
(Illustration: Sacha Stephan)
This week it's wise to approach things with the mindset of planting seeds instead of moving mountains. As impatient as you may be feeling to have things solid and certain, this is a time of slow developments. Don't allow your insecurities or discomfort with the unknown convince you that things are going poorly. Stay open to the possibility of thriving, even as matters develop slowly or outside of your control, Aquarius.

There's a meaningful difference between being conscientious and abandoning yourself in efforts to preserve the peace. It can be really hard to show up in relationships in ways that are authentic to you without fixating on how it lands for others. This week your assignment is to hang out in the discomfort that emerges when there are very real differences between you and others, and don't be too quick to "fix" things that just need to play out.

Choosing to prioritize your values is easier said than done in a world that would constantly have you compromise on what matters most. This week your assignment is to be honest about the ways that you have abandoned your own needs in favour of living in accordance with other peoples’ preferences or ideas about the world. Regain your balance by prioritizing the things that mean the most to you—regardless of the cost, Aries.

If you can leave space for other people to have their feelings about you, your relationship, or anything else, you may not feel so pressed by those feelings. This week your assignment is to mind the very fine line between caring for others and getting in their way. Do your best to focus on your own homework and avoid making assumptions; be direct about what you need and the questions that you hold in your heart for others, Taurus.

It's hard to hit the right note between self-sufficiency and interdependence, and this week your relationships are in need of your clarity on this topic. Consider where you can better share of yourself—whether that means your process, your feelings, your plans or your ideas. Also consider where you need to get yourself together and follow through on your plans or intentions for self-care—so that the consequences of not doing those things don't fall in the lap of those you love.

As we have entered into eclipse season, you are likely to be confronted with some really important emotional patterns in some surprising places. Your assignment is to be as emotionally honest with yourself and others as you can be. Insecurity or habit may inspire you to double down where you need to release, or hide when you need to be brave—this is hard, but totally worth it, Moonchild.

It's time to let go and while it sounds simple, it really is easy to do. There are so many things that you have been holding on to that are not emotionally aligned with you anymore. Don't allow habit or insecurity to stop you from exploring possibilities, or allow the fear of sadness or grief to stop you from releasing relationships and attachments that are no longer serving you, Leo.

Change is really hard, but you are in a state of transition that is self-directed and conscious—which can make it easier as the problems that you're faced with are at least authentic to you. Even if the emotions are trying, and your relationships need to adjust, this is your time to step into who you have been working so hard to become, Virgo. Embrace intentional change, and even the discomfort that it brings, this week.

It's really scary to put yourself out there! The more authentic you are, the more frightening it can be because of how vulnerable it is to share yourself sincerely. As you struggle with navigating between power struggles or feeling stuck and just showing up as you are, you may find yourself either inspired to try new things or trapped in the old. If the path you’re on doesn't make you happy, be brave enough to try something new this week, Libra.

Navigating the realities and responsibilities of your day-to-day life is really important, and it's also hard going. You may be tempted to look outside of yourself so that you can point to the people or situations that landed you in your present circumstances, but that's ultimately a waste of energy. Your assignment this week is to meet the moment, regardless of how you got here, and do your best to show up in ways that are authentic to you, Scorpio.

As you embrace all that is possible in this moment, you also have the opportunity to meet people where they're at. This week you may find yourself feeling dragged down by other people's needs or neediness. Relationships are all about carving out the middle ground and creating something consensual and hopefully beautiful from there. Do your best to bring your ideas and energy to others while at the same time allowing space for them to be where they are at.

The frustrations that you're feeling are real, but if you try to rush through navigating them, you are likely to not make anything better, Capricorn. This week you are being challenged to sit with discomfort and not force a resolution that no one is ready for. Sometimes things are uncomfortable! And while that's hard to bear emotionally, it's also really healthy to be able to let things be uncomfortable for a while when that's what is authentic. Learning from discomfort is more important than smoothing it over, this week.
Jessica Lanyadoo is the host of the twice weekly Astrology + Advice show, Ghost of a Podcast, and the author of Astrology For Real Relationships.