Fiona Apple, a Virgo.
Photo-Illustration: by Preeti Kinha; Photos Getty
On Thursday night, a new moon in thoughtful Virgo marks the beginning of a new season in your life. Do future you a favor by making the practical changes you’ve been avoiding. Shift your schedule so that it better meets your needs, or reorganize your living space so that it feels more like home. You probably already know what steps you “should” be taking; maybe you’ve been putting them off for a while. This week, you’ll feel empowered to actually take them. Then on Friday afternoon, Mercury retrograde ends and you can stop sweating the details so much. Technology will be less glitchy, miscommunications less frequent.
If you want to prepare for autumn, to set yourself up to achieve whatever pleasure or success you’re hoping for in the coming months, the best way to do that is to deal with the minutiae of your life. This week, no detail is unimportant or unworthy of your attention. By building good habits and strong foundations, you won’t be left scrambling. This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect or that you aren’t allowed mistakes, only that your mundane and unglamorous habits are the ones that will reward you later on.
You might feel pressure — from others, or more likely yourself — to embark on a journey of self-improvement this week: to sign up for an intense exercise program, start meditating an hour every day, or meal plan so you only eat healthy, fresh-cooked food. And it’s possible that will turn out to be just what you need. But it’ll only work if you also commit to loving yourself as you are. Not just the idealized future version of you, but the you that actually exists. Treat yourself like you matter, like you’re already worthy, because you are.
You naturally pay attention to what’s happening in the world around you; you love learning from other people, observing their behavior, listening to their stories. This week, though, make a point of spending some time alone. Right now, it’s probably going to be more rewarding to delve into your inner world than to know all the drama in your social circle. Focus on what your emotions are telling you. Memories may have new insights to reveal. You have the chance to create fresh meaning, to understand your life in a different way.
You’re smart and introspective; you know yourself well. Even so, sometimes other people see parts of you that you don’t. It’s scary and vulnerable to know that someone else notices tendencies or traits in you that you don’t have the perspective to fully understand, but remember that they can also see the strengths that you undervalue, the beautiful qualities that you might not appreciate. If you’ve been down on yourself lately, struggling to treat yourself kindly, let the people who love you teach you how they see you. Show yourself the same generosity they do. Speak to yourself as kindly as you would a friend.
If you’re in need of a change, your first impulse is probably to add to your life by purchasing shiny new things, meeting exciting new people, taking up new hobbies. But this week, that won’t end up satisfying you. Instead, consider reorganizing and reassessing the things you already have. Reconnect with an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Remind yourself how much you have to cherish. Maybe you don’t have everything you want, but your life is fuller than you appreciate.
While it’s always good to be open to feedback and even criticism, it’s also possible to take it too far. You end up suppressing your own emotions, convinced that your own knowledge, experiences, or instincts don’t count for anything in the face of someone else’s overwhelmingly strong opinion. This week, remember that your life belongs to you. It’s not your job to make choices that will please or flatter or impress other people. Make the ones that are right for you. If you feel called to make a “weird” decision, to do something “out of character” like change your career or begin a relationship with someone who isn’t your type, why not go for it?
This week, you might be forced to confront the parts of yourself that you aren’t proud of. Maybe a friend will call attention to a dysfunctional pattern of behavior you hadn’t recognized, or maybe you’ll find yourself in a challenging situation and respond differently than you would have hoped. We all fall short of our ideals at times, and it isn’t the end of the world (though it can seem that way). The key is not to beat yourself up. Be honest with yourself but compassionate, too. Growth is seldom comfortable. If this week is difficult, trust that it means you’re on the verge of a breakthrough.
You’re a fierce advocate for your loved ones. You cheer them on, lend a hand when they’re down, protect them from ill-advised exploits and ill-intentioned people. When they underestimate themselves, you’re there to remind them how special they are. But it’s hard for you to let your friends return the favor. You tell yourself that you don’t really need their care — or, worse, that you don’t deserve it. It’s not true, though. There are people in your life who are ready to show up for you, to go to bat for you. This week, let them.
You’re a good judge of character. That said, sometimes your optimism leads you to ignore red flags and overlook faults in others — the moments of carelessness or irritation, the times they inadvertently hurt your feelings. Not that they must be perfect in order to earn your love. Just as important is the fact that you don’t have to convince anyone that you’re perfect for them to still find you wonderful and fun and worthy of love. This week, don’t be scared to give (and take) a bit of thoughtful criticism. Your relationships will be stronger for it.
You may find yourself questioning the very foundation of your world this week. You’ve worked hard to arrange things just so, to build a life you can be proud of. Now, upon reflection, you may wish you’d taken different turns along the way. But if you aren’t happy, there’s plenty you can do to change things, and you’re not in it alone. Reach out to people you trust. With their support, you’re more powerful than you ever realized.
You’ve been itching for a clean slate, a new you. Your obligations and routines weigh heavy, and it’s tempting to throw it all away and start fresh. And sometimes transformation does result from a single decisive moment, but that’s not what you should expect this week. If you want to change your life, you don’t have to blow it up. Rather, set a new course and stick to it. Small, consistent steps will get you there.
You have the chance this week to make sense of relationships (and not just romantic ones) that have been unsettled or tense. If you aren’t sure where you stand with someone, ask. If someone has hurt your feelings, say so. If you’re not sure whether you’re getting what you need, talk about it together. This is a good time for having honest conversations, for exploring what you want, what you have to offer, what makes you happy. The more forthright and more specific you are, the more clarity you’ll find.
Read the weekly horoscopes for the week of September 4. The weekly horoscopes for the week of September 18 will be online next Sunday.
Buy Claire Comstock-Gay’s book, Madame Clairevoyant’s Guide to the Stars, here.
