them back after learning more. Today, though, you’ll miss out if you’re too cautious, because this a great day for wide-ranging conversations with your friends. They aren’t expecting you to present an airtight case — the point is to enjoy each other’s company and help each other grow. Right now, it’s best to brainstorm, daydream, and think through big questions together.
When other people carry themselves with confidence, it can be easy to be intimidated. You assume that they must know what they’re talking about, otherwise they wouldn’t speak with such certainty. Today, though, remember that just because someone is loud and domineering, that doesn’t mean they actually know their stuff. Don’t be too proud to learn from other people — but don’t assume that they automatically know more than you do, either, especially when it comes to the issues affecting your life.
The world is too complicated for anyone to live up to their ideals all the time; real life means occasionally making compromises. Today, just make sure that you aren’t getting too comfortable letting your principles slide for the sake of convenience, or acting deceptively simply to avoid conflict. In the long run, you’ll be glad you stayed true to what you believe in, even if it made life a bit more difficult in the moment.
You try not to be overly fussy about the small stuff. People make little missteps all the time, and while it might irritate you or hurt your feelings a bit, you do your best not to linger on what are probably innocent mistakes. Today, though, don’t feel pressured to let things go before you’re ready. If something is genuinely bothering you, you’re allowed to ask for an explanation; you don’t have to breeze past everything just because others have decided it’s unimportant.
When you’ve already made up your mind about what you plan to do, it can be hard to dissuade you. You can convince yourself to ignore all the red flags, to dismiss everyone else’s concerns, to keep going in spite of all the signs telling you to turn around. Today, though, don’t disregard facts just because they contradict your internal narrative. It can be frustrating not to get the answer you were hoping for, but you’ll be glad you were honest with yourself.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.
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