Your Weekly Horoscopes: July 14 to 20, 2019

A long-standing commitment comes to an end this week, and whether it’s the final assignment of a freelance contract, completing maid-of-honor duties in your little sister’s wedding or the dramatic conclusion of a destined-to-fail romance, make sure when the dust settles, you know how to show up for yourself. Disconnecting into the void of a new meditation practice or an impulse solo trip to Mexico City seems like the right detox, but don’t underestimate the power of diving back into one-on-one connection. You know yourself better after all of this hard work: show off the introspection.

Your kids have been begging you to adopt a dog since (what seems like) the moment they uttered their first words, and this is the week you finally give in to their pleas. It’s not that you don’t want a sweet pup to brighten your days with unconditional love and undeniable cuteness, you just know who will actually be waking up for early morning walks and poop scooping. You. But here’s the real challenge: try to see it as less of a burden and more as an opportunity. Besides, there’s nothing better than a cuddle with a puppy.

This week you must pave your own road to joy. Delete the apps and try dating analog, skip the barbecue at your boring neighbor’s house, and sell your tickets to that trendy but underwhelming concert. Life is too short to do something just because it seems like you should. Indulge in what brings you unabashed pleasure, whether it’s a block of dark chocolate, a snobby art house movie or looking someone in the eye when you ask them on a date. Your friends may have turned you on to some of your favorite haunts and ideas, but you’re still the curator of your own dreams.

What you thought would be a relaxing trip to visit your parents turns into a reckoning with your childhood artifacts after your mom reveals her obsession with Swedish death cleaning. It’s tedious to decide which Beanie Babies spark joy, and it’s bittersweet to put the acoustic guitar you bought to impress Andrew P. in tenth grade in the donate pile. Don’t look away from the purge. As you meet the world with more confidence, you don’t need to hold on to the residue of every memory. Let this confirm what it is you truly need.

An unexpected visit from your sister (or your might-as-well-be sister) this week interrupts a deep dive into your new spiritual or intellectual practice. She doesn’t have the patience to learn the entirety of the Montessori model as rationale for why you are homeschooling your kids, or the bandwidth to listen to your favorite psychic medium’s podcast. Don’t shrug her off. Instead, take this as a challenge to define these curiosities for yourself. Take note of what advice you actually need. It’s less than you think.

Checking your bank account this week comes with an unpleasant surprise. Though your friends finally you paid you back for that dinner put on your tab, and your new streams of income are beginning to flow, cash is still tight, and the two things you were going to invest in come fall must be decreased to one. Whether it’s the fitness bootcamp for the body or the guitar lessons for the soul that must go, make a decision that is less about cost and more about value. What matters will be abundantly clear.

This week comes with a huge reminder that the only person looking out for you is you. It may be a small annoyance like your hubby not picking up the dry cleaning, or something major like your cousin who is “so good with hair, I swear!” botching what was supposed to be a life-affirming experiment with bangs. Even though it is their fault, it is you who has to outfit repeat and/or justify the shag. Take pride in your own ability to step up to the plate. Let this be a lesson that those you trust also define you.

You have been working tirelessly for a cause that really matters to you—whether it’s field organizing for a fledgling progressive senate campaign, a toddler’s potty training or cutting out sugar from your diet. It becomes clear this week that the outcome of this pursuit, though important, is out of your control and you need a break from the trenches. Take time to research a new strategy, but more importantly, take extra time to rest. The battle continues so prepare by being kind to yourself.

A friend lets you down in a serious way this week, and though you saw it coming, it still comes with heartbreak. Use this opportunity to leave the group chat and suspend the email thread: You have nothing in common with them anymore. Go out with the ladies in your ceramics class instead. DM that local artist and ask if she wants to meet up for a coffee sometime. Honor your passions this week, not your hurt—there will always be time for that. Be a part of a community that you want to build up. It’s hard to move on, but you’ll thrive when you do.

A disappointment at work this week is actually a blessing in disguise. If that big client pulls out of her contract or your intern accidentally deletes a year of sales reports, resist the urge to wallow (or scream!) in defeat. Step away from the grind. Take a day trip with the kids to your special beach or spend an afternoon recalibrating at the used bookstore that has become a home away from home. As you get in touch with these primal creature comforts, you find there are many ways to be a success.

Everyone keeps saying that you need to start a wellness blog, you need to develop a podcast, you need to start tweeting more. But it’s impossible for you to get any of these projects off the ground when the big picture is so unclear. What are you in this for? This week, you are forced to make a choice about where you want to go. Put down the deposit for the herbalism course, attend the open house for that creative writing night class or board the flight to your dream vacation. As you open your perspective, you’ll find your voice.

It’s time to get serious about a collaboration, Gemini. Respond to your friends’ emails about buying a house together in the Catksills, finally start that side-hustle pie shop with your co-worker or offer your graphic design skills to the new local restaurant. Sure, you have everything to lose: your investment money, your secret family recipe, your sanity. But through sharing skills (and sharing debt), there is a huge opportunity to get clear on your personal values (and maybe raise your net worth). Why not take the risk?