Sign Language

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

I just visited some friends who've been studying Ayurvedic medicine, so they were constantly viewing people through that filter, analyzing everyone's Ayurvedic constitutions. This, of course, was very nearly complete nonsense to me, but nevertheless interesting, and a good reminder that where people are at (mentally or physically) is as much an influence on how they see the world as who they are, overall. Keep that in mind this week, when you encounter some diverse viewpoints that are practically incompatible with your own. They may be more moment- or location-dependent than you think, though, and therefore subject to change. Give folks a chance. They're just circling the block and looking at the scenery. They'll come back around to where you are eventually. Give them some time.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Don't let yourself get buried. You're at risk now of being totally swamped-by emotion, paperwork, or unfinished projects. Treading water isn't going to do it-you've got to be proactive and eliminate some of the things threatening to drown you before they do just that. Next week's New Moon is a great time to start with a semi-blank slate and set yourself up for a productive couple of weeks, but that'll only work if you're not trapped beneath the unproductive detritus of the last month or so. What can you get rid of, Cancer? Better decide quickly, then cut it before you're pinned beneath it.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Leos have an unfortunate tendency to throw money at their problems, or at whatever obstacles appear in their paths. It's a solution that works a remarkable percentage of the time, but it's not always the best one. First of all, your budget can't always afford that kind of no-brainer resolution. Secondly, it makes your life occasionally easier than it ought to be, thereby keeping you from realizing your full potential. There are times when your wallet is the only effective solution, and other times when ingenuity, hard work, and resourcefulness are a better substitute. You already know which this is.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Last week I wrote about finding someone who'll deeply respect, appreciate and support you, but I'm worried now that I wasn't entirely clear. After all, you can't go up to some stranger, tell them how fantastic you are, and hope that everything will fall naturally into place after that. That's more likely to get you into all kinds of embarrassing trouble. What I meant to say is that there's almost certainly someone who already respects and adores you, even if you haven't exactly noticed. Find them, and thrill them (and yourself) by letting them in.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Have you lost something, Venus? I'm not talking about your wallet-this is more along the lines of your virginity or your mind, though not as big a deal as either of those. Even though what you're missing isn't as concrete as your car keys or that pen you were just using, you should still adopt the same search strategies. Think back to the last time you remember having it. Retrace your steps. Whatever retrieval methods you use are better than none; you can get back what you've lost (or what's been taken from you), but only if you look. Give up before you've begun and I'll guarantee: it's probably lost forever.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Weirdly, your desire for forward progress and evolution is totally at odds with your craving for new horizons and opportunities this week. Perhaps this is just you getting focused and resisting the kinds of distractions a general expansion of your world would produce. Or perhaps you're worried that your commitment to your current path isn't strong enough to resist those temptations. In any case, this week's question is clear: Are you really on the right track? Is pursuing it now by ignoring all other possibilities really your best choice? It might be, but you better be sure, or you're going to have to spend time doubling back to head up one of the alternative routes, later on, when you figure your shit out.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You're notoriously gimmick-resistant. That's fortunate, because this week you're likely to encounter some doozies. Lame-ass come-on lines, bullshit sob stories, and too-good-to-be-true promises will be flying in all directions around you, and you're bound to get caught in the crossfire. It's unavoidable. Just do your best not to get too agitated by all this real-time spam. The people employing these cliché tactics are losers, it's true, but they're just too dopey or pathetic to know better. Compassion, or at least neutrality, is probably a better response than anger, which would only, perversely, encourage them.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Sometimes getting angry is simply the best thing to do. I know you try (and succeed, almost always) to control your temper, but there are times when your honest rage is the only appropriate response. Who are you trying to protect, after all? Get mad, damn it. You ought to be. It's one thing to be forgiving and compassionate, it's another to let yourself be used or taken advantage of with such frequency. Don't act as if you haven't been cooperating in your own exploitation. You have. But now it's time to break free of that shit, and, therefore, a little fury is required. Let yourself go there, finally. It's about time.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

I'm not the geekiest person I know, but I've nevertheless definitely lost many hours of my life to video games and computer stuff. That's probably not the best use of my time, in the grand scheme of things, but they were enjoyable hours, nonetheless, and certainly entertaining. Did they do much to advance my goals or agenda? No, not really. But not every minute of every day has to be productive and positive and forward-moving. It's nice when you can manage that, but if you're having fun, it's okay to let some time slip through the cracks without actually getting you anywhere. Keep that in mind this week. If you're having enough fun, it's okay to relax and enjoy it, at least for now. It's when you're having too much fun for too long that you can get into trouble.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Don't force things. Sometimes someone just isn't in a position to figure out how cool you are. S/he needs time to come around, and s/he's certainly not going to realize it while you're shoving your unique talents in his or her face. That'll just make you look desperate. Now's the time to be cool and collected. Play hard to get. I know, that's a challenge, because s/he's not exactly chasing you. But s/he might, if s/he sees you receding into the distance. S/he also might not-that's a risk. But if that were the case, s/he'd never be that into it, no matter how hard you pushed it. So relax. It's the only viable way, anyway.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Some things just aren't worth your time. It's not that they're out of your reach. Quite the contrary; they're actually extremely easy-provided you're willing to put in the time. But we're talking so much time that it just might not be the best idea for you, especially given your general state of impatience. This is like one of those amusement park rides that you wait an hour in line for, ride the thing for 90 seconds, then wonder if there was a point to it at all. Sometimes it's just better to ditch the line and go make your own fun. Strongly consider that as one of your best options this week.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Listen to that rain come down. It's pouring outside your window. You're sitting there enjoying the sound when you realize: you forgot to stop at the store. That means that whatever hedonistic pleasure you were planning on enjoying tonight-be it cookies, a DVD, or a bubble bath-probably won't happen, since you forgot to get the requisite supplies. You're in a quandary now! My scenario is just leading me towards the very simple and yet complicated choice you've got to make this week: is it worth a little discomfort in order to enjoy the luxuries you'd planned? Or would you rather endure the distress of not having them?