This Week's Horoscope

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Leos share a sense of fraternity unequaled by other signs. Sure, Cancers understand each other, and Virgos delight in their mutual fastidiousness. But they don't quite get what's it like to be part of the Leo pride. There's a myth that Leos prefer to maintain a certain distance from other Lions, to avoid sharing the spotlight, but smart ones, like you, know that an assembly of Leos synergistically shines much more brightly than any one alone can do. This week, enjoy the company of your fellow sun-ruled superstars. More than just moth-like hangers-on will be attracted to that collective glow?at least one phoenix is likely to immolate herself in that leonine blaze, and she'll gladly give you a lift on her way back up from the ashes.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Although you prefer construction to demolition, it's sometimes necessary to dismantle elements of your life, without sentimentality or regret, regardless of how much energy and effort you may have put into them. Cluttering your life's stage with sets of bygone productions because you're too clingy to take them down severely limits the kinds of scenes that can play themselves out there. It's hard to stage something interesting and new like Hedwig and the Angry Inch amidst the tired alleyways of Cats and the garish opulence of Phantom of the Opera. Take down old chapters' backdrops, no matter how much you once loved them, so new stories can unfold without being hampered by your history.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Giving birth to new ideas can be as uncomfortable, inconvenient and downright excruciating as pushing a baby into this world. Painful tearing at the edges of your consciousness is likely, and it might be some years before the bloody, screaming mess that first appears develops into anything resembling the notion you had when it was still unborn. Despite that, I urge you to heed the psychological imperative that drives you to help invent these new possibilities. Aborting them now would be the kind of disaster that has you asking?every day, for the rest of your life?what might have been.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Your flavor is so intense, robust and rich that some people simply can't handle it. It's like fudge-covered, caramel-swirled, pecan-encrusted, 79-percent cocoa bittersweet triple chocolate ice cream. Others may experience concentrated cravings for exactly that much calorific gorgeousness, but are afraid that if they indulge in something so good, they'll never again be able to settle for the plain old vanilla crap that's more readily available. Your goal is to learn to accurately tell the difference between the lameasses you're too much for, and the slightly fearful adventurers, and give the latter the only thing they need to conquer their hesitation: assurances that they can have their fill of you, and then some.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Over the last few years, I'd categorize my journey (in symbolic terms) as the transition from Fool to Magician. (According to the Tarot, the Fool is innocent, trusting and charmed, and the Magician is worldly and able to wield a variety of tools to manifest his desired reality.) My take on your newest direction: You're harnessing the forces from past chapters (the Empress (harmony with the beauty and power of nature), and the Emperor (linearity, rhythm, control)) to yield spiritual insight, like the Hierophant. If you want to look it up, there's lots more there (any book on Tarot will do). If not, it can be summed up like this: By now, your adventures out in the wide world should have begun to yield insights about your inner world that could be useful to us all. Share them.

Capricorn (Dec.22-Jan. 19)

When it comes to anything but love, you're the world's expert at getting what you want. In the romantic department, however, your manipulative skills and driven ambition more often work against you than for you. So you resort to charming but slightly ridiculous tactics, like wielding mistletoe in July just to get a kiss. My advice to you clueless Goats: Be transparent. False confidence doesn't stretch too far in the romantic realm; it's too easily exposed. Don't pretend prowess where you have none. Just be real?that in itself is way more charming than you think.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

I don't show works-in-progress to my friends. I have a hard time believing them if they tell me it's good; they're predisposed to liking it, since they like me. Perversely, since they have no reason to say so unless it's true, I believe them when they say it's bad. These kinds of viewpoints, in which only the negative really counts, aren't helpful. Because you need a second (and possibly third and fourth) opinion, make sure it's from someone who knows what they're talking about, and has no reason to tell you anything but the God's honest truth.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Behind one door is a cage full of restless, hungry wild tigers. Behind the other lies a moat full of crocodiles, piranhas and sharks. These are your choices?! Sometimes life demands that you push through these challenges, and risk losing a limb to get to where you want to go. And sometimes the universe is giving you a hint: it might be better to stay put until the tigers fall asleep, or the swimming predators devour each other. When your choices are all shitty, it's okay to hold your ground and wait until another opportunity presents itself. In this case, it won't be long.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Although you might be tempted to simply crunch through the hard candy shell of your current love interest, don't. All those sharp, sugary shards would end up mixing with the gooey center. Although your impatience demands otherwise, take your time. There's no need to be horribly bored, however; although this kind of delicate task isn't usually your style, sweetly licking your way in could be deliciously entertaining for both of you, and by the time you get to it, the soft squishy succulence that lies beyond will be primed and ready for your mutual enjoyment.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

I've never lived with a Taurus. From what I hear, you always pay your bills on time, take out the trash, wash your dishes, clean your hair out of the shower drain and go to bed at a reasonable hour. In many ways, you sound like an ideal roommate?for someone just like you. I've also heard that you're notoriously intolerant of anyone who doesn't do all those things exactly as efficiently and consistently as you do. Although I'm sure that righteousness has pleasures all its own, won't you consider that sweating the small stuff is a whole lot less fun than simply letting it go? Since you'll be mired in petty details all week, you'll probably be happier if you can overlook them.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Recently you seemed like a planet at the edge of a solar system, orbiting around a tiny sun so distant that its warmth and brightness could never reach you. Finally, that little star went supernova, washing you in a hint of what might have been, but simultaneously casting you loose. Now you're a roving asteroid, sailing through the cosmos in some ways more free than you've ever been. Don't be too quick to saddle yourself to another unrewarding trajectory rife with unrequited desire around an ungiving sun. Of course, an orbit that's too close would leave you scorched and uninhabitable. Take your time choosing your new home, at a livable distance?not too close or too far?where you may enjoy the glow, but have a life of your own, too.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

When tattoo artist Miss Kitty inked my lower legs with fields of daisies, she had a vision of revolutionizing how people thought of skin art. She did a whole series of floral tattoos on more than a dozen people, and created an art show out of us. We stood on pedestals in a room lushly appointed with flowers, so people could view her work as her expression, not necessarily just that of the person who sports it. Since what you're up to is often underappreciated, follow her example, and do what you can to get people to see it in the lush, multifaceted way you do.