Cancer (June 21-July 22) I’m glad you no longer feel you require approval from others to follow your heart’s desires. However, hiding your romantic or sexual interests because that approval (which, yes, you no longer need, but still want) won’t be forthcoming is a bad idea, almost as bad as desperately requiring their validation. Whether you meet their prudish or snobbish standards is irrelevant; you deserve to live how you want to live. If they don’t like it, they can suck it. Don’t tiptoe around their delicate porcelain sensibilities. Smash them to bits if you have to. Most importantly, though—just live your life. more

Cancer (June 21-July 22) We can't completely control who or what enters our lives. Some things, of course, you can simply walk away from if they don't fit in with your vision of how your life should look, but others aren't so blithely abandoned. Leaving them behind would also involve ditching important aspects of yourself, perhaps principles and morals you're quite attached to. So you're more or less stuck with these gate-crashers, like it or not. These surprising, challenging and confusing experiences are called "character-building" for a reason. Let's see what unfolds when one happens to you, shall we? more

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Forget about whats appropriate for a minute. There are lines and then there are lines. In order to properly live, youre inevitably going to cross some of them. (If you dont, your life will be dull and pointless. more

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Take a break.There's only so much you can accomplish now, and laboring to make progress when tensions are high or chaos reigns is just so much wasted effort. Once the dust set more

Gemini (May 21-June 20) If you could potentially stop someone from hurting themselves, you should feel some obligation to try. Of course, there's only so much you can do—but that's no excuse to simply do nothing.Take your friend's keys away when he tries to leave that party drunk. Perhaps the situation you could prevent this week is less obvious than that, but the basic idea is the same.Your hands may be somewhat tied here, but don't delude yourself into thinking you're powerless. Speak up, step up—just don't stand back and watch. Even if you don't succeed, at least you won't have to regret not trying. more

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You deserve to treat yourself! You earned all that youve got coming to you, at least in theory. If I were you, though, Id wait to celebrate until your plans have actually come to fruition.Theres no better way to jinx something than by making a big deal about it before its actually happened. more

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Beliefs change.What you believed in as a child probably doesnt hold much weight for you now. Hell, what you believed in last year might no longer ring quite as true. Of course, if youre flip-flopping all over the place and espousing different ideas about life every other day, no ones likely to take you particularly seriously. more

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Many people in the world dont share your values.Thats not usually a problem, except when theyre people who are close to you, like family members, coworkers or even lovers. On some things, of course, you can simply agree to disagree, or make a rule that the subject is verboten. more

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Unspoken "contracts" happen all the time—but the person you're dealing with isn't likely to respond well to any implicit obligations they may be signing up for without knowing it. Therefore, be upfront about your expectations right from the get-go. It's OK to have "strings attached" when you offer something of yourself—most interactions are, essentially, an exchange. Just be honest and forthright about what those are—and flexible about what they might be.There should be room for negotiation here, otherwise what you're offering is more of an ultimatum than a deal. How do you think that will go over? more

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Criticism is one thing. Full-on abuse is quite another.While I hope youre mature and openminded enough to receive the former and allow it to influence your behavior (if not right in the moment, then at least after a bit of reflection). more