Aries: Life’s not a competition, you know? Sure, it may seem like a dog-eat-dog world sometimes, but, well, you don’t need an explanation on why cannibalism is maybe not the vibe, do you? And if it were as such, once you’ve won, once you’re the only one left—what then? There’ll be no one to gloat to and no one to share it with. Can that then even be called a victory? But you probably didn’t think of that before charging in head-first. Or anything else, for that matter. Try holding your horses from time to time to think before acting. You just might discover that there’s more to life than getting first place. And maybe learn something about the importance of collective and collaborative action. In short: puppy play instead of dog-eat-dog; just give it a try!
Taurus: What to tell you? Your desire for stability makes these increasingly unstable times somewhat hard on you, and it can be hard to balance your anxieties with the strong sense of responsibility you feel toward your community. That said, you already have all it takes to make it through! Just focus on what you do best: set yourself small, practical goals that you can achieve for yourself and your found family rather than trying to fix an insurmountable seeming global situation. And never forget to enjoy the small pleasures in life, the little comforts. Just try not to let your temper and stubbornness get the best of you! You may need to be a bit more flexible than your natural inclination to adapt to new realities and avoid unnecessary tensions and conflicts for those you consider your rock in stormier and stormier tides!
Gemini: Listen – and really pay attention for even just a moment, as hard as it may be – life is ultimately a series of choices, some more difficult than others, but all will have to be made at some point. Granted, no one likes having to make a choice, but those are just the rules of the game! And not choosing, not picking a side, is ultimately also a choice, silence is complicity and all that. That said, it’s not hard to see where you might be coming from, hear? Life is short and there’s just so much to be done and experienced – carpe diem, as they say! But at the end of the day, don’t you want to be secure in the knowledge that you didn’t simply aimlessly scurry around but really spend your time and energy on what truly mattered to you? Maybe you still have to figure out what exactly that is… In which case, have you heard about the queer cultural element of excessive introspection? Just make some space in your schedule and have a taste!
Cancer: Don’t forget to hydrate! Sure, it may not be summer, but seeing how much of a traumatized crybaby you are, this piece of advice applies regardless of the season. That said, please hold your tears for a moment and remember that you’re not alone in this! It is of course far from ideal that trauma is still as prevalent in queer communities as it is, but it also gives us a common language and shared experiences that contribute to fostering a sense of, well, community. This can be a double-edged sword for you, however, given your empathy and how difficult self-care often is for you. So, if nothing else, let this be a reminder to not forget to look after yourself and that, regardless of the damage and the tears, at least you’re hot!
Leo: Is it a coincidence that a group of lions is called a pride? Most likely, although in your specific case, it’s oddly fitting! You obviously love the spotlight and odds are you arrive surrounded by at least one member of your loyal found family, thus being in a way your own one-person pride parade. More than enough has been said about your egotistic leanings, so let’s focus more on your social skills, for once! The positive: it’s unsurprising that you inspire such dedication in your friends given how much of yourself you pour into your chosen family! The negative: you love seeing those close to you thrive and succeed until you, well, don’t… But wrongly so! Others’ successes don’t take anything from yours – it’s not a zero-sum game! If anything, you should take pride in their achievements: not only have you most likely been a part of them but if not you, who else could empathize with wanting to enjoy the spotlight?
Virgo: Would it kill you to ask for help from time to time? As much as it may sound like an empty platitude – and apparently bears repeating – your feelings are valid! And in your specific case, this also and especially means recognizing and accepting when things are simply too much to bear on your own. Sure, the very idea of having someone else do the thing you were supposed to handle and not handle it in the exact same fashion you would have is already giving you stress hives, but learning to accept that everyone has their own way of doing things is also part of the journey! So, ironically maybe, self-care can also mean caring less! One last thing though and, yes, it’s getting a lot: please do your best to resist the temptation to back-seat drive and maybe try to just take a nap for a stretch of the proverbial drive! Goddess knows you could use one!
Libra: If you haven’t cast off the cisheteronormative chains of monogamy quite yet, may we suggest looking up the term “serial monogamy”? Shade aside, please note that no one is actually judging you! Many of us, especially the older generations, have heard the refrain about queer loneliness, be it from “well-meaning” family members or straight friends… That said, you appear to be taking it maybe a little too close to heart, so much so that no one ever sees you alone, or so it seems… And when it’s not a partner, you usually surround yourself with enough friends to give an introvert a heart attack… Be careful, though, to not mistake proximity for closeness, both in friendships and relationships! Shallow ties will break the moment you really need them and thus your overcompensating might just be setting you up to get hit hardest by the loneliness that you fear most!
Scorpio: Underneath your tough – and sometimes very intense – exterior, you are filled with deep and complex emotions that can be a lot to grasp, even for yourself! This can make it easy for others to misunderstand your actions, especially since your confidence can hide how deeply you feel about things and how much you care about people. That said, your sense of empathy is unfortunately not only a hidden strength but can also be your secret weakness! You know what you want and are usually more than assertive enough to go and get it, so holding back out of a sense of consideration for others may not merely seem out of character, but will probably also make you unhappy in the long run. And as someone very much allergic to manipulation and deceit in your human connections, you should be well aware that, as much as it may hurt sometimes, the harsh truth is always best in the long run.
Sagittarius: Has anyone ever given you that one definition of insanity? For someone as driven by insatiable curiosity as you are, you sure have a tendency to fall back into unhealthy patterns. Making a bad decision once, for the thrill of it? Sure, that sounds like you – but making the same one over and over again? A little less so. It does however speak for your penchant for immoderation. This “all-or-nothing” attitude drives you to push boundaries and reach new heights, but the intense passion that lies at its core can also turn into a prison when fascination warps into obsession. How to avoid getting to this point? Try not to take yourself too seriously – it may sound easier than it is, but you’ve proven that you can do it when it comes to everything else. And as a last resort, you can always direct that scathing shade game of yours towards yourself for a change! Who knows, it just might give you the reality check needed!
Capricorn: Times sure aren’t looking great, but don’t wallow too much in your pessimistic tendencies! There’s so much to be done still, so many goals to be reached! That said, don’t use work as a form of escapism – that’s not healthy either! Maybe try focusing more on your community and showing a bit more consideration than usual. In other words, as much as you may perceive yourself as an indefatigable workhorse, you’re ultimately just human and may just need to show kindness, both to those around you and yourself, for once. If you’re feeling spicy – and deep down, you know you do, as much as you’d prefer not to admit it – why not let loose for once? Because even if it means dancing on the proverbial volcano, in case it does erupt, at least you’re having fun!
Aquarius: Some say that all children are born as anarchists, questioning the justifications behind each and every rule. Later, as they grow up and slowly blend into society, most of them slowly lose that streak. Not you, however! You’re such a non-conformist that even identifying as an anarchist might be just too mainstream for you! And of course, who even needs all these labels, right? The thing is, while you might not, some people actually do! For them, they can be beacons and rallying points to build communities on – as stifling as they may seem to you. And yes, every new belief deserves to be examined and discussed, but never forget that the world simply doesn’t stand still and that every moment spent deliberating the validity of a new label is another moment during which the old order will still be upheld. And that just can’t sit right with an iconoclast such as yourself now, can it?
Pisces: Try to get your head out of the clouds, will you? Sure, reality keeps getting harder these days, but there’s still so much beauty to be found, so much to be enjoyed! Easier said than done, of course, given your sensitive and highly empathetic nature! Ultimately, though, it’s all about healthy boundaries – both in your interpersonal relationships as well as when it comes to dealing with yourself! Just as you should avoid getting swept away by your empathy – we’re all just human and there’s only so much we can do for others at any given point and time – it’s perfectly valid to decide for yourself that you have to disconnect for a bit and take care of your own well-being. But conversely, there should also be a healthy limit to your escapism. We only get one life – until proven otherwise – and you risk missing out on all the new adventures waiting for you underneath the clouds!
© Illustrations: Ernesto Testi
